need to order a new paddle today as i sold my sb power paddle yesterday because i just found it far to stif and big so trying to chose between getting a wener spanker or nitro i know one is a surf and the other more distance paddle and i will probably end up with bouth one day (before get a second paddle i need to get muy self a distance board so it could be a while before i can get a second paddle) so wondering whether i would be better of getting the spanker and using it for surfing aswell or a nitro and using it for some distance, i will probabley be doing more or less 50/50 over the summer here in the uk. i dont know if it makes a difference but im quite tall 6'3 but light ish at 75kg and i do have a dodge reconstructed shoulder which is why i think i struggled on the starboard paddle being so stiff

any advice would be great to help me choose,quite looking forward to getting ether in my hands though

cheers charlie

I've got the spanker and I love it. However, after two years of supping under my belt and seeing, trying new funky paddles I would go for something with a smaller paddleface - therefore I'd say go nitro.

This really became clear to me when paddling against the wind this w/e. Spanker is great on a downwinder and when you have some momentum happening, but for taking off in the surf, paddling against the wind and acceleration you want to choose a paddle with a smaller face.

well walked in to my local and the first thing they said was we have something you would quite like to see turnes out they had just got in the one of each of the werner range, i ended up walking out with a very good deal on a nitro which was way better than i was expecing as i went down there with only thinking i would have been able to order it and going to have to waight a week for it to turn up, just got to cut it down i think im probly going to go 6" over for starters and then will hopfuly get it wet tomorow so happy days

G'day Charliuk

yep there's a lot of paddles on the market you'll need to do your home work! check this company out www.quikblade.com/ the bloke who makes them Jimmy Tyrell (spell check) is a legend & an Olympic kayac champion check out his resume. I have two qb one for surfing & one for Downwind. Jimmy is making me a custom 90'' qb for Downwind as we speak. one word STOKED
see ya in da ocean
DW

cheers for the tip i went 7 1/2 and that was spot on think 6 would have been ok for surf but not for any distance stuf.its taking a while to get used to making your you get a few extra strokes in before take off as im used to a bit more instant power but it is so nice and light.