Re: [Paddlewise] Switching paddle types

From: Nick Schade <schade_at_guillemot-kayaks.com>
Date: Mon, 16 Sep 2002 12:46:34 -0400
At 11:38 AM -0400 9/16/02, Rcgibbert_at_aol.com wrote:
>In a message dated 9/15/2002 5:11:50 PM Pacific Daylight Time,
>rdiaz_at_ix.netcom.com writes:
>
>
>>  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.
>
>I find them, Greenland Paddles, to be as effective as other paddles in
>extreme conditions if one uses the appropriate technique for the condition.
>The sliding stroke with a more vertical entry will provide the initial
>outburst necessary to compete against prevailing conditions. Once up to speed
>a standard stroke is as fast as one from the other paddles.

If a GP is as effective as a "euro" only if you use proper technique, 
why can't you use those same techniques on a euro to make it even 
more effective? Why doesn't a sliding stroke with a euro increase its 
power in the same way the stroke increases the power of a GP?

>
>In bad winds, a GP, in my opinion, is much less susceptable to wind. It stays
>lower along the deck for one thing and the edges are much finer and offer
>much less surface to be grabbed by the wind. When one goes vertical the blade
>is typically deeper and is still much less of a target for wind. For sea
>kayaking I've not gone back to the other side. I find no reason as GP's are
>again, in my opinion, emeinently more useful.

I am confused about why a euro does not stay close to the deck like a 
GP. What is it about the euro that makes it so this technique is not 
possible? And again, why can't you use a sliding stroke to reduce the 
exposed area of the blade?

If the advantage of a GP is a low stroke posture and the ability to 
do a sliding stroke, I don't know why these advantages are not 
available to the euro.
-- 
Nick Schade
Guillemot Kayaks
824 Thompson St
Glastonbury, CT 06033
(860) 659-8847
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Received on Mon Sep 16 2002 - 09:46:52 PDT

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