By
Dave Norona, Professional Adventure Racer
Touching
off from the beach, you slide through the glassy water. Only a thin layer of fiberglass
separates you from the crystal clear water. From the corner of your eye, you spot
a Grey Heron leaping from a piece of driftwood. The ripples from this pterodactyl
like bird send concentric circles that catch up to your boat and pass beneath
it. Welcome to the world of the Kayaking. Whether you like to hit the water in
a sleek surf ski or take a weeklong trip here is the biggest way to improve your
efficiency and make your time out on the water more enjoyable.
Like
the saying goes, "you are up #$%@ Creek without a paddle. One of the biggest ways
to improve your paddling is with the new breed of lightweight wing paddles. Wing
paddles, named for their airplane wing like shape, allow the paddler to center
the blade easier and pull more water with each stroke. You will see a 7-10% increase
in boat speed from the same effort over a conventional paddle. A wing paddle can
benefit anyone who paddles a kayak, allowing them to be more efficient and use
less energy during daily exercise or a weeklong tour. Many traditionalists think
that wing paddles are just for racers and are hard to brace and roll with. Both
these statements are false in fact, I am always amazed when I give a new paddler
a wing blade and watch as their stroke instantly improves and they no longer complain
of sore shoulders.
A
wing blade is best compared to your hand as you stick it out of the window of
a moving car. Something we all did as kids. With your hand stretched open and
fingers apart you can see how a normal blade reacts in the water. Air or water
is traveling in all directions to find the easiest way around the blade. This
causes the blade to float and requires you to use the small muscles of your arm
to control the blade and keep it stable.
Now
if you cup your hand with closed fingers, you can feel the resistance a lot more
and you can hold back more wind. This is how a wing paddle works in the water.
In fact, if you place the wing in the water the wrong way it lets you know it
immediately. This encourages beginners to paddle more efficiently and use the
stronger muscles of the back instead of the small muscles in the arm. This is
why you see the top paddlers of the world with giant lat muscles instead of huge
arms.
When
looking at wing paddles you will need to find the right length and blade size
to suit your needs. Most top paddlers use between a 213 cm for shorter women to
a 218 for a six-foot male. To find your proper length, paddle your kayak and only
the blade should be fully buried in the water. If the shaft is going down into
the water then your paddle should be shorter. Likewise, if your blade is not fully
in the water then your paddle needs to be longer. This is why a new breed of adjustable
paddles has found its way onto the market. Paddles like the Simon River Shark
or Hammer paddles adjust by 10 cm so you can dial it in perfectly for your needs.
Most store bought and rental paddles are way too long which causes the paddler
to have a slower stroke rate and low arm swing which contribute to sore shoulders.
It also makes the overall swing weight of the paddle seem like your swinging a
dump truck. I use the same 214 cm paddle whether I am in my Current Designs Speedster
or a giant Libra XT. I just use more twist in my torso to clear the wider girth
of the boat.
Usually
most manufactures offer three blade sizes. Unless you are using an Olympic K-1
and going to the Olympics then you do not need to touch a large blade. Most paddlers
will be fine with a small blade, which is better for a higher stroke rate over
long distances. Melanie from Pulling Water and Simon River Sports best described
blade size to me by saying," both a small and medium blade will allow you to reach
the same speed however the small blade just takes longer to get to that speed."
I reduced my blade size a couple of years ago from a medium to a small blade and
get less fatigue during longer paddles. In reality, the difference in blade size
is not any more than a centimeter squared.
Paddles
can also be "Feathered". This means the blades are adjusted so that the blade
in the air is slicing through the air instead of catching it, a huge advantage
in a headwind. On the first feathered paddles, the blades were offset at 90 degrees.
This is most efficient however using a full 90-degree feather requires a large
amount of wrist action. A 60-75 degree feather is both efficient and easy on your
wrist. Paddle blades can be feathered either right control or left control. The
paddle is gripped solidly with the control hand and allowed to rotate in the non-control
hand. There is no advantage to one side or the other for control so use what is
comfortable for you.
Simon
River Sports has leapt onto the paddling market
with their new gorgeous wing blades that are both strong and lightweight. Their
cream of the crop paddle is the Shark. This all carbon paddle is one of the lightest
on the market and has stood up to my abuse for over three years and still looks
new. The cost saving Hammer uses a nylon carbon blade which hides scratches better
and is better for rental kayak companies.
Cost
is the biggest issue regarding wing paddles. With their lightweight carbon lay-up,
wing paddles are $400.00 to $750.00 dollars. However, a wing paddle will last
you a lifetime and frankly using a $150.00 paddle to paddle a $3000.00 kayak is
like buying a Porsche and putting a Hyundai engine in it. A good kayak store will
show you all the options and allow you to try out the difference so you can make
the best selection.
