When paddling into winds > 15 I have difficulty keeping up with paddlers using feathered Euro paddles vs the traditional Greenland I am using. Into winds > 20 mph I fall behind very quickly. Would a storm paddle help me maintain a higher speed into the wind? At what wind speed would you normally switch to a storm paddle? Mark Arnold mjamja_at_earthlink.net Why Wait? Move to EarthLink. *************************************************************************** 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/ ***************************************************************************
On 2 Nov 2003 at 14:01, Mark Arnold wrote: > Would a storm paddle help me maintain a higher speed into the wind? Possibly. I don't know if I actually end up paddling faster with the storm, but I do paddle a little easier. Part of that is a slight change in technique, which means different muscles are used and the tempo changes, so it feels different and that makes it feel easier. The other part is the upper blade is not in the wind and the paddle becomes a bit easier to handle. The sliding stroke takes getting used to, though. I paddle as fast or faster than most of my paddling companions most of the time, so I have no way to gauge whether I end up faster with the storm. I certainly can sprint faster in rough conditions with the storm paddle that most of my compadres. YMMV. (maybe I should paddle with fast-pokes...) > At what wind speed would you normally switch to a storm paddle? No idea. White-caps usually, but not always, cause me to switch. Because I'm not usually falling behind, I don't have an incentive to switch. I'd say I paddle with the storm more when I'm solo and then under scary (not Doug Lloyd scary, but normal paddler scary) conditions. If you've never used a storm, it's probably worth making one and trying it out. You might prefer it under those conditions even if you don't speed up much. A storm paddle makes an awesome pool rolling paddle too! Small, light and manoeuvrable with nearly the same lift/sculling power as a regular GP. Mike *************************************************************************** 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/ ***************************************************************************
A storm paddle *might* help you in winds that would slow you down otherwise. Personally, I find it's only an advantage for me over 30 knots (And by that point, I'm usually headed for my car). What will help you more with a GP in a headwind is to refine your technique ---- Use a "stomach crunch" when you pull the paddle. Greg Stamer has a good article at www.qajaqusa.org about forward stroke mechanics. FWIW, my girlfriend has the same problem --- she can keep up with anyone until you give her a headwind of about 20 knots, and then her technique falls totally apart sometimes. She knows what to do, but doesn't even realize that she's not doing it. If the storm paddle works for you, by all means use it! It's a fun paddle to use, and just as fast as a full size GP once you get the technique down. Wayne --- Mark Arnold <mjamja_at_earthlink.net> wrote: > Would a storm paddle help me maintain a higher speed > into the wind? > > At what wind speed would you normally switch to a > storm paddle? ===== ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Wayne Smith wsmith16_at_snet.net Check out my website! http://pages.cthome.net/wsmith16/home.html *************************************************************************** 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/ ***************************************************************************
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