I was checking out paddles the other week and saw a kiaola methane with a price tag of $500.00. It made me wonder about the markup on these paddles. I'm no expert or bush mechanic but I'm a pretty good consumer.

Should I ask my boss for a pay rise or are these paddles over priced?

You just have to go into a bicycle shop and look and all the carbon stuff that they sell (bars/stems/seat posts/wheels etc) and look at the price of that stuff and you realize that our carbon paddles are a bargain price.

Also Ducati/Aprilia and KTM have all these carbon nic-nacs for their bikes but jeeez.. The price is outrageous... Quality carbon fiber is expensive stuff.

Soon after buying my first Kialoa they had a price rise that took them above Werner and I contacted Kialoa asking if they could drop their price just a little so that they would be competitive with Werner otherwise Kialoa would lose a lot of customers to Werner.. and to my surprise they explained that they couldn't due to the high cost of making them and that they make very little profit on them.

I'm not sticking up for Kialoa saying this (well maybe I am) .. I'm just passing on my thoughts.. Kialoa and Werner make their paddles using a very hi-tech process that's different to most others I think and this all costs money.

The new Naish carbon paddles cost about the same as Kialoa and I'm sure that if Naish could sell them cheaper they would.

If anyone wants a cheap paddle I can help them make one for about $60 but it wont paddle as well as a beautiful carbon or wood paddle..

It will be interesting to see and paddle with all they new paddles at the Mambo this year..

DJ

Sweet, snowy board and paddle package for $205, how do we order one? will they be on eBay?

hilly said...

Sweet, snowy board and paddle package for $205, how do we order one? will they be on eBay?

Ha Ha....funny boy hilly, maybe destroyed gear for $205

Sparx said...

Just picked up a paddle from Dean this week and compared to whats around the price and quality is freakin awesome. Have just spent all morning putting it through its paces in some punchy little beachies and couldnt be more stoked. Thanks again.
CHEERS
Sparx

I got my paddle off Dean two weeks ago. Had it out everyday. Love the lightweight. Dean knows his materials and knows how to build quality boards and paddles.
Dale

OG SUP said...

I have to say Deans Airwave paddles are the goods for sure.

Very light and the pass the full on light sabre and jousting test by Jarrod and Adam.

I have seen Yoda rip a radical cuttie (by far the best I have ever seen) and the flex in the paddle shaft was totally rediculous it just came back into shape and he smashed the lip doddled to the nose and screamed off down the line.

For a guy who is almost 100 he does pretty well!

But I am sick of carrying his walking frame back from the roady point.

Phill

Hey Phill .......I've upgraded to the lightweight carbon walking stick......Tripple wound!....so you won't have to drag that heavy walking frame up the beach.....

Hey Sam,

Kialoa:
Kristi and I have flogged our Methanes to death, fallen on them hit the boards hard etc and to date no issues at all.

At 110kg I dont muck about getting onto a wave and I find the smaller Methane makes rapid initial strokes more efficient and less effort. The quality and performace is second to none in my opinion.

Dean has recently made Nesha a custom adjustable lenght Airwave Paddle with a smaller dia shaft to suite her size hands and I have to say its a beautiful job. The quailty and finish is top notch. Weight wise it is comparable to the standard methane even though it is double shafted. She loved it when she saw it today, I think this paddle will last her a life time.

Me thinks Niki may want one too in the near future.

Dean thank you again for your help and ingenuity.

Regards

Phill

DJ,

I use the Methane in the surf as I often sit right under the lip on the DC 9'4 and need a first gear power shot to get on the wave. With a bigger blade I cant get the instantaneous take off grunt I want. But just remember I am a sissy.

The Quick Blade Rich has is also a lovely paddle (havent tried it in the surf yet) it is effortless paddling on the flatwater.

Revvin Kevins Kia Kaha I find allows me to turn much tighter arcs on the 9'4. The Kia Kaha has a stiffer shaft and the blade seems to bit harder in the turn, but I dont like it for late take off. I would love to see the Kia Kaha in a slightly smaller blade myself. When I spoke to Jodi a few months ago about a smaller blade I heard there was someting in the wind.

I havent tried an Airwave yet but thats high on the list if I can get someone to give one up for 1/2 hour.

I have seen Sparx rip he does nice tight arcs and cross paddle turns really using the paddle to advantage. He will really give a paddle a fair work out and he loves his Airwave.

Like everything else at the moment we are getting more an more spoiled for choice.

Its a great thing for the consumer.

Phill

thephantom said...

It's pretty simple really.....
You get what you pay for.

QB elite racer by far the best paddle going around and worth every cent.

Right on mate.
The C-Tech carbon shaft I buy is engineered to specification.
C-Tech make a lot of ,carbon gear for Americas Cup yachts so it's top grade.
And the Carbon uni & Bi directional twill I use for the blade comes from Toray Japan, high modulus stuff.