Sea Kayaks Techniques Bulletin Board

Re: greenland paddle

Posted By: Dave Isbell
Date: Thursday, 29 June 2006, at 12:46 p.m.

In Response To: Re: greenland paddle (Greg Stamer)

Greg,
Excellent points. I actually bumped into Lee last nite after paddling and we had a nice dry land demo to answer his questions.

Regards,
Dave
: Good post, I have a different perspective on a few points and used your post
: to provide some comments. I hope you don't mind, and that these comments
: are helpful...

: The top edge of the paddle IS inclined toward the bow of the kayak but I like
: to keep my wrists as "flat and quiet" as possible to avoid
: injury. I view the forward tilt as happening simply from holding the
: paddle *blade* in your hands. Since the back of your hand (and palm) is
: tilted forward slightly when you do a forward stroke, the paddle blade
: simply adopts the forward tilt of your hands in a very ergonomic manner.
: You can certainly "tweak" this angle but I find it happens very
: naturally if your paddle fits you such that your thumb and forefinger
: drapes around the base of the blade naturally.

: FWIW, I find myself driving forward, rather than leaning from side to side.
: But I agree that it takes a while to learn how to "control" the
: diving paddle sensation. Most people seem to feel a great deal of
: additional "bite" when they master this. It is a unique
: sensation (that may come and go for awhile until you nail it). The thrill
: that I felt when I finally "got this" was as big as the thrill
: when I got my first roll.

: Or, to view it another way, the diving action is a technique refinement to
: efficiently deal with a very bouyant blade, as it allows you to bury that
: bouyant blade very quickly and fully. When I try a pure wing stroke with a
: very bouyant carbon GP, the main problem I have is just pushing the blade
: underwater. Without the canted angle I find that I just can't get all of
: the blade into the water (and you want ALL of that blade in the water --
: not just the tips).

: Greg Stamer

Messages In This Thread

greenland paddle
LeeG -- Wednesday, 28 June 2006, at 10:17 a.m.

Re: greenland paddle *NM*
Dave Isbell -- Wednesday, 28 June 2006, at 1:14 p.m.

Re: greenland paddle
Dave Isbell -- Wednesday, 28 June 2006, at 1:36 p.m.

Re: greenland paddle
Greg Stamer -- Thursday, 29 June 2006, at 11:45 a.m.

Re: greenland paddle
Dave Isbell -- Thursday, 29 June 2006, at 12:46 p.m.

Re: greenland paddle
Don -- Wednesday, 28 June 2006, at 2:41 p.m.

Welcome to the dark side, Lee
Brian Nystrom -- Thursday, 29 June 2006, at 7:36 a.m.

Re: Welcome to the dark side, Lee
LeeG -- Friday, 30 June 2006, at 8:45 a.m.

Re: Welcome to the dark side, Lee
Mike Savage -- Friday, 30 June 2006, at 2:59 p.m.

Re: greenland paddle
Greg Stamer -- Thursday, 29 June 2006, at 9:50 a.m.

Re: Greenland paddle
Kris Buttermore -- Thursday, 29 June 2006, at 11:37 a.m.

cant is the most natural blade orientation
mike allen -- Friday, 30 June 2006, at 7:53 p.m.

Re: cant is the most natural blade orientation
mike allen -- Monday, 3 July 2006, at 10:32 p.m.

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