Wildwater Racing Technique

[TheKrikkitWars]

I've Picked up an old WWR boat for a pitance, with the aim of trying to place well at the British University WWR Champs (in about 2 months time)...

There's some coaching being offered locally, but I'd rather like to start practicing and progressing as soon as possible; not least as if I can get established in the boat I'll benefit more from the training.

I've had a good scour around, and whilst there's a fair amount of technique info around, most of it is K1 specific; if anyone has any tips or tricks for a relative newcomer to Wildwater boats, I'd be appreciative.

The boat I've got is an Ace 2 which is apparently on the stable side of tippy.

[Craig Smerda]

keep paddling forward...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8SN5340cTKw

this might be helpful http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tcxiz7bfNWQ

paging Jack Ditty... paging Jack Ditty...

how's your roll?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HrBr4SNtwTE

[JFD]

On the road right now for the wildwater team trials race, I'll try to re-visit this thread once I get more time next week. If it feels tough to control, paddle faster (this way you get past any rocks or holes before they can mess with you)!

[edg]

Awesome choice! I'd love to be joining (and trailing) JFD for the US trials, but I'm paddling a desk instead. There is very little on wildwater c-1 technique that I know of. Your best sources are visual. Here are 2 links from the Wildwater Italia site. The second link is really good- the first is only there because I'm briefly in it...Ed

http://www.wwtv.it/eng/video%20047.html

http://www.wwtv.it/eng/video%20126.html

[edg]

Oops- This is the good technique link

http://www.wwtv.it/eng/video%20047.html

[Mike W.]

The one I had paddled a lot like a flatwater racer. If you want to turn, you'd better be moving a lot faster than the water. Tilting the boat to the outside of the turn goes against what most whitewater paddlers have learned, but it works with these boats.

If it feels tippy you're not paddling fast enough.

Cross strokes work, but try switching sides like the marathon folks do. You'll use a lot fewer correction strokes & go faster.

[TheKrikkitWars]

Ok, that was much easier than I anticipated...

Had a blast in out clubs 1970's vintage WWR c1, and so long as I concentrate keeping my forward strokes vertical and smooth it's not too hard, heeling the boat to turn felt a little sketchy at first, but it's easily picked up... I'm expecting the Ace II to be somewhat tippier; hopefully still a doddle to roll though.

Mainly though... it's actually pretty fun.

Thanks for the links; the Wildwater Italia video's are suprisingly useful, I'm excited to get out on some more testing water and experiment.