Hey guys
Im in the market for a new paddle, specifically for racing.
Wondering what others are using and find effective/efficient?
I'm 5'10 and 75kg. Using a 23" SB sprint for all flat water and 25" One Edge 2.0 for technical/surf. Current paddle is Starboard Enduro Arma medium 81sq inch. Just grabbed this at the time as it was affordable. Has great catch with nice grip of the water, no flutter at all.
Considering Blackfish Viento, Black Project Hydro, 2020 starboard Lima. There is a shop close to me selling a 2018 starboard Lima small for a great price, which I believe is 71sq inch. Don't know this would be too small??
As it's hard to demo paddles, I'd greatly appreciate any recommendations/tips on what to look for in a good race paddle.
Thanks in advance.
I'm no gun racer, but was using a starboard high aspect paddle, borrowed a mates Black Project Hydro for 50 metres and bought one that day, along with a couple of mates that tried it as well, we were blown away with how good it felt.
Starboard high aspect paddles are like Star Trek movies. Every second one is a stinker.
Try a Ke Nalu Mana, full Carbon, very light, great catch and water entry, works for me.
I recently replaced my QB Trifecta with a Blackfish Viento. The BF is unreal. Slightly smaller blade size with perfect flex in the shaft makes it more forgiving on the shoulders. Heaps lighter than the QB also.
Select to expand quoteWaveScience said..
Starboard high aspect paddles are like Star Trek movies. Every second one is a stinker.
That's possibly why they were on sale for $150, you get what you pay for
Thanks guys. Am able to head down to GC and grab a viento so that's a bonus. Also cheaper than QB and BJ.
Best regards,
Jon
Select to expand quoteJonK82 said..
Thanks guys. Am able to head down to GC and grab a viento so that's a bonus. Also cheaper than QB and BJ.
Best regards,
Jon
Hey Jon, so what's the verdict on the Viento? Also in the Starboard vs Viento vs Blackproject conundrum....
would love some real life feedback!
thanks!
Select to expand quoteoutdooractive said..JonK82 said..
Thanks guys. Am able to head down to GC and grab a viento so that's a bonus. Also cheaper than QB and BJ.
Best regards,
Jon
Hey Jon, so what's the verdict on the Viento? Also in the Starboard vs Viento vs Blackproject conundrum....
would love some real life feedback!
thanks!
I haven't actually got my arse into gear and done anything so don't have any first had feedback. A friend of mine said he tried the BP Hydro on the weekend, solid catch and crazy light was his feedback.
Select to expand quoteJonK82 said..outdooractive said..JonK82 said..
Thanks guys. Am able to head down to GC and grab a viento so that's a bonus. Also cheaper than QB and BJ.
Best regards,
Jon
Hey Jon, so what's the verdict on the Viento? Also in the Starboard vs Viento vs Blackproject conundrum....
would love some real life feedback!
thanks!
I haven't actually got my arse into gear and done anything so don't have any first had feedback. A friend of mine said he tried the BP Hydro on the weekend, solid catch and crazy light was his feedback.
Well, can't get more honest real life feedback than that I guess... 
I have both a Starboard Lima Ltd ( 83) and a Black Project Hydro Pro.(2017 model 83. But brand new just bought). I used the lima for quite a while and have just changed to the BP. For my paddleing , the BP has transformed my paddling. smooth, and self aligning if I screw up the entry eg. on swapping sides. Light and very clean entry. I love it.
The Lima feels clunky now, though that could be an artifact of my paddleing style. The shaft is very stiff even though it is supposed to be the second most flexi ( S40).
Set PB's on both my 14 ( 5k) and my allrounder(3k) in the last week with the BP. Can't guarantee you will have the same outcome , of course.
Noteably, the Lima was giving me a sore elbow on 10k paddles and the BP doesn't. Again that could be a function of my paddleing style.
Select to expand quotegregjet said..
I have both a Starboard Lima Ltd ( 83) and a Black Project Hydro Pro.(2017 model 83. But brand new just bought). I used the lima for quite a while and have just changed to the BP. For my paddleing , the BP has transformed my paddling. smooth, and self aligning if I screw up the entry eg. on swapping sides. Light and very clean entry. I love it.
The Lima feels clunky now, though that could be an artifact of my paddleing style. The shaft is very stiff even though it is supposed to be the second most flexi ( S40).
Set PB's on both my 14 ( 5k) and my allrounder(3k) in the last week with the BP. Can't guarantee you will have the same outcome , of course.
Noteably, the Lima was giving me a sore elbow on 10k paddles and the BP doesn't. Again that could be a function of my paddleing style.
Hey Gregjet
Thanks for the feedback. Yes hearing a lot of good things about the Hydro. By the 2017 model do you mean the Hydro Reflex, as opposed to the TexCarbon? They're having a sale on the Reflex at the moment.
The 2017 was on sale. I think the blade shape is the same but the shaft is the SDS carbon. I think it was the only construction in 2017.
The tex shaft came later. If I like the BP ( and so far I love it) I will buy the new tex shaft one next year
