Re: [Paddlewise] Discovering the greenland paddle

Gordon wrote;

(SNIP)
>
>Now the questions. By the way the weight doesn't really bother me but
>prompted this.
>1   Throw wieght-what is it and how is it helpful or a hindrance?

Since the paddle blades move in a kind of elliptical orbit with no real
stopping and starting I am not sure that the "throw weight" (I am guessing
by throw weight one means the moment of inertia) is all that big a deal for
sea kayaks. I suspect the length of most Greenland style paddles does have
an effect. I think the weight in general is a bit of a bummer since you
have to hold the thing up. My personal problems with the longish Greenland
paddle are that one cannot effectively paddle close to the boat, body
rotation is hindered, and one cannot use the vertical sweeping stroke that
provides the most power (racing wing stroke) .
>
>2   These wooden paddles are very buoyant. With a normal paddling cadence,
>I'm guessing, about 75% of the time a third of the paddle is in the water.
>This part in the water is floating pushing upward. What are the dynamics
>here-does it tie in with throw weight?

 As long as you don't have so much flotation that you have to push the bade
down into the water I can't think why it would be a problem.
>
>I'm tired of all this ultralight carbon or flatulium filled with hydrogen
>core this and that. So much seems to be going toward racing and white
>water.I enjoy the fact people think the Greenland paddle is weird. Then it
>is a simple matter of showing how versatile a tool this is. Most often it
>is then "can I try it?'. I'm guessing that the Greenland paddles shape,
>which is quite sculptural, has helped keep this wonderful paddle on the
>periphery. Manufacturing difficulties due to this shape and the added
>problem of body proportions. It is to bad such an appropriate ocean paddle
>has been left on the margins. One other observation that I found
>interesting is that women far out number men in their acceptance and use
of
>this paddle  I'm sure they are not just trying to please me, I'm 83 and
>very wrinkled. They are very naturally graceful and the body / kayak
>movements are not the twitchy spastic motions used with a europaddle.

We have gone around and around on this but to my knowledge no one has ever
presented a sound reason why the high aspect ratio paddle is better than a
low aspect ratio paddle other than a possible improvement in rolling
ability. It seems to me that ones affection for one or the other seems to
have more to do with aesthetics than anything else.

Actually making Greenland paddles in any material is no more difficult than
making more modern blades made with an airfoil shape.

I suspect the motions of users of modern paddles are not caused by the
paddle but are the result of the type of paddling being done and the style
of paddler. If you want to see grace watch Renn Crichlow racing with his
wing paddle. When his stroke is slowed down in slow motion film it is
physical poetry. Each stroke is symmetrical and the body rotation is like
modern dance. What is often deemed graceful is really just slower.

Anyway, if you like it, what difference does it make why you like it. You
aren't likely to die because you use one or the other.

Cheers,
John Winters
Redwing Designs
Specialists in Human Powered Watercraft
http://home.ican.net/~735769/







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