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Sound Kayakers Club

Sustainable Living Practices

Thursday, June 3, 2010, 2-8 pm.
Fee: $150, maximum 6 students.
This six hour clinic will coach you step-by-step to improve the efficiency of your stroke. Joe brings the techniques of an elite racing paddler to sea kayakers to give you greater speed with less effort. In addition to touring kayakers, we welcome novice surfski racers to the class. We start with a half hour orientation on land, then move to the water for drills to learn each of the key elements of an efficient, powerful forward stroke. Joe spends 10-20 minutes with each participant. He follows you to see where you can most benefit from improvement, then has you follow him to model select aspects of the stroke. While he's working one-to-one, the rest of the class is doing partnered practice, or getting videotaped for later critique. I capture each student on camera before instruction and after individual coaching with Joe. We return to home base to view and discuss the video over supper, and receive individual feedback. Each year, several of our participants go on to achieve excellent results in local races. Some gain the confidence to join our 14-20 mile cross-Sound trips. Others are content to have improved their touring performance so they can keep up better with group trips. Read their comments below.

Pre-requisite: Paddlers should have taken at least one on-water class, such as ACA Introduction to Kayak.

Hold your place by sending a deposit. See Joe's bio, quotes from participants in previous classes, and "Other Course Information" below.

Joseph P. Shaw has been racing and coaching in canoes and kayaks all over the world for more than 25 years. His favorite races are multi-day marathons. He was a nine time member of the US Marathon Canoe and Kayak Team, with five first place finishes at U.S. Team Trials. In 2008 Joe raced in our local Lighthouse to Lighthouse Race and finished the 14 mile course in 1:59:59.

Joe is the racer to the left, calmly and inexorably overtaking the paddler in front of him. Notice the high angle stroke with no splash.

Top international results include 3rd at the 1989 Descenso Internacional del Sella, Spain; 7th at the 1989 World Cup, Porto, Portugal; 1st at the 1991 North American K-2 Championship; 4th at the 1999 Chao Phraya International Canoe Marathon, Thailand. Was U.S. Team leader in 1991 and 1992. ACA K-1 National Champion, 1993. 1994 winner of Blackburn Challenge. USCA 2002 ICF K-1 Masters National Champion. 2003 3rd place in Holyoke Cup Pro Kayak Marathon. 2004 1st place in Run of the Charles Masters Kayak and 2nd place in Holyoke Cup Pro Kayak. 2005 2nd place in Holyoke Cup and 3rd in K2 at US Marathon Team Trials. For 2006, Joe stacked up impressive results, including fastest time of the day in the Adirondack 40 Miler (5:09, with Dan Gelinas). In the Run of the Charles he won the Pro Mixed Division and in the General Clinton 70 Mile Pro Race, won the Men's Senior Division.

Joe has multiple first place iron man finishes in Canoe Triathlons. Professional Canoe race recent highlights include 2003 1st place Athol River Rat Race, 3rd place St. Jerome, Quebec and fastest overall time at Josh Billings. 2004 highlights include1st place Westfield River Pro Wildwater Race and fastest overall time at Josh Billings. 2005 2nd place Mixed at Ausable River International Canoe Marathon and 3rd Mixed at Classique Internationale de la Maurice.

Read Joe's "Tips From the Pros" on the Mayor's Cup Kayak Championship website: http://www.nymayorscup.com/shaw.html

Quotes from participants in Joe's clinics:

• I had a fantastic time with Joe last week. I hope I did not hog too much of his attention! I banged out 8 miles on Saturday a.m. in 1hr 20 mins using my improved catch and got home with much more gas in the tank than usual. I have a lot still to learn but the tips I picked up during the session, and even just studying his technique up close was well worth the $. Thanks again. - Gary W, May 2009

• I enjoyed the Joe Shaw stroke clinic today. I expected a drill sergeant who would leave us with our tongues hanging out. But he was extremely friendly, demonstrated the stroke real well and patiently answered all our questions. I learned the components and now know what to practice if I want to do better. - Bill M, May 2009

• Thank You. I really learned a great deal, and hope to follow up with your class next year. I will have to work hard to correct my stroke, muscle memory, and energy cycle. Humbling, but I love to learn. - Rob C, June 14, 2007
  
  
• Joe, Your clinic was so worthwhile. I really appreciate the thorough notes you left with us. - Henrietta P., June 15, 2006
  
  
• I got so much out of the JS clinic yesterday. It really made me more aware of what I was not doing with regards to my stroke. The straight arm position, the exit by the waist was a biggie for me. Had a blast and so good to meet new people. Worth every penny. - Lisa E., June 15, 2006
  
  
• As usual the programs you make available to us are top notch. The information and skills I learned in a very short time will have a lasting effect on my kayaking. Thank you for putting on the Forward Stroke Clinic and also for your support in the water with us. - John F., July 7, 2005
  
  
• The lesson yesterday was fabulous. Joe, Deb and you ran an extremely informative class. It communicated just about the maximum amount of information I could assimiliate, which is just how I like classes to be. - Claire D., July 14, 2005
  
  
• That was a great day last Thursday. I really enjoyed the class with Joe and hanging out with everyone afterwards was a lot of fun. Ed H., July 14, 2005
  

Other Course Information: Two weeks before class we'll send a four page outline and resource list. Participants use their own kayaks, or may rent one of ours for $40 for the class. If you are training to race or want to ensure maximum power from your paddling stroke, we recommend use of a wing paddle. More U.S. racers use the Epic wing than any other. As one of our participants noted, "Using the wing paddle forces me to rotate completely, and gives me consistently best technique." (Howard P., of Westport)

A wing paddle is not necessary! We will have alternate paddles available for you to try in class if we feel that the one you bring is not giving best results. This may happen due to length (often too long), blade shape, balance, or materials.

For those interested in racing, Joe will answer questions on boat selection and set-up, race strategy and specific skills, training regimens and nutrition geared to the length of your race.

Photo: Joe races a K-2 with Josh.