Re: [Paddlewise] Switching paddle types

On Monday, September 16, 2002, at 10:29:31 AM PST, Rcgibbert_at_aol.com
wrote:

> Additionally, If you slide the stroke on a "euro" and a foot or two
> of shaft are submerged it seems to me the blade would also be much
> harder to retrieve than a GP. It seems then to follow, that the
> "Euro" on a sliding stroke would then be less effective as it would
> take longer for the next stroke exposing one to harsher conditions
> and negating the need for such a practice in the conditions
> discussed in the string.

A "sliding stroke" with a GP is really pretty different than sliding
hands along a euro paddle shaft to achieve some extension/leverage.

When we slide a GP, we can bury the full blade either close to or
further away from the boat, but when we're sliding hands along a euro
paddle shaft, we're effectively only extending the position - away
from the boat - where we can effectively place our blade in the water
(without burying a couple extra feet of shaft and putting the blade
deep under the surface - which could really decrease one's ultimate
control).

When a GP blade is buried deep in the water - sliding stroke or not -
the water side hand is either just on the blade or still fairly close
to it, and the other hand is comfortably gripping across the width of
other blade - which gives a great deal of control. If you extend your
position on a euro paddle shaft, your water side hand is much further
away from the extended blade, with lots of shaft exposed, and your
other hand cannot grip the other blade for the same degree of control
(perhaps just at the very throat, but it's really not the same type of
comfortable control you can achieve by holding a GP blade in your
hand).

While I do find it very useful and effective to move my hands along a
euro paddle shaft in a variety of ways, and have developed a powerful
and graceful technique with a euro paddle (if I do say so myself -
which I did!), I find sliding and extended strokes even more effective
and graceful when used with a GP.

To each our own, but I'll second Shawn's recommendation to anyone
curious about GPs...give them a try for a couple of months! I don't
know why exactly, but it took me several years of using only a
feathered euro paddle before I decided to try a GP, and now I'm
hopelessly hooked on my GPs! I'll still happily use a euro paddle when
that's what's available, but my preference is clearly for GPs now.

As is obvious, I can go on and on about what I feel are the
*practical* pros and cons of the different paddles and techniques used
with them, but just as with boats, our ultimate considerations include
the aesthetic as well as the practical. It just so happens that in my
case, my aesthetic sense mirrors my practical side quite closely. I
prefer W. Greenland style boats for both performance and looks, and I
also prefer Greenland Paddles in both regards. I prefer a straight
shaft euro paddle over a bent shaft euro paddle - again for both
performance and aesthetic reasons (I think a bent shaft paddle is
limited in it's performance possibilities, and I also think they're
really ugly! :-)).

Again...to each our own.  The ultimate goal for any of us paddlers is
to enjoy our lives on the water.  Whatever works for each of is the
"best there is".

-- 
Melissa

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