From: BKcirino@aol.com
Date: Thu, 23 Mar 1995 18:45:52 -0500
Message-Id: <950323184550_59112329@aol.com>
To: baidarka@imagelan.com
Subject: re: paddling, about Wings!
Well several people have asked what exactly a wing paddle is and how they
paddle differently. I will try my best at addressing these questions with
the limited knowledge that i have about them. Wing paddles work on the "lift"
Principle. The shape of there blade is asymmetric, has a twist to it like a
propeller blade, and in cross section is "wing shaped". Try picturing a cross
section of a typical airplane wing, now draw a line from the tip of the
trailing edge across the top of the wing all the way around the leading edge
until the line is just pointing back at the trailing edge, stop and don't
continue along the "fiat" side of the wing. This line is the basic shape of
a wing paddles cross section ie: the wing paddle has a sooth convex "back", a
concave "power face". and the leading edge is rolled under 180 degrees or so
and continues this way from the neck of the blade to the tip. It is
asymmetric in the modern touring paddle sense, and has a pronounced twist to
the blade outward, not unlike an airplane propeller (the tip and leading
edge is twisted in the direction of the back of the blade). The blade is
also set at a 5-10 degree angle to the shaft , similar to "bent shaft" canoe
paddles. I hope this makes sense and gives a general picture of what a wing
blade looks like. As for using one they are very different. First, just
looking at one you would recognize it as a paddle but thats about it. If you
picked one up and tried it without knowing what it was or how to use it you
would probably throw it in the nearest trash can. They have a very strange
feel and take a lot of coaching to use correctly. The theory as i understand
it is that this blade shape creates "lift", when the blade enters the water
and the stroke is initiated with a motion away from the hull ( as opposed to
being pulled along the hull as with regular paddles). The "slip" (the
distance between the spot were the paddle enters the water to the spot were
its withdrawn) associated with regular paddles is minimized and converted?
to a "slip" at right angels to the boat, sort of flying through the
water!.The benefit of this this is that the paddle stays solidly planted in
the water allowing you to pull the boat up to the point of paddle entry
without any slippage, at least along the length of the boat anyway. The
paddle dose however move at right angles away from the boat a fair distance.
Using one is well...different!!. First hold the paddle at arms width and
allow the blade enter the water at a high 70-80 degrees, the paddle enters
the water along side the boat as far forward as possible without leaning
forward, rotate your body (from the torso) letting the blade drift (fly??)
away from the boat. Keep your arms straight and use this torso rotation to
move the boat forward, you should be using the most powerful muscles in your
upper body. The paddle will drift, fly, slip whatever! quite aways away from
the side of the boat . If done right your arms will end up well out too one
side of the boat. Assuming you put the right blade in the water, your left
(higher) hand will cross well beyond the center line of the boat, even beyond
the right shoulder!, and be at around head height. The blade is withdrawn
farther back than with a regular paddle ( body centerline) altho I'm not sure
how far back is most efficient. As for efficiency, a friend and member of the
National Sprint and Wild Water (down river ) Team told me that wings are only
more efficient at speed!. If all kayak sprints were 100 feet long
conventional paddles would be better. Well lucky for wing paddle
manufacturers there much longer! . If paddled "correctly" there is an
advantage over conventional paddles( i think its only a few percent). the key
word is correctly, lots of coaching is necessary to change old habits if you
want to get any benefit , at least in racing. As for other strokes, bracing,
rolling, ect. They can be have very powerful support for rolling and work OK
for a low brace but are terrible for sculling, there's support one direction
of the scull but the paddle dives and the blade rotates around the shaft if
sculled the other way....and over you go!!!. They can be very powerful for
sweep strokes( turning) also. As far as i know they were invented some time
in the early 80's. I've only used wings a few times and always found them
awkward, I've been WW paddling for year's so this new technique plays hell
with my instinctive strokes. I don't race ether so all will leave wings for
efficiency nuts. By the way all most all the top competitors in flat water,
wild water, sprint and sea kayak races use wings!! ...were have all of you
been these years!!?? : ^)
I hope this makes some sense and will help people to under stand wing
paddles. I'm sure some of my info is not exactly correct but i think the big
picture is! ...
Bill Cirino