In order to get really good at this sport, you need to engage in deliberate practice. The newer research points toward deliberate practice, rather than innate talent as the key factor in achieving excellence in any activity. Here is an article describing what deliberate practice is:
http://expertenough.com/1423/deliberate-practice
Deliberate practice is not just repeatedly doing something. You have to be motivated to do it well. The thing itself may not be fun or interesting but somehow you must find the motivation to do it well.
And you need to get feedback on it. Without some form of feedback about how you are doing, you might not improve much. Feedback can be in the form of having someone time you and count penalties. Or, having a coach give you feedback. Or, watching a video and analyzing how you are doing. Or, watching others perform the same course and learning from their example. Or, a combination of the above. Just paddling alone does not provide you with feedback.
And you must be performing the same activity you are trying to perfect (specificity). Although there is nothing wrong with cross-training, to get good at something, you have to do it. So, race-specific training is important. Make your practices more race-like in terms of the course, the pace, etc.
And you have to be focused on what you are doing. Just going through the motions isn't sufficient. You have to be concentrating on what is happening and always trying to improve upon your runs.
The key to getting good at our sport isn't talent. You can do it. Our sport does not require unusual physical characteristics that you have to be born with such as great height. It does require some physical qualities, such as technique, strength, speed, endurance, power, and quickness that can be developed through training. It also requires some mental skills of analysis, concentration, visualization, and memorization that most people are capable of learning. But to get really good at this sport, you mostly just have to do as much deliberate practice as possible.
Here is the link to the article about deliberate practice:
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