My fav is sort of a blend of Zimmerly, Björn's, and the Italian drawings (50/30/20). Fantastic paddle.

I use both sides, but have come to use the flatter side as power face almost exclusively now. It's just proven to be more efficient (by GPS and HRM at higher cruising speeds) and smoother with cleaner release as well. Easier and more fun. Also puts the narrower side of (egg/rounded trapezoid) loom forward which gives really nice feedback and with a loose/relaxed grip lets the paddle fly and take it's optimal path (loom shape really matters, and my latest are fatter than my first).

Took a while to find this and adapt to it - as the other way felt more "right" at first (probably old euro habits resurfacing). Well worth the play time to dial in the flatter side and a more Aleut specific stroke.

I find it rolls just fine (either side). Paddles shouldn't matter all that much. It a paddle works to propel you it should work to roll you. That said, I do pull the GP off deck when I just want to mess about with rolling for it's own sake. Cheaters are good.

Kris

: I have made a couple that resemble the Björn Thomasson drawings. It is a
: great paddle. I use the ridged face as the power face. The ridge provides
: the dihedral that splits the water flow and prevents flutter AND puts the
: effort point on the blade forward of the loom stabilizing the stroke. It
: sucks for rolling and sculling. A Greenland paddle is still a more
: versatil paddle.
: There is a lot of contoversy over which face is the power face with many
: theories. The Italian web site has an Aleut paddle with a quite convex
: "back side". Coupled with a minimal ridge that could be used
: more like a GP. I have one of that type in the works and I think it will
: be very different from the flatter ones. It's fun to experiment with these
: as there is so little info on them.