In the thread, “The role of buoyancy during paddle-in take-offs” I wrote the following,
“When you arch your back as you paddle for a wave, and then maybe arch it a little more as you continue, you shift your weight, or for purposes here, redistribute your mass. (Arching your back accomplishes some other things too; biomechanical and physiological. But for now, it’s the redistribution of mass that is of interest.)”
When catching a wave all sort of factors come into play. In the above, I made an assumption relating to body posture when paddling for a wave. (Yet another mea culpa moment.) It deals with two areas that aren’t discussed all that much, at least not on this forum – biomechanics and physiology. I’ve read precious little in both fields, but it seems that I’m not about to let that stop me.
It appears that we posses reflexes, or automatic responses, to the motion of our limbs. For example, yes breathing will increase when you run because of changes in blood chemistry, but it appears that the mere motion of your limbs will actually get you breathing faster, regardless of blood chemistry.
It could be a blood pressure thing, but it appears more likely to be neural thing. That is, the brain senses rhythmic limb motion via mechanoreceptors strategically placed in joints, tendons, etc. and signals are sent to increase breathing. Apparently, this kind of reflexive breathing is pretty strong for rhythmic leg motion (in humans), but it’s also there for arm motion. Maybe it’s some sort of evolutionary vestigial thing, a hang-over from the time our ancestors walked on all four.
The reflex can be actively suppressed, like when you make a quick dash, at least initially. Or when you start to paddle for a wave? My guess is that instinctually we shut down ventilation (breathing) temporarily in favor of a more mechanically rigid posture, one better able to handle force distribution. Arching your back would seem to also be a part of that instinct. Not that everyone arches their back, so maybe its not as hotwired in everyone to the same degree.
I don’t want to get off topic, but there’s a whole bunch of different kinds of paddlers out there. Two extremes come to mind: the oarsmen approach, the digger approach. The oarsmen approach makes those wide half circles with fairly straight arms, the digger tends to bend the arm at the elbow so that the hand literally moves under the board. There are mechanical differences between the two. Might make an interesting thread, well for some it might … like for the same people who enjoy reading threads like this one – or writing them.
But arching your back may do more than just prep you mechanically.
Not that the opportunity is going to come that often, but watch a five year who has really really got to pee. They jump around back arched, chin up, maybe holding their crouch. But if you haven’t any kids to torture, the next time you really really have to go, arch your back or hold up your chin and see if the sensation isn’t suppressed. Its not completely effective, but it seems to take the immediate edge off the sensation.
Suppressing the urge to pee during take-offs however is really not my point. (Though it might be a good idea.) It’s that certain body postures probably reflexively suspend a lot of other things going on in the body, that is, shut down or inhibit a lot of different neural pathways. (Sounds like I know what I’m talking about doesn’t it?) And perhaps potentiate, or clear the way for other types of neural connections or reflexes.
Here’s where I really get into trouble – if you arch your back while paddling for a wave, that reflex, that for some reason tells you to start kicking your legs will never gets to your legs. Kickers, you know, those guys who seem to start kicking when paddling for waves never seem to have their back arched – they always seem to be flat out prone. It’s as if that cacophony of neural activity in there brain when ‘going for it’ is let out the box – their own grand mal moment.
By the way, I haven’t said that kicking is futile when paddling for a wave (on a surfboard) but I’d love to read any arguments in its favor.
kc
