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From: <skimmer_at_enter.net>
subject: [Paddlewise] Long-short; euro-GP; fast-slow
Date: Sun, 5 Sep 2004 12:53:07 4
Over time these type of discussions come around and around without 
numbers that can be used to define the arguements.

What speeds are talking about when dippers are delaying pullers?

Longer-shorter:  When using these paddle construction differences to 
reduce strain etc.-- what stroke rates are we talking about.

I use a LONG paddle with a EURO blade that weighs 43 oz, which I have 
had for about 15 years. I paddle with elbows down!  You may not 
remember that Ali fought with arms down, but somehow managed to 
generate adequate power to fight effectively.

I paddle at about 43 strokes per minute, which drives the boat at 
4.0-4.2 knots sustained. 

So you are able to go faster with a still shorter GP paddle? What speed and 
what stroke rate for what distance using what kind of plastic boat 
and what length of paddle with what blade wideth??

Were those speeds determined on still water in both directions on a 
course of known length?

Listening to the radio lately, I've learned that the economy is 
booming!!

Thanks,
Chuck Sutherland
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From: Michael Daly <mikedaly_at_magma.ca>
subject: Re: [Paddlewise] Long-short; euro-GP; fast-slow
Date: Sun, 05 Sep 2004 13:55:56 -0400
On 5 Sep 2004 at 12:53, skimmer_at_enter.net wrote:

> Were those speeds determined on still water in both directions on a
> course of known length?

I never get that technical when paddling.  All I know is that the two 
of us that use both GPs and Euros in our regular paddling group can 
switch back and forth without having any problem keeping up with 
those who only use Euros.  

One thing about cadence, though:  I've mentioned this before and have 
asked about it - my cadence is not any different when using the two 
paddle types.  As well, when I match my cadence using a GP to others 
using Euros, I go the same speed as they do.  I seriously question 
the claim that using a GP means a higher cadence.  I also wonder if 
those with higher cadences are using a different technique than I.

One very definite difference is in accelleration.  When I use a GP, 
the Euro leaves me behind.  Once up to speed, I have no problem 
keeping up.  This was clearly demonstrated to me in a race this 
spring.  We had to paddle backwards for about 100m and then paddle 
forwards back to the start line.  I led a friend by a constant amount 
in the backwards leg.  I hit the line first and immediately started 
powering forward.  He arrived a couple of seconds later and, using 
his Euro, turned it on.  By the time I was at maximum forward speed, 
he had made up the gap between us and moved a kayak length ahead.  I 
matched his speed to the finish.  If I had his accelleration to 
change direction, I'd have beat him.

Mike
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From: Scott Hilliard <kiayker_at_sbcglobal.net>
subject: Re: [Paddlewise] Long-short; euro-GP; fast-slow
Date: Sun, 5 Sep 2004 13:31:35 -0700
   I think what we need is a tug of war between a Euro paddler and a
Greenland advocate. May the best paddler win :-))

Scott
So.Cal.
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From: Michael Daly <mikedaly_at_magma.ca>
subject: Re: [Paddlewise] Long-short; euro-GP; fast-slow
Date: Sun, 05 Sep 2004 17:04:01 -0400
On 5 Sep 2004 at 13:31, Scott Hilliard wrote:

>    I think what we need is a tug of war between a Euro paddler and a
> Greenland advocate. May the best paddler win :-))

That'll go to the Euro, since it has more "grab" and accelleration... 
assuming of course equal paddlers.

Mike
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From: alex <al.m_at_3web.net>
subject: Re: [Paddlewise] Long-short; euro-GP; fast-slow
Date: Sun, 5 Sep 2004 20:25:27 -0700
> paddle types.  As well, when I match my cadence using a GP to others
> using Euros, I go the same speed as they do.  I seriously question
> the claim that using a GP means a higher cadence.

GP, how I understand it and  trying to use, implies short strokes -
underwater path of the blade is 20" or so.  This is less than it is usually
for Euro.  So, for a GP and Euro with close blade areas maintaining close
speeds should result in lower cadence for a Euro.  In reality lower cadence
for a Euro will also result from a higher energy consumption at each stroke,
since stokes are longer. So from paddlers of same macho-ness the one with
Euro will more likely keep his cadence lower :-).  The only reservation - I
didn't compare blade areas of "average" GP and "average" Euro.
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From: Michael Daly <mikedaly_at_magma.ca>
subject: Re: [Paddlewise] Long-short; euro-GP; fast-slow
Date: Mon, 06 Sep 2004 18:10:25 -0400
On 5 Sep 2004 at 20:25, alex wrote:

> GP, how I understand it and  trying to use, implies short strokes -
> underwater path of the blade is 20" or so.  This is less than it is
> usually for Euro.  

This is not what I would assume.  Euro paddles catch further forward 
and exit earlier than a GP, but I'm not so sure that the stroke 
length is so different.

> So, for a GP and Euro with close blade areas
> maintaining close speeds should result in lower cadence for a Euro. 

Not many Euro paddles are comparable in area to a GP.  My GP has an 
area of around 80-85 sq. in.  That's comparable to a CD Sabella - 
considered a small paddle among Euro paddles.  Most Euro paddles are 
greater than 100 sq. in. and many are up to 120 or more.  An example 
of a 100 sq. in. paddle is the Aquabound Expedition and my Lendal 
Archipelago is something around 110-120 (I forget exactly).  The 
latter is one of the smallest Lendal blades!

I just got back from paddling with the usual suspects.  Two of us 
were using GPs and the other a Euro.  We all had roughly the same 
tempo for the same speed.  My GP technique is therefore presumably 
not so different than Keith's.

As John F. commented, I do use a higher cadence when accelerating, 
but that's due to the GP's lesser power.

Mike
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From: John Fereira <jaf30_at_cornell.edu>
subject: Re: [Paddlewise] Long-short; euro-GP; fast-slow
Date: Mon, 06 Sep 2004 08:27:41 -0400
At 01:55 PM 9/5/2004 -0400, Michael Daly wrote:
>On 5 Sep 2004 at 12:53, skimmer_at_enter.net wrote:
>
> > Were those speeds determined on still water in both directions on a
> > course of known length?
>
>I never get that technical when paddling.  All I know is that the two
>of us that use both GPs and Euros in our regular paddling group can
>switch back and forth without having any problem keeping up with
>those who only use Euros.
>
>One thing about cadence, though:  I've mentioned this before and have
>asked about it - my cadence is not any different when using the two
>paddle types.  As well, when I match my cadence using a GP to others
>using Euros, I go the same speed as they do.  I seriously question
>the claim that using a GP means a higher cadence.  I also wonder if
>those with higher cadences are using a different technique than I.
>
>One very definite difference is in accelleration.  When I use a GP,
>the Euro leaves me behind.  Once up to speed, I have no problem
>keeping up.  This was clearly demonstrated to me in a race this
>spring.  We had to paddle backwards for about 100m and then paddle
>forwards back to the start line.  I led a friend by a constant amount
>in the backwards leg.  I hit the line first and immediately started
>powering forward.  He arrived a couple of seconds later and, using
>his Euro, turned it on.  By the time I was at maximum forward speed,
>he had made up the gap between us and moved a kayak length ahead.  I
>matched his speed to the finish.  If I had his accelleration to
>change direction, I'd have beat him.

I was out yesterday playing around with cadence with my GP.   I found that 
once I was at cruising speed that my cadence wasn't much different than 
when I use my euro paddle.  When at cruising speed I'm not trying to 
generate a lot of power with each stroke but just paddling hard enough to 
maintain speed and an easy cadence with a GP seems plenty sufficient to do so.

I also find that reverse paddling with a GP gives me plenty of speed.

For generating power during acceleration starting with a few sliding 
strokes seems to get the boat moving and also really slows down the cadence.

I also got a chance to paddle in one of Tom Yost designs yesterday.  A 
local just finished building it and doesn't have much paddling experience 
so I was showing him a few things with a GP.  When we were going over 
bracing I kept on trying to get him to do a more vigorous hip snap and he 
just didn't seem to be getting it.   When I paddled his boat I discovered 
that the boat just doesn't snap up as easy as my Outer Island.  Part of the 
problem was that the "skin" on the foredeck isn't real tight so water would 
pile up on the deck when the boat was edged.  It felt very different from 
my boat.   I haven't paddled folding boats much so it took quite awhile to 
get used to the flex in the hull.
John Fereira
jaf30_at_cornell.edu
Ithaca, NY
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From: Dave Kruger <kdruger_at_pacifier.com>
subject: Re: [Paddlewise] Long-short; euro-GP; fast-slow
Date: Sun, 5 Sep 2004 11:11:30 -0700
I'm the "dipper" vs "paddler" (puller) guy, so I'll respond to that part 
only:

Typical speeds for doubles:  4.0  knots cruise, probably, although if only 
one is dipping, I bet the speed is more like 3.0  knots.  None of these 
speeds is measured, only estimated from my effort expended alongside in my 
single hardshell.  Most of the dipping I witnessed was in massive, heavily 
loaded Easy Rider decked canoes, more fleet than I would have expected.


Dave Kruger
Astoria, OR

----- Original Message ----- 
From: <skimmer_at_enter.net>
> What speeds are talking about when dippers are delaying pullers? 
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