With the season coming to a close,what does your team, or you as an individual, do to keep in shape over the next 6 mths?

6 months? We're off for two months and then it's back to paddling.

Where the heck do you live?????

Pool paddling once a week starting in January.Running 3x per week and weights 2x per week.Also whatever rec stuff I do like skiing and hockey.If I cannot get out to run I do the bike for 45mins to and an hour.

Without regular practice, it can be tough to stay motivated once the racing season ends so I focus most of my activities on stuff I actually enjoy doing.

That means lots of cycling until the snow flies (usually mid-December) at which point, the bike goes on rollers and the cross-country skis come out. Plus there's a lot of recreational paddling to be done in the fall!

I also try to do a short but regular low weight/high rep exercise routine which of course, includes plenty of snow shoveling!

You laugh but it works. So put that snowblower away and get those ripped core muscles you've always dreamed of!

Well I usually paddle right up to and into January most years so no major off time there. Usually I am off the water in early Jan until March then right back on. Swimming takes up most of my upper body aerobic work in the fall and winter when I can't get on the water (it's more sport-specific to paddling). Yes regular weight training also occurs at this time as well.

Shouldn't winter weights be a periodized cycle of high weight/low rep AND low weight/high rep routines?

Big question for me this year is whether or not to use creatine supplements.

Quality couch time 'til March. That's when I'll train hard for a few weeks and get into peak condition.

Hey Gang,

It's a little early for me to be thinking of the off-season yet what with Great White North and Stratford still to go but as team spirit-coaches, Dabney and I are campaigning to be the last team to leave the water this year. We don't stand a chance in the Shantastic pushup challenge so we felt we had to come up with something.

So far, our coach (my Mom), hasn't really warmed up to the idea. She says that her indoor Bocce Ball league starts up the Tuesday following Stratford and she'll be damned if she'd risk injuring her bowling shoulder over some half-baked scheme to show the other teams how tough we are. "This ain't Vancouver and you ain't no False Creek paddler!" She says that about all of my ideas.

However, I do plan on keeping very busy in the fall and winter. After too many mishaps, I'm putting away the Bowflex for good. I'm looking into something more low-impact. I'll probably just send away for that paddle-adapter kit for my ERG and put up my new Buday brothers autographed poster for inspiration.

In the meantime, I'll get back to trying to get my build-your-own OC-1 out of its mold. The guy at the marine shop said I probably didn't use enough mold-release. I thought he was kind of rude about it. Whatever.

Anyhow, see you guys Saturday!

Prepare paddles...BANG!
Barney

I'm hurt and embarassed that someone would try to imitate me.

You don't have to make fun of me with your crazy ideas of Buday posters. By the way, what's a Buday?

I haven't been in the forum much becasue of my knee injury. I seemed to have hurt myself paddling and now have to wear a knee pad in the boat. I got a green one to match my glove and seat cusion.

Anyways, please, Fake Barney, stop pretending to be me.

The Real Barney.

Kudos. (I borrowed that from the real Dabney)

Barney, you're my favourite forum dweller.

Thanks Alice,

I like you too but my favourite has to be Dabney. Hi Dab.

No, I meant the other Barney. Barney's posts are funny. Considering the allusion to gloves, I suspect you are actually an X-pad or member of the junior crew.

Ok, now I am confused. I just was chatting with Barney at Tim Horton's and he said someone is impersonating him. I just chuckled as I know a lot of people like to copy Barney. I said I hate when people copy me -- but I guess it is flattering too.

Barney and I went out and did some out-rigor paddling on the weekend and it was fun -- but I think I will stick with good old dragonboat rowing -- it seems that the high level of bicep strength we have built up keeps causing us to flip the boat -- the coach said -- your guys arms are just way too strong.

So I hope every one knows who the real Barney is -- if you ever see him you will know by his friggin' 11-inch pips.



kudos!

Dabney