With another Olympic flame extinguished, we Maltese are once again left wondering if even the smallest spark of podium glory could ever ignite for us. Which sport will yield Malta’s first ever Olympic medal, and when? What sort of national pride would such an accomplishment generate? Would it contribute towards a shift in local cultural tendencies towards physical activity and exercise? Would it help reduce inactivity and obesity among our children and youths?

A tall order indeed, but an Olympic medal would certainly be a fantastic start. Last week I was privy to a conversation between some respected local sports professionals, speculating as to whether capitalising on the popularity of the local Regatta could lead to a credible Maltese rowing presence at future Olympic Games.

Given that we enjoy a climate most of Europe could only dream of and are surrounded by sea, it seems nothing short of madness these factors are not wholly exploited in the sporting sector, particularly when considering lack of facilities are a recurring nightmare in many of the sports we practise.

To add an even greater insult to injury, we have some of the most picturesque harbours and shorelines in all of Europe, begging to be appreciated and explored by the very people who call them home. I struggle to understand precisely why our waters are not simply teeming with kayaks and canoes. What a glorious prospect indeed, paddling away in our abundance of surrounding waters, busting stress, taking in the breathtaking beauty of our islands, bolstering our health and sculpting incredible figures and physiques.

Given my interest in human movement, what I like most about kayaking in particular are the specific biomechanics of the paddling movement. While it might certainly appear upper body-dominant, every athlete knows that true power comes from efficient use of the entire body. Apart from virtually all the upper-body muscles contributing to the effective handling of the paddle that is ultimately used to scoop and pull the water, just observe any sprint kayaker, and you will notice a fair amount of twisting of the torso too, which is invariably driven by the large extensor muscles of the hips and legs as the feet are actively pressed into a stabilising board.

By giving kayaking a try, you can truly breathe fresh sea air and escape from it all, breaking away from the claustrophobia many of us experience throughout our daily lives sitting in traffic or office cubicles

Perhaps the best feature of this muscular recruitment pattern is the sheer symmetry of it. Few sporting movements employ such perfect balance, where the body is required to exert almost identical amounts and directions of force on either side.

The more you do it, the more calories you will burn and the fitter you will get as your heart and lungs must work hard to keep fresh oxygen-rich blood pumping around the system. Apart from losing fat, sprints on the kayak performed maximally within the 40 to 60-second time frame will also serve to build muscle while the water provides progressive accommodating resistance. The harder you pull, the harder it is.

By combining the paddling motion with a sensible overall programme in terms of intensity and duration of effort, you have a wonderfully simple exercise routine to get your muscles fitter, stronger and less likely to sustain injury. Due to the relative instability provided by the water, your muscles, particularly those of the core, are going to have to work pretty hard to keep you from tipping over, making kayaking an excellent activity for honing the body’s ability to recruit and fire muscles subconsciously in the act of continuously preserving posture and stability throughout everyday tasks.

By giving kayaking a try, you can truly enjoy getting out there into the elements, breathe fresh sea air and escape from it all, breaking away from the claustrophobia many of us experience throughout our daily lives sitting in traffic or office cubicles. On a small island, you probably cannot get much more of a sense of space than by heading out to sea. Best of all, if you share these joys with the family, not only can you get in the best shape of your life, but you might even be contributing to Malta’s next generation of Olympic hopefuls.

And here’s where things get really interesting. It didn’t take much digging on my part to find out there is a small but highly organised infrastructure in Malta governing the sport and leisure aspects of kayaking and canoeing locally. I got in touch with a very helpful Christopher Camilleri, himself a distinguished former competitive kayak sprint paddler and current president of the Malta Canoe Federation, who was all too happy to take some time out of his busy schedule to tell me all about the opportunities available to locals interested in taking up the sport.

What I found particularly impressive was the existence of an after-school programme currently running for children of all ages, a perfect option for getting back in the routine of things come October should your children be interested in trying out something new.

Whether you’re looking to compete or just fancy taking to the seas for pure enjoyment, health, and fitness, the federation also runs several well-equipped clubs around the island operated by dedicated volunteers, thrilled to spread the good news about the joys of kayaking and canoeing.

Search for them online and on social media, get in touch and allow yourself to be pleasantly surprised. It won’t cost you an arm and a leg either, only copious amounts of unwanted body fat and cooped up stress.

matthew.muscat.inglott@mcast.edu.mt

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