Re: [Paddlewise] Greenland Style Paddles

> Greenland paddling technique is really best used with a narrow, low decked
> boat. The general technique, as I understand and practice it, is performed
> with the elbows held low and along side the paddlers torso. This is very
> difficult to accomplish in a beamy high decked boat. I have found that in
an
> appropriately low volume and narrow boat this technique can easily and
> effectively be adapted to the Euro paddle with a correspondingly
significant
> reduction in stress to the joints. Another very important element of the
> stroke is to cant the upper edge of the paddle blade slightly forward
during
> the catch phase. However, in an inappropriate boat the technique will not
> sufficiently work with either type of paddle, and use of the Greenland
style
> paddle in this scenario may actually be self defeating. In such a case the
> best you can do is to use a paddle with smaller blades, as short of shaft
as
> you are comfortable with, and of course learn and practice proper torso
> rotation.

Agreed with everything excepf for the last point - that GP in a high and
beamy boat is self-defeating and small-blade Euro will necessarily be
better.  Or it needs a clarification - how high and how beamy should it be
to reduce GP advantages to zero compared to small-blade and short-shaft
Euro.  May be this is true for some boats. Also, deck height sets a limit to
how short Euro shaft can be, IMHO.
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