My first experience on a Konihi

[yugi]

There I was thinking I could step up from 90 now I'm all buffed up (and no aches) and everyone heads the other direction.

[Luc Benac]

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.

Interesting. I was looking at changing my 95 for an 84 for that very reason, but it looks like there is really no point.

[TN_SUP]

I'm afraid to exchange my Hooloa 84 for a Konihi 84 because I love it so much, Hooloa works perfect for me. Still trying to figure out my Konihi 95, its a bit much for my light weight but a good workout that improves my stroke.

[Luc Benac]

Still trying to figure out my Konihi 95, its a bit much for my light weight but a good workout that improves my stroke.

There is that. I was thinking along the line that the Konihi 84 would be doing all that i.e. force a proper stroke technique while allowing to work on building a higher cadence.
SO in effect replacing both the Hooloa 84 and Konihi 95 by the Konihi 84.

[Leroy]

I'm thinking about trying out the Kohini but not sure what size...I'm keen to try and up my cadence. I'm a fairly big guy, but not sure if that makes much of a difference. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

[PonoBill]

Get the little one.

[PonoBill]

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.

Interesting. I was looking at changing my 95 for an 84 for that very reason, but it looks like there is really no point.

The 84 is faster. It doesn't feel that much smaller to me, but it's weirdly fast. So far everyone I've lent mine to goes noticeably faster with it. I think it's just very efficient in a straight line when you get it deep enough. Other people like it for surf and other stuff, but to me it's good for one thing--acceleration.

[TN_SUP]

"SO in effect replacing both the Hooloa 84 and Konihi 95 by the Konihi 84"

Hey Luc, was that simple algebra or quantum physics? 

[eastbound]

i surf only, stand 6'2', weigh 200--love the 84--cant imagine a better blade

[Eagle]

Not had a chance to try a Konihi 84 yet but that would seem like a faster blade overall for us.  The Konihi 95 with 100Flex was an extremely stiff combo that taxed my traps and shoulders much more than any paddle before.

For context we use my original Vantage R8.5 at 116 that my wife now loves and a SB HA 500 at 78.  Still perfectly smitten with these paddles but like to test other combos when available.

[headmount]

I'm 195 and the 84 Konihi feels like plenty for me.  Yesterday was my third day in a row on it and it was the only paddle I can imagine using in the rough surface conditions we had from Maliko.  My mind has been officially blown with the matter of blade size.

In another thread someone mentioned that you can't buy speed.  I don't know.  I just bought a new board but by far the biggest factor for any improvement has been the paddle.

Maliko runs can be rough and it's easy to bang your rails.  Not touching them now with the 84

[PonoBill]

It's hard to make a Konihi track anything but straight. That's why you're not banging rails, but it's also why I like standard blades better for surfing. Maybe if I got used to it I'd like it better, but I can't see the point.

I did a lot of speed tests around the BOP on both my 12'2" starboard and the SIC Recon 11'11" and got results that were simply silly. I'd love to see someone else do some speed comparisons--even just comparisons against Ke Nalus to keep the conversation civil. I get enough grief about shilling for Ke Nalu.

[Luc Benac]

"SO in effect replacing both the Hooloa 84 and Konihi 95 by the Konihi 84"

Hey Luc, was that simple algebra or quantum physics? 

Gutometer based on at least two hours on the water and several drinks to structure the thought process...
Cheers,
Luc

[JF808]

For downwind, the Konihi works good... for surf, I don't like at all. It's specialized.... I've been using mine for for a few months and I'm still on the wall about it.

When u catch an edge on this blade.... damn better have rail tape on your board

[PonoBill]

Yup, me too. I used the 95 yesterday for a Maliko and it was good. I didn't pay attention to the paddle at all, and it rear braces very effectively, saved me from a lot of falls. After we finished the run I was riding back with Boyum to pick up my rig and we were talking about the blades. I realized that my shoulders felt like I hadn't done anything at all. Certainly not a 9.5 mile Maliko in challenging conditions. This morning they still feel the same way, though I slept ten hours last night. I guess it took more out of the rest of me than I thought. I don't even feel the warm tiredness of a good paddle. Nothing.

That's one weird blade.

I have a strange notion that I might be able to get the cadence up by shortening the blade--making it a low aspect blade by cutting a couple of inches off the tip. I'm thinking of taking it off right to where the wings start. I measured it last night, it would be 86 inches. I'm sorely tempted to do that, but I think I'll wait until I get a few more Maliko runs under my belt.