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You see them more and more often on the water: narrow paddles that almost seem to have no blades. Many people wonder whether you can really get anywhere with a stick like that. Well – the Inuit have used nothing else for about a thousand years.
And if you have only just started paddling? That is no problem. Paddling the Inuit way often feels completely natural for beginners. It is smooth and simple, and the Greenland paddle is quiet – it was developed for seal hunting, after all. It is unfeathered and usually completely symmetrical, so you never need to rotate it to find the right position.
More and more long-distance paddlers are discovering its advantages. It is smooth and energy-efficient, so you can paddle further with a heavily loaded sea kayak – "you get more kilometres out of a plate of spaghetti", as someone once put it. It is ideal in headwinds, with hardly any air resistance. And not least, it is gentle on the shoulders: many experienced paddlers with sore tendons and muscle attachments have got rid of their problems after switching to a Greenland paddle. It also makes learning to roll much easier than with a standard paddle.
The length is similar to a standard paddle: no longer than you can reach your fingers over the tip when you stand up straight. The width should be no more than you can comfortably grip around the blade at its widest point.
You can also vary the "length" as you go by moving your hands along the paddle. Hold the very end of the blade to extend it for a sweep stroke, or when you need extra support, for example in a roll. In Greenland this is not a beginner's mistake at all – the Inuit do it all the time. Our carbon fibre Greenland paddle is also continuously adjustable, so you can set it to exactly the length you want.
Place your thumb and index finger at the end of the shaft, with the other fingers on the start of the blade. Your hands end up slightly closer together than with a standard paddle, so you do not need to lift your arms as high. The arm movement is less sweeping, and you save energy on long distances.
Keep the top edge of the blade angled a few centimetres forward throughout the stroke. The paddle then meets almost no resistance in the first part of the stroke, and the power builds gradually, which is easier on your shoulders. Keep your elbows close to your body. If the paddle vibrates or flutters, adjust the angle slightly – you will soon find the ideal angle, and the stroke will be completely quiet and smooth.
As with every paddle: push with your upper hand. This gives you rotation from the upper body. Let the blade move out away from the kayak rather than straight back – this usually happens naturally when you push with the upper hand. If you have tried a wing paddle, you will know what I mean.
The Greenland paddle gives smooth, energy-efficient and gentle paddling that suits both beginners and experienced paddlers. With the right technique you can enjoy longer trips with less effort and avoid strain injuries. Try this timeless design and discover a new dimension of paddling – see our Greenland paddle or all our kayak paddles.
Text: Erik Wahlberg
