Greenland paddles

The Greenland paddle design is believed to be thousands of years old. How this design came about is speculation. Since Greenlanders didn't have tree's to cut they depended on driftwood for the their wood supply. Some speculate that the size of the lumber available is the result of the skinny bladed paddle and there may be some truth to that.

We will never know for sure, but the one thing we do know is that their design worked or they wouldn't have used it for so long. They were hunting for food on frigid waters, exposed to all kinds of weather and sea conditions. Their lives depended on their boats, paddles, and their skills with them. These were tools that life might depend on, not just paddles.

There is a misconception that there was one style, what we refer to as the Greenland paddle. Actually, there were a lot of variations from region to region, but almost all of them share the skinny long bladed design.

The first thought most people have is "How do those skinny blades have any bite on the water?" Even though they are narrow, most blades actually have a similar surface area as Euro style paddles. It's just spread out over a long length instead of concentrated on the end of the shaft.

People also assume that a GP (Greenland Paddle) will slow them down, not true! I have given several people one of my paddles while paddling. Sometimes it took them a few minutes to get comfortable with the GP. But once they did, it did not slow them down one bit.

The GP's blade doesn't have the 'bite' or initial grip of a Euro paddle. It seems to slip a bit more, so you probably won't accelerate quite as fast as with a Euro style. On the other hand many people can maintain a higher cadence with the GP. If you're into racing I would suggest some testing with a GPS to see how this would effect your paddling because the GP was not designed for racing. From experience I know that it doesn't slow down the average paddler I have loaned one of mine to.

Because the blades are so narrow there is little wind resistance and no need to feather the blades. This past summer I made a trip down from Guntersville dam to Huntsville by myself. When I rounded the bend just past the Flint River I was hit by some very strong wind. The winds was so strong I had to look at the shoreline to determine if I was going forward, backward, or just sitting still. But the wind was not an issue with the paddle. I could just feel some slight movement in the paddle caused by the wind occasionally as a gust would hit it. But it was never enough to be more than just noticeable.

Since the GP is unfeathered you can lay on the back deck and use it to brace your boat as you get in and out. I have an Ocean Cockpit (16" x 20") on Wren so I have to lift myself out and onto the back deck. Using the paddle I can get in and out much easier and don't end up swimming. It's very hard to do with feathered paddle.

One of the first things I noticed after paddling with a GP was my shoulders didn't hurt nearly as much. I had read that they were easier on the joints and while I not sure exactly why, I know I can really tell the difference at the end of the day.

On the most common style of GP's your last couple of fingers are actually resting on the end of the blade. You grip the paddle with your index finger and thumb and leave your last two or three fingers resting or lightly gripping the shoulder. That way you know instantly whether your blades are oriented correctly. This is also the reason GP's are typically made custom to fit the paddlers grip and hand size.

People are always amazed at how light my GP's are. I make mine out of cedar and sometimes laminate in a contrasting lighter colored wood for looks. While I have never weighed one, they are typically much lighter than most commercial paddles. When you consider you're going to lift your paddle thousands of times that's another reason GP's are easier on your joints, I think.

The only time I have found I don't like a GP is in very shallow water. Because of the narrow blade you need to submerge most of the paddle in the water. In really shallow water (8-10" or less) it's hard to submerge enough of the blade and it doesn't work well. If you add some current it's not the right tool for the job. But if you have enough water to properly submerge the blade that is not an issue. I tried to paddle up one of the creeks that flows into Limestone Bay and when we hit the shallower spots with a decent current it was tough to keep the boat going the way I wanted. If I had a foot of water it wasn't a problem.

If you have never tried a GP you really should paddle with one for about an hour. Then switch back to your Euro paddle. Almost everyone I have been with that did this wanted my GP back. It really allows you go feel the differences in the two.

If you want to try one, I usually have a spare on my boat and most times I carry 3 or more in my truck. So just ask! Odds are good I will have an extra with me.