Outer Edge Magazine

If your goal is to race – be that pure ocean paddling or multisport racing – you’ll want to start developing your paddle fitness. And the best way to do that is in a squad.

Mass motivation
Unless you have the self-discipline of a saint, you’ll agree that sports training of any kind is easier, more efficient and a lot more enjoyable when done in a group. Squads add a fun, social element to training, and this interaction and support provides incentive to keep turning up and putting in the hard work. When you snooze through the alarm and miss a session, there’s nothing like a gentle ribbing from your training mates to keep you honest!

Inspiring intervals
If you want to increase stroke rate, raise aerobic threshold, and maximise endurance, you need to incorporate at least one quality interval session into your weekly training regime. But how many times have you tried to complete an interval session on your own, only to slack off on the final effort, because – well – you could? Let’s face it – interval sessions hurt, and if no one’s around to push you to your limit when it counts, chances are you won’t. That’s the beauty of the squad environment; a healthy mix of camaraderie and competitiveness, when harnessed by a knowledgeable coach, can help each individual athlete push him- or herself just that little bit harder to achieve a higher quality workout.

Healthy competition
Speaking of competitiveness, if you’re reading this right now, chances are you’re a personality type A who quietly relishes a bit of friendly rivalry. Once you join a paddling squad and work out where you sit in the pecking order of fitness and skill, you’ll soon find yourself singling out one or two paddlers you want to ‘beat’ at training. This makes squad training great for gauging where you’re at by comparing your progress against other paddlers – and there’s nothing more motivating than having someone to chase down!

(For more, including a sample training session, see issue #30 of Outer Edge)