Great vid from the SupRacer site about breaking paddles.

www.supracer.com/how-to-break-your-paddle/

AndyR said..
This might put the rumors straight about jakes fanatic paddle snapping in the race a few months back. Didn't snap because of the paddle defect etc snapped because it would of been bashed around traveling taking whacks to it like jimmy above.

Yeah good call. All that "my brand's carbon fibre is tougher than your brand's carbon fibre" was all getting a bit dick measuring contest.

surfershaneA said..
Thanks for sharing.

The exact same thing has always happened to fishing rods, in particular carbon and graphite, fibreglass being tougher. Nothing worse than falling over rockhopping knowing your favourite rod is now likely to break where you can see the fracture in the weave, most probably when the fish are on.

yeah I snapped a rod when i was on a big hook up felt your pain there!!

I recently snapped my paddle and I can guarantee it wasn't a defect on the paddles part. More to do with my bad treatment of the paddle and the fact that it had been interstate, overseas and generally through the wars!!!
I am going to be much more careful with my paddles from now on!!

robdog said..
Does anyone know where I can buy a new blade for this paddle?
(Purchased 2nd hand so not aware of it's history)

To my knowledge, you'll have to buy a completely new paddle. Naish don't sell their blades separately. There are only a few brands like Ke Nalu that sell the shaft, blade and handles separately. I broke my few months old Naish Makani blade with an unfortunate fall onto it and have had to scrap the whole paddle. I now have the Naish Hele for guests and have gone down the Ke Nalu route for myself.

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To my knowledge, you'll have to buy a completely new paddle. Naish don't sell their blades separately. There are only a few brands like Ke Nalu that sell the shaft, blade and handles separately. I broke my few months old Naish Makani blade with an unfortunate fall onto it and have had to scrap the whole paddle. I now have the Naish Hele for guests and have gone down the Ke Nalu route for myself.

Not happy about that.

Here's proof of the advantages of using a shaft that's a fibreglass and carbon blend. The one coping some serious bodyweight is the stiffer Ke Nalu XTuff.

Photo of me on anew equally brutalised Laird Hybrid 9' at the August SPSC comp. Thanks again crew for running a great event!