Disassembled

Following the feedback I got from my two attempts at racing, I decided to go in for a paddleboarding technical lesson.  This is dangerous territory.  I was once bought a free golf lesson, only to be told I was not swinging the club correctly.  Once swinging the club correctly I found I was completely unable to hit a golf ball and gave the whole thing up as a bad job.  And, to this day, I find my mouth involuntarily curls into a sneer at the very mention of "golf" (see also Piers Morgan).

Notes from my first session (because I do think I will do it again!):

  • I do "something weird" with my top arm on the catch (when the blade goes into the water) that has a risk of disconnecting the power available in my shoulders and back.  Analysis required to ensure I take stance on the catch in a way that fully engages my core.
  • I am "goofy".   This is a surfing term for someone who steps back on the left foot.   The left foot step back turn is 300 times more comfortable me but this means I will never do a racing turn on my good side.  Drop the back of the board, use weight distribution across feet to bring the turning edge higher to skip over the water.
  • My instinct to use my hips was absolutely correct.  I had been doing this recently, having moved further forward on my board to get more of a whoosh sound from the nose cone.  When I pelvic thrust through the power potion I bring a significant boost from my desperate desire to reproduce.

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