Area10 said..
Does the new Pipes paddle still have an oval shaft? I ordered a Kialoa GL Surf II paddle and was disappointed when it arrived because it had a round shaft. My GL Surf one (the previous model) had an oval shaft and I prefer them. So I had to send the GL Surf II back, regrettably. I'm guessing it's about cost because the new paddle was much cheaper than the old one. The construction of the shaft was different also. The one I was offered had the same kind of 3k-type weave that my old paddle had for the first couple of feet at the top, and then a different weave further down - it was like the ZRE paddles where you can't really see the weave at all, it just looks like one smooth black colour. I've never seen a paddle with different constructions on the same shaft before.
The new Kialoas seem quite a bit lighter than the old ones.
Oval shafts were at one time almost a Kialoa USP, so to my mind it would be a shame if they abandoned them. I'll happily pay more for an oval shaft (as indeed QB charges more for one). I don't think it matters much for flat water but they give better control I think when surfing and downwinding.
Hey A10.. Pretty sure Kialoa offer a round or oval shaft on most of their paddles.. I have two Hulu Small paddles.. One oval for downwinding and one round for surfing.. The reason I chose the round for surfing was because the round shafts have slightly more flex and with my surfing paddle being shorter the added flex might be a good thing.. To be honest I don't notice much difference in the flex.. btw.. The new Kialoa oval shafts are round at the blade and round at the handle.. and only oval in the middle section of the shaft.. I also have a Kialoa Insanity paddle that has a round shaft.. and it has that two types of carbon weave on the shaft.. I've been told that they do this to make cutting easier so it's only in the last 12-18" of the handle end of the shaft.. The woven carbon cuts clean where the rest of the shaft can un-ravel if not cut clean.. It is pretty weird.. The new Pipes, Methane, Hulu's have a woven carbon though the whole shaft.. Pretty stiff.. Very strong.. and 100% reliable IMO.. Great paddles..
