Re: [Paddlewise] ACA Greenland certific

At 09:08 AM 7/12/99 -0400, Nick Schade wrote:
>"Narrow Blade Style"  raises no objections from me. I do think most of the
>techniques associated with narrow blades are very applicable to wide
>blades, so basing the name on one particular kind of paddle is limiting.
>But it is a way to teach people who want to use a narrow blade how to use
>it.

I agree that "narrow blade paddling techniques" or something along that
line is a good representative name, providing that the Greenlanders give
their consent. Otherwise simply calling a skunk a flower doesn't improve
its fragrance.

I disagree with you however, about most techniques for narrow versus wide
blade paddles being basically the same. Have you ever seen an experienced
"Europaddler" charge off with a "Greenland stick" for the first time. What
a disaster. Nothing but excessive slippage, flutter (and often a stream of
obscenities) due to incorrect technique. There are different forward stroke
techniques to learn, the paddle is held quite differently, the shape of the
stroke is different, the paddle sensations are different, recovery from
braces is done differently (you don't feather the paddle vertically to exit
as with a "Euroblade"), and so on. Nothing mysterious or difficult mind
you, just different. 

How about some blasphemy? There are some interesting Greenland rolls that
are done without any hipsnap, and in some hand-rolls the head and torso
lead the charge. When John Heath's "Greenlanders at Kodiak" video was
reviewed in Sea Kayaker some years ago, the reviewer (Washburne?) stated
that is was "illogical" that some of the rolls worked. Some techniques were
in direct contrast to the strong-hipsnap-head-come-up-last dogma. In
computer-speak it is a very different paradigm.

If you really want to get into the narrow blade techniques you quickly
realize that you have reached a fork in the road and are about to follow a
very different path. Perhaps the toughest thing is not the learning of new
skills but the need to "unlearn" many things that were imprinted in your
brain very early in your paddling career.

Greg Stamer
Orlando, Florida



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