Rambos Locker Ocean Sports Video Blog

Leg drive is really not what actually happens in an OC1. Yes legs do appear to pump, as in the Paradise video, but that is to allow the hips to rotate to gain further reach. Unlike the Surf Ski/ Kayak stroke which sweeps out to the side and tilts the ski/kayak from side to side, the Oc stroke is straight down the center-line of the hull. The legs are just a part of the connection that starts from heel, continues to circle the body and ends at the blade anchored in the water. The legs pump in response to the twisting of the hips.

Some OC paddlers appear not to pump at all, this i believe is fine as mostly they are larger body types and the torque transfer is primarily through their butt on the seat connection.

Lot’s of top paddlers paddle with their butt very close too their feet, which gives them the high knee look, so obviously there is not a lot of leg drive going on there, just a different style of torque transfer and it works for them. Personally, i cannot paddle this way as I’m too unstable and my learnt style requires that i have hip rotation.

No matter what style you adapt, the most important thing is still getting efficient transfer of power from the paddle to the hull resulting in maximum FORWARD movement.

Chuck in a few bumps, side current and wind and you have a whole new ball game.

A Case Study - Danny Ching on OC1 compared to a Kayaker

In this video of Danny Ching, his leg drive appears to be restricted in an OC1 compared to a kayak. As you can see from this short video of him … there is slight leg movement but no leg drive that i can see, that is not to say that he could be pushing on the heel to lock the knee

Also i have split the screen with a cut a way kayak showing what leg drive is, you can clearly see the difference in foot to butt level, which then allows more rotation.