With spring on it’s way and Canoecopia just a couple weeks off it seems like a great time to talk about gear. Well, isn’t it always a great time to talk about gear?  So today I’m happy to share with you a little interview with Jim Miller who is the Marketing Manger at Werner Paddles. Now I tried to get him to talk to us about that heated paddle shaft, but as you’ll see the sacrifice would have been too great!

d – I’d guess that most of the readers here feel like they know all they need to know about paddles. What might we not know or what is something that deserves more consideration when choosing a kayak paddle?

JM - Two words SWING WEIGHT.  The static weight of a paddle has very little to do with how well a paddle performs.  Swing weight is the measurement of the paddles resistance to being moved through a stroke and is primarily affected by the weight of the shaft as well as the weight and shape of the blades.  Because we have been building paddles for over 40 years and our Production Management staff has over 100 years of combined experience; we understand the dynamic nature in which are paddles are used better than almost anyone out there today.  Advanced materials, great design, hand crafted construction all combine to create a paddle with the lightest swing weight per dollar; or as I like to say “Just pennies a stroke!”

d – Has paddle development reached its pinnacle?

JM - No.  There is always something new that can be done to up the bar.

d – There are some great high performance paddles out there.  Where do we go from here?

JM - New materials, new construction methods, new designs.  Our Performance Foam Core is a perfect example of how Werner is an innovator in paddle materials and construction.

d – Are there any new materials or designs around the corner that we can get excited about?

JM - If I told you I’d have to kill you.

d – Which brings me to something I read lately.  For us up here in the great white north the idea of a heated paddle shaft sounds interesting.  I read that Werner has been playing with that idea.  Is there a heated kayak paddle coming?  If so, how do you keep it light and functional?

JM - I repeat; If I told you I’d have to kill you.

d – Where is Werner’s Wing Paddle?

JM - We do get the occasional request for a Wing, but have not seen enough demand from consumers or our retailers to come to market.  There are some very nice Wings out there and we would want to make sure that we came with something substantially better.

d – I wanted to talk a bit about customer service. These days it can get pretty atrocious.  We’ve all been there.  Emails unanswered, waiting on hold forever, trying to prove it wasn’t our fault and all that stuff that makes dealing with companies awful at times.  How does Werner look at customer service?  Do you think most of your customers would give you high ratings?

JM - As a mater of fact our dealers were recently polled by SNEWS/Outdoor Gear Trends magazine and they place Werner as the fourth “Best Company to Do Business With” this rating includes the entire outdoor industry, not just paddle sports.  It feels great to beat out players like The North Face, Columbia, and Mountain Hardware. Our ranking was based largely on our customer service, innovative product and on time delivery.  The folks answering the phones in Sultan Washington are great problem solvers and they have the experience.  Ryan, for example, has been with Werner for 20 years.  You don’t keep someone coming to work with a smile on their face each day for 20 years with out doing something right. Werner is a great place to work and that is a direct reflection of the owners, Bruce and Shelley. They take care of their folks and in turn every employee is empowered to take care of our customers.

d – Werner sponsors a variety of paddlers including Dale Williams, Bryan Smith and others.  Could you tell us a bit about your team paddlers and how someone gets “on the team”?

JM - We really are looking for more than just high profile paddlers to use our products. If you have ever spent time with Dale or Bryan or any of our team folks, what comes through, is their passion for being on the water and a desire to share that passion with others.  The greatest complement is when paddlers request sponsorship and tell us up front that no matter what the response they will be using a Werner paddle because of the integrity and performance of the paddles.

d – Folks that followed along with my trip around Puerto Rico last summer knew that I used a 4 piece Werner.  I get asked about that since they don’t see a 4 piece on your website.   How does someone go about getting a 4 piece?  Can they expect to pay more?

JM - We offer all of our Performance Core Touring, Performance Touring and Premium Touring paddles in a four piece straight shaft configuration.  There is a cost increase of $60 over our two piece paddles.  We sell our paddles through our dealer network and because four piece paddles are more of a specialty item, you would most likely need to place a special order.  We pride ourselves on quick turn around times, but give it a couple of weeks before you plan on leaving the country with your four piece in hand.

d – Lastly, you guys will be in Wisconsin next month at Canoecopia.  I wanted to give you a chance to tell us what you’ve got planned for those of us who stop by the booth.  A Kelly Blades balancing act maybe?

JM - Canoecopia is the largest consumer goods paddle sports show in the world. It is really amazing to see all the people that travel, often from many states away, to hear speakers, see demos and purchase paddling gear. Because we offer so many paddle configurations, the uninitiated can get a little overwhelmed. Our goal is to get each person the prefect paddle for their paddling adventures.  We will be offering “Prescriptions to the best fitting Paddles,” so stop by and see us we are the Doctors of Paddleology. Plus there will be some fun stuff for the kids to do and a little swag to be had.

————————–

Thanks Jim!  Now if you want to learn more about Werner be sure to visit their website.  They also have a great interactive tool to help you select the perfect paddle right here.  We’ll have a few more little interviews coming up before the big show, so check be sure to check back.

Related Posts:

1. Greg, Werner, & Ducks
2. Whoomp There It Is…
3. the paddle test
4. Ikelos Arrived
5. the bump