Re: [Paddlewise] Greenland vs. wide blades (was feathered vs unfeathered)

At 07:44 AM 8/12/99 EDT, KiAyker_at_aol.com wrote:
>   OK, I was really trying not to sucked into this one, but what can I say - 
>I'm weak! Sure, you can use a Greenland paddle to surf with. You can also
use 
>hand paddles. In fact, I have been known to throw my paddle away on a wave 
>just for yucks. I will often be seen surfing sit-on-tops standing up! So 
>what? These are all stunts! 

What is your point? Unless you are trying to negotiate hazardous surf to
save your life or are involved in competition, you could view all surf play
as "just for yucks". As long as you can safely maneuver your boat and obey
proper surf etiquette I personally don't care what you choose to surf with.

>   I just popped in a tape of the Santa Cruz Surf Fest and guess what? I 
>don't see one single person competing with either hand paddles, a Greenland 
>paddle, or a non-feathered paddle. Hmmmmmmmmm, I wonder why that is? Believe 
>me when I say that it's not a matter of tradition.

Around here 45 degree feathered paddles for wave skis are fairly common. A
few years ago it was 85 degrees and just over ten years ago all to be found
were hard 90 degree feathers. I would bet that once some hot shot wins a
major surf competition with a revolutionary *zero degree* feather then you
will see more of them in action. There is plenty of peer pressure in
kayaking to either use what your buddies use or to emulate the local
paddling god. 

I have plenty of experience with both wide feathered and unfeathered
paddles in the surf zone and don't find either design to offer a
significant advantage. A competant paddler will do equally well with
either. I often hear the argument that the pushing blade of a feathered
paddle will slice through a wave rather than be stopped. Although your
mileage may vary, I have never had this problem with an unfeathered paddle.
If a wave is so large that it is going to break on or over my chest, I
"become a needle" by kissing the deck, adopt a roll setup position and
spear the wave. Usually the wave is shed quickly and cleanly and with very
little turbulence. The whole procedure consumes only a few seconds and
causes very little disturbance to my paddling cadence. I learned this
technique early in my surfing career from Wayne Horodowich and find it
extremely useful. If you choose to keep your torso erect and continue
paddling in such a scenario then yes, your feathered blade may slice
through the wave but if the wave breaks on your chest, you can be
back-endered and/or slammed painfully onto your rear deck. You may also be
struck in the head or neck by your paddle shaft regardless of feather. As
they say, been there, done that. 

If you insist on some advantages of unfeathered blades in surf, I offer the
following observations. I find that an unfeathered blade is somewhat easier
to keep hold of while getting severely "maytagged" since it has a lower
profile when held against the hull and is less likely to be caught by
violent underwater turbulence. Likewise, since most days of big water in my
area are "victory at sea" conditions and are often accompanied by high
winds, I find an unfeathered blade to be more neutral in these conditions
with little tendency to spin, dive or catch a beam wind. Of course in this
kind of wind a Greenland paddle truly excels. On a very subjective note, I
enjoy the feeling of symmetry when linking strokes that is lost (on me)
with the wrist cock of a feathered blade.

>I cannot think of any advantage 
>to a non-feathered sport paddle, or a Greenland paddle in the surf, other 
>then because that's what you've got and your used to it. Of course using
that 
>logic I suppose you will next be telling me that a 17 foot sea kayak is 
>superior in the surf to a 10 foot surf boat.

Whoa man, ease up on the sarcasm! No one has posted that a Greenland paddle
is optimized for surf play, only that an experienced paddler will do just
fine with a Greenland blade or any paddle of their choice if they want to
enjoy the surf. If, on the other hand, you are really looking for the *most
efficient* paddle for surf play then you have to decide what it is you are
trying to maximize. Is it fun? Is it more points in serious competition? Is
it maximizing air time on an aerial? Is it having money to eat with rather
than buying that $350 paddle? Is it simply making it to shore dry and
alive? And so on. Your criteria will likely be different than mine.

Greg Stamer
Orlando, Florida.


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