Pondering Paddle Length
Published May 13, 2009 | 
That’s me in the corner
That’s me in the spotlight
Losing my religion
Trying to keep up with you
And I don’t know if I can do it
Oh no I’ve said too much
I haven’t said enough
-REM
“Are you pondering what I’m pondering?” - That’s the funny bit about paddling and life. For the most part we all ponder the same ponders or “wonder the same wonders” if you like. The only difference is when we ponder them. Boat Length, boat color, wing stroke, Greenland style, paddle angles, logo designs.. you know, all the great questions of paddling’s Renaissance era.. (Bet you didn’t know there was a paddling renaissance era”!) My wise friend Silbs has been pondering paddle length again recently.. which made me think back… Think back… way back…fading…fading…
We’ve talked at length (and I do mean length) about paddle length. It wouldn’t be such a big subject other than here in the Renaissance we are still exercising the 230 cm demons of the dark ages we’ve only recently come through. It’s hard to let go of the scars! Back in the day every salesperson on the planet was told by some mysterious oracle that paddle shafts should be as long as a punting pole. Of course back then some thought crawling in a big paper bag inside a mattress lean-to would protect you in case of nuclear attack… Of course like all myths, these crazy ideas come from somewhere and often contain grains of truth. It’s true that if you are paddling a really wide recreational boat, you will need a longer paddle simply to reach over the blasted thing. There are some reasonable arguments that arm length and torso height (not necessarily body height as a whole) do come into play as well. Generalizations simply don’t work. Oh, and I heard some Einsteinian (yes, it is a word.. look it up!) theory about leverage & force once from a guy who I believe had been abducted by aliens and who now only spoke through mathematical hieroglyphics scrawled across tea stained napkins. The point is we learn as we go and not every religious concept stands the test of time.
Slowly over time we tepidly started to try slightly shorter paddles when rumors of those crazy Brits doing it began to cross the ocean. Well, I should say some of us did. Other more rigid types who still put Vitalis in their hair, wore long sideburns, and waxed their long curly mustaches clung to the past as rigid types always do. Those folks simply held their noses and clucked their tongues as word spread that you could actually find a 215cm at a local shop. For awhile the concept of a short shaft was as shocking as a mini skirt rising well above the knee. It simply takes time for town fathers to take their tablets and come around. Some never do. Sometimes it simply takes the passing of time. One thing is sure, these days the sound of 230cm is usually greeted as an abomination. We’re talking 210, 205, 190 and even shorter. Who knows how low you can go!? But the once revolutionary idea has set, a shorter shaft for sea kayakers is almost always better. Even then I say “almost”.
It’s not for me to tell you what’s right for you. It’s up to you to figure out what feels right. No book or blog, or coach, or pamphlet or sales guy can make it right for you… they can only make you think it’s right.. for awhile.. until you suddenly find yourself once again asking questions. Which sucks if you just blew a few hundred bucks on the hype. Just keep trying things. Eventually you’ll know what is right. Even if it’s only right for you. And THAT my friend is the only thing that really counts.
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2 Responses to Pondering Paddle Length
True words Derrick, the only problem is the manufacturers haven’t realised it yet! We have been trying to get a 196cm sea kayak paddle for my very petite wife and neither Werner nor Lendal would come to the party. We eventually found a local manufacturer that would make one for her. I am 6’1″ and use a 210 Lendal with my Explorer and Rockpool and it is perfect. My wife is 4’11″ and uses a 205 Cyprus with her Force 3 and it is too long.
exactly so.