John Winters wrote: > > Ralph wrote; > > >I know your paddling background is canoeing. Is it possible that you > >are using a kayak paddle the way I see many canoeists do? SNIPPED > > Yes, I do use a more upright stroke. This hits on the kind of thing I was > talking about re: biomechanics. Jennifer Joy and I had a good discussion on > this regarding what influences what. Do people use long paddles because it > is better or them to paddle with a flat stroke or do they use a flat stroke > because they have long paddles. > > I have no answers to that one. We often read about people liking long > paddles (by long I would say in excess of 210 CM as an arbitrary cut-off > although another dimension is welcome) while also reading about people > liking short paddles (under 210 cm). Why the difference? As I mentioned, > the answer may surface from what I am currently reading about > psychokinetics. Dan's comments on whitewater paddles are interesting and > worth some thought. A couple of more thoughts: 1. Interesting to have an arbitrary 210 cm dividing point when it is generally quite difficult to find any manufactured sea kayak or touring paddle below 220 cm. I am not arguing with the 210 cm divide. Just that it doesn't seem to conform with the real choices a paddler has when he or she wanders into a shop. It's like sitting in Brooklyn and deciding to categorize people as either Finnish speaking and English speaking. There aren't that many Finns around. 2. I doubt that there are universal biomechanics at work since human builds vary so greatly as does strength, stamina, motivation, etc. Perhaps kayak shops should have some measuring devices as do shoe stores to at least narrow needs in paddle length and blade shape. 3. Certainly a longer paddle begets flatter paddling and flatter paddling beckons for longer paddles. Same with shorter paddles, i.e. calling for closer more vertical strokes, etc. I think what happens in these arguments is that we stack up all those points that confirm our own style and paddle choice is "best." Me? I find myself gravitating toward shorter paddles although not quite to the cigar butt size that John favors (but perhaps I should stay away from any cigar reference in light of happenings in DC). Part of my motivation is that I have a reputation for favoring and promoting longer paddles in my book mainly with wide folding double kayaks in mind. That reputation told and retold led my good friend Larry Edwards of Baidarka Boats to say that I was recommending 9 foot paddles when I actually was talking about as large as 8 and 1/2 for paddles with longer blades such as the Camano and only for doubles. John will find his paddle length preference distorted down to 190 cm pretty soon. :-) ralph diaz -- ----------------------------------------------------------------------- Ralph Diaz . . . Folding Kayaker newsletter PO Box 0754, New York, NY 10024 Tel: 212-724-5069; E-mail: rdiaz_at_ix.netcom.com "Where's your sea kayak?"----"It's in the bag." ----------------------------------------------------------------------- *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.gasp-seakayak.net/paddlewise/ ***************************************************************************Received on Sat Sep 26 1998 - 07:16:57 PDT
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