Re: [Paddlewise] FW: Paddling efficiency (w

One of my paddles is short with small blades.  When I first started
using it a couple of years ago, I felt insecure when bracing and
rolling, for I was used to much larger blades.  Although I no longer
feel uneasy over it, I still find that I have to pay attention to my
rolling technique, whereas with a big blade I don't have to think.

I have always been partial to short shafts (e.g. sprint kayak sized
rather than sea kayak sized) and the ensuing vertical stroke/body
rotation.  My preference is to zip about, take a break, zip about, take
a break, and so on, so the sprint stroke meets my needs.  Also, since I
don't do too much with my arms, fatigue throughout the day is not that
big a problem.  I find that long shafts are a bit limiting for my
personal preferences, for I am unable to rev fast enough.

Unfortunately, most short shaft blades on the market are just too big
for me to comfortably flail away for an entire day if I am in a big
boat.  When I am on day or weekend trips in a sprint boat there is no
problem, but in my large sea kayak loaded to the gills with gear, I find
stroking hard all day long to be a bit much.  Therefore, I had a short
shaft paddle made up with small blades.  Now I can maintain my stroke
rate and get full rotation without feeling like I am hanging from a
rafter by the end of a day.  Although I cannot accelerate as well as
with a large blade paddle, I can still accelerate far more quickly than
I can with a long shaft.

I am not suggesting that this is the way to go, but if you are into a
full-body stroke, starting from your toes and working up, you might give
this sort of paddle a try.

Richard Culpeper
www.geocities.com/~culpeper




Chuck Holst wrote:

> >>
> I don't know that anyone has done much with small blades and a more
> vertical stroke. Always it seems to be small blades on long shafts
> (Greenland) or large blades on short shafts (racing and white water)
> .   This
> is not really a fair comparison. From a purely mechanical standpoint,
> the
> stroke closer to the boat wastes less energy (less wasted on turning
> moment). From a purely biomechanical  standpoint the more vertical
> stroke
> promotes more body rotation and use of torso muscles while making
> best   use
> of the arms for maximum push and pull.
>
> It would seem to me that one might get best results using a small
> blade
> that did not stress muscles an a short paddle with a more upright
> stroke
> for greatest efficiency.  The Greenland style of stroke may be a
> product   of
> its length and poor physics. It may work because of the blade size and
>
> nothing else. This fits with what Jerry is saying - adjust the stroke
> to
> suit the paddle. The big question is, does the stroke control paddle
> choice
> or does the paddle choice control stroke?
>
> Cheers,
> John Winters
> Redwing Designs
> Specialists in Human Powered Watercraft
> http://home.ican.net/~735769/
> >>
>
> **
> ***********************************************************************
> *
>
> I don't think of the Greenland paddle as a long paddle. Mine, which
> is   made to my dimensions using traditional methods, is about 218 cm
> long.   The blades are narrow but long (9.5 cm by 89 cm). And if you
> look at old   films of Greenlanders, such as K
> nud Rasmussen's "Palos Brudefaerd," you   do see torso rotation. You
> also see both a low forward stroke and a high   forward stroke in that
> film. The higher, more vertical, stroke was used   when more power was
> needed.
>
> Chuck Holst
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