enjoying my new 12.6 Naish glide,still using my wave/allround paddle,8".Like the idea of entering some races, what paddle to use?larger?and longer?
Try the Ke Nalu Wiki 8". Lightest paddle available and with extended T Handle allows variable length.
www.kenalu.com.au
If you are on Sunny Coast, pm me and you can try mine!
Disclaimer: no financial gain, etc etc.....
There's an easy answer... Any of the top line paddles will be fine. If you did speed test runs with 5 different top line paddles, the time differences will be merely fatigue / effort related. You can't buy speed, you earn it with hard work, training, eating right, recovering properly, and good hydration, pre, post, and during. A three month engine overhaul will possibly see you paddling 5-15% faster. A good paddle might give you that extra 1-2%, max. But that can be important... but training is more important... assuming you have a top line "light" paddle.
If I was buying a paddle today or tomorrow, it would probably buy a Ke Nalu. I would need to choose between the Maliko and the Molokai. If I was in the market for 2 paddles, I would buy both !! 
Some things to consider;
- a light paddle, give less swing weight, and less energy required in the recover portion of the stroke.
- generally, most people will race with a paddle that is 1-2, maybe 3 inches longer than their surf paddle (if you don't surf, stand up straight, reach up, and the T handle should be roughly in the middle of your palm, or maybe and inch below that... personal preference - that's a starting guide to your race paddle length).
- a good quality carbon paddle does not grow on a tree... or as someone on here has said before, "if you want to play, you have to pay", unfortunately!
- different paddle have a different feel... it's just a matter of testing a few, borrowing, etc... even if they are the wrong length...
- large blade sizes (100 square inches and over) are more suited to larger more powerful paddlers... think Laird and Dave Kalama
- medium blade sizes (90-100 squares) are a good all round size for surf and race, to suit most people
- small blade sizes (down under 90 squares) are oriented towards to kids and women. But quite a few guys like to race with small blades for high cadence. This suits some people who are very fit.
Paddle Blade Size - if in doubt, and if you're an "average" size, go with the 95 range, +/- a little.
Hi Wongi,
Apart from the good info offered by Simondo, the main difference in race and general paddles is shaft and blade stiffness. A quality race paddle will be much stiffer than a general paddle.
Carbon makes them light and stiff .... and expensive. I use the Quickblade Kanaha All Carbon 100 and it is very stiff and a quality paddle. Another surprising paddle I use is the is the Fanatic 100% carbon Pro paddle. It isn't quite as stiff as the Quickblade, but not far off, however, it is VERY light and strong which is beautiful on the recovery part of the stroke. The blade is also slightly smaller than 100, and a little bigger than a 90.
The Fanatic is a nice paddle and slightly less pull in the water but the weight makes for a solid argument in it's favour ..... and it's a bit cheaper, albeit not by too much. Both use Dihedral so don't flutter much at all. The Fanatic also has the Dull/textured surface on the shaft where the lower hand goes which is good when the paddle shaft gets wet and grip is an issue.
Both great paddles under $500.
DM
