Sea Kayaks Techniques Bulletin Board

Re: Why?

Posted By: Tim Mattson
Date: Wednesday, 6 August 2003, at 7:34 p.m.

In Response To: Re: Why? (Val Wann)

Val,

I paddle unfeathered Euro and Greenland. And I have to say that I agree with you 100%. It has nothing to do with the wind. Especially if you have a good forward Euro-stroke where you push with a fixed, bent upper arm.

It has everything to do with biomechanics and what works well with your forward stroke.

By the way, I think the whole issue of feathered vs unfeathered is blown out of proportion. While I prefer unfeathered, I can happily paddle with almost any reasonable right-hand control feather angle. The adjustment to the new feather angle only take a few minutes (if even that).

The key is to paddle mindfully and focus on each phase of the stroke. If you rotate your elbow (never the wrist) to get the desired plant, the feather angle takes care of itself. The only exception is for extreme feather angles approaching 90 degrees -- in those cases, I have to play wrist games.

I wonder if the bad rap for feathered paddling comes from the old days when 90 degree offsets were common?

--Tim

Messages In This Thread

Feathering
Robert Woodard -- Tuesday, 5 August 2003, at 9:18 p.m.

Why?
Randy Knauff -- Wednesday, 6 August 2003, at 2:48 a.m.

Agreed, especially for RSI
Pamela -- Wednesday, 6 August 2003, at 9:33 a.m.

Re: Agreed, especially for RSI
Liz -- Wednesday, 6 August 2003, at 10:48 a.m.

I paddled 940 kms with a feathered paddle...
Robert N Pruden -- Monday, 11 August 2003, at 5:56 a.m.

Re: Agreed, especially for RSI
Pamela -- Tuesday, 12 August 2003, at 5:20 p.m.

Re: Why?
Val Wann -- Wednesday, 6 August 2003, at 11:25 a.m.

Re: Why?
Tim Mattson -- Wednesday, 6 August 2003, at 7:34 p.m.

Help me out
Randy Knauff -- Thursday, 7 August 2003, at 12:04 a.m.

A case for 90 degrees
Val Wann -- Thursday, 7 August 2003, at 12:18 p.m.

Re: A case for 90º
Shawn Baker -- Thursday, 7 August 2003, at 12:29 p.m.

Re: A case for 90º
Val Wann -- Thursday, 7 August 2003, at 1:35 p.m.

Yep
Mick -- Wednesday, 6 August 2003, at 7:48 p.m.

While on this subject
Mick -- Thursday, 7 August 2003, at 1:10 a.m.

I'm begging the question
Shawn Baker -- Thursday, 7 August 2003, at 10:40 a.m.

Don't know
Mick -- Monday, 11 August 2003, at 1:22 a.m.

Could you explain this?
haresfur -- Monday, 11 August 2003, at 8:56 p.m.

Ummm *LINK*
Mick -- Monday, 11 August 2003, at 11:32 p.m.

Heretic !
Jed -- Wednesday, 6 August 2003, at 9:01 a.m.

Or...
Brian Nystrom -- Wednesday, 6 August 2003, at 12:29 p.m.

Re: Heretic !
Robert Woodard -- Thursday, 7 August 2003, at 5:54 a.m.

Euro paddle and BCU stuff
Nelson Labbe -- Thursday, 7 August 2003, at 7:35 a.m.

Re: Euro paddle and BCU stuff
Shawn Baker -- Thursday, 7 August 2003, at 10:44 a.m.

Re: Euro paddle and BCU stuff
Robert Woodard -- Thursday, 7 August 2003, at 11:22 p.m.

Re: Bury the stick
Shawn Baker -- Thursday, 7 August 2003, at 11:40 p.m.

Puzzled??
Randy Knauff -- Wednesday, 6 August 2003, at 11:15 a.m.

Re: Puzzled??
sing -- Wednesday, 6 August 2003, at 11:26 a.m.

Re: Puzzled??
Shawn Baker -- Wednesday, 6 August 2003, at 11:30 a.m.

why feather WW?
Randy Knauff -- Wednesday, 6 August 2003, at 12:20 p.m.

One reason
Shawn Baker -- Wednesday, 6 August 2003, at 1:24 p.m.

Re: why feather WW?
sing -- Wednesday, 6 August 2003, at 4:01 p.m.

Jeeze..
sing -- Wednesday, 6 August 2003, at 4:04 p.m.

cut and glue
Randy Knauff -- Wednesday, 6 August 2003, at 6:48 p.m.

Re: why feather WW?
Ken Ferschweiler -- Thursday, 7 August 2003, at 3:16 p.m.

For what it's worth *LINK*
haresfur -- Friday, 8 August 2003, at 12:24 a.m.

I agree
Brian Nystrom -- Friday, 8 August 2003, at 12:47 p.m.

Re: Puzzled??
Tim Mattson -- Wednesday, 6 August 2003, at 7:37 p.m.

Re: Puzzled??
Ron -- Thursday, 7 August 2003, at 1:16 a.m.

Re: Puzzled??
Shawn Baker -- Thursday, 7 August 2003, at 10:47 a.m.

Well Said...
sing -- Thursday, 7 August 2003, at 11:27 a.m.

Cool drives decision
M. Hamilton -- Thursday, 7 August 2003, at 2:56 p.m.

Re: Cool drives decision
Robert Woodard -- Thursday, 7 August 2003, at 11:18 p.m.

Yeah, my paddles have 360 degree feather!
Brian Nystrom -- Friday, 8 August 2003, at 12:30 p.m.

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