: One of the characteristics of wings is that small physical differences can
: make large differences in performance and feel. Blade shape and size is
: only a part of it, there is also blade angle to shaft, twist, swing
: weight, and probably a bunch of other things I'm too ignorant to know
: about. If you are interested, I would strongly suggest demoing to find out
: what a good paddle - for you - feels like. My first wing was a castoff
: from stroke guru Brent Reitz and I hated it. Kinda the 'standard' is the
: Epic mid-wing at around 212cm and 60 degrees feather. I would start there
: and try as many variations as I could find to get a feel for the
: differences. The Epic small mid-wing is a newer design that is gaining
: popularity. It didn't seem right for me, but that's why you try them out.
: Onno makes a highly regarded wing, and there are a number of (mostly
: eastern) European models around. There are sprint designs, touring
: designs, small designs, longer thinner ones - you get the picture.

: The danger of just getting, or building, a wing to see if you like it is that
: there are some large variations out there and some are guaranteed to feel
: just wrong for you. And just maybe all of them are. The only way to know
: is to try.

: As for rolling and bracing, I mostly paddle surfskis these days so my rolling
: is very rusty, but my memory is that the wing was a solid rolling
: platform. And I guarantee that no one who has watched me flail my way
: around SF Bay on a lumpy day has any doubts that you can brace very
: competently and efficiently with one.

: A couple of final notes: one of the primary advantages of a wing is that it
: enforces good stroke mechanics and penalizes poor form. If you like to go
: fast you'll probably find one you love, but keep taking the forward
: strokes classes etc. And if, after all this, you want to try making one of
: your own, try asking the owner of the design you like if it's OK with
: them. They just might be intrigued by the idea of a woodstrip version.

Hi Ken,

Nice to have someone answering questions about the wing, I'm certainly no expert, but I do enjoy mine. Must have gotten lucky with my Flyer, works well for me, course I've only paddled with one other to compare it to. Around here, upper midwest, there's not alot to compare them to.

Bill H.