4 ms·
Last I remember looking into it is the hard 90 degree offset is for wind resistance in open water.
by lkschubert8 4y ago
Last I remember looking into it is the hard 90 degree offset is for wind resistance in open water.
- handmodel 4y agoThis is why it's done but still sorta of strange to me that this was the way I was taught by camp instructors - even though we never were going for speed. Feels a bit like learning how to ride a bike with one of those aerodynamic helmets even if you aren't really ready to learn racing technique yet. https://www.sportsperformancebulletin.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/helmet.jpg https://www.sportsperformancebulletin.com/wp-content/uploads...
- ghaff 4y agoIt's not just racing. Feathering paddles can be really useful generally if wind picks up and you're actively fighting it. Otherwise you're dealing with a lot of resistance with the paddle blade in the air. And I assume there are instructors who just want to instill feathered paddles as the norm you should expect. I generally disagree but lots of people with more experience than I have don't.
- ghaff 4y agoYes. It's called feathering. In general, I prefer to unfeather my paddles. (Many good paddles can be adjusted--modula small surface area Greenland paddles.) But there's also an argument that you shouldn't change your paddle orientation so that you can do bracing and other manoeuvres by reflex.