The PSK Hub – Performance Sea Paddling Stuff
In July 2022 I paddled a single-day, 116 km lap of the isle of Islay, Scotland. Here’s the story: The Challenge I like doing these things, paddling laps of islands. It’s partly the test of making it around under your own steam, the physical and mental challenge, but I also like solving the tidal-puzzle, getting …
Climbing Snowdonia. Like many people, I’ve been chasing the clock for years, decades even. The numbers tells it how it is, there are no excuses. And yet, there is a gap in the tangibility somehow. One run you are 15 secs up, the next 15 down. It ebbs and flows, without a distinct conclusion. But …
The Puffin TT is a bit of a bastard really. It hurts. It is 3 hrs and 30 km of uncomfortable. It starts off nicely, promising good views, good training and a good challenge. But of course it saves up the worst bits for the end. You start from Menai Bridge with the tide running …
This was a training session we paddled at Broadford on the Isle of Skye as we waited for a gap in the weather for my Skye Circumnav attempt in 2021. As the wind was determined not to give us a break, we thought we might as well get into the spirit of things – it …
Back on the canal today, for one of the sessions I enjoy – Bridge Fa(h)rts. This stretch of the Lancaster Canal lends itself nicely to this session – basically paddle a mixed intervals session, using the gaps between the bridges to dictate the work/rest periods. So the format here: Paddle out for an extended 30′ …
Three? Three?? This week the group session returned to The Swellies. We had plenty of sunshine and were also joined by Mike Conroy ‘fresh’ from his Anglesey Circumnav only a few days prior. The gentle flow tempted ‘us’* into a Brittania Bridge TT sess. Easy peasy Start/finsh at Price’s Point with 2 turn points: Brittania …
Frustration Loop. The session was a dozen laps of Ynys Gored Goch in the Swellies. Paddling on the flood, each lap of the island is around the 4 mins mark and means a challenging climb against the flood tide at the top of each lap. Today the stiff W wind also complicated the climbs somewhat. …
Wings The often discussed question in the sea kayaking world is whether a wing paddle improves performance. In a competition environment, there is no doubt that a wing paddle gives a performance advantage for the forward stroke over a flat paddle, and hence it is established in sprint, marathon and wild water racing as the …
Getting started again. It’s just coming together now, it’s starting to feel good and I can see the benefits, I’m pleased about that. But it doesn’t start out that way, no siree. At the beginning of the training year it’s all quite unpleasant, demoralising even. It hurts and you wonder why you bother. If you …
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