I have used a Euro paddle for about 6 years (since I got into kayaking) but just recently made an Inuit style paddle. I suspected that I was not going to be comfortable with the Inuit paddle and would only use it once or so to satisfy my curiousity. Instead, I quite like it. My old paddle, BTW, is an inexpensive heavy unfeathered clunker. Anyhow, I found, contrary to my expectations, that my speed and acceleration are just fine with the Inuit paddle. The inuit paddle is more comfortable to use, although part of this probably has to do with the much lighter weight (which is not an inherent property of Euro vs Inuit designs but just the particular paddles I have). I much prefer the squarish loom of the Inuit paddle to the cylindrical loom of my Euro. Low braces seem fine with the Inuit paddle although it seems to me that high braces are a bit more difficult for me owing partly to the fact that when holding an Inuit paddle the top of the blade angles forwards to the bow requiring one to really cock the wrists back to get blade flat onto water for a high brace (remember, I am a beginner and am not sure but would be interested to know what more seasoned Greenland-style paddlers have to say about this). Somehow, the fact that the blade face goes way up the loom, seems to make the movement around the paddle and thus control of the boat a bit more intuitive, although this is more of a feeling than something I am sure of. I made my paddle out of cedar which is very lightweight. This seems to provide a fair amount more flotation than my other paddle and this seems to help with some types of bracing. For example, there is something called the balance brace where you essentially just lay on the water with your boat half-capsized. You do not really move the paddle but just keep it on the water to provide support. I do not believe I can do this with my Euro paddle but can with the Inuit paddle. The Euro paddle, however, does seem to provide more certain bracing. For example, I can really lean and put all my weight on the Euro paddle when making a low or high brace turn, but have to be more cautious when doing this with the Inuit paddle. Still, I am amazed by how good the Inuit paddle feels to me since I have used a Euro paddle exclusively for my entire kayaking career. I like the feel of the Inuit paddle very much and am hoping to make it my number one paddle. The technique is a little different so I would definately try to find a class if you go with the Inuit paddle. There are several going on at the Charleston Kayak Symposium in April and the biggest names in Greenland paddling are going to be there doing demos and giving instruction. re: an earlier suggestion using one as a spare. I have been doing this for the last few weeks on the Lake that I am forced to paddle because I moved to Atlanta and am 5 hours away from any briny water. However, if you do venture out into challenging conditions or water that could become challenging, you might want to stick with the kind of paddle you are comfortable with. If you lose your main paddle, it would quite possibly be because you got slammed by some bad conditions and if that was the case, you might not want to rely during those same conditions on a paddle type which you are not too familiar with. Also, I really question the advice you got. The Inuits invented kayaking and were pretty good at it and their lives depended on having the best equipment they could have. I think you would do OK with either paddle type. It should be fun to try both and see what you think. Also, its fun to make one if you've got the time and need not be too expensive.

Dave

> 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.
> Thanks.