Paddles for Beginners/intermediates

What type of paddle to buy for my teenage child?

Theres a huge variety of wing paddles available.
Fundamentally they all do the same thing; secure the paddleshaft in the water and allow you pull the ski past.

The first thing to consider is blade size. Smaller is better for younger paddlers, particularly if they plan on using it regularly. Medium and Larger blades can be a bit unweildy, tire the shoulders and lead to forearm strain if used a lot. Small size generally means a blade surface area of 650 to 730 cm sq.

Examples would be Brasca IV (610-705), III (755), Jantex Beta (600-720) or Alpha (680-720), Fennix 3, Orca Ultra-flex S, Orca Inner Pro, Orca Minni Pro.

Shape
Modern paddles essentially lie between two extremes; a teardrop shape or a parrallel rectangular shape with every paddle being an iteration somewhere between those extremes. A teardrop shape provides an immediate lock on the water when the blade is dropped – which best suits a fast stroke rate in rough water. The parrallel blade best delivers a progressive ramping up delivery of lock/power. The parrallel shape best suits windy conditions where the wind is coming from different directions on a race course but you dont get that immediate catch on the water. The teardrop tends to flutter in crosswind. That said a teardrop can work better in perfect downwind where and aggressive snap from run to run is ideal. The best first paddle is either a middle of the road or slightly parrallel paddle. The paddles mentioned above fall within these categories.

i.e,  Brasca IV (610-705), III (755), Jantex Beta (600-720) or Alpha (680-720), Fennix 3, Orca Ultra-flex S, Orca Inner Pro, Orca Minni Pro.

Examples of a more aggressive teardrop shape are the Jantex Gamma, Brasca VI,

Twist
Some manufacturers put a significant twist in the surface of the blade. This requires a stroke that moves quickly away from the boat after the initial catch. In theory, this is the most ergonomic way to use a blade but it is very unforgiving and not ideal for beginners in rough water. Avoid blades with a significant twist. Examples would be Zastera Burton or Brasca XI Van Dusen 92.

Length
Many many factors come into paddle length but fundamental is to buy a paddle with an adjustable clasp so you can experiment. For a teenage beginner, get a paddle that allows adjustment of the shaft from 205 or 210+

Paddle bag
Paddles aren’t cheap but when looked after, they can last decades. Its worth getting a paddle bag and caring for your investment.

Assembly
In Ireland with our lower temps, we certainly get away with using hot glue guns to assemble our paddles. Request a hot glue assembly so if you ever break a shaft, you can easily replace it.

Shaft strength
Generally for surfski, softer, more flexible shafts are better but any shaft is fine. You can slam a flexible shaft into the water and hurt your forearms and catch gently with a stiff shaft, so they dont make too much difference. Overall a flexible “soft” shaft is easier on the arms and shoulders but may result in power loss while stiff shafts are the opposite.

Round versus oval shafts
Some manufacturers offer an oval shaft rather than oval. Its personal preference. A round shaft can be made into a round shaft by using a ‘ferrule’ available from most kayak shops anyway.