The full article here.. quickbladepaddles.com/blog/?p=498

Choose a bigger blade size for:
- sprints
- paddling unlimited boards
- you are very strong for your weight
- you paddle better at a slower cadence

Choose a smaller blade if you are:
- doing really long races
- paddle stock boards (these are shorter and slower)
- you are not strong for your weight
- are able to paddle at a faster cadence

I dont know,what's that saying ''up the creek without a paddle''

Interesting thread.

I can remember not too long ago a similar thread were blade size & shaft stiffness were discussed in regards to surf Sup versus 14', shoulder injuries, cadence etc...

At that time it seemed general consensus was a longer/stiffer shaft with a largeish blade for ocean racing & a head high or shorter shaft with more flex and a smaller blade for surfing.

Going by Jim Terrell's article that view has changed somewhat.

On that note I have been thinking about chopping my Slim Jim down to about eye level to use on my 9'0 Starby pro to get more power & propulsion out of each stroke. Have been using a Knaha 90 at my exact height.

laceys lane said..

Downwinder said..

DavidJohn said..
Choose a bigger blade size for:
- sprints
- paddling unlimited boards
- you are very strong for your weight
- you paddle better at a slower cadence

I love my 120 sq. in. The Big Mama Elite QuickBlade I love how it just pulls the water, I've had it 5 years old already.
I do one stroke to everyone's two strokes and never feel fatigued
and if I do train (I'm not fanatical about training on the SUP?) I always seem to do PB's with this blade.
I Downwind for fun when the surfs no good.

I emailed Jim Terrell and asked. Do you make or can you make the Slim Jim in a 120 sq. in.
But have had no reply

hi phil, dk's qb v drive is a strong paddle , but travis's qb trifecta is a brute. a very strong paddle. could be worth a try out.

the v drive promo vid has dave saying he's moved on from the 120 and gone smaller

G'day lacey you're looking well I drove past you this arvo and you was walking very briskly. Yes DK is a weapon I'll ask Dave when I see him on Maui in July if I can have a go of his v drive paddle. But I really like the look of the Slim Jim I'd love to get one made in the 120 sq. in. rang, I'm not into paddling at a high cadence like 90% of paddlers with a smaller blade, I'd rather just do the big stroke and pull water as I don't get fatigued as much.
With the 120 sq. in. Big Mama I can get my planing speed in the flat (canal) between 10-12km/h for up to 10ks and I'm not fit like most of these SUP paddlers, thats why I like the big blade. I Downwind for fun.

I mostly surf so I like a small blade with a stiff shaft for quick response.
I have been using a 75sq in surf blade for over three years, actually its the same paddle I made back then.

The reasoning for using a small blade in the surf is mainly so that the blade has less influence on your surfing style.
Its also easier to swap from side to side when your really hunting that wave.

I like a length of 120mm over my height. This gives me a more upright stance and is a hell of a lot easier on my lower back. It also gives me a longer reach onto the wave face and improves my balance.

Another little secret that I use is to have some volume in my surf blade, a thicker floatier blade that does not disappear into the water as quickly as thin race blades. The extra volume helps with stability in bumpy conditions. My current fave surf SUP is 8'2 x 800 wide and 115 litres with a pintail, remember I weigh 95kg, a bit heavier really still have some xmas pudding to loose.

Because I build my own paddles I can try out a lot of different stuff, have a look at things that are just not available on production paddles.

This is another little secret I have been using for years. I place the maximum flex at the bottom of the shaft and keep a stiff mid to upper section. This flex pattern gives you more power all the time. Its like when you grip the shaft below the handle and place your bottom hand lower than normal, you do this to increase your paddles power.

I also use a modified oval shape on my paddles, the oval shape is actually triangular with the wide section under your fingers and the narrower section sitting in the thumb joint. Think about this shape, a nice broadish flat under your fingers soo easy on you hand.

So there is really heaps of areas to look into with paddle design.

Finally, I use a small blade in the surf, because when you ask yourself "How do you catch a wave?"
The answer is always the same "You have to be in the right position to catch a wave".
If your not in the right position to catch a wave then it doesn't matter how big your blade is you won't catch that wave.

boardbumps said..

That 10 to 12 kph on flatwater Phil is that on your 18? very quick, hull speed for an 18 is 10.5kph so thats fanging along.

Yes boardbuumps I only paddle unlimited boards the f18 is a fast board (Built For Speed)
I use the GARMIN 310XT after 10ks I'm done though.
I'd like to see a weapon on this board he'd smash'em I've seen Scot Trudon a legend on Maui paddle the f18 he was fast.

Howdy Downwinder,
You should try smaller blades as they are better for reducing fatigue and better for accelerating onto a run. They feel a bit wierd at first but definelty less fatigue IMO.

Something I have learnt with this caper is blade size board selection , shaft length are all individual. I think you need to find what feels comfortable for you by trying heaps of different options. No one knows the quirks in your body like you

husq2100 said..

teatrea said..

Something I have learnt with this caper is blade size board selection , shaft length are all individual. I think you need to find what feels comfortable for you by trying heaps of different options. No one knows the quirks in your body like you

I agree teatrea, theres just something not right about the feel of someone elses shaft when paddling

Happy to say , ive never played with any one elses shaft beforeAgree just wouldn't feel right

Scotty what is a small blade . Thats just a general definition. A small blade to downwinder could be 110 sq in.
My preference is for 75sq in for my surf blade and 90 sq in for my race blade. You need to get some power into your stroke for racing.

So what area are the top Aussies using, apart from small blades.

Not everyone is on the same size obviously but doubt many of them are using 110!

WINDSURFnSNOW said...

V keen to try the new small higher aspect Ke Nalu also Dean. Should be a sweetheart.

It is
First lot walked out the door ridiculously fast. Will have more of them soon....and some other funky new stuff

Caymansup said..

Anyone paddled the relatively young Bending Branches Balance or Amp? Carbon shaft with wooden grip and blade. I'm shopping around for a new paddle now and really am fascinated by the wooden blade, it's a good looking paddle.

Not a lot of info or user experience on the web, any inputs appreciated.

Other paddle i'm looking at is the Kialoa Insanity.

I've got a 11.2 board, aiming to to use in 35% mushy surf and 65% flat water.

Are you after looks.. or performance..

IMO the only good performing wood blades are a thin wood veneer on carbon..

btw.. the Kialoa Insanity is awesome.

Welcome to the breeze..

Thanks DJ. Hah! No, performance before looks for sure. Always just a challenge to balance price point and performance. If we all had unlimited money then it would be easy to just get QB or similar.

To come back to the Bending Branches...the weight for their Balance model is 24 Oz which isn't bad considering. Only issue is the lack of info available.

Same goes for SUPATX paddles. Their prices are pretty decent for full carbon paddles but then again the only real reviews/comments out there are generated by themselves. Any thoughts on the SUP ATX paddles?