KAYAK HOBIE MAUI - Hobie Cat

Ref : MP_MAUI Issued by : IR Date : 02/2012 Up-date : 0 Page : /11KAYAK HOBIE MAUIOWNER’S MANUALPaddlingTo start paddling, it is recommended to have a couple of courses in club in orderto find the good positions.These guidelines will help you to get started, butin any case they do not replace courses by a professional coach.To start, sit in your kayak. Your backside should be all the way back in the seatand your knees comfortably bent. To find the proper footwell,straighten your legs all the way out and then bring them back one “well”. Ifyour legs are too outstretched, you may experience strain on your lower back.If your knees are bent too much, you may end up knocking your kneecapswhile paddling.For proper hand placement on your paddle, start with your hands about shoulder’swidth apart and centered. If you place the center of the paddle on top ofyour head, your elbows should form slightly less than a 90 degree angle. Thereshould be an equal amount of paddle shaft beyond each of your hands.The paddles supplied in option with your kayaks are asymmetrical : they havefeathered blades which gives less surface area for the wind to catch as theblade moves forward through the air.have a flattened spot along the paddle shaft that will help keep your “control”hand in a fixed position.Take the paddles with you hands at the places shown by the red arrows.To learn the process, hold the paddle tight in your right hand and loose in your left. Using the right hand, rotate the paddleblade back and forth; it should spin in your left hand. Now take a stroke on your right, then cock your right wrist back (lefthand staying loose and somewhat open) and take a stroke on your left. If using a left-hand control paddle, reverse theprocess. The left hand stays tight and the right hand loose.Copyright HCE 2012 - www.hobie-cat.net