Hey.

I am after a little bit of help here and any pointers will be great!

I used to paddle a lot a few years ago, I never really got into it in any serious way, I used to paddle a lot of recreational stuff and a few river runs but nothing overly serious but had loads of fun. Anyway when i started i wanted to develop into playboating but for one reason or another i never bought any gear and never really left the type of paddling i had fallen into

But now Things have changed and i have bought myself a new boat, its nothing fancy, new or amazing and i picked it up on the cheap which seems to have worked out well. The boat is a Liquid Logic Space Cadet and i am hoping this is not a bad move from the start? I also have my eye on a Crazy 88 off of here which i may take (but if its going to be easier t start off in that i will probably take it, i am seriously considering it as a second boat, two is never a bad thing). I am hoping that i have not made things harder for myself with the choice of boat.

Anyway, I have a deck, PFD and all of the gear i will need, the only thing i am having trouble with is the paddle. I have been looking through a few places and a paddle that has appealed to me is the ainsworth N105 & N106. This is a paddle my local store stocks but before i go down i would like to have a better idea if this paddle is for me. I dont know if my size matters at all but i am a beginner trying to make things easy for myself.

Also, i have never used a paddle with a crooked shaft, is it worth me paying the extra money for a crooked shaft? And over all is this paddle the right one for me?

If anyone could give me any pointers as to which boat will be better for me to start off with and if the paddle i have looked at is worth a investment i will be very thankful.

I dont want to walk into my local store, with out a clue, looking like a numpty! So i am hoping someone can save me from this!

Thanks

I hope your local paddle shop staff has the knowledge to set you up with the correct paddle for your particular size, style and use. I would suggest swallowing the pride pill and talk to the pro staff at your shop and let them help you along. Explain to them you skill level, your boat and the amount you would like to spend. Some people might disagree with this statment, but I would go with a medium range material and medium range price at first till you get your full on whitewater legs and can extract the talent juice from a highend paddle. Just make sure to get something strong and durable, a heavy paddle can only help your skills and make you stronger. It would be a shame to beat up and destroy an expensive paddle from the start when you can progress with a mid-range and step up later. That way you can have a secondary paddle for emergencies and as a loaner if a friend would like to join you. As far as a bent shaft is concerened, it is all in what you learn with. If you start with a straight shaft you will probably grow to prefer it. A bent shaft does get you better predeictibilty and puts the blade face in a more controlable postion, it is also better on your joints and wrists in the long run. Remember this is my opinion and everyone differs in style and form and preference.

Thanks a lot for that! I think that has cleared a lot up for me, I think i will have to go in and give them a chat, Its just i didnt want to go in with my lack of experience and seem like i am wasting their time.

Thanks for that on info paddles, I have had a soft spot for Werner paddles for a long time and going for a cheaper substitute to start with makes perfect sense and then upgrading further down the line.

Thanks again for your help, you have given a lot of very useful advice, so thanks for your time!

Absolutely! Remember your not wasting their time in anyway, you are giving them business. I know I run a Paddleshop in Pennsylvania. Good luck and Cheers!

I would agree in getting something mid range is better to start off with, especially if you are not sure what shaft length you like. For playboating you generally go a bit shorter than for whitewater and if you have had a shoulder problem then a smaller blade size is also a good idea. Be aware though that either of these will make the paddle a lot harder to roll with until you get used to it. If you like werner paddles (and who doesn't) there is a load of information about paddles on their website and it even has an Online paddle fit guide to narrow things down a bit.

www.wernerpaddles.com

If you have the cash to spare then I would spend a bit more on another paddle about a year down the line when you know what you want and not buy another boat just now. When people are starting out switching from boat to boat makes it harder to learn tricks (like switching from car to car learning to drive). You should also get some airbags for your boat if it doesn't have any, and a sponge to get the last drop of water out of it is 99p well spent.

Personally I paddle with a full carbon werner player cranked shaft which I think is 194 cm long, but I wouldn't call it mid priced! Werner do do a basic range called Rio which you could look at.

Oh and when you do get a nice expensive paddle don't sit on it to get into your boat, please no !

Hope this helps,

Neil Newton Taylor
www.swiftwaterrescue.at