Isn't that a beautiful Kayak!
"Where's mine?" I asked my wife on my 55 th birthday. That would be better than a car for me. Heck I have a car, but a skin on frame Greenland style kayak? Seriously, how many people own one of those? I do however own 2 beautiful Greenland style paddles that are trusted friends and companions when I am anywhere in my kayak. I truly think it has to do with the fact that they are hand built and made of wood. The wood feels warm in your hands and has a really nice grip to it. I have owned both the Euro and Greenland styles and they are completely different so I say try them both before you buy. I just wound up preferring the Greenland style.
My paddles were made by John Petersen who owns Shaman Kayaks. Makers of skin on frame kayaks and paddles. All handcrafted and of the finest quality. I've been up to John's shop when he built my current paddle. He had to bullet proof this one on my request as I use mine as a Swiss Army knife. I'm not afraid to push off rocks, pry my hatch covers off when my fingers are cold, use it as a wet gear rack...I use the darn thing for everything with the exception of firewood! Though that, unfortunately, became the fate of my first paddle.
Through no fault of the design characteristics or flaws in the wood, I managed to break my first John Petersen Greenland Paddle (JPGP) in the surf. I was out late one night (I know, I know) and just did not see this massive wave barreling down on me and was in no way prepared for it so all I could do was, hunker down and pray!
The wave smashed me I swear to the bottom and was pushing me so fast towards shore it was a bit scary. I was underwater the whole time and my paddle was vertical. Honestly, it took every bit of strength I had to hang onto that paddle and I could feel the thing flexing under the strain then all of a sudden it just snapped! There was nothing I could do so I just let the wave dump me on the beach with half a paddle and began the search for the other half. After about 15 minutes of wading around with my flashlight I gave up and walked back to my kayak thinking it was a bad night to have forgotten my spare paddle and what do you think I saw? You guessed it! Right beside my kayak was the other half of the paddle. Someone wanted me to get home.
The wave smashed me I swear to the bottom and was pushing me so fast towards shore it was a bit scary. I was underwater the whole time and my paddle was vertical. Honestly, it took every bit of strength I had to hang onto that paddle and I could feel the thing flexing under the strain then all of a sudden it just snapped! There was nothing I could do so I just let the wave dump me on the beach with half a paddle and began the search for the other half. After about 15 minutes of wading around with my flashlight I gave up and walked back to my kayak thinking it was a bad night to have forgotten my spare paddle and what do you think I saw? You guessed it! Right beside my kayak was the other half of the paddle. Someone wanted me to get home.
So, being the prepared paddler I am proud to be, I pulled out that little piece of rope I carry in my vest, mended the paddle and limped the 3 miles home. What a ride! It was then that I decided to talk to John about a harder, heavier wood, different tips and man I have a paddle that will withstand anything I can throw at it! I don't care what anyone says these paddles are simply the best in the world and have proven themselves time and again.
