A friend just finished the Everglades Challenge with a buddy in a Pygmy triple kayak. http://www.WaterTribe.com/Default.aspx? ucPtr=WaterTribeHome.ascx A key strategy to their success was switching between a Euro paddle, GP and a canoe style paddle during the race to allow their bodies a bit of a shift. During the race they would sit on the deck right behind the cockpit to use the canoe paddle. I would like to experiment with a single blade in my single and double baidarka. Anyone do much paddle touring with a canoe style paddle while in a kayak? Getting the paddle length correct is a big question to me. Jim et al *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - Any opinions or suggestions expressed here are solely those of the writer(s). You must assume the entire responsibility for reliance upon them. All postings copyright the author. Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
Decide what position you are going to paddle from. Get in that position on the water. Place your left hand over the water on the right side of the boat, palm down, even with your eyes. Measure from your palm to the water. That's your shaft length. Then add a blade of a length and width that feels good. I favor a longish ottertail for cruising, and a shorter, wider blade for creeking. Old broken WW kayak paddles are good candidates for the latter. Steve James Farrelly wrote: > Anyone do much paddle touring with a canoe style > paddle while in a kayak? Getting the paddle length correct is a big > question to me. *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - Any opinions or suggestions expressed here are solely those of the writer(s). You must assume the entire responsibility for reliance upon them. All postings copyright the author. Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
James Farrelly said: Anyone do much paddle touring with a canoe style paddle while in a kayak? Getting the paddle length correct is a big question to me. I paddle a lot and like to switch between the three paddles in the same way as your competition friends. One day I use my Euro paddle, the next my Greenland paddle and the third my canoe paddle. All in my slalom kayak, which is what I use for my daily paddles. (Because it weighs only 20 pounds and is easy to carry to the river. Plus it is fun to paddle.) Anyway, my canoe paddle has a very short shaft. Since I paddle in a kayak, I'm basically sitting on the water, where a canoer will sit or kneel much higher. From T-grip to tip of blade my paddle is three feet long. I enjoy paddling 'whitewater' style with the single blade. That is, I don't change my grip to switch sides for steering, I just do a 'cross bow' type of stroke on the off side. I do switch the grip every now and then for balance of effort, but only every minute or so. My theory behind the three paddles is that each one uses different muscles at different angles than the other. This improves, I believe, my flexibility and balance as well as reduces the wear and tear of repetitive motions. Paddling over 150 a days a year for the past 42 years has left me with minimal joint problems, in part I think, because of the variation in my training routines. I take my canoe paddle along as a spare when I camp on the Mississippi River. I have used it for a full day's paddle and find it pretty comfortable to go long distances with. I can roll with it as easily as with my double blades. Jim Tibensky *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - Any opinions or suggestions expressed here are solely those of the writer(s). You must assume the entire responsibility for reliance upon them. All postings copyright the author. Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
As I keep track of my paddles this year, I think of 120 days on the water as a possibility. Sometimes I think if I go whole hog maybe I could make 150. But to do it for four decades seems worthy of some sort of merit badge! I know there are folk like you out there, but sometimes I think they're like the Yeti, a bit of the folklore. Maybe if I plan one whole month of daily paddling... Mark -----Original Message----- Paddling over 150 days a year for the past 42years has left me with minimal joint problems, in part I think, because of the variation in my training routines. Jim Tibensky *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - Any opinions or suggestions expressed here are solely those of the writer(s). You must assume the entire responsibility for reliance upon them. All postings copyright the author. Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
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