Fingers!!! Jeez it sucks getting old!
Looks like I'll be sitting out the final few weeks of warmish weather here in Tassie, as winter looms ever closer. The tendons in the ring and index finger of both hands have been strained due to the repetitive action of extending the fingers to plant the paddle as far forward as possible. I basically "hook" the paddle with my lower hand, instead of gripping it. I thought I was in good condition, as I was paddling hard for an hour a couple of times a week all through summer. A recent trip to the Gold Coast had me out on the canals every morning for about a week, and this stupid nagging pain just got worse and worse until I had to stop.

just posting this as a caution to others: good, powerful, efficient full-body technique is important, but the fingers are a weak link. Gosh darn it!