GREENLAND PADDLE – Technique Tips

You see them more and more often on the water: those narrow paddles that almost seem to lack blades. Many wonder: can you actually get anywhere with a stick like that?

Well, the Inuit never use anything else, and they've been testing it for about a thousand years.

The Inuit, sure. But what if you've just started paddling?

It's really not a problem. Paddling like the Inuit often feels completely natural for beginners. It's smooth, simple, and the Greenland paddle is also quiet – it was developed for seal hunting, after all. It's unfeathered and usually completely symmetrical – you don't need to rotate it to get the right position.

More and more long-distance paddlers are discovering the advantages of the Greenland paddle. The smoothness, the energy efficiency – you can paddle longer with your heavily loaded sea kayak.

"You get more kilometers out of a plate of spaghetti," as someone once said.

It's ideal in headwinds – barely any air resistance. And not least: it's gentle on the shoulders. Many experienced paddlers with pain in tendons and muscle attachments have gotten rid of their problems entirely after switching to a Greenland paddle.
If you want to learn to roll, it's also much easier than with a regular paddle.

Here are a few things to keep in mind:

• Length & Width

The length should be like a regular paddle, i.e., no longer than you can reach around the tip when standing straight. The width should be no greater than that you can easily grip around the blade at its widest point.

However, you can vary the "length" continuously by holding the paddle at different positions. Extend it by holding the very end of the blade if you want to do a sweep stroke, or if you need extra support for, e.g., a roll. This is not considered a "beginner mistake" in Greenland at all – quite the opposite. The Inuit do it all the time.

This Greenland paddle is also continuously adjustable, meaning it can be set to exactly the length you want!

• Hand placement

Place your thumb and index finger at the end of the shaft, with the remaining fingers at the beginning of the blade. This positions your hands slightly closer together than usual. This means you don't need to lift your arms as high as with a regular paddle. The arm movement is less sweeping, and you save energy when paddling long distances.

• The angle

Keep the top edge of the blades angled a few centimeters forward throughout the entire stroke. This means the paddle encounters no resistance at all for the first few decimeters. The power comes gradually, which is easier on your shoulders. Keep your elbows close to your body.

If the paddle vibrates or wobbles: adjust the angle slightly! Soon you'll have found the ideal angle, and the paddle stroke will be completely quiet and smooth!

• The pressure

As with all paddles: push with the upper hand

This is to get rotation with the upper body. Let the blade move away from the kayak instead of straight back. This usually happens quite naturally if you push with the upper hand. Those of you who've tried a wing paddle know what I mean!

In summary, the Greenland paddle offers smooth, energy-efficient, and gentle paddling that suits both beginners and experienced paddlers. With the right technique, you can enjoy longer trips with less effort and avoid repetitive strain injuries. Explore the advantages of this timeless design and discover a new dimension of paddling.

Author: Erik Wahlberg