Re: [Paddlewise] Helping a new paddler?

From: Dave Kruger <dkruger_at_pacifier.com>
Date: Mon, 17 Apr 2000 21:59:11 -0700
Steve Cramer wrote:
> 
> ralph diaz wrote:

> > Paddle manufacturers in their wisdom almost invariably have their name
> > on the blades.  You orient your paddle to the rightside up position by
> > having it in your hands in a way that you read the name.

> The new Whetstone paddles have their name on the back, so other people
> can tell who made the paddle. Perhaps because they are a new company and
> need the exposure :) Applying Ralph's rule here would cause some
> unhappiness.

> As I think about it, the label on my Cricket is on the back, too. But
> they put _my_ name on the powerface. Lest I forget, I guess.

Ditto for my Lightning paddle (an old one -- could be the new ones have the
logo on the power face).

My bottom line on new paddlers and which way they hold the padldle is to let
'em paddle any old which way until they **want** to figure it out.  When they
get to the point that efficiency makes a difference to 'em, they will listen
carefully to ways to improve it.  Liked Werner's clear explanation for which
way to hold an asymmetric paddle (Web site in an earlier post).

BTW, one cold March afternoon, with 10 knots of westerly kicking, I was riding
the car ferry back from the San Juans as it overtook a guy in shirtsleeves,
bare-headed, and wearing Levis (I think), paddling along briskly, paddle upside
down, PFD strapped to the afterdeck, headed out into the big water of Rosario
Strait with its shipping traffic.  He had some 7-8 miles to go to Anacortes,
but I guess he made it, 'cause I never read about him in the paper.  Looked
like an old Sea Runner.

We shuddered to see him, and knew he was untutored, because he had been in the
middle of the fairway of one of the narrow passes as the ferry came through --
oblivious to the ferry, I suppose.

-- 
Dave Kruger
Astoria, OR

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Received on Mon Apr 17 2000 - 23:47:10 PDT

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