im looking for a new race paddle im about 98kgs whats your thoughts on this paddle the races i do are betweed 6 and 15 miles

I don't know about the Trifecta, but the V-Drive is every bit as good as people say. It is a definite step forward.

Thought I'd add another random paddle to the mix....

Haven,t seen them IRL yet, but they look very interesting.In the end I bought an Starboard High Aspect because I could try that one and was very impressed with it.The slimmer but taller blade feels a lot quicker going in and out of the water, but is less stable in beachraces (for those I keep my Ke Nalu Maliko).
I think the Trifecta is a nice inbetween.

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Area10 said..

I don't know about the Trifecta, but the V-Drive is every bit as good as people say. It is a definite step forward.

area 10 what blade size are you using on the v drive the 7.5 or the 8 trying to find if a 7.5 would be to small for me

cheers Dean

I've got the 91 sq inch V-Drive. It pulls bigger than 91. More like about 95-7 I reckon. On that basis I assume that the 101 sq inch one would pull like a traditional QB blade a little short of 110 . It's strange at first to have such pulling power in a paddle so small, light and "flickable". I think Caspar Steinfath just won the ISA finals technical race using a 91 V-Drive. Combined with the oval tapered shaft it is a very comfortable paddle. Shame it is so expensive, but both the shaft and blade are complicated shapes that can't be easy to make. I'm gonna get a 101 as well once I can afford it.

One friend has the 91 sq inch V-Drive and another the 96 sq in Trifecta so I have been able to try them back to back. I rock a QB 90 All carbon Kanaha all-carbon.

As mentioned the V-Drive feels small and flickable with a strong pull. The Trifecta is more subtle, it has smooth strong pull but, inversely to the V-Drive, it feels smaller than it is. The V-Drive is super "stealthy" on entry and exit; the Trifecta maybe even more so. It seems impossible to "mess up" a water entry for the blade of the Trifecta on entry and exit. Both are amazingly stable (no flutter) even when trying to pull too hard.

Both are delicious when using the "back hand" of the paddle for stability on a downwind runner. Just for that me want!

The photo of the V-drive blade shape on the QB web site looks too much like the shape of the Kanaha when, in fact, the V-Drive is high aspect like the Trifecta. The Trifecta has a slightly longer blade.

I have a bit more time on the V-Drive and love it. The Trifecta has a certain subtlety to it which is growing on me. I can't afford a new paddle now so I am spared the dilemma of figuring out which one I like better. Both are sweet.