What Paddle to Use When Whitewater Kayaking

Video Transcript

"The other thing you have to figure out what you want in size and shape is your paddle. Now paddle comes for different purposes and different body types. This paddle here is a whitewater paddle it is about 200 centimeters long it is a little bit long for me I take about a 191-194. But one way to try to test it out is get your hands about shoulder length apart if you put it on your head your arm should be right angles. But your really want your hands about a fist of so way from the paddle blade so if I move it out there and my elbows are more then a right angle the paddle is probably a little long for your. That is one bench mark there are many others depending what you want to do. This is a bench shaft paddle you can see there is a place right here where you would put your hands it is basically a nicer feel paddling it takes the crick in your wrist and puts it in the paddle. It is more orgasmic for paddling taking the stress off of your lower forearm. Everyone likes a different feel paddle some people like a bench shaft some people don't it is going to be a preference for you. This again is a little to long for me but lets go down to this little one. This one is a 198 this one is actually to short for me. It is a really small paddle probably for a kid or so but its a symmetrical blade so you can see the blade is bigger on one side and shorter on the other. It is a little more efficiency paddle for the water like a blade like this. You can still blade/paddle with symmetrical blades they just have a different feel. So you are going to have to try and test different paddles out for you. Paddles range anywhere from $75--$400 so you have to decide which one you want."