Concept2 Forum

Hi, I'm wrapping up my first season on the Skierg and playing around with sprinting for the first time. I have experienced slack in the cord lines of my Skierg at certain times recently. I can't figure out why or even what combinations of s/m, wattage, drag, or stroke mechanics bring this on but it seems that it has only happened relatively late in very intense efforts. Has anyone else experienced this? I'm wondering if it's something with my form breaking down. I can't believe that I'm raising my arms faster than the recoil of the cord but it feels like that is what is happening. Any ideas on what is happening and a remedy? It kills power on the strokes where this happens. Thanks for any advice.

Not a skierg pro, but some experience during 1 1/2 year gym usage.
Cord slack can happen on high rates, very likely worsens when technique breaks down. Watts and drag don't play a role in it, as these are purely linked to the active drive phase of the stroke, not the recovery, when slack can happen.
Out of interest, about what rate and pace are we talking about in these sprint pieces? When I do sprints like a 100m, I get the splits down to 1:22 at a rate of mid 60s and sometimes it feels like you describe, but mostly when I get out of balance due to the high rate (= technique drops off).

Sounds like we're experiencing the feeling of slack in the cords under similar circumstances. For me s/m in the 50's, and pace tapped out, which for my 100m is in the 1:30's. But I've also had this happen at 500M. The only common indicator I can come up with is fatigue and form breakdown. Any ideas on what form would create the feeling of slack in the cords and an inability to generate power?

Most likely the slack occurs when you slam down your arms and body without a proper reach before. When you create much momentum, but reach to the top of the stroke just before you hit the drive and get connection, the cable isn't straight to transfer power to the flywheel. It's a timing issue with arms and trunk I would say.
In recent intervals I could go hard on 6x250m with a rate of 60, averaging 1:31.2 and 1:29.2 for the last one without any issues and really feeling a nice and fluent stroke, even on that high rate.