The Insanity is a new paddle from Kialoa.. (coming soon).. and yesterday I tried it for the first time and took some pics.

This is a very different type of paddle because of the type of blade material and how light it is.. and how cheap it will be.. It's about the same blade size as my favourite paddle.. 'the Methane'.. and feels very similar to it when paddling.. But it feels even lighter than the Methane.. and will be about half the price of a Methane.. Kialoa did a similar blade type before but it was heavier.. thicker.. and you could feel it flexing under hard paddling.. This new material is a fair bit thinner and stiffer.. The swing weight is amazing because there is none.. It feels like you're just swinging a shaft when you swap sides.. There is also a very solid feel at the catch part of the stroke.. I have to say that I was very impressed.

DJ

looks pretty interesting. what is the blade made out of?

Select to expand quote

Kyan said..

looks pretty interesting. what is the blade made out of?

It has a plastic look and feel but I'm sure it's more hi tech.. I'm guessing some type of fiber reinforced thermoplastic.

DJ

Select to expand quote

DavidJohn said..

Kyan said..

looks pretty interesting. what is the blade made out of?

It has a plastic look and feel but I'm sure it's more hi tech.. I'm guessing some type of fiber reinforced thermoplastic.

DJ

I have a paddle which is carbon shaft/handle and a blade made from tough thermoplastic stuff (I think!) and it is great for surfing.....no worries about the blade getting damaged.

DJ David,

I just wonder about pricing here mate. I am not suggesting that you are wrong but if this blade is going to be an improvement on other paddles then from a marketing point it would really discourage potential buyers from buying the more expensive paddle especially if there is a perceived improvement upon the cheaper paddle on the rest of the range.

I have to say that after 5 years of supping I still remain confused by the conflicting recommendations when it comes to paddles. On the one hand Dave Kalama talks about going as a big a paddle as you can whilst others talk about going small. Inherently a smaller paddle will be lighter than a bigger paddle made of the same material whilst the bigger paddle is a lot more work for the shoulders. Do you know when this new paddle is coming out and what the actual pricing is mate.

Cheers Ozzie

Select to expand quote

ghost4man said..

DJ David,

I just wonder about pricing here mate. I am not suggesting that you are wrong but if this blade is going to be an improvement on other paddles then from a marketing point it would really discourage potential buyers from buying the more expensive paddle especially if there is a perceived improvement upon the cheaper paddle on the rest of the range.

I have to say that after 5 years of supping I still remain confused by the conflicting recommendations when it comes to paddles. On the one hand Dave Kalama talks about going as a big a paddle as you can whilst others talk about going small. Inherently a smaller paddle will be lighter than a bigger paddle made of the same material whilst the bigger paddle is a lot more work for the shoulders. Do you know when this new paddle is coming out and what the actual pricing is mate.

Cheers Ozzie

The new Kialoa Insanity should be available here in a few months (Dec).. The price is not yet confirmed for Oz.. I think it's about $260 in the US and most likely about $300 here.. I think most other full carbon Kialoa's are in the $500-$600 range here.

It's still more of an entry level paddle and doesn't have the nice oval shaft like the other full carbon (shaft and blade) paddles in the Kialoa range.. It will be nice to have an entry level paddle that's this light and the blade will be more durable and not do as much rail damage with learners are hitting the rails of their board with the paddle blade.. Well not as much damage as what a carbon blade does.. It should also be a good paddle for shallow reefy areas and for rocky river paddling.

As far as blade size goes you just have to look at the recent race podium pics like the recent race in Germany and Chicago and you will see most paddlers holding their paddles and they all seem to have very similar paddle lengths and blade sizes.. About the 8"-8 1/2" blade width and around the 90 sq in blade area.. When holding your paddle upside down so the handle is on the ground the point where the blade comes out from the shaft is normally about eye level but races like a slightly shorter paddle so theirs all seem to be about the tip of the nose level.

I think it's only for downwiniding where the board speed is kept high that we'll see the bigger blades being used.. or the bigger guys in shorter flat water sprinting type races.. and also flat water casual cruising type paddling where a bigger blade seems fine.

DJ

Select to expand quote

DavidJohn said..

ghost4man said..

DJ David,

I just wonder about pricing here mate. I am not suggesting that you are wrong but if this blade is going to be an improvement on other paddles then from a marketing point it would really discourage potential buyers from buying the more expensive paddle especially if there is a perceived improvement upon the cheaper paddle on the rest of the range.

I have to say that after 5 years of supping I still remain confused by the conflicting recommendations when it comes to paddles. On the one hand Dave Kalama talks about going as a big a paddle as you can whilst others talk about going small. Inherently a smaller paddle will be lighter than a bigger paddle made of the same material whilst the bigger paddle is a lot more work for the shoulders. Do you know when this new paddle is coming out and what the actual pricing is mate.

Cheers Ozzie

The new Kialoa Insanity should be available here in a few months (Dec).. The price is not yet confirmed for Oz.. I think it's about $260 in the US and most likely about $300 here.. I think most other full carbon Kialoa's are in the $500-$600 range here.

It's still more of an entry level paddle and doesn't have the nice oval shaft like the other full carbon (shaft and blade) paddles in the Kialoa range.. It will be nice to have an entry level paddle that's this light and the blade will be more durable and not do as much rail damage with learners are hitting the rails of their board with the paddle blade.. Well not as much damage as what a carbon blade does.. It should also be a good paddle for shallow reefy areas and for rocky river paddling.

As far as blade size goes you just have to look at the recent race podium pics like the recent race in Germany and Chicago and you will see most paddlers holding their paddles and they all seem to have very similar paddle lengths and blade sizes.. About the 8"-8 1/2" blade width and around the 90 sq in blade area.. When holding your paddle upside down so the handle is on the ground the point where the blade comes out from the shaft is normally about eye level but races like a slightly shorter paddle so theirs all seem to be about the tip of the nose level.

I think it's only for downwiniding where the board speed is kept high that we'll see the bigger blades being used.. or the bigger guys in shorter flat water sprinting type races.. and also flat water casual cruising type paddling where a bigger blade seems fine.

DJ

Hi David,

Thanks for the clarification mate.

Oz

I bet that material is a multi layer woven nylon fiber that is heat pressed into sheet. It can then be formed in 2 sided metal forms under heat. Carbon fiber weave can also be added to the sheet making a thermoformable carbon sheet.

Select to expand quote

Slab said..

DavidJohn said..

Kyan said..

looks pretty interesting. what is the blade made out of?

It has a plastic look and feel but I'm sure it's more hi tech.. I'm guessing some type of fiber reinforced thermoplastic.

DJ

I have a paddle which is carbon shaft/handle and a blade made from tough thermoplastic stuff (I think!) and it is great for surfing.....no worries about the blade getting damaged.

I can vouch for this paddle as i seen it in the flesh and held it in my little sup hands. It really is something to be hold, well if can even feel it in your hands. It has to be the lightest paddle i have held in a long time and it was not even cut to my size.