Can anyone suggest a good model/type/brand of paddle for surf? I'm looking for something that generates power but of course only for a short period. Reliability and strength are also factors. My last blade was a QB and that was fine till I drove over it by accident!
I use the slim jim ,made by quick blade , I've found it works really well in surf , the. Slightly longer thinner blade really bites when you need , but easy on the shoulders when you don't .I think most brands do smaller blades these days ,I recently went back to my old paddle and it felt think one of those stop/go signs the old lolly pop ladies use at. Kids crossings , I think I needed a guy on the back of board going Row !! Row!!!! 
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Naish Wave LE
small blade = high reps. Kevlar shaft construction = lots of flex, making it super forgiving on the shoulders and elbows and forgiving on the longevity of the blade.
I'm sure there are other good blades out there but this is the one that I love after trying HEAPS of paddles.
Whatever you do don't get something stiff for the surf, it will eventually get a stress fracture and snap or you will end up with bad joints.
Small blade is also better as it is far more efficient and allows for higher reps to get onto the wave earlier.
Hope this helps.
Most of the Ke Nalu team crew love their Wiki blades in the surf.
They are 84 sq" and are available in Elite (carbon) or xTuf (fibreglass) construction and weight is similar for both at that size.
Bonus with the xTuf blade is that it is tough as nails which you want if you are surfing reefs a lot.
The xTuf and xTuf(S) shafts have a really nice flex pattern for a surf paddle and they are bomb proof 
Try and demo one if you can.
Disclaimer: I'm the Aussie distributor for Ke Nalu.....only cause they are awesome paddles 
Select to expand quotecel23 said..
Naish Wave LE
small blade = high reps. Kevlar shaft construction = lots of flex, making it super forgiving on the shoulders and elbows and forgiving on the longevity of the blade.
I'm sure there are other good blades out there but this is the one that I love after trying HEAPS of paddles.
Whatever you do don't get something stiff for the surf, it will eventually get a stress fracture and snap or you will end up with bad joints.
Small blade is also better as it is far more efficient and allows for higher reps to get onto the wave earlier.
Hope this helps.
There is a school of thought that a slightly larger blade is good for surfing as you need to generate max power in three strokes rather than seek a high cadence. Softer flex is the way to go so you can lean into turns harder without the paddle pushing back. Getting the length right for surfing is critical as you could have a primo paddle that is too long which is won't do any justice to the paddle or your wave riding.
Kialua Shaka Puu or a Ke Nalu Maliko, both great wave paddlesTried the LE, but found them too soft Got QB Magic90 as well prevered somehow the Kialua and KeNalu
I disagree with the above mentioned school of thought that a bigger blade is better as it generates more power.
I started with a Kialoa Shaka Puu, it had a fairly stiff shaft and big blade so was hard on my shoulders.
Then went to a KeNalu xtuff S with a Maliko blade and found that heaps better, felt like the right amount of flex.
Next move was to step down to the 84sq" KeNalu Wiki as suggested by Deano72 and found that suited me better again.
I originally thought bigger was better, so I could get on a wave with minimum strokes but now find I would rather have a few more higher cadence strokes, the board doesn't yaw as much and it is easier to keep your balance when paddling for a wave on a low volume tippy board.
Also have gone shorter and shorter over time with paddle length.
Just my opinion on what works for me.
I agree its personal.Most important is to go what feels good for you no matter the trends. I have seen blades going bigger and smaller, shafts getting a bit shorter, a bit taller, a lot shorter and now become a bit longer when paddling (lengths stayed the same, but the volume/float dropped).
Weight and conditions are an influence as well. With 188 tall weighting 90kg an mediumsize blade feels for me smaller as my 168 x63kg wife.
I use a Ke Nalu Wiki for everything now......with an Xtuf shaft and ergo handle. Light, strong and feels nice. Plus it is a little cheaper than some other top brands. Xtuf shaft has a slightly springy feel.
I have been using a Werner Nitro-S for the past few months. The Nitro-S replaced my Kialoa Pipes. I really like the Pipes but have been very impressed with the new Werner paddle.
I've had my Kialoa Methane for over four years and still love it. It has coped with heaps of abuse which I think is also an important attribute for a paddle.
Select to expand quoteAntho said..
I've had my Kialoa Methane for over four years and still love it. It has coped with heaps of abuse which I think is also an important attribute for a paddle.
+1
