Re: [Paddlewise] Storm & Surf sticks

 Joe Federici said:

<snip>
>>>>
They are Lendle  Nordkapp and Archipelago
used with my sea boat and Mania and Werner side kick with my surf and
white water  boats. The Nordkapp is a crank and the rest are straight
shafts. I find shaft style and length is dependent on personal
preference more then anything.
<<<<
<snip>

Joe/Vince<
Those are some of the paddles I prefer.  (Note correct spelling of
Lendal). The Lendal Archipelago is straight-shafted with nylon yellow
blades for durability and visibility. The straight-shaft is a
no-nonsense affair at 60 degree feather. It is easy on the shoulders,
and at 225 cm, provides good outboard support for low-stroke sea
paddling in extremely high winds. My Lendal Nordkapp is straight-shafted
with white nylon blades. The white actually shows up very well while I'm
inverted wrestling with my native spatial limitations, and I find it the
easiest to orient. It is 70 degrees for feather. I use it for sea
paddling in currents, surf, tide-current interface zones, and any other
invigorating marine hydraulics. A 220 cm length is a nice compromise. It
has an older heavy FG shaft, and has been to hell and back. I can't say
that for my newer Lendal Nordkapp with FG shaft, which didn't even
survive the lake. I also have an epoxy graphite Lendal Archipelago
crank-shaft (or is that a bent-shaft, or perhaps a modified shaft :-) ).
I use this for fast training runs and fitness paddling. It is 70 degrees
for feather. It is all black. The crank design is nicer on the wrists,
but a little more difficult to use if you want to "choke-up" on the
shaft. I bought a CD bent-shaft, but did not like it, and so returned
it. It did have a much nicer ovalized shaft for finger indexing, which I
miss. I would like to make a Greenland stick, someday. My boat is 21
wide or so. I am short-armed. I paddled for years with the big-bladded
Lendal Nordkapp in high winds/storms (actual storm-force velocities) in
my twenties, with a 230 cm length. Three shoulder surgeries later, and a
lot of Cortisone later, I now paddle with a shorter shaft and narrower
blades (usually). A 215 cm white water paddle is best in surf with a
surf boat. I like a nice, uncomplicated paddle/blade for that kind of
paddle-play.

Your stick is your life out there -- choose wisely. Get comfortable with
it before pushing any envelops. And relax that damn grip. Those wrist
tendons need to last you a long time. But do be tight-fisted with your
money. I've always managed to talk the price down on paddles, or waited
for a sale. Having said that, they are an investment.

PS I'll post my strength-training exercises and stretching routines if i
get a chance this weekend. I had a number of request come in. been real
busy.

DL



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