Kayak Blaggers Guide
(inspiration taken from Richmond Canoe Club)
Blagging, know your boats & equipment
- K1 = 1 person Kayak
- K2 = 2 Person Kayak
- K3 = 3 person (tho very rare)
- K4 = 4 person kayak.....
- K5 = K4 + two juniors wedged in at number 4
- Wings = paddles
- Flats = ironed wings
- Regina,Whisper, Stilleto = Racing K2s
- Jag = Jaguar, racing K1, old shape
- Cougar = Lo vol K1 for the Ladeeez
- C1, C2 = 1 and 2 man canoes, including Hi Kneeling kamikazee things
- "Skinny" = New shape boats
Races
- 10K = Weds time trial race, 3 laps of torture
- 200M, 500M, 1000M = Sprint distances, raced at regattas
- A to D = sprint divisions (A - C for women...who do things with fewer letters)
- Vets = Animal doctors (and older paddlers, 35+)
- Divisions = 1 - 9 covering marathon distances (4Km upwards), 1 = v good 9 = mostly juniors and medal hunters
- Descent = as in "River Descent", Liffey, Exe, Conway (ascent!) and lots of others in parts foreign; Douzie, Sella
- DW = 125 mile Devizes to Westminster
- Thameside = warm-up races for the DW, held on the Thames
- Waterside = warm-up races for the DW, held on the...er....water
- Hare and Hounds = Staggerd start to try get everyone to finish at the same time
Canoeing Technique
- Big Plan = Sort of plan that is more statement of "desirable outcome" than "intent" but certainly involves a top three place in Mens B final at the Nationals next year tho might have to downgrade that to "Top three finish in anything"
- Circuits = Tuesday nite torture run by Trish "Training for success" Davey
- Power Circles = Sort of satanic rite thing, 5 pointed star and all that
- Stroke Phase = Bit rude but can be helpful to analyse it
- Hydodynamic lift = The buzz you get from falling in
- Catch = as in "...I can't catch those damn juniors..."
- Winging = making it up
- Rotation = Something to do with crops?
- Draw stroke = Possibly illegal
- Bow rudder = I thought the steering bit was at the other end?
- Support stroke = Applause heard when someone falls in
- High brace = A bit like High Tea without scones
- Low brace = Back support for veterans
- Slap support = Firm, open handed blow applied to hysterical paddler
- Interval training = Tiring stuff, best avoided
Racing Terms
- Le Mans Start = Have to run to your boat at the start. Sounds daft and probably is.
- Monte Carlo starts = Bit like Le Mans start but more of a lottery
- Wash hanging = considered cheating by those who can't do it. Arrestable offence when sprint racing
- Cheating = see "Wash Hanging"
- Burn = Setting fire to competitors boats or, more accurately, "Burning" past them.
- Regatta = Sprint racing, often in Nottingham, with a party on the Saturday nite
- Marathon = Long distance stuff, generally no party
- Information on the British Canoe Union (BCU)
- A useful document on strenght training for Kayak Sprint
Handy Race Pace Calculator
