Crooked Creek C11280 Curved Kayak Paddle - 8', Blue

Sunday, June 7, was hot and dry. I had just mowed my yard. I decided to take my Perception Striker kayak out on the Calfkiller river. I had just purchased the new Crooked Creek paddle online from Walmart.com. The paddle is 8 feet long. Why so long you might ask. My kayak is a fishing kayak and is very wide and sits high out of the water. To properly paddle you need the correct length of paddle. My previous kayak was a sit in and low to the water. A 7 foot paddle was perfect for that boat. The 8 foot paddle length was perfect for my present boat and my paddling style. It was also a very good price for a paddle. I paddled upstream about two miles. There aren't very many rapids on the upper Calfkiller where I went, but there are a few where you might consider as rapids. the first was somewhat slow and I easily paddled up and beyond the fast water. The second area was about twice as fast and somewhat shallow. This is where you need a decent paddle that doesn't deflect or bend when paddling hard. The Crooked Creek paddle performed perfectly and I was able to get through that area with a little hard paddling. The grips are comfortable and there are three positions you can configure your paddle to accommodate your own style. The paddle performed well and is light. It is available in a couple of sizes. Now a little about me. I am 70 years old and weigh 160 and am 5'8". I am in decent condition. My boat weighs about 65 pounds empty. I am including this so you can make an informed decision when purchasing a paddle. You may want to watch some Youtube videos instructing on how to paddle and the proper techniques. This can greatly enhance your time on the water and help you paddle in such a way so as not to injure yourself. There are many older ones in my area who have been paddling for years, not just for young people!

Light and high quality - will be purchasing another one!