Howdy Fellow Paddlers: I'm aware that there are only general guidelines for paddle length. By now I've been paddling for four years with a paddle that is 218 centimeters long (Lendal Archipelago, modified crank shaft, 45 degree feather; I paddle an NDK Explorer, and think I tend to have a rather high stroke, with top arm pushing at about eye-level; I am generally considered a slow paddler, although my club is one of the fastest in the world, believe me...). This paddle was with a variable joint, so I was able to experiment with lengths that were longer as well. I became very comfortable with the length of 218 and 1/2 (although I have not tried shorter ones). Now, as we all know, the fashion has been towards shorter paddles, with a lot of paddlers using 212-216. My teachers here have been encouraging me to go down to this length range, but I have my doubts. First, I have a very short torso, and I think the longer paddle is better for me. At 218, with my arm over my head, my middle finger extends to about 2 inches past the paddle. I am 5' 7.5" tall. On the other hand, maybe a shorter paddle would increase my speed... I feel like I'm asking for a diagnosis from a group of top-flight physicians! Are there any instructors or experienced paddlers out there who would like to offer me some advice on the correct paddle length? See you on the water! Josh (In Israel, where the Med. is still 29 degrees [centigrade, that is]) ------------------------------------------------- This mail sent through IMP: http://horde.org/imp/ *************************************************************************** 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 Sun Sep 21 2003 - 21:53:00 PDT
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