Dragon Boat West

Dragon Boat Forums => Racer's Village => Topic started by: Ronnie on March 25, 2004, 06:33:27 AM



Title: Time Trials
Post by: Ronnie on March 25, 2004, 06:33:27 AM
My team is having a time trial soon.  Does anyone have any good tips for doing well?  For example, is it a good or bad idea to do starts?  How do you pace yourself?  Do you do a finish?


Title: Time Trials
Post by: Nook on March 25, 2004, 01:22:12 PM
yup.  practice.


Title: Time Trials
Post by: Guido on March 25, 2004, 11:08:38 PM
any suggestions of drills you can recommend Nook?


Title: Time Trials
Post by: samson on March 26, 2004, 04:30:00 PM
i find doin' long normal strokes helps me than doin' starts for
time trials

just keepa steady pace and pick it up near the end

and ask your steersperson to let u know when to kick it up a
notch

good luck :D


Title: Time Trials
Post by: paddleBOT on March 26, 2004, 07:49:36 PM
Here is a sample 250 race course for the Dragon Zone area.  The race course are the coloured lines at different start and end points.  The block in the middle of False Creek is the 500 metre race.

(http://members.shaw.ca/dragonboatwest/images/img_FalseCreek.jpg)


Title: Time Trials
Post by: Steamrollers Moaner on March 27, 2004, 12:39:36 AM
I would recommend using a start piece.  But because you can hit your top speed much easier in a marathon...  you should try a modified 6-16.  I normally do a 4-10 for a start.  For stronger paddlers... maybe even a 4-20?


Title: Time Trials
Post by: DBWTim on March 31, 2004, 10:11:49 AM
I agree with Moaner, you should do a start.  Did a race with fellow paddler where she did a start and I didn't and she had a noticeable advantage in the first half of the race where I was playing catchup most of the way (also didn't help that Moaner was steering like an Irishman after a drinking binge on Saint Patrick's Day...).  I eventually did overtake and beat her though...

While paddling it's best to have a slow, strong stroke rather than pulling an "egg-beater".  Make sure your paddle is planted firmly in the water before pulling, throw in some top arm drive...
After some practice you will get the feel of the boat glide.  For me I usually set me rate accordingly to the glide. It would be something like hit, glide... hit, glide... where I would hit when I felt the boat glide diminishing. Sounds like a ball of fluff but that's how I set my rate (waits for Guido to smack me over the head with the steering oar...)

Leg drive is possible in the marathons but you will need practice in doing it to make sure it's in a linear forward/back motion so that you won't be rocking the boat. Marathon's are ideal for perfecting technique since the actions in the boat will basically reflect your paddling technique.  If you have too much extraneous movement (you basically want a forward/back linear motion) the boat will start rocking side to side...