BUYING TIPS
A MATCH MADE IN HEAVEN. PHOTO:
ISTOCK.COM/AGALIZA
SUP STICKS
HOW TO FIND THE RIGHT BLADE FOR YOUR NEXT ADVENTURE
Think all SUP paddles are created equal? Not quite. Making your way through the jungle of available paddles requires some thought. Here are factors to consider before making your next purchase. —Colin Field
CONSTRUCTION Your paddle’s construction dictates more than just price—it also dictates performance. At the low end of both the performance and the price range are paddles with aluminum shafts and plastic blades. They’re heavy, but they’re rugged. These are perfect starter paddles for someone just getting into the sport, or someone that plans to loan the board out a lot. However, the flexible blade and the weight of the paddle makes its performance rather lackluster. Fiberglass is a step up in performance.
Significantly lighter than aluminum, expect it to be a bit less durable, and a bit stiffer. Avid paddlers often find a compromise in fiberglass blades between price, durability and performance. A composite combination including carbon
fibers is for the serious paddler. Price-wise, it’s a major jump, but the added performance is worth it. Pure carbon is extremely stiff, and also fragile. Composites blends, such as carbon and aramid, are more durable and provide some forgiving flex. Wooden SUP paddles are also available, either as simple, nearly blank slates, or handcrafted works of art. Performance wooden paddles typically combine composite fibers or laminations into their construction to improve life span and reduce weight.
46 PADDLEBOARDING || Annual 2016
LENGTH Most SUP gurus will tell you that paddle length comes down to personal preference, but generally, your paddle should be about eight to 10 inches taller than you are. “A fun rule of thumb is to do a shaka with your thumb on
the top of your head,” suggests Blu Wave Paddleboards retail shop owner Aaron Pilon. “The top of your pinky should be in line with the top of the paddle.” Depending on the type of paddling you do, you’ll need to adjust from there. Surfers often opt for a slightly shorter paddle, with the grip only about three inches above the head. Touring paddlers will need the longest shafts, and racers and recreational paddlers fall somewhere in between. For paddlers looking to experiment with their boards
in a variety of conditions, an adjustable paddle might be the best first choice so you can discover your own ideal length with different types of paddling. Most fixed length paddles are offered in two-
inch increments. If you do opt for a fixed length blade, you may be able to shorten it depending on construction. "The most common mistake I see when new paddleboarders purchase a paddle is buying a one-piece paddle instead of an adjustable, and not cutting it down to their desired length,” adds Gretchen Gamble, Boardworks’ marketing director. She’s seen newbies trying to ply the coast with 86-inch-long paddles—a size suitable for only the tallest paddlers.
BLADE Customers can use width, height and square inches to compare blade size. Obviously, you’ll get more power with a bigger blade, but you’ll also work harder and can put unnecessary strain on your shoulders. Usually, women’s specific paddles have a slightly smaller blade size than men’s. Surfers typically opt for a bigger blade for powerful, quick strokes and for use as a rudder and a brace point. Touring paddlers are at the other end of the spectrum, opting for blades on the smaller end of the size range so they can keep up an efficient stroke all day. While
big blades seem the
obvious choice for racing, Blu Wave’s Pilon says otherwise: “A consistent trend is they are going for smaller blade shapes than they were four or so years ago. A lot of the elite racers are going with smaller blades and paddling at a higher cadence.”
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