Yep the new methane paddle felt great.
Lighter and with far less blade area than my last paddle. It was much easier to stroke through the water and I seem to function better with a higher number of quick paddles than fewer more powerful strokes of the old paddle.
I liken it to being in a lower gear on a pushbike, more reps but less effort per rep. I'm stoked!!

Get in touch with Sam Williams [mailto:[email protected]] they can put you onto a shop near where you live that stocks them or alternatively supply by mail. About $450 with cover.
Not sure how it compares to the c4.

Some links to posts in this forum on the Kialoa methane paddle.
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www.seabreeze.com.au/forums/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=42470
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>www.seabreeze.com.au/forums/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=42358
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www.seabreeze.com.au/forums/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=41828
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www.standupzone.com/forum/index.php?topic=2081.0
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> Check this out for when you cut your new Methane..
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> www.seabreeze.com.au/forums/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=39056&SearchTerms=cutting,paddles

Old school paddle vs new school paddle..



I was paddling with my Shaka Pu'u the other day and while paddling into a headwind I tryed to speed up my cadance...I couldn't.

The paddle felt like it was sorta stuck in mud..The shaft was flexing..I could feel the strain on my joints and muscles..I had to slow down my stroke rate to match the size of the paddle blade size.

The Methane and Shaka Pu'u are very close to the same size and yet there seems to be a big difference between the two when you want to paddle fast.

With the Methane you can go wham, wham, wham...with fast quick strokes and you can still feel that there's great power in the blade.

So.. For cruising around I like the bigger Shaka Pu'u..but for paddling hard and fast like you do when paddling into the wind or paddling to catch a wave..or even paddling hard to get out through the surf the Methane wins hands down..IMO.

Here's a pic showing the difference between the Shaka Pu'u and the Methane..I'll take a pic comparing the Methane and the C4 next time I paddle with my mate John.

DJ

boardbumps said...

Which paddle has the least flex DJ ? It sounds like the Shaka.

Rod

Both shafts are the same so the flex should be equal but because the blade area is smaller on the Methane it's harder to flex the shaft on the Methane.

I'm sure you would get less broken paddles with these smaller blades.

DJ