Re: [Paddlewise] Paddles

Bob,

I'll throw in my thoughts only because they are a bit different from
some of what has already been written.

I started racing kayaks in 1966, quit racing in 1994 and have paddled
mostly in sea kayaks since '94 except for the occasional whitewater
trip.  Since 1966 I have always paddled a minimum of 150 days a year and
often quite a bit more.  My normal at-home paddles are in my slalom boat
(easy to carry to the river and fun to play in).  Every paddle is a
workout as if I were still racing.  For daily paddles, one day will be
with my Euro paddle, the next will be 
with my Greenland paddle and the third day will be with a canoe paddle. 
This rotation allows me to use different muscles at different angles for
each workout.

All this to say that, after 6000 paddling days, I have no wrist,
shoulder or elbow problems and I don't find that my traditional paddle
is easier on my joints or causes me to use more torso rotation than my
Euro paddle.  I hold my paddles very loose.  If I hit an obstruction
while paddling the paddle slides through my hands.  So, I think (and I
might be wrong) that good technique with whatever blade one uses will
help reduce the chance of repetitive-use injuries.  Or maybe I have
unusual joints.  (I've been told I have an unusual brain, so maybe the
rest follows.)

I use a heavy Nimbus Capilano (wood) or a lighter Mitchell slalom paddle
(also wood) for my daily paddles.  In my sea kayak I use a Mitchell Sea
Blade (wood, a bit heavy), and I carry Aqua Bound carbon paddles as
spares.

I know that most people don't have the time that I do to work on
perfecting their technique, and I know that not everyone wants to be a
perfectionist in any case, but I do believe that a lot of what passes
for fact about paddles is based more on the person using the paddle and
their technique and not instrinsic to the paddles themselves.

For what it's worth . . .


Jim Tibensky
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