My first quantitative test of wing vs. Greenland paddle was inconclusive. These two types of paddles are polar opposites. Greenland paddles are a long and skinny traditional design, while wing paddles are hydro-dynamically engineered for racing power. Greenland paddles are carved from wood; wind paddles are molded from carbon fiber. I've been a Greenland devotee for years but have recently begun experimenting with the wing. To test them I paddled from Columbia Island Marina to the top of Roosevelt Island with the wing and back with the GP. Admittedly, it wasn't a perfect test - there's wind and current to be taken into consideration, and freshness/tiredness. I tried to paddle with a similar level of exertion both ways - a fast touring pace which was a little speedier than cruising but which I could sustain for the full distance. Subjectively, I felt like I was working harder with the wing and indeed, my average heart rate was higher with the wing than with the GP (106 vs....
One man's journey into the great outdoors of Washington, DC and its environs.