[Paddlewise] evolution-paddling

Hi Rob,

Thanks for your comment! Evolution in the paddling world creeps in 
nearly unnoticed, sometimes in new directions and other times, 
unknown to present paddlers, the changes are actually following in 
paths that were common in the past but then lost. 

A case in point here is the appearance of the WATERWALKER 
type craft for fishermen that can't stand sitting in SOTs. This new 
craft is a reincarnation of a boat called a RAILBIRD Skiff. This latter 
craft was for hunters or fishermen working protected fresh and 
saltwater marshes. The sportsman propelled the boat using a 16ft 
pole with a wide foot on the bottom end of the pole. The skiff had a 
small deck on the back 25% of the boat for standing on. The fellow 
I recently encountered on the "waterwalker" was using a 10 ft 
paddle. I expect they haven't yet discovered the superior utility of 
propelling the boat with a pole.  

Back in the 80's, I was teaching paddlers to roll starting with a 
forward tuck and finishing laid out on the rear deck. At a 
symposium here in the east, I had a young lady, slim and about 
5'8", doing the manuver very smoothly in about 20-30 minutes in 
the pool. This roll, done well, is close to effortless. The guru of the 
day happened to be at our symposium and teaching in the pool at 
the same time. He saw the lady do her roll and was horrified.

He took over the instruction and attempted to make her learn the c-
c roll that is preferred by whitewater paddlers. The lady lost her roll. 
I don't know if she ever learned to roll after that.

I have photos, weights, and measurements to support my remarks 
about the construction of polar arctic paddles. I don't know if flat 
one side, round powerface side played any role in the use of such 
paddles since I think the Polar Inuit were not able to roll their 
boats. (If that is wrong, I would by happy to be corrected.) 

I think the original paddle I saw that was made that way was never 
used to paddle a kayak. Probably just made to demonstrate the 
design. There was not a single use mark anywhere on the paddle. 
The other paddles were obviously heavily used. Only one paddle in 
that different collection was flat on one side. In my opinion, based 
on my use of such a paddle, the shape would only contribute to 
sculling and rolling, not in driving the boat other than stopping the 
flutter by having a slightly curved powerface.

Chuck Sutherland
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