Rolf,
Quote:
...I find that discomfort in grip and shaft are more tiring than a slight warp or flutter in the blade over a long haul. There's also a difference in the way I'll feel about a paddle being used for style paddling versus one that's being used for tripping. Things that bother me when style paddling are often a non-issue when the same paddle is being used for tripping even to the point where on occassion the "flaw" for the one appllication is an asset for the other.
I always thought that style paddling meant wearing good clothes when out on the lake, and paddling properly and correctly when others were watching.
I think, really for me, 95% of paddling energy is spent in getting there, mostly straight ahead paddling, going to the place chosen on the map... so I suppose I'm a tripper by nature. I agree that grip and fit are important in reducing discomfort and tiredness over the long haul.
I happened to find a related article on this at the wcha website, which seems to sum up my personal preference more or less in paddle choice. Generally the author suggests that thin, longer blades are better suited for us long-haul tripping types.
Quote:
When I get these comments about paddling pain from people, I ask them what type of paddle they use. Usually the response includes a paddle with a wide blade or a tall paddle. Thats when I get my inner groan. I truly do believe that we as recreational flat water paddlers have been misled.
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These paddles are often touted as having a bigger blade and the mechanical advantage of a longer shaft. It is precisely these features that produce the back, shoulder and neck pain. Over a short haul the average recreational paddler may do well and may be faster but that is hard to sustain for very long unless you are a trained, conditioned racer.
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The wider blade is said to have a larger surface area. During the paddle drive the blade is square and the water is hopefully locked to the power face. This water wants to move sideways off the blade when pressure is applied to the stroke. The wider the blade, the more pressure at the edge of the blade requiring more effort to square which contributes to produce that dull ache in your neck and shoulders
http://tremolo.wcha.org/good_paddle.html
He doesn't talk about flex much, although my impression is that a long, narrow blade is more likely to feel softer when power is applied going through the water when compared to a wider blade offering more reisistance... maybe flex contributes to this softer feel.
There are some points I don't agree with such as the paddle needing to be slightly blade-heavy at the throat, and the short paddles used by the small-bodied voyageurs seem just weird, but overall the points about narrow blades being better suited to tripping are well made, and for me, they seem to work.
Rick