[Paddlewise] FW: Paddles You Use

I started out with a 220 cm or 230 cm paddle from Aquaterra.
As I recall, it had an oval shaft, but it was a little heavy. My first
spare was a 48-inch Bending Branches bent shaft canoe paddle
that I bought from Ron Hultgren when he was making them in
his garage.

(For two years I was editor of Loype for the North Star Ski
Touring Club. Our printer was in the same building as Bending
Branches, so I stopped in a couple of times to chat and look at
their catalog, including the first one to include kayak paddles.
It was fascinating to see how the business had changed over
the years, and to see how automated machinery had replaced
Ron's handwork on the first Bending Branches paddles.
Downstairs from Bending Branches was a place called Arms
and Armor, which makes museum quality reproductions of
medieval arms and armor. As a former fencer and one-time
member of the Society for Creative Anachronism, I found this
business equally fascinating. One of their 16th century rapiers
that I tried had a very nice balance.)

The Aquaterra paddle became my spare when I bought a 245-cm
Wind Swift. Despite its length, which I now think is 15 to 25 cm
too long, the Swift became my favorite paddle because of its light
weight. However, I had to modify the round loom in order to get a
better feel for the orientation of the blades. I did this by putting
double-sided foam tape on opposite sides of the loom, sculpting
it with a razor blade, and shrinking heat-shrink tubing around it.

Then, after seeing a Greenland paddle demo by George Gronseth,
I ordered John Heath's article on the subject from Sea Kayaker
and made my first Greenland paddle. I haven't used the Wind Swift
since. I now own three Greenland paddles -- two standard length
paddles of different cross-sections and one storm paddle. I also
have one that has been half-finished for over a year. I will probably
put wide plastic tips on it like the bone tips typically found in
Greenland, just to see how it feels to paddle with it. Also, this
paddle will have a longer loom. My first ones were too short, even
for a Greenland paddle.

I carry the storm paddle on my foredeck as a spare. It is very
easy to grab it and roll up with it if I should drop my standard
Greenland paddle when I capsize -- no assembly required.
Much to my surprise, the storm paddles have become our
favorite rolling paddles for both Linda and me. Because of their
short lengths, they are much easier to move around underwater
than the standard Greenland paddle. When I was learning to roll
on my off side, at first I had more success with the storm paddle
than with the full-length paddle!

Chuck Holst

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