Don't get put off the idea of a GP. The notion that the greenland lacks power is based, I believe, partly in trying to use it overhand like a Euro, but mainly, it needs to have the right blade shape.

If the blade shape is right it will generate plenty of power and almost 'show' the paddler how it should be used.

To only carbon greenland I have tried was a Gherlab medium, which I found to be fairly refined in use, but seriously lacking in power. I couldn't wait to get my own paddle back, and the guy I had swapped with was not giving it back. My feeling was that the carbon paddle was too flat in section.

The GP is an evolved shape, and one needs to understand its use in order to carve the right shape.

Unlike a euro spoon, being dragged at a right angle through the water, the GP is sliced into the water at an angle... Imagine 45 degrees, and at a relatively low angle. The result is that the water flows over the upper face of blade creating substantial lift. This also makes the paddle want to dive, so one pushes with the top hand to compensate for this, which is good form for energy conservation.

The right loom length maintains a fairly narrow hand separation, which encourages good torso rotation, so I would disagree with the statement that they are used by arm paddler's, if I am interpreting the term correctly. I would say the opposite should be the case. It is the reason why I like shoulders. Shoulderless GPs are too easy to use with a widened grip like a euro, and it is a hard habit to break if one has been doing it for decades.

Yes freya, uses a wing, but this Werner is not a wing. Also, the boats that freya uses are designed with wing style paddles in mind. They are high decked with a narrow hull at the catch; not ideal for GPS, which are better suited to a low deck, where the width is not as much of an issue.

Some, many, modern boats are quite high around the cockpit. This is not optimum for GP use, so I can see why many folk do not gain the full benefits of their use. They are definitely better on low profile craft, so much so, that these days I choose designs to build that are suited to GPs. That is how much I prefer them to spoons. For a couple of years now I have not even carried a spoon as a backup. The main use for my old carbons these days is digging latrines. :-) Actually, I give them to guest paddlers.