The water here in the US Midwest is crunchy this time of year, making paddling a bit challenging. Sure, it’s ridiculously cold, but unfortunately here in the Chicago area we don’t have enough snow to break out the snowshoes or cross country skis and too much for anything other than a fat bike. For now, …
Power to the Paddle Companion DVD is here!
Thank you to those who have read and benefited from my book, Power to the Paddle: Exercises to Improve your Canoe and Kayak paddling”. I have loved hearing the feedback and your stories of how it’s helped create better paddlers. I am very excited to announce that the long-awaited companion DVD, bringing life to the exercises …
It’s you or your gear
Paddlers are gearheads. No question about it. We all love adding a new piece of equipment to our arsenal or a new boat to the fleet. Each fancy geegaw brings the promise of new adventures and sometimes new capabilities. Some things are truly technological advances that will help us get to places we might not …
Don’t miss Canoecopia March 11-13
I’ll be speaking at this year’s Canoecopia event. Join my fun hands-on session where you’ll learn and practice functional exercises to help you paddle longer, faster, and stronger. Learn simple exercises requiring little or no equipment and targeting crucial muscles to be a better paddler, build endurance,and prevent injury. You’ll improve your outdoor experience and become …
What is torso rotation?
Torso rotation is critical to paddling success.  As instructors, we talk about it all the time. But what does it really mean, what causes it to happen, and most importantly how do you train for it? Let’s start by defining where torso rotation comes from. When most people hear “the core” in relation to their bodies, they …
Resistance Band Exercises for Paddlers
Resistance bands are a great tool. They’re portable, they don’t limit you to the indoor world, and they’re progressive, meaning the more load you place on the band the more resistance it provides to you. Today’s post will introduce you to a few of the ways you can use a resistance band to develop better …
Energy Balance
The advice I’m going to give you today doesn’t involve diet pills or potions or any other crazy things you’ll find in your local drug store. It’s not even directly related to exercise, but it is important to help you be a better paddler. It’s rare that I meet someone who isn’t interested in shedding …
Power to the Paddle is now in print
The long-awaited print version of Power to the Paddle: Exercises to Improve your Canoe and Kayak Paddling is now available. This comprehensive manual will show you more than 50 exercises to help you be a stronger, lighter, and more confident paddler. Whether you are new to the sport or a seasoned veteran, Power to the …
Do your feet fall asleep in your kayak?
I’ve had many people tell me that their feet fall asleep when they’re kayaking. For many people, the cause of this isn’t actually at the feet, but it’s a result of tight hamstrings and glutes. If the hamstrings and glutes are overly stressed or inflamed, additional pressure is placed on the nerves causing pins and …