what overhead do you prefer for a race downwind paddle etc and what are you useing ? Kialoa Hulu etc

Depends on (the height) of your board and paddle style and yourself. I have 4 race paddle with 3 different lenghts. The more dynamic you paddle, the shorter, but how more fit you need to be. I paddle 90% flat water. For downwinding I have a somewhat longer paddle and smaller size blade.

This is a good start: www.quickbladepaddles.com/SUP-paddle-sizes/

Crikey, that's 1 inch between disapline and two inches another , realy...

Why have a length for touring, isint touring just slow paddling

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Carvers said..
Depends on (the height) of your board and paddle style and yourself. I have 4 race paddle with 3 different lenghts. The more dynamic you paddle, the shorter, but how more fit you need to be. I paddle 90% flat water. For downwinding I have a somewhat longer paddle and smaller size blade.

This is a good start: www.quickbladepaddles.com/SUP-paddle-sizes/

Yea I'm looking at a kialoa Hulu but want it for downwinders and all realy

The quickblade vector v drive looks like a good all disapline paddle, or V drive

The v drive, in whatever construction, is a very good paddle for just about anything.

As to length, this is such a personal thing that it is hard for anyone to give specific advice to another person. It would be like choosing a car or a sofa for another person.

but the Quickblade length guide is a very good starting point. If you are unsure what length you prefer then hire or borrow an adjustable paddle of similar blade size to the one you are thinking of getting, and experiment.

The length of shaft you prefer wil probably change over time, as your technique evolves with experience.

But in my case, having gone every length from much longer than the QB table recommends, to shorter than it, I've ended up after 11 years of SUPing pretty much exactly what the table says I should use (and which is pretty much what was recommended 11 years ago)...

If you choose a v drive then you can hot glue the paddle together rather than using an epoxy glue. Then you can easily pull it apart again and cut it down if it's too long. So if you go that route, then start a bit longer than you think you might need and try it out first. Then trim to suit. You can always go shorter, but you can't go longer.

Thanks for the reply, great advise yea I think the v drive is very popular for everything from race to open ocean course racing and general touring , I think I have seem it being used as a surf paddle , can I ask why the v drive over the trifecta? The kialoa was on my list as it's a good price for the Hulu at moment but from what I have seen a very thin blade and somewhat damage prone

Then there's blade size

V71 Extra Small is 71 sq/in
V81 Small is 81 sq/in
V91 Medium is 91 sq/in
V101 Large is 101 sq/in and not available for Elite Flyweight shaft

my wife wants one as well, I assume extra small for a female paddler for all round general paddling

I might be wrong there think the v drive only comes in small or med

be good to compare the v drive to the kialoa Hulu for all water , I have always used kialoa that's all

Kialoa Hulu small 8" overhead.

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DavidJohn said..
Kialoa Hulu small 8" overhead.

Hi, thanks for the reply would you suggest Hulu small for both woman and men , and odd question considering I know it's a race paddle but is the Hulu small used for not only racing but down winders ocean races and just general distance

i guess straight shaft also davidjohn

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DavidJohn said..
Kialoa Hulu small 8" overhead.

You had much of a issue with the thin blade with damage etc , these are being sold very cheap here at moment and it rings alarm bells a bit

as far as I know I have not heard a bad thing about Kialoa Hulu.

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Foam said..

DavidJohn said..
Kialoa Hulu small 8" overhead.

Hi, thanks for the reply would you suggest Hulu small for both woman and men , and odd question considering I know it's a race paddle but is the Hulu small used for not only racing but down winders ocean races and just general distance

i guess straight shaft also davidjohn

I've had my Hulu Sm for years.. and a couple of female friends also us them.. None of us have had any problems..

I'm 6'4" and about 100kgs and its an awesome paddle.. I have both straight and bent shafts and prefer the straight..

I use the Hulu Sm for flat water.. racing.. downwinding.. and even for surfing.. I trust it 100%..

It's the best paddle Kialoa has ever made.. IMO.. Where are they being sold cheap because I'd love to buy another one?

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Area10 said..
The v drive, in whatever construction, is a very good paddle for just about anything.

As to length, this is such a personal thing that it is hard for anyone to give specific advice to another person. It would be like choosing a car or a sofa for another person.

but the Quickblade length guide is a very good starting point. If you are unsure what length you prefer then hire or borrow an adjustable paddle of similar blade size to the one you are thinking of getting, and experiment.

The length of shaft you prefer wil probably change over time, as your technique evolves with experience.

But in my case, having gone every length from much longer than the QB table recommends, to shorter than it, I've ended up after 11 years of SUPing pretty much exactly what the table says I should use (and which is pretty much what was recommended 11 years ago)...

If you choose a v drive then you can hot glue the paddle together rather than using an epoxy glue. Then you can easily pull it apart again and cut it down if it's too long. So if you go that route, then start a bit longer than you think you might need and try it out first. Then trim to suit. You can always go shorter, but you can't go longer.

Does length for each different race brand matter, I mean does it change so dramatically that I change brand I say bugger should of left that inch on

V-Drive vs Trifecta?