GBR Ladies Rafting – Training Session Mark – 2!

Hi All, here’s an update from our most recent training session, where despite the freezing conditions and having to break through ice during our warm up we were all fired up and raring to go (this is how fun rafting is!).

The focus for the weekend was paddling technique and timing within the raft. Team member and ex Welsh slalom squad member Nerys Blue had researched some top tips from an outrigging (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Outrigger_canoe) paddle stroke that would be useful to transfer to the raft. We started off on the flat and in particular worked on really pushing down with our top arm to transfer power down through the paddle instead of just pulling water. The analogy that if your paddle should snap you would fall in was frightening on such a cold day but thankfully none of us were that unlucky! This adjustment to our technique produced a really powerful stroke and combined with timing the ‘catch’ so that each person’s initial power occurred at exactly the same time made the boat feel smooth and very powerful. So impressed were we with this result that in a couple of weeks time Rosie, Ally and Georgie will be travelling to London to learn more about the technique from a top outrigging club coach, and take technique tips back to be used at the next training session. It’s exciting to be involved in a sport still at the stage of developing the most efficient basic paddle stroke!

We transferred this to the white water (where, as in kayaking it is significantly more challenging to focus on technique) and definitely felt the increased power across the whole raft.

On the weekend we were very lucky to have support on the bank with Georgie filming and giving us feedback with input also from coaches Matt Blue and Gareth Wilson. It’s so valuable to have eyes on the bank pointing out things that are hard to feel from the boat; if you are carrying out your own winter training it’s well worth begging, paying or bribing someone to observe you, or even better video. Video feedback is incredibly useful to see improvement during the sessions and highlight areas to work on for the next session. Also, the camera never lies!

As usual the two days of training was intense, but a really great start to the year; the timing and power gained within from trying a new technique felt amazing and we’re all really fired up for the year ahead!

In other breaking news rumour has it that shortly the team will be receiving a package from Palm, containing all that we need for the cold training weekends ahead…we can’t wait to see what gear is in the box!

Also, so as to remind you (and us!) that paddling isn’t all about dark evenings and ice freezing on the paddle check out our video of some fun training runs on the Pacuara River on the run up to the 2011 World Championships.

Have fun on the water!

Allison McIntosh and Rosie Cripps