One of the biggest debating points in canoeing is what makes a K2 combination "click". Normally prompted by the fit, lean crew that has been dropped by an unfancied K2 crew, paddling at a slower stroke rate, but going faster!
There have been a number of combinations that have been multiple world champions, and whose apparently mirror-like paddling symmetry has been simply beautiful to watch. But even they have been beaten by crews who look terrible, but "click" efficiently on the water.
In broad terms, a boat will respond to compatible paddle power output. That means the paddles go into the water together, the power is very similar during the stroke, and the exit is together. As Alan van Coller puts it "If you filmed it from under water, the stroke and paddle symmetry would be so close, that it doesn't actually matter what the crew looks like above the water".
There are a couple of critical elements to address, to get a K2 to perform optimally. They won't necessarily make your crew an instant winner, but they all contribute importantly to the mysterious "clicking" that makes a K2 fast.
Boat set-up
Seats
It is essential that the seats are the same height. Most boats come with factory fitted seats that are the right size, but often you partner will bring his or her favourite seat, or a sliding seat, wooden seat or some other seat they simply can't do without.
If you end up with seats that are not the same height, it is recommended that the paddles of the person with the shorter seat are shortened to make up for this, or the paddler in the taller seat lengthens the paddle shaft.
Positioning: Who sits in front?
The decision about which paddler sits in front is not a simple one. The stronger paddler, however, must sit in the back, irrespective of size or height. The speed that a boat picks up when it is already planning, is heavily determined by power input from the back half of the boat.
This is a matter of physics, and is easily demonstrated by trying to paddle a K2 (or even better a K4) on your own. Try sitting in the front, and getting the boat going, and you will see how difficult it is to generate meaningful boat speed. Sit in the back, and you'll find the response faster, and more direct.
A bigger paddler in the front means that the person behind does not get to see a lot. But it often works! Look at Ant Stott sitting behind Graeme Solomon, or anyone sitting behind Robbie Herreveld!
Paddles
Having settled on the front-back position, and the seats in the boat, paddle length then becomes critical. This will take quite a bit of experimenting, but makes a difference. It's easy if you have split shaft paddles that you can easily adjust the length of.
In a traditional style K2, the back cockpit is in a much wider part of the boat than the front. So paddle length should be a centimetre or so longer in the back. If you are paddling a new style boat, like the new Nelo K2, the width of the boat at both cockpits is identical. So the paddle length of the back paddler needn't be lengthened to allow for the extra reach over the side of the boat.
Paddle choice can be an issue as well. It does help to use the same style of paddle blade, as each paddle shape behaves differently in the water. And the power output varies from blade to blade.
Seating
It is critical for the boat to perform properly, that both paddlers are sitting 100% comfortably in the boat, and don't worry at any stage about leaning one way or the other. Each crew, or each time you get into a new boat, will need to sort out these "teething problems".
Sometimes it is just a case of spending time with the new partner, or in the new boat to settle down. In other cases, if the boat doesn't feel absolutely stable and upright, then the seats can be adjusted by raising them slightly on one side or the other, and has been discussed in a separate article.
Timing and technique
This is the crunch. Classically, the timing of the stroke needs to be identical. Timing is 95% the responsibility of the back seat paddler - the timing of the blade entry, as well as the timing of the exit blade.
There is a school of thought amongst some top sprinters that the back paddler - the powerhouse - needs to start each stroke fractionally ahead of the front paddler, to generate that acceleration from the back half of the boat with each stroke. It is a very marginal difference, and the subject of great debate.
But even more importantly, the timing of the power output in the stroke is vital. Many regard this as an inherent part of each paddler's style, but it can be worked on and adjusted.
It takes some analysis of your stroke to realise where you apply the power through the blades. Some paddlers plant the blade firmly, and apply a big pull in the first 20% of the stroke. Some apply the power halfway through the stroke, once the blade is securely moving through the water. Others have a "whip" type stroke where the blasé is planted and then power applied progressively throughout the stroke, often in choppy conditions.
Every paddler has distinct sections in their stroke where they apply more power. This is the best represented by a graph, where the power output against time produces a fascinating chart.
Every paddler develops an unique style, and the way that they sit, move their torso, pivot at the waist, swing their arms, and push with their feet, not to mention the strange things they do with their necks and heads!
It is easiest to settle into a combination with a paddler with a compatible style. But don't let that put you off. Some of the Czech crews that are currently enjoying success at sprint World Cups look like dogs on the water, with hugely differing styles. It is hard to believe they click so well.
The point is, there is no right or wrong. The Strokes are either compatible or they aren't. This is what makes the difference between a boat flying or not. While it is true that the power stroke should come from the back of the boat, even if it is under instruction of the tactician in the front, great K2 crews don't happen instantly. You need to spend….
Time in the boat
Much of this comes from plenty of time in the boat. Both paddlers need to work at the combination, trying hard to be sensitive to the subtleties of the other partner's stroke.
Set aside 90 minutes and paddle. Not to race anyone or make any distance or time.
Concentrate on how the boat feels, how the water feels under each combined stroke.
It's a great idea to use the tennis ball resistance technique here, as this gives you a great feel for the water, and the boat is responding to the collective stroke.
Persevere. The frustration is an investment in the future of the combination.!