The Science of Canoeing By Richard Cox

It takes considerable practice to become skilled at washanging, especially to the extent that you can feel
comfortable and relaxed and therefore not wasting nervous energy. Frequent practise in training is important in
this respect.
So far we have only spoken of how to stay on a wash. What if the leading boat is moving at such a slow pace
that you are frustrated? You realize the pace is much slower than what you are capable of averaging for that
distance and you do not have a fast finishing speed to outsprint your opponent towards the end of the race to
win. In such circumstances, you will be obliged to take the lead and increase the pace. What happens if you do
this and fellow competitors simply hang on your wash waiting for the opportunity to outsprint you nearer the
finish? In this case, it is essential that you take advantage of your endurance abilities and set a pace that
opponents cannot maintain for long. It is important to look for suitable opportunities to shake them off your
wash. If, for example, you feel to have lots of energy in reserve, you notice your challengers looking tired or not
concentrating, initiate a short sprint until they fall more than a boat length behind. Should they start to climb
back onto your wash and you are still feeling comfortable and strong, sprint again only this time sustain it until
they are further again behind. In setting the pace and duration of the burn you must be aware of your own
capabilities. Do not accelerate at such a pace that you place excessive demands on your anaerobic metabolism,
especially to the extent that you deplete your muscle glycogen so that you are eventually forced to drastically
reduce your own average pace. Short burns of the ATP system are sometimes sufficient to forge ahead. They
also have a limited effect on long term endurance. If you have acquired a good endurance base you should be
capable of sustaining a long surge of effort without building up an oxygen debt at all. If you are sharing the pace
with a fellow competitor in order to break away from the pack or catch up the leading group, you should
similarly set a pace that is just below your anaerobic zone. As you approach this threshold, drop back onto your
colleague's wash and take advantage of the "lift" until you are sufficiently recovered to take over the pace again.
Many other opportunities will avail themselves for moving ahead of your fellow competitors.
In both regatta and marathon distance racing turns provide opportunities for gaining advantage. To reach the
buoy first allows the lead boat to take the shortest possible route. Boats on the wash will be forced to make
adjustments - either to fall behind the stern of the leading boat or continue riding the "outside" wash which will
be sweeping wider and further from the leading boat. This will necessitate the paddler taking a wider bend and
therefore having to accelerate increasingly around the bend to stay on the wake. It may also involve him/her in a
clash of boats and/or paddles as other competitors jockey for a good line.