Paddle 2 Fitness

In this month’s podcast, we break down one of the most misunderstood concepts in paddling performance — connection vs power. Most paddlers chase power. Few understand connection. We explain why what happens before the paddle enters the water determines how much speed you actually produce. True efficiency starts with body alignment, sequencing, and muscle activation — not brute force. We also share simple visualisation cues and activation drills to help you feel real connection through the leg drive, hips, and core. If you want smoother speed and less wasted effort, this episode is for you. For our Subscribing members, the video of this podcast has been uploaded to the FB Community Page.

Paddle 2 Fitness Podcast is BACK for 2026! We’re excited to relaunch with Episode #68 – diving deep into longer exits and mastering top arm technique. Whether you’re training for competition or paddling for fun, this episode is packed with tips to take your skills to the next level. Competition Time! Want to be part of the show?

Think spearing your paddle isn’t a big deal? Think again. This common mistake leads to poor connection and incorrect body positioning. In this week’s podcast, we’ll break down why you should avoid spearing your paddle and how to make every catch count. Tune in and paddle smarter.

Want more power at your catch? Holding your opposite rotation might just be the key. By keeping pressure in that opposite leg drive, you can hold off early rotation and early leg drive. This way, you’ll capitalize on 100% rotation and strength from catch to exit. Check out Paddle 2 Fitness Podcast #66 for more insights on maximising your stroke.

We all know that paddling’s not just about strength—it’s about heart and mindset too. Join Coach as he opens up on his journey, from getting ‘MAF’d’ to mastering mental health. Discover fresh paddling techniques and leave ready to conquer new challenges!

In this week’s podcast we explain the concept of paddling leverage and its importance in water sports. Join us as we discover the power of paddling leverage and learn how to use your body effectively in the water for enhanced paddling performance.

Our podcast is back! Dive into our coach’s incredible journey from 108kg to 84kg. It’s all about rediscovering the love for paddling and facing life’s toughest challenges. Join us on this journey, and let’s inspire each other to LIVE life to the fullest!

This month we pair two parts of your stroke together so to help remind you of whats happening at the catch, stroke and exit. We hope that these three pairs will help you create a better activation and remember to focus on boat run through the transition phase / between strokes. Happy Paddling, Coach

This month we are going to revisit Podcast#9 and explain this concept as a percentage. Our goal is to always keep paddling in a downwind and even when your coasting, you should remain in contact with the water and have some power on the catch. But how much power and when? Happy Paddling, Coach

We are excited to be launching our newest coaching pathway to help you all improve your paddling. We have relaunched our YouTube channel and called it “Paddle 2 Fitness Coaching Channel”. On this channel we will have video content for you to watch and listen to as we paddle off the beach, downwind skills and return to the beach. Plus a number of podcasts will be revisited (visually) and we’ll add some other topics along the way. So please subscribe to our newest channel today. In this month’s podcast we discuss paddling into the wind and what we would like you to work on in regards to the time your paddle is in the water and the time it is out of the water. This podcast will link with #10 video on our YouTube channel to be uploaded 10th August. So please subscribe to this podcast, YouTube channel and come join our online training programs. Happy Paddling, Coach Julian

I have seen so much information around training levels, but what training level are you training at and then, what percentages are you training at when going long and slows or fast and short? In addition, what technique are you thinking about at these percentages? In this podcast, we talk training percentages and why you should be working your training levels out. Plus we then discuss technique areas you should be thinking about to help you paddle faster when paddling at 80%, 90% and / or 100%. Happy Paddling, Coach

We were out with a paddler the other week and they asked how can they improve their balance in messy water. To us their balance was good, they just needed a new drill for that extra 1-2%. The drill worked and the paddler found more speed. Happy Paddling, Coach

We had an email from a paddler asking why their shoulders and lower back hurt following a local event. After some questions, we worked out that the paddlers knees were the issue and came up with a clever drill in order to fix this issues which also improved their hip rotation. Happy Paddling, Coach

What do you do then you have the wrong craft for the conditions you are in? Then those around you are catching and you can’t seem to get your craft in the correct position to catch anything. Put simply, you need to adapt and adjust your craft to those conditions and quickly. In this podcast we discuss a situation I found myself in when racing in Tasmania, Australia and what I had to do to keep with the leaders. Happy Paddling, Coach

This month we are talking about paddle direction and what you need to know, look for and feel to make sure you are pulling the paddle through the water at the correct angle and not going too wide at the exit. When I was taught to paddle, we were coached to imagine a ‘J’ stroke as the paddle went through the water and ‘to pull it straight’ once our technique was correct. Lets discuss this and more.

This is a common question from paddlers and the reason is two main things. First is the angle or grip you have on the paddle and the second is leaving the pull shoulder forward putting stain on the peck muscles. In this podcast we discuss these two problems and give you exercise and new drills to work out which one you are doing. Happy paddling, Coach

It’s happened to all of us in a downwind training sessions or race. That moment when the nose of your craft goes up and your cockpit fills up. So what do you do in this situation to empty the water and get back up to speed? In this podcast we discuss how ‘the stall’ happens and what you can do to recover from it. Happy Paddling and Happy New Year, Coach

We have talked a lot over the years about leg drive and its importance. In this podcast we talk about the squeeze of your leg drive and how this simple technique drill will help you have better timing and power throughout your stroke making sure we squeeze and hold not squeeze and pop? We would like to wish everyone a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. See you all in 2023. Happy Paddling Coach

How many anchor points can you think of when paddling? What’s the most important one and which one will have you paddling with more control, power and speed? In this podcast we look at something new which we know will help you become a more efficient paddler. Happy paddling, Coach

Over our 30 years of coaching, we see that a lot of paddlers lose their catch. This is where a paddler cannot control the direction of their catch and the blade slides away from the craft instead of creating a ‘J’ shape. This can come from blade size, paddle length and or poor technique. Let’s run through some of the drills you can using to help fix this technical issue. Happy paddling, Coach

As we look to improve our training program and give you the paddler a better understanding on where you need to improve, we have added at MAF TT to our Peak Performance Training Program. Through the data we have now collected and by comparing your MAF TT (sub-maximal effort) to your Normal TT (maximal effort) we can now work out what you need to do by either adding or reducing intensity in order to become more efficient at a sub-maximal pace which in turn will improve your maximal pace. Go slow to get fast! At the end of this podcast, we give you what you need to do to see how you are going.

Put simply, your all addicted to resistance training! This is great to see and seeing we have been asked so many questions about it, we have had to add a second podcast on this topic. In this podcast we will answer questions like: what to do with the extra power gained from the resistance, more efficient technique, faster time trials and a discount code from a local supplier. So strap on that resistance again and let’s go for round 2.

Resistance training’s aim is to load the body through specific training. Like going to the gym, paddle resistance will load the correct muscles in sequence to help you improve your feel of the water and find any technique inefficiency’s. If this is your first time, start with a small amount of resistance and build up. Happy paddling.

In this month’s podcast we discuss a way to increase acceleration without sacrificing technique or efficiency. A small change to your catch as well as keeping a full stroke through your exit phase will result in better acceleration which in turn, will help you catch more runners.

Working out the correct push arm height and knowing when your pushing correcting is a hard technique to learn. Reason being, you can’t see it until it’s all over. In this podcast we teach you what a strong push should feel like. Once you engage this feeling you’ll know if or when your push arm is in the correct position as well as load more power from the chest, shoulder and hand.

What training should you do leading into a racing weekend? Should you train more or less, harder or slower? In this podcast, we talk about what training you should do, the day you should have off and revisit an old podcast on what to do on Race Day.

When someone walks with swagger, they walk with style, rhythm and one step simply rolls into the next. So let’s add this to your paddling. Paddling with swagger will increase power, improve balance, catch activation and have you paddling faster by simply adding one movement to your stroke. Add some swagger today. Happy paddling, Coach

Do you still struggle a bit in choppy, washing machine conditions, when waves are coming from all sides and are difficult to read, especially paddling close to cliffs? In this podcast we cover all of these conditions and more linking you back to past podcasts and teaching you how to bring them all together.

Are you are falling into the water at the exit of the stroke? Most surf ski paddlers continue to pull the paddle back behind their body resulting in them falling into the water as they lift the paddle out. This simple refocus on what to do in this situation should help you to control this situation, not fall in and catch the next runner.

Adding a seat pad to your craft’s seat can do a number of positive thing. It can put your body in a better biomechanical position by increase body height above the water to give you more power and angle your hips forward. In this podcast, we explain all of these improvements and which seat pads are used for what purpose. Happy listening, Coach

Wash Riding is a great training and racing skill which should be learnt in a safe environment with fellow paddlers. There are three different wash riding positions which we discuss in this podcast as well as the Gentleman’s Agreement when taking leads and also when changing positions.

Over the years of our podcasts, we have broken everything down into its parts. Now its time to bring them all together and discuss the importance of timing. Our focus is to get the correct sequence and ensure that the paddle is our first movement followed by rotation and leg drive. We also give you a new drill so your timing is 100% every time.

When purchasing your first or upgrading your craft, its not as simply as just jumping up a model at the same weight as your current craft. A craft’s width and weight will make a massive difference with balance and you ability to be able to paddle with 100% power. This podcast will explain that jumping up one model is actually jumping up 4-6 difference craft.

As a coach of may years, I get this question a lot. While the question itself is simple, simply shortening your leg length to gain more power is not the answer. Like with all our podcasts, its a more efficient technique which will result in you shortening your leg length.

This month we discuss what paddlers mean when they say “keep downward pressure in both hands as the paddle goes through the water”. We explain the difference between a ‘parallel’ action and a ‘U’ action and give you the best technique drill so you know what downward pressure feels like. We would also love to hear your thoughts on this technique drill and any additional advice you could give your fellow paddlers.

In this month’s podcast we discuss where you should be looking while paddling and why. Looking in the wrong direction or place can affect your technique, balance and efficiency. If looking in the right place, this will improve your breathing and boat control. If you are unsure where you should be looking, this is the podcast for you. Happy Paddling, Coach

This month we discuss how to brace. Bracing is a skill that assists you with balance and control of your ski when you’re resting on a swell / wave. It is a very important skill to master and we trust this podcast will help you understand and put into practice. COACH

On this month’s podcast we are discussing paddle / blade size. What size you should have and how you can work out how to find it. For us its all about ‘feel’ in the water and we will explain how you can find this feel to make sure you have the right blade size for your paddling discipline and or event.

In this month’s podcast we discuss why its important to be doing a proper warm before any race, time trail or sold training session. The aim of a warm up is to prepare the body for what its about to do. Our Paddle 2 Fitness 25min warm up, warms up your technique, power output and will get your heart rate close enough to that of your racing heart rate so your ready to race from the first stroke. Our paddlers who are on the Paddle 2 Fitness Programs have seen massive time gains in their monthly time trails. Not only from our Programs but from doing a proper warm up. Happy paddling.

This month we discuss 80/20 training or polarise training. This is where you train 80% of the time at a slow twitch fibre pace and 20% of the time at a fast twitch fibre pace. We work this type of training in conjunction with our last podcast ‘The 180 Formula’. However, here we are now going to explain to you that you should only train 20% of the time at higher intensity levels (105% pace) and 80% at your MAF level or 80% pace. We explain how we at Paddle 2 Fitness work out your 100% pace and introduce our new Paddle 2 Fitness Online Programs.

If I was to ask you that in a single session I could make you healthier, burn FAT and decrease your stress levels, would you? Dr Phil Maffetone’s ‘THE 180 FORMULA’ is the foundation on which I launched Paddle 2 Fitness and what we have used to train hundreds of our athletes in paddling and surf life saving. This podcast is my coaching philosophy of Phil’s concept and why I am asking you to embrace it for a healthier you. Our Paddle 2 Fitness Program platform is coming and we would like you to be ready. Be safe, Paddle safe, Coach

A race start can make or break your race. In this month’s podcast we discuss warm ups, starting techniques and how much effort you should put into your start. Happy paddling, Coach

On this month’s Paddle 2 Fitness Podcast we help you understand how far an angle you should turn when your paddling in a downwind. We give you a vision of an old fashioned clock face, which will help you on where to look and turn your craft. We have only been using this drill for a couple of months now but have had 100% success with all level of paddlers. We hope it helps you as well. Happy paddling in 2020. Coach.

Which is better: a paddle leash or a leg leash? Are they both safe or is one more unsafe than the other? In this month’s Paddle 2 Fitness Podcast we discuss the advantages and disadvantages in using both the paddle leash and the leg leash. In addition, we explain our thoughts on at which skill level paddlers should be using one type of leash before transferring to the other. Happy Paddling.

In this month’s Paddle 2 Fitness Podcast, we talk about the slight adjustments for you to be more efficient when paddling into the wind. I was taught this by Dean Gardner almost 30 years ago and now teach it to my paddlers. The aim is to maintain your rhythm, not allow the paddle to lift during the push and to keep a perfect catch angle. If you are struggling with this, then this is the podcast for you. Happy Paddling.

On this month’s Paddle 2 Fitness Podcast we discuss how to paddle over boat washes. Paddlers make a number of common errors when these small, closely compacted swells go under their paddling craft. We will explain how your paddle stroke can be adjusted to help paddle over them efficiently.

Foot peddle angle is one of the common things paddler’s overlook. If incorrect, it can affect your balance, footplate contact, leg drive as well as your ability to turn. This month we discuss the right and wrong angles and what happens if your foot peddles are incorrectly set up. Happy paddling

On this month’s Surf Ski Coach Podcast we ask you to see if you have one leg longer than the other. If the answer is yes, we give you a couple of ways to work this out as well as a simple solution.

In every sport, perfect posture is key. With perfect posture the body can generate and transfer power from perfect technique into speed. In this month’s Surf Ski Coach podcast, we explain what is poor posture, ways to understand / fix poor posture and a dry land exercise to help you improve poor posture.  We are sure your mum once said,”sit up, shoulders back”. Your coach is about to explain why this saying will assist you. Poor Paddling Posture Good Paddling Posture Dry Land Exercises  

On this month’s Surf Ski Coach podcast we talk about paddling over large, very step swells and why you should avoid launching your surf ski into the air. The aim is to keep you surf ski touching the water and paddle over the swell without separating your surf ski from the surface. We hope this simply skill will help you paddle faster and avoid any possible damage. Happy Paddling. Photo: Ben Bicshoff Action Paddler: Rob Quirk Ben’s YouTube Channel: click here