Ideal height for Surfski paddling performance

Hi all,

most successful surfski paddlers come with a height well above average. At the same time, an increasing number of shorter skis is entering the market, aimed at female and medium sized paddlers.

1. Are larger paddlers faster?
2. Or does rather the design and size of boats favor large paddlers?

Here's my 2 cents.
Surfski paddling basically has it's origins in SAF and Australia, or at least traditionally that has been the case. The overwhelming number of top-level ski racers come from these two countries. I chalk this up to two reasons. Proximity to open ocean w/big, long period swell, and a longstanding tradition of lifeguard spec racing, as an entry to ocean racing. Not to mention Saffo's and Aussie's typically have pretty gung-ho mentalities about adventure sport and are very comfortable in the ocean. Now ask yourself, what sort of genetic ancestry does the typical (white) South African or Aussie have. They are pretty much descended from northern European stock. Have a look at the dutch, danes, swedes, germans, and many brits. Tall, long torso, broad shoulders. I don't believe it is necessarily the case that larger people make faster ski paddlers, but rather that, coincidentally, many folks from the two places where ski is most popular happen to be large framed. And as a consequence of sheer numbers many of these people arrive at the top of the heap, (and also design boats largely for people like themselves.)

one more thing, some may argue re. height is an advantage in a ski, but to the extent that it is, it is all a function of torso (seated height) A Dinka tribesman from Sudan might eclipse 7ft. but his leg length comprises almost 2/3 of his overall height, giving him no appreciable advantage over a much shorter person with comparatively long torso. So standing height is a canard, it equates to nothing except difficulty fitting in the ski. The ideal paddler might be of average height but with freakishly long torso, fairly long arms, and obscenely strong core muscles like a gymnast..Michael Phelps comes to mind. Also, while a long reach may be advantageous, one quickly runs up against the fact that ski's are not rowing shells, the thoretical "longest stroke" would not pay any real dividends because the cadence needs to be very high to really drive the boat, and a really tall person actually would need to attenuate their stroke somewhat to accomodate the physics of paddle propulsion

The ideal paddler might be of average height but with freakishly long torso, fairly long arms, and obscenely strong core muscles like a gymnast..