As primarily a Greenland paddler and a relatively high level ACA instructor (L4 coastal), I find it kind of odd that I get required to show that I can use a modern paddle every 4 years during my instructor update, by requiring that I use it for all skills for 2-3 days. The excuse is always “most of your students will be using a modern paddle”. That hasn’t in fact been true. But also, the other instructors aren’t required to show that they can teach how to use a Greenland paddle in those cases where usage is different (mainly forward stroke and bracing - which is best done with an extended Greenland paddle). Most of my modern paddle students over the past 10 years have been guides on Lake Superior and many wind up taking up a Greenland paddle; I suppose because they see me using it for guiding and when teaching non-stroke skills (rescues, towing) and when they are being evaluated in rough water.
FWIW, I have been an ACA instructor for 20 years and I do use a modern paddle when teaching strokes to students using modern paddles. If I am teaching a mixed class of Greenland and modern paddles, I will have both types. If I am teaching rescues and towing I will use a Greenland paddle.
I paid for a 3 day small group course on one of the Great Lakes with an ACA instructor 8 years ago to get some coaching on open water skills. I showed up with two kayaks, a 15’ low volume roto-mold and an 18’ Greenland SOF, and both a pretty standard Werner “modern” paddle and my GP. The instructor literally sneered at the Greenland gear and made it very clear that she would NOT be offering any instruction with them, even making some derogatory comments about GPs being a “fad”. I told her I did not expect her to, but I knew part of the weekend included a half day extended “recreational” coastal tour and I preferred the GP kit for that outing.
For some inexplicable reason, she insisted during our one on one stroke and sculling practice, on making me use a paddle that she had brought along instead of the Werner I had with me, some weird off brand thing with a narrow, uncomfortably flexible shaft and tiny blades that was about 15 cm too long. I struggled with it and learned little that was applicable to either paddle that I regularly use, as a result.
That was the day after our group coastal tour and I wondered if she was punishing me for having easily paced her (with my reviled SOF and “fad” GP) while she was paddling her NDK Pilgrim and fancy broad-bladed Celtic paddle.
I was less than impressed with the course. I’ve learned a lot more at the QajaqUSA skills camps in subsequent years, which cost about the same per day but include room and board.
I always use a GP as my principle paddle – have 4, a custom made 1-piece laminated cedar, a 2-piece carbon Gearlab , 2-piece wood Eastpole and the storm paddle hacked out of a pine 2 x 4.
Depending on conditions, my deck spare alternates between one of the two piece carbon Werners and Aquabounds and my 72" GL storm paddle. I do use a vintage Bending Branches 230 cm wood “Euro” blade paddle quite often in my little solo canoe, being as my single blade J-stroke technique is still pretty funky.
Our Club does not offer certifications, but we do offer skills training. We have people use their own boats, paddles, and other equipment. After all, that’s what people will be paddling with. We do encourage them to try other people’s boats, paddles, and other equipment like tow rigs if they want to so that they can see what others prefer. What is the purpose of having people train with things that they will not be using?
We do have a number of certified instructors and people can arrange for training leading to certifications if they wish.
How many recreational paddlers bother to hang out on a paddling forum (except when researching to buy a boat)?
And how many would know what a “paddling style” is and open this “poll”?
This isn’t a representative of the general paddling community at large. This is a hangout of paddling nuts!
People typically paddle what others paddle. Where I am, the paddle I SEE people using most on water is euro paddle, by a pretty huge margin (9 to 1?). However, of the 2 sea kayak clubs I’m a member of? About 1/2 are greenlanders!
Why?
If you’re just out touring, you stick with whatever works. But if you’re in a kayak club, you’re socializing while kayaking. Greenland paddle is what you pick up after hanging around other people who have it.
I think the general public’s knowledge of a GP or wing paddle is close to nonexistent. Also, the fact that you can’t find them in a sporting goods store limits exposure. It certainly reduces the chances of buying one. Online research can be informative but isn’t the same as holding one in hand or being given a chance to try one. About the most likely way to end up using a GP is like you say someone introduces you to it. The first one I saw was when I was paddling at the coast and saw another sea kayaker coming my way using one. I knew what it was and ask him about it. He let me try it. String (a member here) gave me one he made after I had given him a flute I made. I have since made two GPs. They are my go-to paddles most of the time, but not always.
You seem to suggest that using a GP is due to some sort of peer pressure, that you “pick up after hanging around with other people” in a club.
While it’s true that being around others with a GP may lead to someone adopting that as their preferred paddle, it’s not to “fit in”, it’s because once they have had the opportunity to borrow one, a larger percent of the people who try a GP, prefer to switch to it because it’s such a great tool.
If Walmart sold cheap plastic GPs, there would be plenty of them in the recreational kayak crowd
And some cheap narrow beam rec boats too? Yes! I bet more would use it.
Both works. But few recreation paddlers bother because they never tried it.
Still, others tried it and stayed with euro paddle. So there’s no “fitting in” or “peer pressure” required. More about curiosity instead.
(One of my paddling buddy carries a stick on her deck for all the years I’ve known her, it’s her “standard” spare paddle. But I’ve only seen her use it a few times, about as many times as I asked to borrow it - just to change things up!)
It’s just the simple fact some people like it more than others. No strong correlation to location nor speculation of deeper causation needed.
Moreover, if wing padder aren’t so much more expensive than even a decent “normal” euro paddle, I bet we would have seen more adoption too!
I got into kayaking for the fishing aspect of it and for years I’d never really heard of Greenland paddles. I’d run across them from time to time online but never gave them much thought until my boats started getting longer and skinnier and now I paddle more for exercise than anything. That’s when I first really looked at them. I think if they were at Wal-Mart or more affordable (sub $150), I may have tried them initially.
Euro paddles tend to have a slight advantage for speed and acceleration. Being mostly two piece they are easier to transport. They can also be feathered if that’s what you prefer.
Many feel that Greenland paddles are easier on the shoulders and excel for rolling and bracing. If you make your own they can be an order of magnitude less expensive. They are nearly a fast as a Euro paddle.
Wing paddles are designed for maximum speed and efficiency in the forward stroke. That’s why almost all people in competitive racing use these or sometimes Euro paddles. They do not work that well for bracing or other things like back paddling or draw strokes.
I am noticeably faster when using my Wing paddle, but it isn’t as efficient doing the various other paddle strokes. You can accelerate faster with a Euro, but once up to speed with a GP I don’t see a difference in speed when cruising between a GP or Euro. I tend to get into a fluid rhythm of motion that seems almost effortless with the GP, and it is so easy to extend in sweeps and braces. I find it has an edge over a euro for many of the other strokes
In my paddling days, I was a fast paddler and enjoyed going long distances. Typically in each paddle outing, I would do 12 miles. I could do this in 2 1/4 hours. I always use my wing paddles. I’ve grown quite accustomed to them. These days, I need help to get in my boat and help to get out. I have moved all 6 of the boats I have to our Pocono house. They are all covered and are placed on the rack I built.
I’ve found the same when I tried it for the first time. I thought it’s just me not having enough experience. It’s interesting to read quite a few others who are far more experience than me reporting the same.
That said, the front runners of the Mayor’s are all using wing paddles. That course is almost always rough. Some years positively stormy! So, inefficient it maybe in bracing and maneuvering, it still wins races even in very rough water.
The wing braces well enough, but strokes like a bow draw or pry the blade has a tendency to rotate. It doesn’t mean they can’t be done just that the blade shape doesn’t lend itself to doing them well. I haven’t tried to skull with my wing paddle but suspect that stroke may also suffer. I tend to use the wing in open water not where I am doing lots of turns. It works fine in rough water going straight ahead.
