Gday all,what should I be looking to spend on an entry level(beginner paddle).I am 6'5" and around the 100kgs and will be paddling a 11'6" board .Thoughts on brands etc and composition would be appreciated.One small drawback,my wife wants to have a shot too ,and we will probably share a paddle to start ,however she is around 5'7". We're reasonably fit(longboard surfers) but we are oldies ,and will be in flatwater to very small surf mostly.......Thanks John

Best entry level paddle you can get in my opinion is the new Naish Carbon/Glass composite. The new 7" or 8" blades are a good weight and will be much more comfortable to use than an aluminium adjustable, and a good carbon adjustable such as the Quickblade will probably cost twice as much anyway.
I think they retail for about $270 each, so a lot cheaper than a full carbon paddle, but still light enough not to put too much strain on the joints, and you could even consider getting the new 'Alana' model for your wife.

World Champion Surfer MP, sorry Potts, Martin Potter was surfing a Bonga SUP at Fisho's late yesterday afternoon, with an oldish "Carbon GSI Paddle". Or is it lead not carbon??? Sorry GSI, but your original paddles must weigh about 1,000+ grams !! That large diameter shaft can't help either!

I had my Dean Snow (LSD on here) Paddle, and handed it to him.... All 410 grams! He was impressed, but only semi-impressed, and said something like "wow, but I need the exercise!". He wasn't overly talkative... maybe a bad day... maybe my arrogant opener.... "here mate, here's a real paddle!" I was only trying to help though....

A Kialoa Methane weighs around 550-600 grams, depending on where you clip the shaft.

Blah blah blah !! Don't get a brick!