Be Fearless

The DBCB blog is almost a month old now and I've put the mobility project on a temporary hiatus. As we approach our first race of the year, I wanted to take a jab at something that we haven't really touch on before: the mental aspect of dragon boating or competing in general.

An Analysis on Paddle Length

My last "physics 101" post was wildly popular, so I thought that I would do an analysis on another issue that I think plagues many paddlers: choosing the right paddle length.  While this usually comes down to personal preference and trial-and-error, people are usually choose a paddle length without much thought into what is right for them.  Many paddle manufacturers will over-simplify the process down to your height and experience level, which might give you a vague idea of the appropriate size paddle but has flaws.  First of all, why is your overall height important in a sport where you are sitting down?  Simple answer: it isn't.  So if not height, then what is important?  And what is the criteria for experience?  Is it just years of paddling experience?  If so, then every year you continue in the sport you should be buying a new longer paddle.  I'm sure the paddle manufacturers would like that, but if you're like me, then you're more concerned about what the right choice is for the long-term; not an interim paddle that you will "grow out of".

The DBCB Mobility Project: Forearms (Wrist & Elbows)

Happy Mobility Monday!  I've decided that Mondays will officially be the day for new blog posts about mobility.  And being an alliteration is just too perfect.  The first week I covered the shoulders, then I moved down from the shoulders to the lats.  This week I'm moving down from the shoulders on the arms to the often-neglected forearms.  I know that I've heard paddlers complaining about their aching elbows or wrists.  Well both of those are common with repetitive strain injuries (RSI) such as tendonitis, carpel tunnel syndrome, or tennis elbow.  Before you hit full blown RSI, you can take steps to reduce pain.  Any pain felt in the elbow or wrist is usually related to tightness in the forearm, not the actual joint.  So take care of your forearms and your joints will remain pain-free.