LOCALadk Magazine

Summer 2016 LOCALadk Magazine 64 LOCALadk www.MountainmanOutdoors.com New York's Largest Canoe, Kayak & Paddleboard Dealer! New York's Paddleboard Leader! New York's Over 1,000 Canoes, Kayaks and Paddleboards in Stock! Rt. 28, Old Forge • (315) 369-6672 251 County Rd. 67, Saratoga Springs • (518) 584-0600 to keep the shaft from rotating in my hand. The extra stability offered by the Odachi requires little extra effort to contin- ue getting good purchase on the water even late in the race course. This pays off BIG TIME when you're trying to pick up those few extra seconds by doing your best work far down the course. This feature will definitely come in handy on a longer race course like the King Of New York's Moose Race, which typically lasts over six minutes and is a mass start format. I think the Odachi's balanced blade will limit grip fatigue com- ing into the final rapid called "Crystal" where last second lead changes often take place. says: The longer blade length (49cm) provides greater leverage and thus, more energy transfer. Mat t t hink s: The longer blade delivers some serious power in what I would call a "nimble" package. The Odachi delivers a more powerful stroke but the blade shape and the low weight combine to al- low me to take strokes at a much higher rate. Increased power combined with higher RPM's only means one thing...SPEED! says: The blade design is totally race inspired, even down to the old school looking symmetrical shape. It creates more surface area and for more efficiency for a more vertical race stroke. Mat t t hink s: The Odachi does require some subtle changes in a paddler's stroke to get the most out of the design. It works just fine if you keep the same stroke that you would normally use with a traditional paddle, but you can really start to feel the in- creased power if you raise your top hand a little bit. I think one of the best qualities of the Odachi is that it rewards good technique with a feeling unmatched by any other paddle. Paddlers that spend just a little bit of time working on their forward stroke will be rewarded with new found speed and efficiency. warns that: The design features that make this paddle fast, also make for a unique feel in your hands. Bracing and rolling are different. With our proven River Running line up to round out your quiv- er, we did not intend the Odachi to be an all-around paddle. Mat t t hink s: While bracing and rolling are subtly different with the Odachi I was still able to feel confident using this paddle with the first stroke I took. This is likely the Odachi's greatest strength. It has race-day benefits while maintaining an easy transition from a traditional paddle. I am particularly drawn to the idea that I can switch back and forth between the Odachi and my other paddles. I am able to select the right paddle for the right conditions without having to take a lot of time to tran- sition back to the Odachi when I put a race bib on or head out on a long stretch of river. While this is Werner's fastest paddle design to date you won't find it to be the most forgiving to use. While there is no ques- tion the Odachi is a high quality, high performance tool for the river, I will continue to reach for my Sho-Gun for the most demanding situations on the water and a Double Diamond for freestyle. Matt Young is a new father, partner, adventurer, competitor, educator, and Werner Team Paddler formerly residing in the Ad- irondack Mountains now calling Vermont his home.

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