I am a new paddler (one year) and did my first Classic this last August. Still stoked. Couldn’t have done it without your book and the questions you helped me with along the way. Thank you.I especially want to improve my prone paddling speed when laying down (knee paddling is by far my strength). Would you recommend lap swimming or just surfing more to improve that area. I don’t really enjoy lap swimming but would consider swimming masters if you thought I could significantly improve. How would that fit in the different phases of training? (Adaptation, Base, etc). I do surf a lot but will gladly surf more if you think that is best for off season training.

Kyle,  USA

Congrats on a very successful first season of training and racing!  As a new paddler, my main recommendation is to keep paddling. Prone paddling is the best training if you want to get faster.  You have only been doing this for one year and for most athletes,  time on the board is your best bet.  it is very important that you  mastered knee paddling. In most cases, knee paddling is most challenging for new athletes.

To work on your prone paddling – work your weakness. Include one training session and focus on staying prone for 70-80% of the time.

In my experience, swimming will help your prone and overall paddling but do not swim in lieu of paddling if you have the time to get out and paddle. The winter (adaptation and base phase in USA)  is a good time to get in the pool 2-3/week and dial things back in the spring to 1-2x/ week.  It is always easier mentally and a lot more fun to get in with a masters group rather than swimming alone so try to hook up with a group that fits into your schedule.

During the race season (pre-competitive and competitive phase)  you could still swim 1-2 days/week (for example Monday and Friday when you don’t race on the weekend). Should you go that route, go easy in the swim sessions so you have most of your energy to put towards your paddle workouts. Conversely, it is  okay to put most of your energy into your swimming until you transition out of the base training phase of your year.

Surfing will also help but not as much as swim training or paddling. That said, don’t go nuts with that recommendation. Get out and surf. All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy.