Wash Rider Blog — k1

How to choose the best racing kayak or surfski 0

Kayak and Surfski resistance training that will make you paddle faster 0

Runners have hills, cyclists have hills as well as gears to add resistance to their training. Paddlers we have resistance too. Resistance training is highly beneficial to paddlers as it increases drag on the kayak or surfski which requires more work on your paddling muscles to move your kayak forward. Whether you paddle surfski, sprint or marathon kayaks there are benefits to adding resistance training to your paddling. In the gym weight training is great for paddlers to increase their strength but it doesn’t have the same specificity of working the paddle stroke muscles with additional resistance while balancing the kayak. To increase your maximum power for faster starts or to catch another runner in the ocean you and your coach will be able to put resistance to good use in your kayak training.

Portage handles will make you portage like a pro 0

A guide for marathon kayak paddlers to install your own portage handles ready for your next race.

The best way to portage is to portage cleanly. This requires control of your kayak when taking it out of the water, running with it through the portage and placing it into the water at the end of the portage. A clean portage will be a fast portage so to remove the risk of your cockpit edge slipping out of your hand or losing control while excess water moves inside of your kayak during the portage many of the top kayak marathon athletes upgrade their K1’s and K2’s with portage handles. This gives your hand a complete grip to control the kayak and allow you to easily carry the kayak through the portage like a suitcase. The Wash Rider portage handles are also made with an aluminium insert making them stiff to allow you to steer the kayak where you need it when weaving through the pack in a hectic portage.

10 minute steering tune up for kayaks 0

If you haven't looked at your kayaks rudder cables in a long time, or if you have time to burn and want to have precision steering in your kayak this blog will help you to thread the eye of a needle in your kayak.

How to install a K1 racing kayak foot pump 0

An essential part of any marathon or river race is a kayak foot pump to keep dry and fast while not sinking through the rapids or water from other paddlers splashing into your cockpit. The hubby style foot pump is a very common style which was first invented by the South African paddler Hubby Sandberg in the 1990's. To complete the installation of a K1 foot pump you can either watch the video on the blog or the written instructions.

Six signs your surfski or kayak is not healthy 0