: .....lasted all of 12 minutes.....

Wow, now that's interesting! I haven't used mine for heavy paddling (a SUP race?! Ouch, my "six-pack" is getting a hangover just thinking about it!), but I do 'em for a push-poles .... and that includes shoving canoes onto and off of muddy bottoms in extremely shallow conditions, which ought to be even more strenuous. Are you sure there wasn't a glue problem or something? This is the first I've heard of a bird's mouth shaft failing.

Also, if I failed to thank you kindly for the Versa Track sample, shame, shame, shame on me! My father likes to complain how it's hell to be 85 and senile; my stock reply to that is: if you think that's bad, try being 52 and senile. So THANK YOU for that!