We have a number of different sized paddles at the club and blade area is another factor to take into account when deciding which paddle to use.

A paddle with a larger blade will be harder to pull through the water and should really only be used by strong athletic paddlers. Using a paddle with too large a blade area will result in a slow cadence (less strokes per minute) and could put excessive strain on your joints and result in injury. If in doubt, err on the side of caution and choose a paddle with a relatively small blade area.

An example of a paddle with a relatively small area is the Orca Bminni, which the club is in the process of purchasing. There are also some small bladed Braca paddles at the club which are worth considering. For stronger paddlers, the Orca Inner is a good bet (we have a few).