Looking at the picture and the cross-sections, and then reading Rob's explanation, I can't decide which side the ridge is on. In the picture the shape of the blade at shoulder and down the blade indicates the ridge on the power face, giving a sort of dihedral. Which is conceivable. But would not allow a canted stroke (?).

Rob clearly states that the ridge is on the back of the blade, which would allow the canted technique.

Have I missed something here or are these really two very different blades, the one in the picture, and the one Rob describes?

: The Aleut paddle has an non-symmetric blade the power side is slightly convex
: changing to flat near the tips. The back of the
: blade has a full length spine running to the blade tip. The blade edges have
: a definite angled shoulder at the transition to the SNIP...

: The angled shoulders of the Aleut blades where they meet the shaft have
: several purposes. They act as drips edges to keep
: water from running down the shaft. They also are reference points for grip
: placement. The cross section shape at this point
: of the blade is very purposeful. You will notice that the shape of the blade
: is quite rounded on the flattened or power face side
: of the blade. This allows the hands to slide from the shaft onto the blade
: without catching on the drip edges of the blade.