Wednesday-evening a week ago the wind was blowing NE at 5-6BFT: a perfect condition to try the paddle on my weekly 19km-trip tot the kayak-club.
Nice about this trip is that I have the wind from all directions on the different stretches.
So let me summarise my trip
1. Getting used to
Having paddled only one evening before, I was surprised that direct from starting my trip everything felt very normal. Just as if I use it for years already.
Probably that has something to do with my own kinetik wing because I noticed that I was paddling the Greenland paddle in the same way. Of course with the tilting of the blade while pulling.
It was also interesting to notice that I did not have to think one second about NOT turning the paddle-shaft: All my paddling life I used a right-twisted shaft and you could expect that this deeply anchored habit is difficult to change. But no: It all felt very natural.
When paddling in wind coming from aside you develop over the years the habit of leaning into the wind when you feel a sudden gust of wind.
This evening there were certainly gust of winds and after a few gust a realised It was not necessary to lean into the wind anymore as the wind did not have any grip on the pushed blade in the air.
This felt very safe indeed because very strong gusts can capsize even an experienced paddle in a second of unawareness.
Probably that has something to do with my own kinetik wing because I noticed that I was paddling the Greenland paddle in the same way. Of course with the tilting of the blade while pulling.
It was also interesting to notice that I did not have to think one second about NOT turning the paddle-shaft: All my paddling life I used a right-twisted shaft and you could expect that this deeply anchored habit is difficult to change. But no: It all felt very natural.
When paddling in wind coming from aside you develop over the years the habit of leaning into the wind when you feel a sudden gust of wind.
This evening there were certainly gust of winds and after a few gust a realised It was not necessary to lean into the wind anymore as the wind did not have any grip on the pushed blade in the air.
This felt very safe indeed because very strong gusts can capsize even an experienced paddle in a second of unawareness.
2. Speed
In general I have the impression that 8km/h is a very natural speed you can reach with this particular paddle.
After having paddled for 45 minutes there was a protected area in which I easily reach 9km/h and I noticed that when pulling faster results in more grip: the blade bits itself to the water without the plopping-noise that you normally hear when pulling hard with a "normal" paddle. Fact is that you paddling-frequency will increase while paddling that way but the grip of the paddle felt infinite; my muscles aching. When back home I thought I was more tired than normally. Which is a bit subjective observation of course and subject for further research.
In general I still think that you paddle 1km/h faster with a non-greenland paddle using the same amount of energy, but I will make a better comparison of course.
After having paddled for 45 minutes there was a protected area in which I easily reach 9km/h and I noticed that when pulling faster results in more grip: the blade bits itself to the water without the plopping-noise that you normally hear when pulling hard with a "normal" paddle. Fact is that you paddling-frequency will increase while paddling that way but the grip of the paddle felt infinite; my muscles aching. When back home I thought I was more tired than normally. Which is a bit subjective observation of course and subject for further research.
In general I still think that you paddle 1km/h faster with a non-greenland paddle using the same amount of energy, but I will make a better comparison of course.
3. Technique
As written above the way of paddling reminds me of paddling a kintik wing-paddle.
An interesting trial was to end a stroke with the shaft almost vertical. You can do this by rotating your trunk more and end your pushing hand at the other side of your kayak. Probably this has effect on the position of the pulled blade in the water and results in more grip. On longer distances much trunk rotation seems very tiring to me. May be younger backs have less problems with that. But may be it can be of use for shorter periods where you must go faster for some reason or another.
I also tried to paddle with the blades high or low while pushing, but it is all possible with this paddle.
An interesting trial was to end a stroke with the shaft almost vertical. You can do this by rotating your trunk more and end your pushing hand at the other side of your kayak. Probably this has effect on the position of the pulled blade in the water and results in more grip. On longer distances much trunk rotation seems very tiring to me. May be younger backs have less problems with that. But may be it can be of use for shorter periods where you must go faster for some reason or another.
I also tried to paddle with the blades high or low while pushing, but it is all possible with this paddle.
4. Steering/manoeuvring
Not using a rudder I steer with paddle strokes. To keep course or the change direction the sweepstroke is the answer. Sweepstrokes are easily performed with the Greenland paddle. But not yet completely used to the blade shape I felt a bit uneasy performing an extreme sweepstroke in waves while leaning heavy on the blade. This could have something to do with the size of the blade but I also can imagine I need more practise in this.
Increasing effectivity could be done by slicing the blade back to the aft-deck at the end of the sweepstroke; in fact you make the stroke longer that way.
Stern-rudder. While paddling downwind on the lake my kayak required some steering to prevent the kayak from broaching. The stern-rudder felt less effective as with a non-greenland-paddle. May be because of the smaller blade-surface on which you can not lean very hard but you cannot apply much force either. Although I will investigate this further the observation seems logical as the paddle gets it propulsion from the wing-principle in creating grip on the water . For a stern rudder I do not see a way to apply the wing-principle meaning that a smaller surface is less effective.
Side-ways sculling: I fact I met some other paddlers on the lake and after some chatting one capsized. Trying to be of quick assistance I had to perform sideways sculling. This however was not very effective. I certainly will have to practise this, but I guess I have to scull faster to create more lift.
There were enough waves this evening; ideal for performing low braces. Also for this brace I concluded that I will have to practise as I did not feel very at easy (yet) with the low brace.
Increasing effectivity could be done by slicing the blade back to the aft-deck at the end of the sweepstroke; in fact you make the stroke longer that way.
Stern-rudder. While paddling downwind on the lake my kayak required some steering to prevent the kayak from broaching. The stern-rudder felt less effective as with a non-greenland-paddle. May be because of the smaller blade-surface on which you can not lean very hard but you cannot apply much force either. Although I will investigate this further the observation seems logical as the paddle gets it propulsion from the wing-principle in creating grip on the water . For a stern rudder I do not see a way to apply the wing-principle meaning that a smaller surface is less effective.
Side-ways sculling: I fact I met some other paddlers on the lake and after some chatting one capsized. Trying to be of quick assistance I had to perform sideways sculling. This however was not very effective. I certainly will have to practise this, but I guess I have to scull faster to create more lift.
There were enough waves this evening; ideal for performing low braces. Also for this brace I concluded that I will have to practise as I did not feel very at easy (yet) with the low brace.
5. Hands
Every paddler will notice that, after some years of paddling, an area of hard skin is created on the inside of your thumb. In the beginning you get blisters as the spot but after a while this spot functions as a perfect cushioning for the paddle-shaft.
Having paddled always with a right-handed paddle-shaft with turned blades seems a different situation compared to paddling a Greenland paddle. Just next to my "bubble" of hard skin on the thumb of my left hand, a severe blister has grown. Probably the fact you do not have to rotate the paddle-shaft means another contact-point at th left thumb where you normally rotate the shaft.
Having paddled always with a right-handed paddle-shaft with turned blades seems a different situation compared to paddling a Greenland paddle. Just next to my "bubble" of hard skin on the thumb of my left hand, a severe blister has grown. Probably the fact you do not have to rotate the paddle-shaft means another contact-point at th left thumb where you normally rotate the shaft.
6. Last note
Yesterday-evening I spoke to Hans who made a Greenland Paddle himself some years ago. He enjoyed paddling it as a way of exploring our roots; the Inuit-way of paddling.
Hans however not used this paddle very often. Probably because it was not as effective as he wants it to be.
However, a few weeks a go he bought a carbon Greenland paddle from Freya. Since than he almost always used that paddle. He told me that this paddle has much more grip on he water than the paddle he made himself.
What we can learn from this is that the design of a Greenland paddle is very important regarding its effectiveness.
Hans however not used this paddle very often. Probably because it was not as effective as he wants it to be.
However, a few weeks a go he bought a carbon Greenland paddle from Freya. Since than he almost always used that paddle. He told me that this paddle has much more grip on he water than the paddle he made himself.
What we can learn from this is that the design of a Greenland paddle is very important regarding its effectiveness.