> I just came back from a kayak shop and was sort of convinced by a salesman
> that a Euro Paddle was better for touring, bracing, and sculling. How true
> is this, I am very new at this and want to start out with the best paddle
> possible. BTW I am going to do a lot of touring and open water crossings.

I'll join Woody and Ken in their responses. With only about nine years in kayaks, I'm no expert, but I have both Greenland and Euro style paddles and have found that, with one of my "q-tip" paddles, I can tour all day with the same speed as anyone else in a group of Euro paddlers and need far less ibuprofen at dinner. For rolling and bracing, Greenland style paddles are far superior to Euros. For racing or in the surf, it may be a different story. The Greenlanders don't have to contend with an awful lot of surf landings and launches, and their paddles are sometimes marginal in big water. And they don't generally have to chase down their food --- the reason they have kayaks --- so sprinting was never a real problem on open water, either.

Bottom line: try both. Lots of us who primarily use indigenous paddle designs also paddle Euro sometimes. It's not a religion for all of us. But make your own Greenland paddle --- lots of reference material available. That way, it'll be sized to your body and will work best. Store-bought Greenland paddles contradict the basic idea that a paddle is the logical extension of your body.

Jack Martin