Day 4: About Being Powerful - Your child is learning how to:
Rowing
- At the catch, maintain a soft, hooking grip with your fingers, and arms straight.
- Sit up very tall at the catch with shoulders down and relaxed.
- Have the blade enter the water the same speed the water is moving past the boat.
- When the oar is connected with the water, quickly thrust your knees downward.
- For every inch your slide moves on the drive, your torso swings toward the bow.
- Swing into the bow to take advantage of leverage from your back.
- Squeeze the oar handles all the way to your chest at the end of the stroke.
Kayaking
- Sit up very tall, with a braced back as the paddle enters the water.
- Have your paddle blade enter the water the same speed as water is rushing by the boat.
- Position your hands at least 1.5 times the width of your shoulders apart on the stroke.
- Have your paddle enter the water at least as fast as the water is rushing under the boat.
- Emphasize pushing with the upper paddling arm over pulling with the lower paddle arm.
- On the stroke, rotate from the pelvis at least 45 degrees.
Sailing
- Keep the hull speed up as you enter an upwind or downwind turn.
- Refrain from letting the boat get in irons where the jib cannot help generate hull speed.
- Feel the best combination of course setting and sail trimming to maximize hull speed.
