My first experience on a Konihi

[headmount]

I'm pretty skeptical and figured how could a paddle really mean that much.  After all my present Ke Nalu Maliko has been pretty sweet. 

But today PBill ruined it for me when let me use his new Konihi blade.  He brought an 84 and I started with the 95.  We switched about four times and I settled on the 85 which was really something when dealing with a wrong angled surface grain on our southside downwinder.  I liked the quick action when trying to skezel into small grooves that would keep me gliding. 

He asked me to try twist out the handle to see if I could make it waffle.  I did and couldn't which allowed little micro angles to get me where I wanted to go.

Conditions weren't great and you had to work for everything but as long as I could hold up aerobically (not too long) I could really get the board moving with no glide help.  Made a so so run pretty damn fun.  He's going to let me use it some more but I'm afraid I'll start channeling Charlton Heston if I do.

Damn well made.  Solid handle.. which is big.

[Southbay]

That 84 is small!  But, the look on your face said it all. You were pumped!  The whole thing looks really quality. The weave on the carbon is really good looking. Can't wait to try one myself!  Is this a downwind specific paddle?

[headmount]

I think it would also be a great surfing blade... maybe better as a surfing blade but downwind was great and no pain at all tonight.  After battling offshores on a surfing board, today was easy.

I think the best attribute is being able to give slight twists to enhance steering into and through bumps.. without waffle break up.  Extremely fast action blade.

[capobeachboy]

How does it compare to the V Drive and ZRE?

[eastbound]

uh oh--could this be a reverse--Ke Nalu hijack?

careful, some coins might start flying around!

[headmount]

Haven't used either of those blades Eastbound but many of my pals have V-drives and rave about 'em. But the other morning a friend came in from surfing and had ripped his handle right off the shaft of his V-drive.  It was one of those soft squishy handles. 

I've looked at the V-drives and they are shaped differently than the Konihi or any other blade for that matter.  The Konihi is also distinctive as well with its shape.  Different veins of thought but both work great. 

Try 'em out is the best way to determine which one you like.  Paddling near a partner you can switch off with really helps you see what's going on.

[PonoBill]

I don't like the Konihi for surfing. For me it's a racing/downwind blade only. It's OK in surf, but because you can't twist the blade (the correcting torque it applies is huge) there are some things I'm used to having a blade do that it won't. You can't brace out to the side very well either, but you can brace back very effectively

[eastbound]

my kohini 84" setup, cut much shorter (76" vs my 74") than I had been previously advised, feels so much better than my old insanity that I can't imagine something much better.
Given I ma usually the only sup in the water where i ride, i wont be swapping much. but i think this blind squirrel got lucky and found an acorn.

[headmount]

my kohini 84" setup, cut much shorter (76" vs my 74") than I had been previously advised, feels so much better than my old insanity that I can't imagine something much better.
Given I ma usually the only sup in the water where i ride, i wont be swapping much. but i think this blind squirrel got lucky and found an acorn.

How tall r u?

[headmount]

Just saw your bio.  Thanks.  6'2" seems tall for how short you went.  But you're probably surfing with it.

[PonoBill]

The key to making it work best seems to be to sink it at least as deep as the blade/shaft joint. You get instant feedback if it's too shallow in the sound of a toilet being flushed. Whether you accomplish that by bending at the waist or using a longer shaft is mostly a function of age and back condition. For me and Boyum, who stand on our boards like cigar store Indians, it's the latter.

[eastbound]

I sink my knees when the paddle's in the water. Seems to help with balance and acceleration. I feel more solid, low, when I push my cadence. Surf only tho, so all burst/rest.

[headmount]

Second day, full run with the 84.  Today was off the charts conditions and during those extended glides where fast action was paramount to maintain planning speed, the 84 was outasight.  Really stoked.

[stoneaxe]

It's such a bizarre feeling. I know I feel like I'm doing less but going faster.... . I'm still not going to win any races but no question I'm a faster slowpoke. Biggest plus for me is how my shoulders feel after long distances. I think that's the smoothness paying off over 1,000's of strokes. I still don't surf with it though.

[PonoBill]

I think lane needs to do a smaller blade than the 84. That sounds weird to say, but I can't quite hit the cadence I'd like to with the small blade--it's just not that much different than the 95. Maybe shorten the tip and bring it down to 76 or so. If I had a spare blade I'd cut one to try it.