"ralph diaz" <rdiaz_at_ix.netcom.com> wrote: >I know that generally in a cruising situation one with a Greenland paddle can keep up with or even be faster than paddlers with Europaddles (all else being equal); and the Greenland paddle is easier to learn to roll with and roll with. However, I was wondering whether a Greenland paddle has the sheer power to get you out of a jam, say if you suddenly find yourself being swept into a dangerous close pier by gale winds. Like Melissa, I haven't used my GP in dedicated surfing, but have used it for everything else. There are folks like Steve Scherrer or Greg Stamer who use their stick for pritnear everything. (If there's a deficiency, it's the paddler, not the paddle) The only place the GP is slower is in that first acceleration stroke or two when you're really trying to horse the boat. If you're 6" from the pier, you might want a wide-bladed paddle. If you're 6' from the pier, you can get away, even in gale winds, just as quickly with the "stick". >There is a reason why wide blades are used in whitewater and also generally in surfing. I'm of course still using a wide bladed paddle in whitewater, and also used it for a recent rough water rescue course. If I'd been on my own in the rough water, I'd have the GP; since I had students under my care, I felt I should use what I knew better (I've only been using a GP since early this season). I see plenty-skilled paddlers using their GP's in rough water, and ocean surf, and do just fine. If the 'stick' were causing them problems, I'm sure they'd switch back to the Euro paddle....it's not as if they were suffering for the sake of fashion of any sort. Besides, if you "bury" your hand on the stroke, you get so much blade area in the water that you don't notice much difference from the "bite" with a Euro paddle. Shawn GP's: not for those who like dry hands, though. (but, if you enjoy them for rolling, dry hands aren't really a concern) __________________________________________________ Do you Yahoo!? Yahoo! News - Today's headlines http://news.yahoo.com *************************************************************************** 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/ ***************************************************************************Received on Mon Sep 16 2002 - 09:40:07 PDT
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