: I just got my copy of Sea Kayaker and so just browsed the article. But wasn't
: the 40-degree angle referring not to the angle of the paddle with respect
: to the water when viewed from the side (or front?), but rather the angle
: of the paddle with respect to the line of travel when viewed from the
: other end of the paddle?

Dave,

The angle as described by Maligiaq is with respect to the water when viewed from the side. I would not get hung up on the actual degree of forward tilt (images of paddlers struggling with salty protractors comes to mind). If your paddle is a close approximation of a west-Greenland design and is sized correctly (thumb and forefinger wrapped around shaft, remaining fingers draped over the paddle blades) then it will naturally tilt forward when you hold it and that is the angle to use. For me this works out to a 65 degree angle or put another way tilted 25 degrees forward of vertical, for you it might be quite different.

Greg Stamer