Re: [Paddlewise] Paddles You Use

From: Kirk Olsen <kolsen_at_imagelan.com>
Date: Wed, 25 Feb 1998 10:02:52 -0500 (EST)
On Wed, 25 Feb 1998, Dave Kruger wrote:

> The thread on boats people paddle has been a useful one for me --
> learned a lot about different craft without even getting wet!  I'd be
> interested in hearing what others use to paddle their boats, and how
> their paddle choice has evolved.  Here's my saga to kick things off:

218 cm Lightning Ultralight with Struer blades and a 45 or 60 degree 
offset.  The blades on this paddle are oversized.  It's a wonderful 
paddle, nice and light with a good grab on the water and a fairly stiff 
shaft.  This is my wife's current favorite.  

220 cm Bratcha II wing paddle, with 60 degree offset.  Stiffer and heavier
than the Lightning.  I'm still figuring out how to use this paddle.

7'6" Cricket greenland paddle.  I usually use this when I paddle with my
wife.  If I'm not going out for a workout I usually take this.  Nice 
looking paddle with a very comfortable blade loom transition.  

Bow paddle, about 220 cm.  No feather, arched shaft, with grips mounted
perpendicular to the shaft.  I've only used this paddle about 8 to 10 times
so far.  The technique is different, and I can do a few different strokes
with it.  I'll probably spend equal time with this and the Greenland in
the future.  There's a picture of this at 
http://world.std.com/~jkolsen/html/bow.html  It's a good cold weather paddle
in that my hands stay dry because the water doesn't run down the shaft.

Baldwin 225 cm, 80 degree offset.  Almost as light as the Lightning with
more flex in the shaft.  Nice paddle for someone who doesn't muscle it too
much.  The shaft is translucent and I left stress fractures in the shaft
when I used it for a race.

Werner Comano take apart.  Spare paddle.  I don't like the feel of the
blades in the water, the weight, or the feel of the shafts.


For the canoe:
Barton 14oz carbon bentshafts.  Basically my only canoe paddles.  I've been
meaning to make a cherry (wood) straight shaft to use soloing and doing
freestyle.


kirk
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Received on Wed Feb 25 1998 - 07:03:46 PST

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