[Paddlewise] Forward paddle, cocked wrist

Thanks for the plug, but we strongly recommend a seasoned paddler stick with
one feather or the other and don't switch to meet the conditions of the
time. Switching destroys your reflex brace (once you have developed one--and
you are unlikely too develop one if you do keep switching around). This is
because you must think which way you are paddling before bracing. I advocate
new paddlers play around with both feathered and unfeathered, left and right
feathered, and different feather angles early on in their paddling careers
but then decide on one way and stick to it when learning bracing, rolls and
rough water skills. The only reason to switch later is if you have some
problem that switching alleviates and then you should learn a new reflex
brace and stick with the change. John Dowd reports having to switch back to
feathered paddling (which he had not done in 20 years) when he was paddling
a tippy surf ski in Hawaii's surf. He had learned his reflex braces paddling
feathered as a youth and then he paddled stable Klepper doubles for the next
20 years (after switching to end his wrist problems). This was before "low
hand control". His experience (and influential book) have had a lot to do
with the impression that unfeathered paddling is THE solution to wrist
problems.

Matt I am glad you wrote that.  I did years of white water paddling with a
feathered blade so my reflex and rolling is with a feathered blade.  I was
beginning to think I need to look for another paddle for my wrist problems.
I have an Adventure Technology paddle with a bent shaft, and I really like
it.  I have almost no wrist movement, and I have taken it on a couple 5 day
paddles with only a little stress on my wrists.  I bought it last year and
was starting to worry it might cause problems in the future. My wrists are
pretty gimpy from arthritis so I have to be careful. The angle on that
paddle fits my hand perfectly and I find the ergonomics works well.  -- MZ
website:
http://members.home.net/mzuschlag

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