James wrote: > What do you folks feel are the advantages of crank shaft kayak paddles? > The reasons I have been given for them include: > > [1] Better angle of attack for the blade entering the water > > [2] Longer reach > > [3] Less strain on the wrists or elbows or both > > I have watched elite paddlers in slalom and sprint racing for many > years. There was a time when most slalom paddlers used crooked paddles. > But now it's not as many. Never have I seen a sprint racer use one. > > My thought is that the Olympic caliber paddlers will do whatever it > takes to gain an [A] advantage and/or to [B] avoid injury. If they > don't all use crankshaft paddles, why should anyone? Jim, I recently acquired one. I'll be 64 in November. Been a wrist tendinitis puppy for years. It is all about [3] for me. As to the Olympic caliber folks, my guess is that [A} massively trumps [B]. At my skill and strength level, I can not sense any advantage in speed or punch. It is all about [3] for me. -- Dave Kruger Astoria, OR *************************************************************************** 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/ ***************************************************************************Received on Fri Aug 15 2008 - 08:09:42 PDT
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