Hi Scotty, I've found a longer paddle for distance paddling is definately helpful. It lets you get more reach in your stroke for distance paddling as opposed to the short quick strokes you want when in the surf. Also, distance boards tend to sit higher in the water than smaller surf sups, due to their greater size and volume, so if your body/shoulders are elevated and extra 3-4inches above the water on a distance type board, the same paddle is effectively that much shorter.

My distance/downwind paddle is about 12inches overhead and my surf one is about 6inches overhead (but i'm thinking of making it shorter).

Would definately recommend the QuickBlade Elite Racer as a distance/downwind paddle - it is about the lighest weight paddle on the market and I find that helps with reducing fatigue on long paddles. It comes in a range of blade sizes to suit.

Just my opinion so will be interesting to see what others have to add.

Cheers, Ali.

For distance or flat water you are standing with feet parallel and fairly upright. This requires a longer paddle. If I have to bend a lot it loads up my lower back and I get tired and sore.

For surfing you are spending more time crouching in surf stance and pivoting the board and digging in hard to accelerate and swapping sides for last minute corrections and stuff. If you have a long paddle you will spend a lot of time with both hands on the shaft and doing all sorts of awkward movements.

My paddle was 10" longer and I have cut it down to 8". I will be slicing some more off over time.

BTW. Good quality silver plastic duct tape is great for joining handles to paddle shafts.

Have to go with definitely YES.

I have just ran this full exercise also to get sorted with the proper paddle for me for my new 17' board.

A surf paddle can be whatever length, you don't really do sustained lengths of paddling and you always get a break between waves. You also want it sort of out of the way when you're on a wave. I run mine at about 6 inches.

My new C4 Full Carbon Kevlar is 16" though. Because you stand more upright to paddle and on a bigger board while being 3 inches thicker you are about 6 inches higher from the water. I tried shorter paddles 12" and 13" to test but my back killed from bending over too much. 6 + 6 for extra height + 4 to stand up straighter = 16 for me. Standing up straighter you twist and reach more than bend using bigger muscles to paddle.

One theory is also the start of the blade at eye level when stood on its handle. This seems to work.

There is another great article on kenalu.com about paddle length for your reach, board and style, it's a great read. It's called measure twice, cut once. It's Bang on I reckon.

i feel i've been to short on paddle lenght for paddling- not surfing.i trading my er qb for a new one and glued the handle uncut. that's about 15" above. did a short paddle late today. getting a lot more reach, standing straighter and can easily get my paddle side shoulder further forward than i can on my usual paddle lenght, which is what the oc crew are all saying we need to do as much as possible. it feels fast and less correction strokes on my skinny 14'. have to see how it goes at training tomorrow. i'll get a good idea against other paddlers
cheers

laceys lane said...

i feel i've been to short on paddle lenght for paddling- not surfing.i trading my er qb for a new one and glued the handle uncut. that's about 15" above. did a short paddle late today. getting a lot more reach, standing straighter and can easily get my paddle side shoulder further forward than i can on my usual paddle lenght, which is what the oc crew are all saying we need to do as much as possible. it feels fast and less correction strokes on my skinny 14'. have to see how it goes at training tomorrow. i'll get a good idea against other paddlers
cheers

i've cut my paddle back to 12"above. while very power, it's hard to keep going in sprint or hard paddling- felt like it was 15' long after a bit. longer reach is good,but your muscle levers are extended further making it hard to pull back as you go along.i paddled the 12"over lenght today. extending a bit further, but going for more upper body twist mostly- feels good. that longer lenght is good for medium speed long paddles imo
cheers

8" slim quickblade is 6" longer than the Coreban hardcore I use on my smaller JLMano. The 10'6"PSH WideAA is wider and floatier and the narrower longer blade of this quickblade makes flatwater paddles more enjoyable. I crack the side of the board less while not having to bend out to the side so much. The paddle feels incredibly efficient and direct with effortless speed when I want it. Although this is not an experienced flatwater person speaking. I can't believe how much I enjoy this combination on flatwater even compared to a good session in the surf. I must be getting old or something?