Re: [Paddlewise] Greenland blade angle (was video request)

In a message dated 2/21/00 4:24:11 PM Central Standard Time, 
rdiaz_at_ix.netcom.com writes:

<< Maligiaq definitely says he has the blade so that the top edge is tilted
 bow-ward.  When I heard this and watched him paddling when he was in the
 Big Apple, I tried that with a European blade and it felt decidedly
 insecure.  But perhaps this blade angle lends itself better for a
 Greenland paddle. >>

I think the size and shape of the loom may have something to do with it.  I 
cut down a old Werner Artic Wind paddle to 86 in to see if I liked Greenland 
style. It has a round 1-1/4 in loom.  I had some instruction from Doug Van 
Doren at the Great Lakes symposium.  He stressed a vertical entry and takeout 
for the blade.  I had no problem with my Werner or with one of the Betsie Bay 
paddles (I did not measure the loom but it felt similar to my Werner but more 
ovalled).  I bought one of Mark Rodger's paddles which has a 1-1/2 x 1-3/8 in 
loom.  It felt quite a bit larger than either of the other paddles and is a 
rounded rectangle rather than oval.  When using the larger loom, I found that 
I had to rotate my wrists slightly to keep the blade vertical during the 
plant.  When I read Greg's article about the forward tilt I immediately went 
out and tried it out.  Letting my wrists go to their natural postion produced 
just the kind of tilt Greg was describing.  The entry seemed much smoother 
(less splashing) and the paddle seemed to travel more parallel to the boat 
during the stroke.  When I planted vertically it seemed to always go a little 
outward.  I do not think I went significantly faster, but I was just as fast 
and it seemed to take less effort.  I should note that I do have very small 
hands, and others may not notice this effect even for looms the size of 
Rodger's paddles.  In fact Mark is also a proponent of the vertical plant and 
seemed to be able to put the blade into the water vertically without rolling 
his wrist when he was demonstating for me.  It may be that I just have very 
bad technique, but I find it much easier to paddle with the forward tilt when 
using the larger loomed paddle.

Mark J. Arnold
MJAkayaker_at_aol.com
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