Re: [Paddlewise] bracing and power

On Wed, Jul 21, 2010 at 7:01 PM, MATT MARINER BROZE
<marinerkayaks_at_msn.com>wrote:

>
> My point is that the native paddlers may do it the way they do because that
> is
> what someone in a position of influence thought (and their ideas remained
> dominant long after they were dead) and the few who thought of a better way
> weren't listened to as they were obviously, out of step, deviant, or some
> other slanderous term for "doesn't believe what I believe (and most right
> thinking, honest, God fearing, American's believe, DADGUMMIT!").
>
> Hmm.... your last two sentences could logically apply to the current debate
as well. Most of the naysayers to Chuck's idea of *LONG* paddles are, like
me, mostly playboaters and former white water paddlers. And a majority of
the arguments were based on areas where shorter paddles make more sense. Rob
Gibbert's remarks about using the tool that best fits the job struck a chord
with me.

The first time I got a Lightning paddle in my hands I knew it was the paddle
for me. But I'm an ex w/w paddler too. I loved that big blade, the
lightness, the way it handled in the water so much that when mine
disappeared at Deception Pass I found another and that one is my primary
paddle. But I'm trying to keep an open mind here.

I gave some consideration to the possibility that the Inuit did it because
they had always done it. But I suspect there is more to it. The paddles in
the photo I have are so long that making them would be a real chore. Heck,
just finding the materials would have been a real chore.

My two remaining 2x4 cedar boards aren't 9-feet long... more like 8. But I
think I'll see for myself how a *LONG* GP works in a strictly long-distance
paddle. I already have tried (and like) a wing paddle (my wing is in my
hands in the top banner photo of my website), a GP, several Euro paddles.

I love the fact that we can have such diversity. I would have never thought
that SOF boats and Greenland paddles would have made such inroads but it's a
wonderful niche and exciting to participate in it.

Craig Jungers
Moses Lake, WA
www.nwkayaking.net
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