How to Use the Dragon Boat Erg for Maximum Performance

The erg—aka the paddle erg, ergo, or perg, depending on where you’re from—is the go-to tool for dragon boat training when the weather sucks or the off-season hits. Whether you’re grinding it out on a Kayak Pro or a hacked Concept 2, it’s the closest thing to on-water paddling without actually getting wet.

But it’s not just about staying in shape. Many teams use erg results to rank paddlers, make roster decisions, and separate the weekend warriors from the serious athletes. If you’re not using it right, you’re leaving speed on the table.

So how do you actually get the most out of an erg session? This guide breaks it down—how to train smarter, what to watch out for, and whether all that sweating in one spot is actually worth it.

Key Factors to Consider Before You Use the Erg

If you’ve used it for any length of time, you may have seen some people use… interesting technique while paddling on the erg.

Technique you know that wouldn’t be good to use on the water, and yet the people you see using it may in fact get very good results on the erg.

You may have thought… is there a difference between on-water dragon boat technique and erging technique? Is there a difference? Should there be a difference?

Well, the fact of the matter is this: fast paddling and fast erging require different techniques. If you're not careful, you may end up developing some bad habits that while may help you erg faster, it will actually hinder your performance on the water.

Here's a breakdown of some of the differences as well as some bad habits to watch out for.

Real Dragon Boating vs. Erging: What’s Actually Different?

1. The water (or the lack of it when erging)

Paddling on water is all about grabbing hold of it with your blade and pulling yourself—and the boat—forward as fast as possible. Erging? Totally different. Instead of pulling against water, you’re just yanking a rope backward to spin a fan wheel.

In the boat, your blade can slip, catch, or get messy in the water if your technique is off. On an erg, that’s not an issue. As long as the rope stays connected to the shaft, there’s zero risk of “losing” your stroke. No splashing, no digging too deep, no worrying about water resistance—just reach forward and crank.

Another big difference? No water means no need to hinge down to bury your blade. You can sit more upright, extend the erg shaft, and adjust your setup so that the connection point (under your bottom hand) allows for a full stroke without having to bend forward as much. This small tweak can completely change how you generate power on the pull.

2. The blade angle

In the boat, blade angle is everything. The goal is to get the most force transferred into forward movement, which happens when the blade is perpendicular to the water. The further you stray from that neutral position—whether too positive or too negative—the more power you lose.

A good catch requires a slightly positive blade angle to properly connect with the water. That means keeping your top hand and elbow locked in place, applying downward pressure on the shaft to keep the top hand from “punching” forward. At the same time, you can’t pull too far back, or the blade angle goes too negative, killing efficiency.

Erging, on the other hand, doesn’t care about blade angles. The shaft angle has zero impact on how much force transfers into pulling the rope back. That opens up some interesting tweaks—like drawing the top hand into your face for extra reach, letting it punch forward slightly at the catch, and then bringing it in toward your body at the finish. Some paddlers even finish their stroke with the paddle nearly parallel to the ground. It’s weird by on-water standards, but on an erg, it works.

You can also afford to pull much further back on the erg, taking advantage of pulling as much distance as possible each stroke.

3. The athlete's bodyweight

A heavier athlete, everything else being equal, will be able to produce more force than a lighter one. That’s why there are weight categories in many sports like weightlifting and martial arts.

But for paddling, the advantage of producing more force is offset by the fact that the athlete will also have to pull more mass forward each stroke.

Moreover, even though a heavier paddler will have more inertia, and thus more glide between strokes, a heavier boat will sink deeper into the water, increasing the wetted surface area of the boat which produces more friction for the paddler to overcome.

So, the paddler needs to find the optimal balance between being as strong as possible while also being as light as possible.

For erging, none of these principles apply. It’s better to be as strong and as heavy as possible. This is why the 100m rowing erg world record is held by Brian Shaw, a 400+ lbs. strongman competitor. I’d like to imagine what kind of damage he could do on a paddle erg!

Similarities

That being said, there are still many key aspects of both paddling and erg technique that are true to both. The sequencing of the legs, hips, core, upper body and hands during the pull phase is very important to achieve maximum power and efficiency on the erg shaft, just as it is with paddling.

A good pull/recovery ratio is also important from a physiological point of view. You need to recover between strokes to avoid crashing too early. And you will perform better when you are in rhythm.

How to Approach Erg Training

Being competitive means that your training should always be directed at producing the best desired outcome in line with your goals. Everything else is secondary or supplementary to those goals.

If you are a paddler, your goal will be to paddle a boat as fast as possible. This means you should try to erg with paddling technique as close as possible to real technique. Why? Because then you will know if you are actually getting faster or not.

If you start developing bad habits on the erg but your splits are going down, how will you know if you are truly paddling faster—or if you’re simply “erging” faster? You need to maintain some standard quality of movement in order to compare present results to past results. Otherwise, those gains you made on the erg will not transfer onto the water, where you will not be able to rely on those bad habits.

If you’re a coach, and you care about making sure your athletes benefit as much as possible from erging, consider taking measures to reduce the bad habits that can occur. As much as we can tell our athletes to just “paddle the same as you do on water”, athletes will always, consciously or unconsciously, do anything they can to get away with faster times... even if it means degrading their paddling technique.

Here are some things you can do to mitigate bad habits that arise from erging:

• Implement a barrier behind your paddlers to prevent them from pulling too far.
• Force your paddlers to use the same leg positioning as you do in a boat—if you paddle with 1 foot back, then erg with 1 foot back and vice versa.
• Use a weight adjustment formula so you can compare heavier athletes to lighter ones. Lighter paddlers can be just as good as heavier ones!
• Take the screw out of the erg arm and let it float freely—this forces people to think about not skying too high, and about being a bit more deliberate at the catch.
• Don’t let your paddlers lengthen the erg shaft beyond a reasonable length. Paddlers need to learn how to extend from the waist to reach the catch.
• Monitor how your athletes erg, and let them know that the more they use bad habits, the less valuable their scores are. Rostering an individual with a 2:00/500m done with very good paddling technique might be favourable over someone who uses "erg technique" to pull a 1:57/500m, all other factors being equal.

That being said, if it’s fast erg technique you’re looking for, then consider adopting the so-called "bad habits" and use them to your advantage. After all, you won’t get bonus points at an erg competition for looking pretty!

Looking for the best dragon boat gear? Check out our selection of paddles, seat pads and anything else you need here!

FAQ's

1. What is the primary difference between on-water dragon boating and erging?

A: On-water paddling focuses on moving yourself and the boat forward by effectively grabbing the water with the paddle blade. In contrast, erging is about how fast you can extend the rope backwards to spin the fan wheel, emphasizing moving something else backwards.

2. How does the absence of water affect erging technique?

A: Without water, the need to hinge down to get the blade buried is greatly reduced. You can be more upright and extend the length of the erg shaft for better efficiency during the pull.

3. Does the blade angle matter in erging as it does in dragon boating?

A: In dragon boating, blade angle is crucial for force transfer into forward movement. However, in erging, the angle of the shaft doesn't significantly impact force transfer, allowing for more flexibility in top hand movement and stroke finish.

4. How does an athlete's body weight influence performance in both sports?

A: In dragon boating, a heavier athlete must pull more mass, balancing the advantage of producing more force. In erging, being stronger and heavier is generally more advantageous, as these principles don't apply.

5. Should I use the same technique on the erg as in a dragon boat?

A: While some key aspects of technique are similar, adapting your technique for the erg can prevent the development of bad habits that might hinder on-water performance. It's important to maintain quality movement standards for effective training transfer.

6. What are some strategies to avoid bad habits while erging?

A: Coaches can implement various methods like setting a barrier to limit stroke length, adjusting erg setup to mimic in-boat leg positioning, and using a weight adjustment formula for fairer athlete comparisons. Ensuring athletes maintain good technique during erg sessions is crucial.

7. Can erg training effectively improve my dragon boating performance?

A: Yes, erg training can be highly effective if approached correctly. It should complement on-water training, focusing on maintaining good paddling technique and rhythm, which translates to improved water performance.

8. Is it beneficial to adopt 'bad habits' for erg competitions?

A: If your primary goal is to excel in erg competitions, adapting your technique to exploit erg-specific efficiencies can be beneficial. However, be aware that these adaptations might not translate well to on-water performance.

9. How important is the pull/recovery ratio in erg training?

A: A good pull/recovery ratio is crucial for maximizing power and efficiency on the erg, similar to paddling. It helps in maintaining rhythm and avoiding early fatigue, leading to better overall performance.

10. Can erg training be used for team roster decisions?

A: Yes, many teams use erg tests to assess individual fitness levels and make rostering decisions. It provides a controlled environment to evaluate athletes' strength, endurance, and technique consistency.