Dear mr. Pruden,

I just have readed your review about this Turbo paddle blade. Unfortunately I can't view your images. Is it possible to send them to my emailadress?
I have stopped paddling for a copple years after doing races on flatwater.
I hope to receive any answers from you.

Very kind regards,

Michael

: I took delivery of the Turbo CF paddle that I ordered from Peter Patasi, a
: former kayaking olympian who makes these things and apparently sells a lot
: of them to current olympians. I first spied them in use during the World
: Masters Games Time Trials recently held at Telford Lake. I spoke with a
: coach about the paddles and he highly recommended them. So I took the bait
: and ordered one. The blades are water eaters. They displace tons of the
: wet stuff to such a degree that I have managed to plane the VJ's bow above
: the water during my most recent hard training session. Hard paddling with
: this paddle has the same effect on the Raven, Hans Friedel's TKK1 design
: that I am using to compete in the Games with.

: I tried the paddle with various loom lengths, cutting off an inch or two
: until I got it to the length I wanted. I grip the paddle with my little
: fingers wrapping around the top of the blade so that my remaining fingers
: are firmly grasping the loom just above the blade. I have also feathered
: the blades only very slightly because my "all out" stroke method
: requires such a configuration.

: A couple of years ago I tried out a wing paddle that basically had cups for
: blades and a bent shaft loom - I hated it. The Turbo, on the other hand, I
: was using properly from the moment I first started using it. It does
: demand a change in paddling technique but the paddle teaches the user how
: to handle it. I have figured out how to use it quietly for night paddling
: and very noisily for hard out racing. It does not like far reaching
: strokes or strokes that linger in the water. It works wellfor short choppy
: stroke that stretch out to moderate length strokes using great force. That
: is where the thing shines. The top edge of the blade is also u-shaped so
: that it takes advantage of water that would normally shed off the surface
: of the blade harmlessly. I can actually feel the increased grab that bent
: edge gives the paddle. That is where it produces some of the increased
: speed that wingers are famous for.

: I have no idea how heavy the paddle is because I have not been able to weigh
: it. I am currently using electtrical tape to hold the blades to the shaft
: until I know for sure how long I want it and how much feathering I need,
: if any. That said, it works so well held together with the tape and comes
: apart to store so easily that I am tempted not to glue it together. I can
: use it as a spare during my big river trip.

: Here is the link to the Turbo Paddle site:
: http://www.cyberus.ca/~turbo/pages/contact.htm

: Robert N Pruden