PADDLES

These are full carbon fibre paddles manufactured by Fenn.

There are two shapes, Fenn 1 and Fenn 4.

Fenn 1

This is the classic Lettmann shapes with a long narrow blade. It has a very even pull throughout the stroke. Size is medium.

Fenn 4

This is a Brasca shape with a teardrop shape. It has a very aggressive catch (the front part of the stroke) and is popular with sprinters. Size is medium.

Availability:

Fenn 4 paddles are only available with an adjustable shaft as shown below.

Fenn 1 paddles are available with either an adjustable or fixed shaft.

Some notes about buying paddles:

For the newbie the choice of paddle is usually a nightmare. There are so many different theories and marketing stunts that it becomes impossible to find the perfect paddle, it is either too big or too small or too long or too short or not enough catch or too much catch or too narrow or too wide or too heavy shaft or too heavy blades or whatever else someone could think of.

I could paddle with any paddle sold in NZ but find that I am comfortable with about 75% of them and the last 25% have some characteristic that I do not like. Weirdly enough it is often the same characteristic that other people like in a paddle.

I used to paddle with a 218cm long paddle but now paddle 212cm, and the main reason is that I once forgot my paddle behind and had to borrow a short paddle for a race. Five years later I am still paddling with that paddle.

So my personal view is that it does not really matter all that much which paddle you use. If it feels good stick with it, if it doesn’t feel good try something else.

For the record I paddle with a 212cm fixed length Fenn 1 paddle.