At 6'4" and my surplus of power I'm concerned I tend to expend a lot of energy flexing carbon instead of moving board-over-water. Accepting the injury-avoidance benefits of flex and all the recent discussions on blade designs, who does a good stiff paddle shaft option these days?

Edit: For distance paddling not surf'n.

Kialoa Hulu Small.. I'm also 6'4".

The Ke Nalu are much stiffer and bigger than the Naish paddle I had last year, don't feel any flex and causes no injury issues, think mine are the XTuf.

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DaveSandan said..
The Ke Nalu are much stiffer and bigger than the Naish paddle I had last year, don't feel any flex and causes no injury issues, think mine are the XTuf.

Xtuf(S) ??? That is what I use for all my paddles regardless of the brand of the blade (Mana, Hydro or Blackfish)

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DavidJohn said..
Kialoa Hulu Small.. I'm also 6'4".

I have the Hulu small. Nice paddle but for me no real power, cadence far to high with not a lot of grunt

Tried a quickblade and a huge difference I can actually lift my board up onto the plane

sunova have a balsa handle paddle - it is epic and super durable.

As someone that was part of the 'Paddle Talk', I ended up purchasing a Black Project Hydro 88 on a Medium shaft. Chris from BP sent me an email suggesting that a stiff shaft would suit me better as the length of the shaft, I'm also 6'4", would have overly too much flex if I went with the medium. I'm still waiting its arrival, and have never used it, but all things considered, I'm stoked! Could be worth your looking into.