Bob, I am 5' 11" and use a 240 cm paddle (blades on the smaller side) with a 24" boat (Pygmy Osprey Standard). This works great for me, since it enables me to keep my stroke low. Except for when I'm blasting across a boat channel, my hands rarely come above my chin. TDittrich > -----Original Message----- > From: Bob Denton [SMTP:gulfstream_at_flinet.com] > Sent: Monday, September 21, 1998 11:45 AM > To: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net > Subject: [Paddlewise] Paddle Length > > I suspect my 240 cm Swift paddle is too long for me. I've cut it down > to a > 230 and may continue shortening it, so I can determine the ideal > length <> > joint pains. > > What length paddles to other Paddlewisenheimers use? Around here > (South > Florida) the average seems to be 220cm. I am 6' and paddle a narrow > boat. > > Thanks for the insight. > > cya > > Bob Denton > > ********************************************************************** > ***** > PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List > Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net > Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net > Website: http://www.gasp-seakayak.net/paddlewise/ > ********************************************************************** > ***** *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.gasp-seakayak.net/paddlewise/ ***************************************************************************
Tom Dittrich wrote: > > Bob, I am 5' 11" and use a 240 cm paddle (blades on the smaller side) > with a 24" boat (Pygmy Osprey Standard). This works great for me, since > it enables me to keep my stroke low. (In response to Bob's post:) > > I suspect my 240 cm Swift paddle is too long for me. I've cut it down to a > > 230 and may continue shortening it, so I can determine the ideal > > length <> joint pains. > > > > What length paddles to other Paddlewisenheimers use? Around here (South > > Florida) the average seems to be 220cm. I am 6' and paddle a narrow boat. As with other questions about length, it depends on how you use it <G>, and the area/shape of the blade. FWIW, I stepped down from a 240 Werner San Juan ('bout the largest blade on the market, and one that really "locks" into the water), which was leading to major tendonitis problems in one shoulder both wrists ... to a 220 cm Lightning (their standard touring blade, I think), some 3 years ago. (I'm 5-10, and used to be pretty strong.) Really knocked the tendonitis problems down, though they are returning. It's only a mater of time, Bob -- sorry about that! A 220 cm paddle will demand a super high cadence in some situations, and you will not be able to race with other strong paddlers, but you will be paddling years after they have succumbed to joint failure. The other major variable is that some paddles are better suited for a low stroke and some to a higher one. My SO loves her Swift, but it demands too high an angle for my old joints. I can handle a Windswift for a while in my double, but not in a single. Remember the saga of the old bull and the young bull, Bob. Just WALK down to that pasture and ... -- Dave Kruger Astoria, OR *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.gasp-seakayak.net/paddlewise/ ***************************************************************************
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