[Paddlewise] Feathered verses un-feathered - sorry

To me, any discussion of Greenland verses euro naturally leads to feathered
verses un-feathered since that is really the most obvious difference between
the two. All the other differences are just a matter of dimensional
differences, which vary widely on the euro anyway.

I always use an un-feathered paddle because of what I perceive as the
following advantages:
-I don't need to worry about how to do proper wrist and/or forearm
articulation when using a feathered paddle to avoid injury
-Symmetric (left/right) bracing, rolling, and other strokes are more easily
mastered and maintained
-Rolling more easily achieved with the paddle upside-down, backwards, or
both. In powerful hydraulics, you can loose control and/or orientation of
your paddle as you are just hanging one with one hand, or even a finger and
thumb. I have sometimes rolled up and paddled off, only to realize a few
minutes later that my paddle was upside-down or backwards.
-It's easier to build one. Something I have done and want to do in the
future.
-Easier transition to-and-from a Greenland paddle. Also something I have
done and want to do in the future.

I admit these are my perceptions, not necessarily fact, but I do think they
are intuitive and at least pass the sanity check.

Though I never use a feathered paddle, I don't seem to fall behind my
friends in a head wind - unless I am falling behind them anyway. They're
probably enjoying it more than me though. Possibly if the wind was strong
enough they would leave me behind. I'll concede the disadvantage in a direct
head wind in exchange for what I perceive to be the advantages of
un-feathered paddling.

On the other hand, why feathered paddles for WW paddling and surfing? I have
heard some make the justification based on feathering encouraging torso
rotation and a high stroke, but that's a major stretch to me. I seem to be
able to do both without feathering, and any limitation on my torso rotation
seems directly tied to flexibility and discipline (Both of which I sometimes
lack).

Feathering has become unquestioned dogma - virtually religion if you listen
to DH. I have learned a lot from his books, and his accomplishments are
light years beyond any in my past or in my future, but that doesn't mean
everything he says is true. IMO the wide acceptance of the 45 degree (some
30 now) WW paddle is tacit acknowledgement that it doesn't help at all in
that environment. Producing one with no feather, however, would present a
major marketing problem, since all these paddlers have been pre-conditioned
to believe that feathering is a must.

Here are some of the reasons I have heard so far for feathered paddling:
-Derek says you should. On the other hand Derek explains away the Greenland
paddle by asserting that the Inuits never thought of feathering a paddle.
That seems very presumptuous to me.
-Racers do it. On the other hand, how many of them have actually trained
seriously with an un-feathered paddled and compared the difference?
-It encourages high stroke and torso rotation. If true, please provide some
drawings of this effect because I can't visualize it.
-Only because it is easier in a strong head wind. The only one that makes
sense to me(not for surfing or WW though), and from one of my friends who
switch hits between feathered and un-feathered

How can an asymmetric body motion be better for you, or more efficient than
a symmetrical one? I have yet to hear anyone even attempt to explain this in
any logical way.

I don't feel the need to convert the paddling world to un-feathered
paddling, but I do find it annoying that I can't even buy an off-the-shelf
one piece paddle with zero feather angle. Being in the minority has some
real disadvantages.

Steve Brown
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