Sunday, March 26th, 2006. Werner Kalliste.
Yesterday, I launched alone. Following the coast to the South, I used for the first time the Werner Kalliste. I’ve kept it in my drawer since summer as I wanted to build a more solid set of strokes with the fiberglass Aqua-Bound Stingray. The Stingray has served me well. By a rather constant practice, I have grown accustomed to its blade shape, and lately I came to be in control of a fine planting angle that rendered smooth, comfortable touring strokes.
I intend to keep the Stingray for the occasional trips where rinsing the Werner’s ferrule with fresh water might be an issue.
In the spring warmth, I paddled over a flat, contoured surface, letting occasionally the boat glide to splash cool seawater on my face. I rely now in the bow rudder for changing my course. Minor corrections are taken care of by shifting the shoulders’ weight and through edging. Adapt and overcome.
The Kalliste is much lighter than the Bràcsa carbon paddle. The adjustable ferrule system is smooth to handle, and solid. Not the slightest wobble. Entry and exit are smooth and predictable. I did not notice any flutter but the drip rings disturbed the flow of water. I shall remove them. Water traveling down the paddle shaft and reaching my hands does not bother me.
Gripping the neutral bent shaft felt just right. I assume that the goal of achieving a more natural alignment of the wrist and arm is achieved as I realized that my hands were resting naturally and I was not opening the palms. I had to remind myself to do it not to lose the habit.
The neutral bent shaft feels balanced, resting in the hand naturally. The grip area of the shaft fits the contour of the hand securely and provides excellent indexing, allowing to orient instantly the blades.
Soon, I reached the bay under the bastion. I landed for a snack. After half an hour, I rested the kayak in the shallow water, sat in the cockpit, bent my knees and let my feet inside the cockpit. I stretched taut my neoprene spray deck and set off. I crossed a mile of shoreline and headed directly for the cliffs. I sculled for support under the second watch tower. The blade held itself level with high ease. I dived on my left side, set up while underwater and sweep rolled. I was upside in a sudden. I tried it again. This time with a C to C roll. Again I was forcibly up as if droven by a gas-sprung mechanism. I understood that the shape of the blade tacitly forgave mistakes that would had other paddles diving. Probably there is arcane law of fluid dynamics that explains how the blade had me transferring so vividly the full force of my hip snap.
I continued along the rugged, gnarled cliffs and reached harbour. There, I braced and rolled with a joy that I had lost since the summer.
A final note: I enjoy this paddle immensely. The aesthetics of the carbon Kalliste stunned me. It makes a really cool noise when you swish it around. If he ever gets down to sea kayaking, this is the paddle for Darth Vader. I can so very clearly see him slicing renderless opponents with this paddle. I am sure that it should also work well in deflecting shots from blasters.
[Ignacio Wenley Palacios]
in Touring
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