Academic literature on the topic 'Kayak'

The main objectives of this thesis were to explore the effect of swivel seat usage and determine the specific kinematic and kinetic variables that contribute towards paddling performance corresponding to 40-second and 210-second ergometer paddling for novice kayakers. When using the swivel seat, knee flexion-extension range of motion increased significantly. The greater knee motion indicated the importance of utilising the larger muscle groups from the lower limbs, which might also contribute towards the foot-rest force production that will affect the net propulsive kayak force. When comparing between the 40-s and 210-s paddling, the range of motion for shoulder forward flexion-backward extension produced in the longer paddling duration was less compared to a shorter duration. Further analysis in comparing the begin, middle, and ending period of the 210-s paddling showed that the shoulder forward flexion-backward extension and trunk rotation exhibited a decreased motion from the begin to middle period and then increased from middle to the ending period. The association between these two joint motions will, in turn, affect the paddle forward reach and stroke length. None of the kinetic variables showed significant differences when comparing between the fixed and swivel seat. Nonetheless, a peak force timing profile was obtained for this cohort of novice kayakers. This profile is similar across all conditions. The force exerted on the paddle, seat, and foot-rest peaked at different stages in the 100% normalised drive time; foot-rest (39%-48%) followed by paddle (44%-51%) and seat (56%-73%). In conclusion, there existed different characteristics for both 40-s and 210-s ergometer paddling with some advantages gained from using the swivel seat. Further research is required to investigate how this is translated to on-water paddling and a potential for future paddling skill development program for novices.

A kayak is a very ancient way of riding in the water ; human-powered, it is propelled by means of a double bladepaddle. It is used nowadays to fish, to travel, or to compete at the Olympics. It is the 1,000 meters flat-waterrace that led this project, and particularly its improvement for Steven Ferguson, the actual New-Zealand kayakchampion. This report presents the different parts that have been investigated to improve the paddle efficiencyin the water, and therefore the speed of a kayak athlete on the water.Kayaks are 4,000 years old, and kept since the basic shapes of their hull and paddle. It is only in 1987 that aNorwegian team developed an improved paddle, which is still used nowadays. Every paddle currently availableon the market follow this design. Based on fashions and on the success of athletes, they were unable to suggestany major improvement since. This project suggests a way of significantly improve the performance of an athletein a flat-water kayaking competition.

Thesis (S.B.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dept. of Mechanical Engineering, 2008.<br>Includes bibliographical references (p. 26).<br>This thesis compares the environmental impact of fiberglass, Kevlar, carbon fiber, and cork. A kayak company is interested in using cork as a core material, and would like to claim that it is the most environmentally friendly of the four materials listed above. The efficacy of that claim is evaluated by modeling the manufacturing process, generating an input - output model and performing an exergy analysis. The environmental impact of kayak core material construction on the over impact of kayak construction is nominal. Beyond that, the comparison of core materials results in a qualitative ranking from least to most impact, which is fiberglass, cork, carbon fiber then Kevlar. The diversity of impact, from noxious gases, energy use, volatile liquids, land use and toxic wastes necessitates a qualitative analysis when full exergy data wasn't available. Because of this, the comparison was quantitatively based on the energy use and qualitatively based on each chemicals material safety data.<br>by David R. Kirkland.<br>S.B.

Bakgrund: Det finns begränsat med forskning genomförd på sprintkanotister. De studier som genomförts rapporterade att ländrygg, bröstrygg och skuldra är de vanligaste skadelokalisationerna. Hittills har inte rapporterats hur skadorna påverkar träningsmängd och prestation. Syfte: Syftet var att kartlägga förekomsten av överbelastningsskador och dess påverkan på prestationsförmåga och träning för svenska elitsatsande sprintkanotister. Metod: En kvantitativ enkät användes för att genomföra en tvärsnittsstudie. Enkäter delades ut till 30 kvinnor och 42 män på en tävling som var uttagningsgrundande för landslaget. Enkäten som användes var en modifierad version av den svenska översättningen av OSTRC Overuse Injury Questionnaire. Datan analyserades med hjälp av statistikprogrammet SPSS där analysmetoderna Mann-whitney och Kruskall-wallis användes. Resultat: Totalt delades 75 enkäter ut och 72 svar kom in. Femtio (69%) kanotister rapporterade att de hade en överbelastningsskada. Den vanligaste skadelokalisationen var hand/underarm följt av skuldra, ländrygg och bröstrygg. Åtskilliga kanotister tränade trots överbelastningsskada och detta var mer vanligt bland kvinnor än män. Det fanns ett samband mellan mindre träningsmängd och mer smärta. Konklusion: En hög andel av kanotisterna rapporterade överbelastningsskador. Hand/underarm var den skadelokalisation som var vanligast bland kanotister medan ländrygg och skuldra var de som hade störst påverkan på träning och prestation.<br>Introduction: There is limited research on injury prevalence among sprint kayakers. The previous studies reported a high prevalence of overuse injuries located in the lumbar and thoracic spine and the shoulders. The injury impact on performance and training has not yet been reported. Purpose: The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence of overuse injuries among elite sprint kayakers in Sweden and the impact of these on performance and training. Method: A quantitative questionnaire was used to perform a cross-sectional study. Questionnaires were distributed to 30 women and 42 men during a sprint kayak competition during wich the national team was to be selected. A modified version of the Swedish translated questionnaire OSTRC Overuse Injury Questionnaire was used. The statistic program SPSS was used for data analysis, and Mann-Whitney and Kruskall-Wallis were perfomed. Results: Seventy-five questionnaires were distributed and 72 kayakers responded. Fifty (69%) kayakers reported an overuse injury. The most common reported injury location was hand/forearm followed by shoulder, lumbar and thoracic spine. Several kayakers participated despite overuse injury, something which is more common among women than men. There was a correlation between less training hours and more pain among the kayakers. Conclusion: There is a high prevalence of overuse injuries reported among the sprint kayakers. Hand/forearm was the most common location of injury among the sprint kayakers, while the lumbar spine and shoulders had the biggest impact on performance and training.

Aim The purpose of the study was to define three dimensional range of motion for all major joints (wrist, elbow, shoulder, trunk, pelvis, hip, knee, and ankle) in a group of able-bodied elite canoeists during paddling on a kayak ergometer. An additional purpose was to analyze if the range of motion changed with increased intensity and if there were any differences between body sides during paddling on the ergometer. Method Ten elite athletes (four women and six men) volunteered for the study (22 ± 3.5 years, 78.3 ± 10.2 kg, 1.79 ± 0.06 m). Three-dimensional kinematic data was recorded using an optoelectronic system and twelve cameras were placed in a circle around the ergometer. Fifty-four reflective markers were attached on the subject and 14 body segments were defined in the model used in the analysis to evaluate range of motion for each joint. Kinematic and force data were collected during paddling on the kayak ergometer at incremental intensities starting at 50 W ("Low") and increased with 50 W until the athlete was not able to hold the predetermined level ("Submaximal"). The participants were asked to maintain each intensity level as stable as possible during at least 20 kayak cycles, i.e. approximately 60 sec during the lowest intensity level. Finally, a maximal test was performed ("Maximal"). Mean values of 10 stroke cycles were used in the statistics. Result The mean range of motion was for shoulder flexion; 3 – 101°, shoulder abduction; 9–53°, shoulder inward/outward rotation; 39–51°, elbow flexion; 13–118°, wrist palmar/dorsiflexion; 9–31°, wrist radial/ulnar deviation; 9–22°, trunk flex/extension; 8 –1°, trunk rotation left/right; 24–24, trunk lateral bending right/left; 7 – 8°, hip flexion 85-116°, knee flexion; 7–56° and foot flexion 64–91°. When intensity increased the range of motion significantly increased in peak joint angle for shoulder flexion, shoulder inward rotation, trunk- , hip-, knee- and foot flexion. In general, there were no significant differences observed between left and right side for maximal and minimal range of motion. Conclusion The results from this kinematic study can be used as adequate reference values in the development for an evidence-based classification system for para-canoeists.<br>Syfte Syftet med studien var att undersöka tredimensionell rörelse för samtliga större leder i kroppen (axel, armbåge, handled, bål, bäcken, höft, knä och fotled) i en grupp elitkanotister under paddling på en ergometer. Syftet var också att undersöka om det högsta vinkelvärdet i vardera rörelseriktningen förändrades med ökad intensitet samt om det fanns någon asymmetri mellan kroppshalvorna i rörelseutslag under paddling på ergometern. Metod Tio svenska elitkanotister (fyra kvinnor och sex män) deltog frivilligt i denna studie (22 ± 3.5 år, 78.3 ± 10.2 kg, 1.79 ± 0.06 m). Tredimensionell rörelsekinematik registrerades med hjälp av ett optoelektroniskt system och tolv kameror placerades i en cirkel runt kajakergometern. Femtiofyra reflexiva markörer placerades på kroppen och 14 kroppssegment definierades i modellen och användes i analysen för att utvärdera rörelseomfånget i respektive led. Kinematik och kraftdata samlades in under paddling på ergometern vid olika intensitetsnivåer med start på 50 W ("Låg") och ökade med 50 W till dess att idrottaren inte kunde hålla den förutbestämda nivån ("Sub-maximal"). Varje forskningsperson uppmanades att bibehålla varje intensitetsnivå så precist som möjligt under minst 20 paddlingscykler, vilket var cirka 60  sekunder på den lägsta intensitetsnivån. Därefter genomfördes ett maximalt test (Maximal). Medelvärdet av 10 paddelcykler användes i statistiken. Resultat Medelvärdet för rörelseomfånget var för skulderflexion; 3 – 101°, skulderabduktion; 9–53°, skulderinåtrotation/utåtrotation; 39–51°, armbågsflexion; 13–118°, palmar/dorsalflexion i handleden; 9–31°, radial/ulnar deviation i handleden; 9–22°, bålflexion/extension; 8 –1°, bålrotation vänster/höger; 24–24,  bålböjning höger/vänster; 7 – 8°, höftflexion 85-116°, knäflexion; 7–56° och plantar/dorsalflexion i foten 64–91°. När intensiteten ökade, ökade rörelseutslaget signifikant i skulderflexion, skulderinåtrotation, bål-, höft-, knä- och fotflektion. Generellt fanns det ingen signifikant skillnad mellan sidorna vad gäller rörelseutslag. Slutsats Resultaten från denna studie kan användas som adekvata referensvärden i utvecklandet av den evidensbaserade klassificeringen av para-kanotister.

This thesis interrogates the intersections of gender and emotional labour in an exploratory study of guided kayak tours. The kayak tour is a socially produced location where guides hold the double role of entertainer and protector of their clients. The social space of the tour not only constructs and markets to particular clients (which impact guide-clients interactions), but also constructs particular gender locations for guides. Semi-structured, open-ended interviews were conducted to produce rich qualitative data, and were supplemented by fieldwork and examination of promotional materials. Guides’ stories offer detailed accounts of the emotional labour in which they engage as they produce a tour experience for clients. They also reveal the ways in which this labour is intertwined with their gender projects. As kayaking is unexamined within sociological literature, this thesis contributes to an understanding of the social world and furthers knowledge on the complexities of gender and emotional labour.<br>viii, 112 leaves ; 29 cm

Après la présentation du système d'acquisition, sont exposées les différentes campagnes de mesure à partir desquelles une première analyse a été faite. Ces expérimentations ont permis, en outre, de mettre en évidence un certain nombre de problèmes et de faire évoluer le système. A partir de ces premiers résultats, de nouveaux logiciels d'analyse sont présentes qui permettent de solutionner des problèmes spécifiques, comme le transfert de l'énergie ou l'optimisation du geste

The Olympic sport of Canoe Slalom relies heavily on the complex relationship between an athlete and their equipment, to complete a task in the shortest time possible, without occurring penalties, within a demanding white water environment. A successful slalom kayak is a compromise of forward speed, manoeuvrability and stability as defined by its physical form, allowing the athlete to maintain control in a race environment. The evolution of the slalom kayak has been slow and no set methodology exists to quantify and compare designs and their performance outputs. Slalom competitions are regularly lost by fractions of a second and as the sport relies heavily on equipment, it is imperative that an athlete has the optimal kayak to aid their performance. A questionnaire captured initial information regarding the British Canoe Slalom team athlete’s current boats and related performance. This data lead to a structured testing protocol being devised. A series of identical kayaks manufactured with four iterative form changes at three levels were laser scanned to capture their geometry from which hydrostatic and form analysis was carried out using CAD. Two athletes completed three field tests in the iterative kayak forms. Objective and subjective measures captured performance and the results were presented as a percentage of a control. Strathclyde Universities tow tank facility investigated the kayak forms outright steady state drag characteristics. The results showed that the methodology captured differences in kayak geometry and performance. Average performance time improvements of up to 1.94% were seen over the control kayak as well as decreases in performance of up to 12.4% due to differences in kayak form. The results indicated that athlete mass was an important factor in how a design performed and that different forms should be designed and selected for different athlete masses. This thesis produces a body of knowledge defining methodologies for the categorisation and analysis of slalom kayak form and methods for testing performance. This research will be beneficial to athletes, coaches, designers and manufacturers.