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 *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - Any opinions or suggestions expressed here are solely those of the writer(s). You must assume the entire responsibility for reliance upon them. All postings copyright the author. Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
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