VERMONT WATERWAYS PADDLING ADAPTER TESTIMONIALS


Clark Eid, Ph. D. (in stern), World record holder with Bob Bradford for running the Mississippi River by canoe, 18 days-4 hours-51 minutes for 2,348 miles during "The Mississippi River Challenge for Rett Syndrome and Leukodystrophy, May 2003" writes:

"My ability to paddle and shatter the world record for running the Mississippi River by canoe (2,348 miles in 18 days, 4 hours, 51 minutes with Bob Bradford) was directly related to my training on your paddle adaptor. My on-the-water training schedule fell apart the year before the charity event, when my daughter became more ill and my employment situation began to erode. As a result, I had very little available time and often trained at odd hours with intense workouts using your paddle adaptor. My workouts during the months preceding the event were typically 1 to 2 hours in length, two to three times a day. I focused on workouts designed to build muscle mass and strength because of the muscle wasting what would occur during the race as 9-10 thousand calories would be burned with each 20 paddling hour day. Endurance was gained through the frequency of the workouts."

"During the second month of training before the event, I attached a 5 pound weight to the paddle adaptor's shaft with the housing dampener set at 10...not something I would recommend to anyone with a hint of common sense! This was done to simulate the worst of paddling conditions such as solo paddling into a headwind with my partner sleeping, or the unfortunate situation of having to paddle hard because your very life depended on it. Both these situations came up, and I was ready."

"I would strongly recommend the VT Waterway's paddle adaptor to anyone looking to increase their general fitness training as well as to the serious athlete looking to build strength and endurance."
Larry Wentzel of the Steel City Dragons, Pittsburgh, PA writes:

"I've been paddling and instructing various canoe disciplines for about 20 years.  2002 saw the introduction of Dragon-Boat in Pittsburgh PA.  2003 saw the installation of a paddling adapter at Steel City Rowing Club (our Dragon-Boat team's parent entity).  Two things became immediately apparent.  This is a great device to self-train and to develop technique against resistance - something that is hard to do off-water.  It is also the best tool I've used to teach forward power stroke technique.  I am now introducing new people to good form and controlled power in about fifteen minutes - something that can take hours or even days to accomplish in outdoors settings and in boats.  Recently, we began testing our coaching staff using it to monitor their technique and power output.  It is very telling in that every fault is immediately obvious.  Every Club and instructor should have one of these.  Now if I can figure out how to get one from the work-out room to the river for whitewater clinics, I'd have it knocked.  Thanks!"

Kayaker, Rick Eliot of Lyndonville, VT writes:

"The Vermont Waterways Kayak Adapter on the Concept2 Rower has been a big help to my kayak training in a number of ways. It is the most "Paddling Specific" strength and endurance training device available for the winter months. The adjustable resistance control enables a paddler to dial up the tension to maximize strength training sessions. Or the resistance can be decreased and used for endurance training. Turn on some "paddling music" to provide a fun workout. Second, the Adapter's paddling motion is so close to water paddling that technique improvement is easy to accomplish.  I set up a mirrors in front and to the side of the adapter for some good self coaching sessions. It works well.  Being able to paddle, in addition to off season cross country skiing and gym training, makes an unbeatable combination."

 

Barry Thomas, Outrigger Paddler of Sydney, Australia comments:

"I've been using the Vermont Waterways paddling adaptor on a Concept 2 for years now and I think it's a great training tool and an excellent simulation of on-water paddling. I find the instant feedback on power output, stroke rate, heart rate etc. to be very useful for technique adjustments. I believe it has really helped me to smooth out and balance my stroke. It is also great for strength training as you can vary the resistance on the Concept 2 up to a seriously challenging level. When time is short I particularly like the fact that I can squeeze a worthwhile training session into as little as 30 minutes - as compared to a conventional ocean paddle that will usually take a couple of hours out of my day."

"I love having the Concept 2 available as well, as rowing is a superb cross-training activity. Of all my toys the only thing I value more than my paddling machine is my OC1."

"I've just started outrigging at a new club with lots of novice paddlers and I expect we'll use the paddling machine as a coaching tool. It is good to be able to go through the basics of the stroke with a novice while on dry land where you can jump in at any time to demonstrate what you're talking about. The instant feedback on force/pace that the Concept 2 displays also provides clear evidence to the paddler that some ways of paddling work better than others. I hook up my laptop to the machine and use the RowPro software to provide even more interesting data for analysis - but I'll admit I'm just showing my geek side here.
Of course another good use for the paddling machine is providing a fair means of comparison between paddlers for crew selection."