Which Paddle?

Photos Steve West / Harvie Allison
Extract from Paddlers Guide to Outrigger Canoeing

To Purchase On-Line

 

Purchasing a paddle is a significant event and the case of which paddle to use in your team canoe, this should be done with consideration to club / team protocol regarding technique taught and preference. Discuss with your coach or experienced paddlers, ie single or double bend and particular manufacturer bias; if any. Don’t rush into this and ensure in the learning phase that you have a well designed paddle of appropriate length. It is an unfortunate reality that many novice paddlers are expected to learn with club paddles which are often utterly ineffectual and therefore discouraging. 

 

Single Bend or Double Bend Paddle?

The decision to use either a single or double-bend paddle is, for many paddlers, a decision based on ergonomics and how comfortable the paddle ‘feels’. However, we need to take this ‘feeling’ one step further. Through constant use of one type of paddle over another, techniques have been unintentionally developed that have subtle yet different paddling styles. Switching from a single to double-bend or vice versus, is not just a matter of a different paddle, but one of a different technique also.

 

Blade Area

Generally speaking, a larger blade area is preferable when learning in order to ‘feel’ resistance without having to apply bucket loads of power. Small blade areas, as used by many top crews, require explosive power and fine control for maximum results. The optimal blade size you can ‘handle’ is directly proportional to your body weight and strength [strength endurance not ‘raw’ strength] and this then relates to whether you are paddling distance or sprints, though most paddlers [erroneously] opt for one paddle to do a multitude of tasks; sprint, distance, OC1 and OC6, often out of wanting to avoid the purchase of more than one paddle.

 

Steerers: Will often require more than one paddle as skills improve and greater variety of conditions are encountered. It is vital the paddle is easy to manage and above all, 'sticks' to the hull when executing a 'poke'.

 

Settling on which paddle is best for you is not an easy task. Indeed, as your body strengthens, your technique refined and skill levels increased, you will find over the course of your paddling lifetime, that your preference for one paddle design over another will alter.

 

The blade acts in the water as an ‘anchor’ and depending on a number of factors, there should be little or no slippage of the blade through the water. The shaft is used for leverage in relation to the placement of the hands and the application of force. The blade is anchored and the objective is to pull the wa`a up to the blade.

 

Smaller, lightweight paddlers and in particular women and juniors, will tend to favour smaller blade areas, while larger, heavier individuals will tend to favour larger blade areas. Some paddlers prefer to ‘rate high’ [strokes per minute] and will choose a smaller blade area, while others who prefer a slow rate will choose a larger blade area. This can be a facet of relative levels of fitness, age or genetics, ie fast or slow twitch muscle types in particular. Regardless, team wa`a paddling requires synchronicity of timing.

 

For distance paddling, shorter paddle lengths (total length of shaft plus blade) provide greater leverage in relation to their centre of resistance and are therefore easier to use over extended distances and times. Smaller blade area and greater angle relative to the shaft are preferred. Shorter paddle lengths allow higher stroke rates to be achieved. For short sprints, longer shaft, larger blade areas and less angle relative to the shaft can be used.