Canoe & Kayak Racing: Wash Riding/ Drafting

Canoe & Kayak Racing: Wash Riding/ Drafting


Recently I came across a post by Bob Putnam, owever of Deep Cove Outdoors in in Deep Cove British Columbia, on the outskirts of Vancouver. The post itself was on the topic of "Wash Riding" in paddlesports racing. Bob, who opertates the largest weekly canoe/ kayak racing series in ALL of North America, the Deep Cove Tuesday Night Race Series, offers up some good insights. See the entire post below, quoted word for word with permission from Bob.

"Any benefit I can get from wash riding I'll take. Sometimes it doesn't seem like much. When we look at drafting it would be great to know which is the most beneficial position? The most obvious spot is directly behind the paddler in front, the stern wash. Just like in bike racing. I read somewhere that you can save 5% by stern wash. If its 5% for paddling I would imagine it to be at least double that for cycling. In paddling the benefit is not from wind resistance reduction as in cycling but from, #1 riding the downhill wave that is formed from the lead boat, and #2 the back eddy that is formed as the lead boat pushes through the water.

The next great place to draft is side wash. Here there is a bit of a side wave that you can get a push from. Who knows which is better?? I usually like to ride side wash. This way you can taunt your host and it's easier to move up as you don't have stern wave to climb up and over. Tactically, I think the side wash is a better position to be in. I like to position myself just behind and to the side of the host paddler. Far enough away so that we are not clashing paddles, unless for some reason you want to intimidate him, she or them.

Now when it comes to clashing paddles or trying to take somebody out, normally nobody wins. Both parties strokes ends up getting messed up or stopping altogether and they slow down, whilst the other people in the group chortle to themselves saying things like,"Suckers" or the like.

Converging Sidewash

Now if you can get two cooperative individuals on either side, you can rider their converging sidewashes. This is pretty sweet and you can get a big push from this. Usually you should lay low and keep your mouth shut so they don't notice. If you start yelling things like, "Sweeeet ride!" or "Oooh Baby I can stop paddling now!!!" Your two hosts may decide to close the gap and squeeze you out.

Triple Wash Ride

If you can get it, a stern wash ride with a side wash ride on either side is the Holy Grail of wash rides. Here you can park your paddle and pull out the newspaper. Not long ago on Surfski.info I was watching the great Rambo video of Clint Robinson in an Aussie Race, and prior to the Fenn Hot Spot Clint looked like he was getting a triple wash ride. The only problem is that you are somewhat boxed in. Some how Clint managed to escape and took the hot spot. In last weeks TNR there was a good pack and I am sure somebody had this spot…it just wasn't me.

Scraping Off

Now if the individual riding your side wash is annoying you or you think they will out-sprint you at the finish you can make it difficult for them and try to "scrape them off". This can be done by paddling close to an object that you can pass by, but will force them to slow down and ride your stern wash. Shallow water, docks, rocks and slower paddlers all make for good obstacles for scraping people off. I heard of one case in a river marathon, where the draftee had a rudder which shed weeds really well and lead the group through weeds. The drafter's rudders collected weeds and they had to slow down. Now there is an un-written, but much discussed rule preventing the lead boat from just slamming the door on somebody who is beside them. Here's my interpretation… Let's say we are rounding a buoy or dock and I have the inside lane and I am riding the sidewash of a single ski. If I am behind the paddler beside me but my bow is between him/her and their bow then they have to give way. If my bow is trailing the paddler, then, (if they are feeling particularly nasty) they can shut the door and scrape me off. But always remember to play nicely and that you may have to have beers with them after the race.

Symbiotic Relationships

So with drafting you can look to nature and see a variety of symbiotic relationships. So for instance, a Mutualistic relationship is where both parties benefit. This is like the little bird that sits on the Hippo and eats all the little bugs. The bird gets a meal and the Hippo is Happy too. This can be likened to a break-away group where both parties are taking turns pulling. This usually works well until it is time to determine who will win between the two.

The other type is called commensalism. This is where the one party benefits but doesn't affect the other. An example is when soldier ants go on a raid and stir up other bugs and insects which following birds then eat. In a kayak race this could be when a single is just hanging on to a double and doesn't get in the way. The single's position is advanced, but they don't slow the double. Kinda like me clinging onto the OC2 at Lake Whatcom Classic and pulling away from Reivers!

Another relationship in nature is the Parasite, This is where the parasite benefits from the host, in some cases killing the host and maybe heading off to find a better host. Tapeworms or the notorious Mountain Pine Beetle. In surf ski racing, I would liken this to somebody who drafts a competitor for the entire race and then out-sprints them in the final 200m, bad form, or in some cases the beneficiary would offer words of encouragement or direction to the host giving them false hope that they could catch up to parasite's competitor. "If you paddle a bit fasterI…………., I mean, we could catch that guy" These words are spoken until the Host cracks and the beneficiary moves onto another host.

Bob "