Performance Adjustable Paddles

[Area 10]

If money is no object then look at the Quickblade site. Loads of information there. You could get a small blade adjustable Trifecta, which would be very kind to your body, as it says on the website. I use a trifecta when my body needs a rest. But I just saw Mo Freitas almost win the distance race in Japan using one (the 86, but they do a 76 size one too which would be super-easy to use). So it is certainly a performance paddles, which is what you asked for.

http://www.quickbladepaddles.com/store/QB-Trifecta-FG-CA-Paddle

[Badger]

When I flat water paddle, I stand more upright and with my long arms, to get the paddle shaft above my head where the grip is, I have to extend my long arms so I need a longer length. However, when sup surfing a wave down at Galveston, I'm more in a crouch position (surf stance) on the board so the paddle has to be shorter in length. A "one size fits all" doesn't cut it if you get my drift. Couple that with a cantankerous lower bad back makes an adjustable length paddle the best solution for me.

Flatwater and surfing are two completely different disciplines. Most people have a dedicated paddle for each.

The thing I hated about adjustable paddles in the surf is that water would enter the shaft and slosh around inside. I don't know if anyone makes an adjustable that won't leak but it's something to consider when shopping for one.

When paddling, your top hand should not be raised higher than your head and your top hand arm should be close to horizontal when beginning the stroke. The only exception might be when racing while using an aggressive forward reach.

Whether paddling on flatwater or in the surf, you should stand as upright as possible at all times regardless of stance. Crouching or bending forward will only cause instability and back problems.

[Night Wing]

Today I decided to go on a hunt to see how much adjustment range a Naish Alana 75 Vario or the Carbon Plus 75 Vario has. It took quite a lot of searching but I think I found it. The adjustment range is 67"-89". How did I find this info? I ran across a YouTube video from Paddleboard Specialists which show cased a 2014 Alana Vario paddle. There are two things I like about the Naish Vario paddles. The no twist of the upper part of the paddle towards the grip and the "change the length on the fly".

If you look at the 1:01 time mark of the video, the guy takes apart the Alana. Once he got to 79", I counted the markings from there to the end. I had to start and stop the video quite a few times, but persistence pays off. Now I have my answer and I'm pretty sure the adjustment range is still the same for 2017. Also, the smaller diameter paddle shaft appeals to me too since the middle fingers on both of my hands (and they are my longest fingers) they're 3" in length.



On a side note. Paddleboard Specialists sells Naish sups, but they do not sell Naish paddles. 

 

[blackeye]

If money is no object then...

Trim down your Werner blade just to see what happens. The photos on their site look like the back and front faces meet and form an edge of about 3/4" on the sides and I am assuming the tip/bottom as well. Try grinding down 1/4 to 1/2" and you will have much less area. See if you like it. Warning - let others chime in on the advisability of doing this. I only know the Werner glass blades which would be perfect for this hack.

Once you are done experimenting, if it fails, ship me what remains and I'll try to do something interesting with it.

[southwesterly]

One last item. I notice small details. There is one "very important" piece of information which is MISSING on all of these paddles. There is "no maximum extended length". I wonder why companies leave out important info like that because I need an adjustable length paddle which is 80.5" in length. Looks like I have to do some more digging.

It's no wonder your shoulders hurt. With a paddle length 13 inches above your height, you can't engage your body weight on the stroke no matter how long your arms are. It's all shoulder work because you can't get the handle of the shaft below shoulder height.

In the beginning (I like saying that), it was standard practice for paddles to be 8 to 10 inches above your height. My elbows and shoulders took a beating back then. That changed 5 or 6 years ago with the shorter paddle movement.

My joints felt better with every inch I cut off my paddle. At about 3 to 4 inches above my height, I started feeling my body weight help me on the catch phase of the stroke. My elbow and shoulder pain vanished.

[Badger]

In the early days, Laird used to say that the handle should be as high above your head as you could reach and when I bought my first board, that's what the shop told me to do. Since then, my paddle lengths have gotten shorter and shorter. Now the general trend seems to have stabilized and I think I finally have my lengths dialed in.

This Jim Terrell video was very helpful to me. Here he's talking about racing performance and recommends 10 percent of your height above your head which is an inch and a half longer than what I use for casual flatwater. My surf paddles are four and a half inches shorter than my flatwater paddle.

As Jim mentions in the video, it's also very important where you put your lower hand. I have a piece of tape like he has at exactly half my height which is very useful. I find it difficult to go below the tape like he says to do but the tape still tells me where my hand needs to be to get the most power from the stroke. All my paddles have this tape.

[burchas]

Also, don't forget that between board types you can have 4inch difference
(more if you include SUS boards) in height above waterline. So whenever
you're looking at a formula how to calculate paddle height, see which board
thickness it is being based on.

This is another benefit of the adjustable, you don't have to change the paddle
if all of a  sudden you're on a much different board and also it allows you to
bring your own paddle when you demo boards and adjust accordingly to the
board you're testing.

[Night Wing]

In the early days, Laird used to say that the handle should be as high above your head as you could reach and when I bought my first board, that's what the shop told me to do. Since then, my paddle lengths have gotten shorter and shorter. Now the general trend seems to have stabilized and I think I finally have my lengths dialed in.

This Jim Terrell video was very helpful to me. Here he's talking about racing performance and recommends 10 percent of your height above your head which is an inch and a half longer than what I use for casual flatwater. My surf paddles are four and a half inches shorter than my flatwater paddle.

When I first started doing research on sup paddle length, I found the exact same information which you stated. And to top it off, I've got long arms and this is why I flat water paddle with an 80.5" paddle (for now). I'll eventually get the proper length nailed down with an adjustable paddle. With last year's open spider bite wound, which kept me off the water for 8 weeks, I thought I would have my paddle length sorted out by the end of April of this year. But my torn rotator (and bone spur) this Spring gave me Murphy's Law instead.

[Night Wing]

Also, don't forget that between board types you can have 4inch difference
(more if you include SUS boards) in height above waterline. So whenever
you're looking at a formula how to calculate paddle height, see which board
thickness it is being based on.

This is another benefit of the adjustable, you don't have to change the paddle
if all of a  sudden you're on a much different board and also it allows you to
bring your own paddle when you demo boards and adjust accordingly to the
board you're testing.

I'm well aware of a board's thickness with regards to the waterline. If you noticed when I converse with WarDog (SUP Sports), when I look at his line of sups he sells, I always ask him what the liters would be the board for a certain length and width in a custom build, but one thing is always a constant with me and that is I like to have a 4" thick board.

If you take a look at my signature, my custom all carbon 8'11" Hammer is 4" inches thick. Normally, a production made 8'11" Hammer is 4.4" thick. I did the same thing with a view toward buying a 10'6" x 30" x 4" @ 160 liters custom Hammer. A production made 10'6" Hammer is also 4.4" thick.

I do my home work when it comes to sups and paddles (and height of paddle). 

[burchas]

Also, don't forget that between board types you can have 4inch difference
(more if you include SUS boards) in height above waterline. So whenever
you're looking at a formula how to calculate paddle height, see which board
thickness it is being based on.

This is another benefit of the adjustable, you don't have to change the paddle
if all of a  sudden you're on a much different board and also it allows you to
bring your own paddle when you demo boards and adjust accordingly to the
board you're testing.

I'm well aware of a board's thickness with regards to the waterline. If you noticed when I converse with WarDog (SUP Sports), when I look at his line of sups he sells, I always ask him what the liters would be the board for a certain length and width in a custom build, but one thing is always a constant with me and that is I like to have a 4" thick board.

If you take a look at my signature, my custom all carbon 8'11" Hammer is 4" inches thick. Normally, a production made 8'11" Hammer is 4.4" thick. I did the same thing with a view toward buying a 10'6" x 30" x 4" @ 160 liters custom Hammer. A production made 10'6" Hammer is also 4.4" thick.

I do my home work when it comes to sups and paddles (and height of paddle). 

Sorry, I think I didn't make the point clear. There are all sorts of paddle length
formulas being thrown out there and here too. If you decide to go by any
of those, make sure you know which board thickness THEY are using to base
their formula on and if they do it on fresh water or salt water as waterline
will change due to buoyancy.

[Badger]

In the early days, Laird used to say that the handle should be as high above your head as you could reach and when I bought my first board, that's what the shop told me to do. Since then, my paddle lengths have gotten shorter and shorter.

When I first started doing research on sup paddle length, I found the exact same information which you stated. And to top it off, I've got long arms and this is why I flat water paddle with an 80.5" paddle (for now).

The point I was trying to get across is that you won't need your new adjustable paddle to be anywhere near 80.5 inches long. Those old formulas are outdated. Laird no longer uses that method to determine paddle length.

By modern standards, at 5'8" tall, your flatwater paddle should be somewhere between 74" and 76" long. Longer with a thick board. Shorter with a thin board.

Your arm length is irrelevant to the equation. If anything, your extra long arms would require your paddle to be shorter not longer.

[Night Wing]

By modern standards, at 5'8" tall, your flatwater paddle should be somewhere between 74" and 76" long. Longer with a thick board. Shorter with a thin board.

Your arm length is irrelevant to the equation. If anything, your extra long arms would require your paddle to be shorter not longer.

I'll keep the above in mind when I can get back on the water to test it out.

[capobeachboy]

Have not seen this addressed: With most adjustable paddles you have an adjustment range of upwards of a couple feet which is great if you are looking share a paddle with short to tall people, but will significantly add weight & stiffness which will affect a weak shoulder. You could use the KeNalu with the Extended Ergo T handle and have an adjustable range of several inches and a much lighter and effecient paddle. The Wiki 74 blade works great too and is available in xTuf or full carbon Elite versions, and you have the choice of four different flex shafts.

[burchas]

Have not seen this addressed: With most adjustable paddles you have an adjustment range of upwards of a couple feet which is great if you are looking share a paddle with short to tall people, but will significantly add weight & stiffness which will affect a weak shoulder. You could use the KeNalu with the Extended Ergo T handle and have an adjustable range of several inches and a much lighter and effecient paddle. The Wiki 74 blade works great too and is available in xTuf or full carbon Elite versions, and you have the choice of four different flex shafts.

Actually it was addressed. You can read above about the ZRE having few
inches of adjustment and the weight of a top of the line one piece paddle.