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From: <MJKory_at_aol.com>
subject: [Paddlewise] Questions, Have Such Tests Been Conducted By An Objective Group?
Date: Sat, 11 Sep 2004 11:12:35 EDT
Is anyone aware of any independent, objective tests of paddle performance  
similar to what John describes below? It would be great to review the results if 
 something like this exists. 
 
Mike Kory
 
In a message dated 9/9/04 4:13:53 AM Pacific Daylight Time,  
jdwinters_at_eastlink.ca writes:

Imagine  you are paddling along with a group of people and you can keep up 
with  them using paddle type A while they are using paddle type B. Do you  
conclude paddle type A is just as good as B without wondering if the other  
people were putting out the same effort, or using better or worse stroke  
technique, or if their boats produced the same resistance, or if they were  
depressed or elated, or if they were more or less tired at the end of the  
day?

Suppose you tested a lot of paddles over a measured course and  paddle type A 
seemed to produce the best times over type B. Did you wonder  if you really 
produced the same effort in each test, or if the water  temperature, waves, 
current, and wind remained the same for every test, or  if the aesthetics of 
the paddles influenced you, or if the sizes of the  paddle blades and shafts 
were the same or if you used the proper stroke  mechanics with each one?
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From: John Winters <jdwinters_at_eastlink.ca>
subject: [Paddlewise] : Questions, Have Such Tests Been Conducted By An Objective Group?
Date: Sat, 11 Sep 2004 15:13:53 -0300
Mike wrote;
>
> Is anyone aware of any independent, objective tests of paddle performance
> similar to what John describes below? It would be great to review the 
> results if
> something like this exists.
>
SNIP

I hope no one bothered because these were not objective tests which, of 
course, is the whole point.

Cheers

John Winters 
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From: Peter Cragg <critters_at_houston.rr.com>
subject: Re: [Paddlewise] Questions, Have Such Tests Been Conducted By An Objective Group?
Date: Sat, 11 Sep 2004 10:48:43 -0500
> Did you wonder  if you really 
>produced the same effort in each test, or if the water  temperature, waves, 
>current, and wind remained the same for every test, or  if the aesthetics of 
>the paddles influenced you, or if the sizes of the  paddle blades and shafts 
>were the same or if you used the proper stroke  mechanics with each one?
>
I paddle a Dagger Cortez (less than 22 inches wide) on Lake Woodlands.  
I do 1 to 2 laps.  That is 4 miles each lap.  I use three paddles:

Mitchell Greenland paddle, 220 cm
Werner Kuahui, 220 cm, two piece, big spoon touring paddle.
Waterstick Zen, carbon fiber, bigger spoon, shorter 200 cm, white water 
paddle

Times
Mitchell Greenland    48 to 53 minutes
Werner Kuahui,         48 to 53 minutes
Waterstick Zen         52 to 57 minutes.

That is averaged across calm, north, south and cross winds, calm water 
to considerable waves.

The waterstick zen is much better (bigger spoon paddle) at acceleration 
and turning but is is not optimum for cruising speed -- it is too 
short.  I use the the zen because it forces me to use a better stroke.  
Straighter arms and more torso rotation.

Safe Paddling

-- 
Pete Cragg, DVM
Troop 889, Former Scoutmaster
ACA Instructor, Basic Kayaking, Intro to River Paddling
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