2015 paddle length for racing, downwind and allround fitness

[Luc Benac]

OK I am definitely doing something wrong.
I just measured my Kohini 95, it is 86" (normal shaft plus Ergo T).
I am only 72" so that make it 19% higher.
The paddle feels quite comfortable on my Javelin which is 6" thick.

[pdxmike]

Luc--my Ke Nalu is 84" (after having it at 85" for a long time) and I'm just under 73", so 15%, and I have a Javelin.  I have an adjustable Quickblade (80" to 88") that I used to use mostly at 86" and occasionally 84", then started using it at 84" and 86" equally.  82" feels very short, and I've only used that paddling into strong wind.  80" feels ridiculously short to me, even though that'd be 10%.  So your 87" seems long, but not any more extreme than 10% feels extremely short to me.


I may try shorter this year with the Ke Nalu, but only after more experimenting with the adjustable.  Too bad it only adjusts in 2" increments.

[viatormundi]

What is the latest length for paddles especially for racing? Shorter than 2015 levels I assume.

[Eagle]

Oddly have kept to about the exact length of paddle as when I started years ago.  Which is pretty short.  Had 2 longer ones but cut them back the past year.  PITA removing the handle tho as one was epoxied on.  The other was just taped.  Same length for upwind and DW - but have one a bit longer for distances over 12 miles.

[JEG]

OK I am definitely doing something wrong.
I just measured my Kohini 95, it is 86" (normal shaft plus Ergo T).
I am only 72" so that make it 19% higher.
The paddle feels quite comfortable on my Javelin which is 6" thick.

thats long Luc Benac and how's your shoulder, any issue?

[Luc Benac]

I am down to 81.5. I had gone shorter to 79.5 but came back a little bit longer and it feels more comfortable.
The biggest issue has really been the staff stiffness.
The Mana blades paddle very nicely on 100flex or 90flex but long run, my neck and shoulders do not like it...and I am back to Xtuff(s) shafts.

[PonoBill]

I switched to a 90flex when my shoulder started feeling dodgy and my carpal tunnel flared. Helped with the shoulders but the wrists got worse--once the inflammation starts you really have to push the reset button. I went to a xTuf(S) and that's helped a great deal, but I'm going to go see a highly recommended hand doc to see if I can eliminate this irritating problem. I meant for this year to target fitness and weight loss, but it looks like a bit of a recovery year (not as bad as shoulder surgery) so I might as well get as many things fixed as possible.