Re: [Paddlewise] Greenland Stroke details

I also experimented with positive angle of attack, versus the
original negative "digging" angle. The main difference was that
with the positive angle of attack one can brace and at the same time
move forward. With the negative angle, bracing requires a quick
movement of the wrist in order to get an upward lift.

The thing that became very annoying about the positive angle, however,
was the loud 'ploupf' that the paddle makes when entering the
water with positive angles. The original negative angle stroke
is completely silent.

The European paddle has more acceleration than the Greenland paddle,
for the same paddling rate. That is, one can accelerate quickly with
a Greenland paddle by using a very fast cadence --paddle like crazy.
But for surfing and other activities that may require quick and
short accelerations, the European paddle is more adequate.

Maybe a quick acceleration is the only Europan style stroke than
can hardly be done with a Greenland paddle, unless you folks know more
of those.

There is an interesting paddle that seems to be something in between,
that is the Aleut paddle. It is narrow, but not that narrow, and
the foil profile is not symmetrical. Some subscribers to the baidarka list
are saying very good things about it. Have any of you folks tried one those?

- Julio

> 
> At 11:50 PM -0700 7/26/98, K. Whilden wrote:
> 
> >During the cruising stroke, with my arms tucked in close to the body, I
> >switch the feather of my paddle halfway through, to maintain a positive
> >angle of attack, It is harder to maintain a proper angle of attack during
> >the first half of the stroke however, so I often very quickly slice the
> >paddle downward so that I apply very little power during a negative angle
> >of attack. Then I use the upward motion of the paddle to apply most of the
> >torso rotation power. The wing stroke is essentially similar to the latter
> >scenario.
> 
> 
> VERY unscientific test this weekend: I did the stroke Kevin describes
> above, maintaining a positive angle of attack on both the entry and the
> exit part of the stroke. Kevin is right, it does work and it turns out this
> is basically my standard stroke, I just hadn't really paid much attention
> before. Then I tried it with several of my greenland paddles (note I was
> using a modern paddle before) and it does give a more solid feel, tending
> to reduce the tendancy for the paddle to flutter. Presumably instead of
> shedding vortices off alternating edges, it keeps the vortex on one side.
> It was hard to say whether there was any difference in efficiency between a
> straight pull and a pull with positive angle of attack. I moved along just
> fine with or without the positive AoA.
> 
> I forget if this positive AoA stroke technique was supposed to be a unique
> ability of a greenland style stroke. I expect if most people examined their
> stroke they would see that they do it to a certain extent no matter what
> kind of paddle they use. An advantage for most people is that by angling
> the power face of the paddle down they get a little brace at the beginning
> of their stroke. Angling the powerface up during the exit just comes
> naturally. Any increase in efficiency is worthwhile but probably not unique
> to any particular paddle.
> 
> I'll stick with my modern paddle for most of my paddling, keeping my
> greenland paddles for playing around with rolls. I still have not heard any
> greenland technique which I can not reproduce with my modern paddle and for
> the paddling I like doing my modern blade works better for me.
> 
> Nick
> 
> 
> 
> Nick Schade
> Guillemot Kayaks
> c/o Newfound Woodworks, 67 Danforth Brook Rd, Bristol, NH 03222
> (603) 744-6872
> 
> Schade_at_guillemot-kayaks.com
> http://www.guillemot-kayaks.com/
> 
> >>>>"It's not just Art, It's a Craft!"<<<<
> 
> 
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