Lay Paddle On Deck: Which Side Up?

[PeteCresswell]

When somebody's floundering around getting back on the board sometimes one wants to lay the paddle lengthwise on the deck.

Blade angled down seems most stable bc the weight of one's hand on the shaft bends the shaft, creating pressure on the blade.   OTOH, there's also pressure on the handle trying to ding the deck.

Blade angled up spares the deck but is less stable.

Is there an accepted right way?

Or am I over-thinking this?

[DavidJohn]

Is there an accepted right way?

Or am I over-thinking this?

Yeap..  .. For me it's blade up and pointing towards the front works best leaving the handle to run along to board and off the tail.

DJ

[noworrieshawaii]

Good grief.. I never even think about it... I have no idea where I have the paddle when I'm getting back on... humm... I'll have to look the next time I fall...

[stoneaxe]

Same here Tracy...I think I just hold it as I jump back on. I don't think it matters much.

[1tuberider]

I don't think it matters. 

I try to clear the blade so that it's not pushing water or sometimes I lay it across the deck or sometimes I leave it in the water and pick it up when I get up.

This is a transition move because you really want to get back on your feet and start pulling again.

[PeteCresswell]

Is there an accepted right way?

Or am I over-thinking this?

Yeap..  .. For me it's blade up and pointing towards the front works best leaving the handle to run along to board and off the tail.

DJ

I guess I've been drinking too much coffee.... again...

[Sam Pa'e]

Is there an accepted right way?

Or am I over-thinking this?

Well IMAO...It really doesn't matter if you would laid the paddle parallel or perpendicular to your board, but what works for you may not work for others.

For me I prefer to lay the paddle down across my board and ready for me to pick up. It doesn't matter if my blade is on the right or my left side. What I notice is that when I pick up my paddle, it will always be with my left hand. It gives me control and the ability to switch hand before my first dig.

Here's a short video I put together to show my way of laying down, picking up, and paddling from a laying position.

                                             

I'm just showing you what I do, do whats best for you..........and we all can learn the best way it's done for all of us........... I hope this helps..........Mahalo

Aloha........Sam

[linter]

cool, mellow vid, sam.  thanks.  btw/ what's that vest you're wearing?

[Sam Pa'e]

cool, mellow vid, sam.  thanks.  btw/ what's that vest you're wearing?

Hey linter........How are you doing?.......Good to here from you!....Hope all is well.

It's an impact vest I'm wearing.....That day was a bit bigger then normal with some well over head waves. That shot you saw was in between sets!

That day there was only one other guy (Blane Chambers) using a vest. It was a day that your "A" game needed to be up to par...

Aloha...........Sam