|
First time paddle |
The Aluminium paddles with their
reinforced polycarbonate blade is a very good choice for
a first time paddle. However we recommended that
once you have got the basics of paddling sorted and you
are starting to use the paddle more efficiently, you
should then conceder up-grading to a more dynamic
paddle.
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| First time paddle
What Size Blade? |
If you consider yourself on the heavy
side, then your overall mass will generally dictate you
will prefer a larger blade area and vice-versa. If you
prefer to paddle with a high stroke rate, then you may
prefer a smaller
blade area. For surfing, go smaller, for racing, go just
a little larger. do not choose a paddle in excess of 8"
wide unless you have a "Charles Atlas" build. a lot of
paddlers are now choosing 6.5" wide blades
|
| Choosing the right
length paddle is very important. |
Some sites simply recommend a simple
height + x inches. The truth is you need a little more
thought than that! You must factor in the board you are
using and ideally the type of paddling you will do. The
target is to have the blade fully engaged at the catch
while your top arm is no higher than shoulder height -
clearly a thicker board will lead to a longer paddle
length.
|
| For SUP'racing,
cruising and adventuring |
Ease of handling and pureness of blade
efficiency is the key and the recommendation is to use a
blade with some marginal amount of curvature in the form
of a subtle concave shaped within the blade and the
addition of a central spline to ensure solid anchoring
of the blade and even exiting of water from the blade
face, to create a balanced, powerful blade. Starboard
High Aspect Bolt and ZRE's PowerSurge are super
powerful blade designs by top SUP
professionals
|
|
For
SUP` surfing |
Ease of handling
is the key issue in more challenging surfing conditions
and the recommendation is to use a flat-faced blade and
to down-size overall paddle length and blade area by a
few inches to improve ease of handling, stroke rates,
switch rates between either side of the board and reduce
issues of 'tripping' and being over-powered, which can
result in being pulled from the board during turns. The
Starboard Enduro is an ideal wave paddle blade
|
|
Medium or Small
face, High or Low "cadence"
(pronounced as "Kay-dense") |
This is a description that can mean
high or low revolutions / high or low stroke rate. High
cadence equates to a fast stroke rate made easier with
the use of a small blade area and low cadence equates to
a low stroke rate with a larger blade area.
|
Low Aspect
Low Cadence |
Paddles with their medium to large
sized blades are ideal for general / crossover /
cruising. These offer easy cruising with minimum of
effort. Most low cadence blades are designed with a
dihedral face to give good steady power through the
stroke. |
High Aspect
High Cadence |
Paddles with their smaller blades offer
the ability for a higher stroke rate and bursts of fast
acceleration due to the lower energy required for each
stroke. Most high cadence paddles are designed with a
flat blade face as the stroke rate will be higher and
more assertive. However a slight dihedral on the face is
often preferred. |
|
|
The Paddle explained |
|
 All
of our SUP paddles will float at any finished length.
The paddles are suitable for stand up paddlers of any
height with the paddle maximum length of 220cm.
All paddles can be supplied without the handle
fitted: the shaft can therefore be cut down to the right
length before the handle is inserted and glued to the
shaft tip.
The most important factors in choosing the length for
your paddle are your height and the type of paddling
you'll be doing.
Use the selector below to help find your ideal paddle
length for standup paddle surfing.
This is a guide only: personal preference is also an
important factor.
We can also supply all paddles cut to the correct
length with the handles fitted.
NOTE: if you do not specify a paddle length in
your order, we will supply your paddle un-cut for you
trim to length and fix the T-bar handle yourself.
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|
|
The
beginners guide to paddle length
The table set out below is
only a guide (somewhere to start for the height of your
first paddle) The most important factors in choosing the
length for your paddle are your height and the type of
paddling you'll be doing, as you progress, other
variable will come into the decision making such as the
type of board you are using as well as your personal
paddling style. Use the table below to help find your
paddle length for standup paddle boarding. The table is
a guide only: personal preference is also an important
factor. The length of paddles for standup paddling is
quoted in feet and inches, inches and cm: Aficionados of
stand up paddle surfing like to use imperial
measurements, this is due to the Hawaiian origin of the
sport. + 7" (18cm) - Racing / Touring
|
Approximate Paddlers Height |
|
Guide Paddle Length |
|
5' 1" - 5' 2" |
61"- 62" |
155 - 158 cm |
|
175 - 180cm |
69" - 71" |
|
5' 3" - 5' 4" |
63"- 64" |
160 -
163 cm |
|
180 -
185cm |
71" - 73" |
|
5' 5" - 5' 6" |
65"- 66" |
165 -
168 cm |
|
185 -
190cm |
73" - 75" |
|
5' 7" - 5' 8" |
67"- 68" |
170 -
173 cm |
|
190 -
195cm |
75" - 77" |
|
5' 9" - 5' 10" |
69"- 70" |
175 -
178 cm |
|
195 -
200cm |
77" -79" |
|
5' 11" - 6' 0" |
71"- 72" |
180 -
183 cm |
|
200 -
205cm |
79" - 81" |
|
6' 1" - 6' 2" |
73"- 74" |
185 -
188 cm |
|
205 -
210cm |
81" - 83" |
|
6' 3" - 6' 4" |
75"- 76" |
190 -
193 cm |
|
210 -
215cm |
83" - 85" |
|
6' 5" - 6' 6" |
77"- 78" |
195
- 198 cm |
|
215 -
220cm |
85" - 87" |
|
6' 7" - 6' 8" |
79"- 80" |
200
- 203 cm |
|
220 -
225cm |
87" - 89" |
Also have a look here |
| Please
remember, the above is only a guide: |
We would suggest that if in doubt,
choose a paddle that is a little longer than you think
you may need, you can always shorten the Staff later,
but you can't make it longer. The shorter your paddle
the more it will strain your back. If it is too long you
cannot generate sufficient power in your stroke. You can
always ask for the "T" bar handle not to be fixed, you
can then easily adjust the shaft length and fix the "T"
bar in place with a single rivet once you are
comfortable with the paddle length.
|
| Choosing
the right length paddle is very important. |
Some sites simply recommend a simple
height + x inches. The truth is you need a little more
thought than that! You must factor in the board you are
using and ideally the type of paddling you will do. The
target is to have the blade fully engaged at the catch
while your top arm is no higher than shoulder height -
clearly a thicker board will lead to a longer paddle
length.
Read Steve West's theory on paddle lengths
|
| Golden
Rule |
It is far easier to use a paddle that
is a little too long than it is to use one that is a
little too short..!
|
|
|
Guide for Paddling styles: |
| For Surf
Paddling |
Ease of handling is the key issue in
more challenging surfing conditions and as a guide, ,
your paddle should be between head height and no more
than than 5" above your your height, depending on your
preferred stance.
|
| For
Touring / Cruising & Adventuring |
Ease of handling and pureness of blade
efficiency is the key. As a guide, your paddle should be
between 7" above your your head height, depending
on your stance
|
| For Racing
/ Sprint |
Ease of handling and pureness of blade
efficiency is the key. As a guide, your paddle should be
between 6" to 7"above your your head height, depending
on your stance
|
|
Dihedral or no Dihedral that is the question.
|
-
Lower aspect blades: These seem to
work best with a dihedral to help stop the feathering during
the power phase, however, the dihedral should only be slight
as the objective of the blade is to remain stationary in the
water, therefore a dihedral should not come in to play until
the blade is pulled through the water.
-
High Aspect blades: These seldom have
dihedrals designed in. High aspect blades typically have
very subtle design features like rebound scoop tips which
negate the need for dihedrals and allow the blade to catch
and remain static in the water.
|
|
Blue Chip tests the High Aspect Paddle
design
|
-
You will feel the extra length of the
High Aspect blades right away. You will immediately feel the
benefit of the extra reach with the high aspect blade as
well as superb catch on the blade entry coupled with a
seemingly effortless recovery phase of the stroke.
-
The narrow blade profile provides a
comfortable connection from the moment the blade enters the
water. “High Aspect” blades slide effortlessly into the
catch phase with no big snatch of load on the blade as you
power up compared to the “tear drop”. As you progress into
the “power” phase and squeeze the blade further below the
surface the catch remains positive throughout the “power”
phase.
-
A not insignificant benefit of high
aspect blades is the lack of effort required for the
recovery element. The high aspect blade will just slip out
of the water sideways with very minimal resistance
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