Re: [Paddlewise] Switching paddle types

From: Melissa Reese <melissa_at_bonnyweeboaty.net>
Date: Mon, 16 Sep 2002 10:27:43 -0700
On Monday, September 16, 2002, at 9:46:34 AM PST, Nick Schade wrote:

> 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.

I've always slid my hands along my euro paddle shafts for various
reasons, and even held the very ends of the blades for special
occasions, but it's still not the same as being able to slide your
hands *all along the length of the blades*, as you can with a GP.

Since a GP blade at its very widest (at the very end) is narrow enough
for the paddler to comfortably grasp across the width (usually about
3.5 inches wide), it presents more possible hand positions for both
sliding and extended stroke techniques.

While there are some similarities in the advantage of sliding hands
along the shaft of a euro paddle and a sliding or extended stroke with
a GP, there are distinct differences as well. Where these differences
are concerned, I find more variety of advantage to these techniques
when used with a GP.

Also...with the Greenland storm paddle, a sliding stroke must be used,
and this not only reduces the amount of blade flapping in the wind, it
nearly eliminates it...without really losing power. I generally find
this more effective at reducing blade windage than a feathered euro
paddle.

-- 
Melissa

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Received on Mon Sep 16 2002 - 10:32:56 PDT

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