I paddle unfeathered, mostly because I prefer it after having tried both ways, but I wonder if there isn't an aspect of technique that is a strong factor. Perhaps some of the more experienced can advise. It seemed natural to me when I tried paddling feathered that the way to control the paddle was by moving the forearms, and not the wrists. Raise the opposite arm and the paddle naturally rotates to the proper angle. It also seemed that paddle blade angle would thus dictate how high you rasied the arms, and hence the the actual paddling angle. Now, I like to vary my stoke a lot, ranging from almost horizontal to a nearly vertical stroke when I'm accelerating hard- pretty much identical to my racing canoe stroke. The amount of torso rotation I use also varies with the stroke. All these factors would seem to dictate unfeathered paddles. Comments? -- mike --------------------------------------------------------------- Michael Edelman mje_at_spamcop.net http://www.foldingkayaks.org (nomadics) http://www.findascope.com (choosing a telescope) *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - All postings copyright the author and not to be reproduced/forwarded outside PaddleWise without author's permission Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
Mike wrote: >>Now, I like to vary my stoke a lot, ranging from almost horizontal to a nearly vertical stroke when I'm accelerating hard- pretty much identical to my racing canoe stroke. The amount of torso rotation I use also varies with the stroke. All these factors would seem to dictate unfeathered paddles. Comments? -- mike<< Hi Mike, Why would varying stroke angle and torso rotation necessarily "...dictate unfeathered paddles"? >From my experience, these variances can be employed very nicely with any angle of feather - or non-feather. Is there a specific reason you feel that use of an unfeathered paddle is preferred in these "circumstances"? I think that for just about any paddler, varying stroke angle, cadence, torso rotation, various braces, etc., are all just aspects of a normal paddling technique. Melissa *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - All postings copyright the author and not to be reproduced/forwarded outside PaddleWise without author's permission Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
I agree Melissa and believe that it is also one that is utilized with little to no deliberation after it becomes second nature. Feathered or not. Unfortunately, bad technique becomes just as ingrained as proper technique, which makes it hard to change. Fred At 12:38 PM 10/25/2000 -0700, Melissa Reese wrote: >I think that for just about any paddler, varying stroke angle, >cadence, torso rotation, various braces, etc., are all just aspects >of a normal paddling technique. > >Melissa *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - All postings copyright the author and not to be reproduced/forwarded outside PaddleWise without author's permission Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
Michael wrote: <snip> Now, I like to vary my stoke a lot, ranging from almost horizontal to a > nearly vertical stroke when I'm accelerating hard- pretty much identical > to my racing canoe stroke. The amount of torso rotation I use also > varies with the stroke. All these factors would seem to dictate > unfeathered paddles. Comments? I don't think that any of those factors would *dictate* whether to paddle feathered or unfeathered. In most conditions, it isn't necessary or desirable to have a death grip on the paddle shaft. This being said, then a loose (but controlled) grip allows for feathered or unfeathered paddling with equal facility. For most of us, it probably doesn't matter much whether we paddle feathered or unfeathered. But it is important to decide on one or the other, and to be consistent in all conditions. Unless, of course, you don't mind missing the occasional brace..... *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - All postings copyright the author and not to be reproduced/forwarded outside PaddleWise without author's permission Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
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