Can't use such a short paddle for Posted by: g2d on Dec-22-12 9:32 PM (EST)
kneeling. But two of the 61.5" paddles I use most work the way CE Wilson describes. My Mitchell curved blade slalom paddle has a tiny bit of blade offset toward the non-power face, and my flats cruising paddle is a home built 5 degree bent shaft. I think 5 degrees is the probable optimum for bent shaft or the equivalent. The paddle shown in the link would not work as a slalom paddle. It wouldn't behave properly on compound strokes. Generally, the curved blades used by slalom paddlers are not truly spooned, but are almost flat across the face, with a tiny bit of dihedral.