Conditioning for Kayaking

Did you know that 13 million people participated in some form of kayaking in 2014, making it one of the most popular flatwater sports (Outdoor Foundation 2015)? If you’re a kayaker, you know that the main challenges are building upper-body strength for paddling and maintaining a strong lower back to avoid back pain.

To make the most of your sport, try these exercises—specifically developed to increase your strength and enhance your kayaking skills—from Dana Von Badinski, MS, a master personal trainer and master group exercise instructor in Charlotte, North Carolina. (You may also want to work one-on-one with a personal trainer who specializes in training for kayakers.)

Cardiovascular Training

Kayak paddlers need high levels of aerobic power and anaerobic capacity, so concentrate on exercise that comes close to peak aerobic capacity. The exercises below were designed for competitive kayakers; you can dial back the intensity for recreational paddlers.

Exercises

Start with an aerobic exercise that can train you for a 1,000-meter sprint-kayaking competition.

High-Intensity Interval Training

• To closely match duration of 1,000-meter sprint, use 2-minute high-intensity work intervals followed by 2 minutes of low-intensity recovery.
• Warm up for 8–10 minutes.
• For work intervals, do 2 minutes of running, swimming or cycling to achieve exercise intensity of 85% of heart-rate maximum.
• Follow with 2 minutes of active recovery.
• Do 5 sets for 20-minute workout.

Strength Training

Choose a resistance that will allow you to do 8–12 repetitions.

Exercises

• Choose shoulder exercises that balance anterior, medial and posterior deltoids.
• Perform dumbbell front raise, lateral raise and reverse fly.
• Include chest press and bent-over row to strengthen the pectoralis major and latissimus dorsi, which are integral in kayak paddling.
• Complete 2–4 sets, at 8-repetition maximum (or an intensity of 8 on a scale of 10), 2–3 times per week.

Core Training

Sports training for kayaking can reduce mobility of the lumbar spine. This can create weak links in the chain of biokinematics connections and cause lower-back pain (Wojcik et al. 2011).

Exercises for Lumbar Flexion, Rotation and Lateral Flexion

• Sit on BOSU®, with resistance tubing facing tubing anchor point.
• Use medium resistance.
• With both tube handles in one hand, pull side to side in spinal rotation movement.
• Maintain 50- to 75-degree tilt backward at hip to hold isometric contraction in rectus abdominis and transversus abdominis.
• For lateral flexion, turn away from anchor point, still seated on BOSU with upper body angled backward about 50–75 degrees.
• Perform lateral flexion with tube handles in hand, as if putting on brakes in kayak.
• Paddle for 60 seconds; rest for 30 seconds.
• Do 6 sets.

Movement-Specific Training

BOSU and Resistance Tubing

• Sit on BOSU facing anchor point, pulling away from anchored resistance tubing.
• Feet may be on floor or elevated for additional challenge.
• Simulate paddling movement with tube.
• Paddle for 60 seconds; rest for 30 seconds.
• Do 6 sets.

This exercise can also be performed with the TRX® RIP™ Trainer tethered in place. Paddle against the tether using the bar.