The Wing Paddle

December 2004-January 2005

This is an article from WaveLength Magazine, available in print in North America and globally on the web.
To download a pdf copy of the magazine click here: > DOWNLOAD

by The Wing Paddle

Whether you like to hit the water in a sleek surfski or take off on week-long trips in a touring kayak, here is the best way to improve your efficiency and make your time on the water more enjoyable—use the new breed of lightweight wing paddles.

Dave and friend Peter James "winging" along the river.

Wing paddles, named for their airplane wing-like shape, allow the paddler to center the blade more easily and pull more water with each stroke. You see a 7- 10% increase in boat speed from the same effort over a conventional paddle. A wing paddle can benefit everyone who paddles, allowing them to be more efficient and use less energy during daily exercise or when touring. Many traditionalists think that wing paddles are just for racers. In fact, I am always amazed when I give new paddlers a wing blade and watch as their stroke instantly improves. Better yet, they no longer complain of sore shoulders.

To think of how the wing blade works, imagine putting your hand out the window of a moving car (something we all did as kids). With your hand stretched open and fingers apart, the air travels in all directions to find the easiest way around. This causes your hand to float and requires you to use the small muscles of your arm to keep it stable.

But if you cup your hand with closed fingers, you feel a lot more resistance. 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 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.

Click here for a photo of a wing paddle.

When choosing a wing paddle, you will need to find the right length and blade size to suit your needs. Most top paddlers use a length between 213 cm and 218 cm, depending on their height. Only the blade should be fully buried when you paddle. 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.

Lots of upper body rotation.

Paddles like the Simon River Shark and Hammer adjust by 10 cm so you can dial them in perfectly for your needs. Most paddles are much too long, which causes the paddler to have a slower stroke rate and low arm swing, both which contribute to sore shoulders. 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.

Most manufacturers offer three blade sizes. Unless you are using an Olympic K–1, 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 Whittal from Pulling Water Canoe Sports and Simon River Sports says, ”Both a small and medium blade will allow you to reach the same speed, but 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 now have less fatigue during longer paddles.

Paddles can also be ‘feathered’, with the blades offset so that the upper blade slices 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, but using a full 90-degree feather requires a large amount of wrist action. A 60–75 degree feather is efficient and easy on your wrist.

Paddles can be feathered for control by either your right or left hand. The paddle is gripped solidly with the control hand and allowed to rotate in the non-control hand.

Simon River Sports has gorgeous new wing blades which are both strong and lightweight. The cream of their crop is the Shark. This all-carbon paddle is one of the lightest on the market. Mine has stood up to a lot of abuse for over three years and still looks new. The cost-saving Hammer uses a nylon carbon blade which hides scratches and is better for rental kayak companies.

Cost is the biggest issue regarding wing paddles. With their lightweight carbon layup, wing paddles are $400 to $750 (Cdn). However, a wing paddle will last you a lifetime and frankly, using a $150 paddle to paddle a $3,000 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 different ones so you can make the best selection.

© David Norona is a Multi-Sport athlete from North Vancouver who in the past thirteen years has cycled, run, kayaked, in-line skated, and cross-country skied throughout Greenland, Alaska, China, Africa, Europe, New Zealand and North and South America. www.davenorona.com.

For Simon River Sports paddles in BC, see Ocean River Sports in Victoria or Ecomarine in Vancouver, or contact Dave Norona or Bryan Tasaka.