Okay...before I begin, I would like to declare that my analysis is purely my own. It holds nothing of the many big bad scientific hoo haa articles out there about balance. No big fancy physics theories here, so don't go around quoting me in your exams and tests :? .
All right, here we go. Balance. Something we hear very often as canoeists. In canoeing, there is always the big four that defines a champion from the rest. Power, Endurance, Technique, Mental strength, and yes, Balance. (erm....did i say four? I meant five....really...)
Okay....this article is obviously not about power, endurance, technique, and mental strength. So, we shall jump straight to balance. Balance can be split into two levels. The first level is simple. Just don't capsize. (for more info on capsizings, please refer to my previous post). The second is more subtle. It is that subconscious instinct that keeps the boat gliding straight instead of being swung viciously left and right as you put your 20 years worth of milk strength into each pull. Technically speaking, for the same amount of strength put in, a straight moving boat will glide further than a boat cascading sideways to and fro like the big momma who lives opposite my block :shock: . However, in Singapore, one can generally dominate the local scene by mastering the other four skill sets.
Next, we tackle the urban myth that girls have better balance than guys. True? I suppose everyone will have their own views on this. However, physically speaking, we can imagine certain reasons to support the above mentioned view. Naturally, girls are made to be more curvaceous than guys. This means that in general, girls have bigger hips and bums that are more fleshy. They also have smaller arms, narrower torsos and shoulders, and tend to put on less upper body muscle as compared to guys. And although girls have certain fat accumulation areas (ahem :oops:), the fact that muscles are denser than fats offsets that effect. Another physical condition to consider is that girls are generally less tall compared to guys. All this suggests that girls in general have lower centers of gravity than guys, which will explain why they have less trouble keeping their balance.
Another possible explanation is the initial rowing technique executed by guys and girls who have just taken up the sport. Most people start out on the sport rowing T1s or T2s. Guys who will be guys tend to be more impatient, often trading power for technique. They tend to lean more to the sides as they try to squeeze as much power into each pull as possible. This technique when brought over to the kayak will prove to be their downfall. The kayak is a far less forgiving boat and any excessive leaning to either side or any uneven application of power tends to upset its fine balance. Girls on the other hand, without the convenience of relying on raw power alone, are more prone to developing the correct techniques required to keep their boat balanced, and when they bring these over to the kayak, tend to have an easier time adapting.
Other general ingredients for a good balance include the extent that one weighs the boat down in the water. Heavier people who cause their boats to sink into the water more than normal people will find their boats are better balanced and have less tendencies to tilt to any one side. People who have excellent waist and hip dexterity will also find it easier to counter any imbalance in their boats.
Of course, everything that I have mentioned above is in general. I have seen many exceptional cases that does not agree with my analysis, for example guys who are so top heavy but are able to balance their kayaks well, girls who are bottom heavy but have trouble balancing their kayaks. In the end, the above mentioned ingredients can only make the process of perfecting one’s balance easier and smoother. The real test will come in each individual’s ability to adapt to whatever ingredients they have or don’t have, and still perfect their balance. :wink:
