: (SNIP) In reading about Greenland paddling
: technique, there are many references to the "dig angle" of the
: blade upon insertion into the water (i.e. the inclination of the top edge
: of the blade toward the bow of the boat as the blade enters the water).
: I've been trying to puzzle out the necessity of this angle -- is it purely
: an ergonomic aid (in other words, a technique used to help get the body
: and blade in the proper orientation for the power phase of the stroke), or
: is this angle in some way related to the hydrodynamic efficiency of the
: blade? (SNIP)

Nick,

The angled blade causes the vortices to shed predictably on a single side, which prevents flutter. In contrast, a vertical blade causes the vortices to shed on alternating edges of the blade which promotes flutter. The angled blade also has the benefit of causing the blade to bury quickly and catches the water very cleanly. Some folks have hypothesized that the angled blade helps to enhance lift (the vertical blade is often said to enhance drag) although I haven't seen any research to confirm or refute this.

As to ergonomics, well, it is kind of a chicken-and-egg question. If you have a traditional West Greenland paddle that is sized to you correctly, then only your thumbs and forefingers encircle the paddle shaft. For most paddlers, holding the paddle in this manner with your wrist in a neutral position will automatically cause the paddle blades to tilt forward slightly. Many commercial paddles require all ten fingers to be placed on the shaft which encourages a vertical blade at the catch.

I greatly prefer the "canted" stroke. I get a much more solid grip on the water and my top speed is increased. If your stroke with a Greenland paddle is characterized by excessive slippage then you will be very surprised at how the paddle "bites" using this technique, although it does take some practice to master. Maligiaq Padilla learned this technique from his Grandfather and noted that it is a common stroke in Greenland (although there are other methods). He referred to a stroke using a vertical blade at the catch as the "beginner's stroke".

Greg Stamer