You're almost certainly cocking your wrist instead of using your
shoulder to position the paddle correctly for entry. If you intend to
paddle for long distances and at speed, you should spend the time to
learn proper paddling style. I've taken clinics with Brent Reitz and
Greg Barton, and have nothing but praise for their style. For Brent's
website, see www.wildsprint.com - Brent teaches classes occasionally
and also has a video/DVD that is invaluable. Greg has also released a
video, which I haven't seen but you can check it out at
www.epickayaks.com.

I paddle thrice a week, using a 75 degree feather angle and an Epic
Mid-Wing paddle. On my short days I go 8miles at 6mph with no break -
not even a missed stroke - in paddling for the 1hr 20min it takes me
to paddle. Long days, I do 15-20 miles. I couldn't even imagine
doing this when I first started paddling in Sep 2002 - but proper
instruction has made a huge difference.

Imagine a splint running along the inside of your forearm to your
palm, keeping the wrist straight. Well, that's how your wrist should
be while paddling - no cocking action forward or back as you paddle.
The paddle should move into position because of lifting movements at
your shoulder and rotation through the palm of one hand (usually,
left).
VB

Vineet.

(Bobo) wrote in message . com...
I've been a whitewater kayaker for ~15 years and I'm usually out
every weekend. I've always used a feathered paddle without any
problem. My current feather paddle is 60 degrees. I could never get
use to a non-feathered paddle.

Since I'm getting older and there's little river water, I decided to
get a sea kayak with a Werner Camano 60 degree feathered paddle. Over
the past three weekends, I've gone out paddling for 90 to 180 minutes.
I usually go non-stop because I like to get into a cadence. After
the second weekend, I began to feel some soreness in my right
(control) wrist. After the third weekend, the pain became a bit more
noticeable. The pain is in the inside of the right wrist where the
pulse is felt. Before I do some damage, I need to know the
following:

(1) Is the location of the pain something that I should be concerned
about or will it work itself out?

(2) Am I paddling wrong? I use a high angle paddle stroke that is
common in whitewater kayaking, but I notice that a lot of sea
kayakers use a low angle paddle. The low angle paddle doesn't seem
very efficient, but is it the answer to my wrist pain?

(3) For those who recommend that I go to a non-feathered paddle, it
might be hard since it'll really screw up my whitewater paddling. I
thought about perhaps trying a 45 degree paddle, but I've only been
able to find sea kayak paddles that are either 0 degrees or 60
degrees. Anyone have experience with a crankshaft sea kayak paddle
who had similar wrist pain?

Responses to one or all of my questions would be appreciated.