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Re: Inuit Paddle vs. Euro Paddle
By:Drew Lebauer
Date: 3/24/1999, 9:16 am
In Response To: Re: Inuit Paddle vs. Euro Paddle (Jack Martin)

Since it's a good idea, when touring, to have a spare paddle, why not make your spare a euro paddle, and use the native paddle. Then you can switch off as you need.

> I'll join Woody and Ken in their responses. With only about nine years in
> kayaks, I'm no expert, but I have both Greenland and Euro style paddles
> and have found that, with one of my "q-tip" paddles, I can tour
> all day with the same speed as anyone else in a group of Euro paddlers and
> need far less ibuprofen at dinner. For rolling and bracing, Greenland
> style paddles are far superior to Euros. For racing or in the surf, it may
> be a different story. The Greenlanders don't have to contend with an awful
> lot of surf landings and launches, and their paddles are sometimes
> marginal in big water. And they don't generally have to chase down their
> food --- the reason they have kayaks --- so sprinting was never a real
> problem on open water, either.

> Bottom line: try both. Lots of us who primarily use indigenous paddle
> designs also paddle Euro sometimes. It's not a religion for all of us. But
> make your own Greenland paddle --- lots of reference material available.
> That way, it'll be sized to your body and will work best. Store-bought
> Greenland paddles contradict the basic idea that a paddle is the logical
> extension of your body.

> Jack Martin

Messages In This Thread

Inuit Paddle vs. Euro Paddle
Bob Hysen -- 3/23/1999, 7:56 pm
Re: Inuit Paddle vs. Euro Paddle
David Walker -- 3/25/1999, 3:07 pm
Re: Inuit Paddle vs. Euro Paddle
Nick Schade - Guillemot Kayaks -- 3/24/1999, 9:54 am
Re: Inuit Paddle vs. Euro Paddle
Jack Martin -- 3/24/1999, 7:21 am
Re: Inuit Paddle vs. Euro Paddle
Drew Lebauer -- 3/24/1999, 9:16 am
Re: Inuit Paddle vs. Euro Paddle
Ken Katz -- 3/24/1999, 12:28 am
Re: Inuit Paddle vs. Euro Paddle
Robert Woodard -- 3/23/1999, 8:49 pm