Standup Zone Forum
Stand Up Paddle => Gear Talk => Topic started by: Kip on December 04, 2020, 07:02:44 PM
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Just wanted to post this because I’m STOKED !
Haven’t paddle it yet, but the quality seems outstanding.
74 sq in.
XTuf shaft might have a bit too much flex for my flatwater days, but can always swap that out. Got this for $249 instead of $335 so couldn’t pass it up 8)
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Once you paddle that with all the flex you will love it. That's the same one I have, and I've never looked for another paddle since. Mine has hundreds of miles on it, and it still is in perfect shape. So nice on the shoulders. I don't use it for surfing because I beat up my surfing paddles. I use them like a walking stick went I walk across the reef.
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Stoked for you. I miss my Ke Nalu (lost it, long story). Bought a Werner Rip Stick to replace it. It's a good paddle but I should have just bought another Ke Nalu, doh!
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Once you paddle that with all the flex you will love it. That's the same one I have, and I've never looked for another paddle since. Mine has hundreds of miles on it, and it still is in perfect shape. So nice on the shoulders. I don't use it for surfing because I beat up my surfing paddles. I use them like a walking stick went I walk across the reef.
That’s awesome to hear brother !
I’m heading out the door to shred it 8)
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That's a great choice Kip! As I've posted in the past (https://www.standupzone.com/forum/index.php/topic,36744.msg423149.html#msg423149), KeNalu is the only paddle I'll take to the water with me.
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This thing kicks ass !
Feels so smooth and quick!
I also like the flex of the Xtuf. It just feels really nice. Would highly recommend these to anybody lookin’ !
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If you like the xTuf you'll LOVE the xtuf(S).
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If you like the xTuf you'll LOVE the xtuf(S).
Well I guess I know what’s next after I snag this Bark Vapor Ghost !
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I ordered the same exact paddle 2 days ago.
Have had a Ho'oloa 84 (xtuf) for a few years and been happy. I had a pulled muscle injury at the front end of east coast hurricane season this year and didn't want to stop surfing. I took an old fiberglass adjustable paddle and wittled down the surface area to get me smaller than my 84 by a size. It helped alot. I didn't notice a downside to less area.
So going for the wiki74.
JP
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how did you score such a good deal?
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Being able to go down a size or two is a good indication that either your stroke is getting better or you're a lot weaker. I doubt it's the latter. If you stuff a big blade in the water haphazardly and pull on it while it's still going into the water (as most paddlers do in the first year of paddling if they don't get instruction) then the blade has air on its face and probably isn't fully in the water. As your stroke improves that big blade is too big and starts hurting if you pull on it hard enough. Really good paddlers can make anything work--Big, small, flat blades, dihedral, wings, whatever. But that's the Danny Ching, Dave Kalama, etc level. Fakers like me need all the help we can get.
I studied this stuff fairly carefully--that's what I do since I'm not likely to improve on my athleticism. Like any dynamic system in two media (air and water) it's complex as hell, but small as you can manage is a good direction.