Abstract

The problem of this study was to investigate selected paddle lengths, shaft types and selected anthropometric measures as they relate to the impulse generated during the bow stroke. The purpose of the investigation was to determine if a paddle can be selected on the basis of a set of measures or whether the present system, trial and error, remains effective. The study was delimited to the bow stroke, paddling on the right side of the canoe and recreational canoeing. The subjects randomly selected for inclusion in the investigation were thirty males and thirty females. All invited participants were defined as individuals who: (a) canoed in settings other than competition and (b) have canoed for a minimum of one year. Results of this investigation consisted of four parts: (a) a check on the consistency of the linear velocity of the canoe; (b) correlations between anthropometric measures to determine the most appropriate measures to include as modifying variables in subsequent ANOVA designs; (c) an ANOVA Split Plot Factorial where the dependent variable was impulse and the independent variables were shaft type, paddle length and a selected anthropometric measure; and (d) a second ANOVA using the second anthropometric variable as a modifying variable. The BMDP2V statistical package was used to calculate all ANOVA designs. The assumption that subjects would paddle at consistent velocities during each trial was supported only for the two types of paddles. Verf.-Referat