Following on from my last post about the daunting yet exciting leap into the Advanced Performance Coach (APC) pathway, I have been thinking about what actually makes a kayak move well. In my climbing days, we used to talk about "the flow" where movement feels effortless despite the vertical world. In sea kayaking, especially when the water gets lively, that flow is a specific recipe of ingredients.
If we want to progress beyond just "surviving" the conditions to truly performing in them, we need to look at the TTPP model (Technical, Tactical, Physiological, Psychological) through a professional lens:
Technical Precision: The Physics of Efficiency
Technical performance is essentially a game of managing fluid dynamics. When we looked at those laminar flow diagrams, the message was clear: air is the enemy of drive.
Biomechanics: We stop thinking about "paddling with our arms" and start thinking about the kinetic chain. Efficiency comes from using the large muscle groups of the legs and core to drive the blade through the water. The arms are simply the struts that connect the engine to the paddle.
The Catch: This is the most critical phase. We must ensure the blade is fully submerged before we apply any power. A "noisy" catch introduces air and turbulence, destroying that beautiful laminar flow and wasting your energy.
Consistency: It is easy to have a perfect stroke on a pond. The real challenge is the ability to replicate that precision when you are sitting in the middle of a confused sea state or a fast moving tide race.
Tactical Intelligence: Decision Making Under Pressure
In advanced environments, even the most refined technique will fail if your tactical plan is poor. This is where we stop fighting the sea and start using its energy.
Environment Reading: This is about developing a deep understanding of tidal flow, wind fetch, and swell patterns. Instead of gritting your teeth against a headwind, tactical intelligence finds the "conveyor belt" of an eddy or the shelter of a rocky outcrop.
Anticipation: A high level performer is always seeing the "next move" three steps ahead. Whether it is timing a surf landing or positioning for a ferry glide across a race, anticipation reduces the physical effort required. This aligns perfectly with the BCAB focus on leadership in dynamic water.
Psychological Fortitude: The Inner Game
I mentioned feeling like an imposter in my last post. While that feeling is common, how we manage it determines our performance.
Pressure Management: When the stakes are high, our technique often reverts to old, inefficient habits. Maintaining technical integrity when the waves look big is a psychological skill that requires practice and self awareness.
Growth Mindset: We have to reframe our "failures." Every missed line or unexpected capsize is not a sign of poor skill but rather a vital data point for improvement. In the APC journey, we learn to love the "messy" learning process.
Physiological: The Engine Room
If technical skill is the steering and tactics are the map, then the physiological component is the engine. In advanced water, we are often asking our bodies to perform high intensity work for extended periods.
Core Strength and Power Transfer: This is about more than just "six pack" muscles. It is the functional strength required to maintain a rigid "power box" between your shoulders and hips. This allows the energy generated by your legs to reach the paddle blade without "leaking" out through a soft torso.
Aerobic and Anaerobic Capacity: Sea kayaking in advanced environments often involves long periods of steady state paddling interspersed with explosive bursts of power to cross a move or catch a wave. Your physiological readiness determines how quickly you recover from those redline moments.
Flexibility and Range of Motion: A high level of performance requires a significant amount of spinal rotation and shoulder mobility. If your body is tight, your stroke length decreases, and you begin to rely on smaller, weaker muscles which leads to early fatigue or injury.
Nutritional Strategy: You cannot run a high performance engine on empty. Part of the physiological pillar is understanding how to fuel your body for a six hour day on the water.
#Anglesey #AdvancedPerformanceCoach #Performance_Coaching #BCAB_Policy #Paddlesport_Training #TTPP
