First some background:
Novice paddler--just now hitting combat rolls
5'11"
180 lbs.
Previous Paddle--Seven2(197 length)
Bought Zen (194 length) two days ago--outragiously expensive.
Head to head comparison to Werner Player--no comparison, the Player felt like it had teflon on the blade. The harder I pulled, the more it seemed to jump out of the water (could have been just poor technique). The Zen sticks like it is smeared with glue.
Caution: Nearly everyone, myself included, first try paddling with the non-power face. Trust me, it don't work that way!
Pros: LIGHT, LIGHT, LIGHT! Indexing is perfectly placed for me but I have unusually long arms for my height. No problem sculling. No problem rolling. I had heard both were too difficult. Powerful stroke, felt like I was launching my BigEZ with each stroke. Back face nearly as powerful as the power face. Finally starting to hit stern squirts in the BigEZ, something I was having much trouble doing (could have just been bad technique, of course).
Cons: PRICE, PRICE, PRICE! Other than that, my biggest problem is one or two sore shoulders from pulling with too much enthusiasm. Only other problem was everybody else wanting to try it and then not wanting to give it back.
Summary: This is probably the last whitewater paddle I will ever buy. Because it gets a 10 and because I can't afford to buy another.
Novice paddler--just now hitting combat rolls
5'11"
180 lbs.
Previous Paddle--Seven2(197 length)
Bought Zen (194 length) two days ago--outragiously expensive.
Head to head comparison to Werner Player--no comparison, the Player felt like it had teflon on the blade. The harder I pulled, the more it seemed to jump out of the water (could have been just poor technique). The Zen sticks like it is smeared with glue.
Caution: Nearly everyone, myself included, first try paddling with the non-power face. Trust me, it don't work that way!
Pros: LIGHT, LIGHT, LIGHT! Indexing is perfectly placed for me but I have unusually long arms for my height. No problem sculling. No problem rolling. I had heard both were too difficult. Powerful stroke, felt like I was launching my BigEZ with each stroke. Back face nearly as powerful as the power face. Finally starting to hit stern squirts in the BigEZ, something I was having much trouble doing (could have just been bad technique, of course).
Cons: PRICE, PRICE, PRICE! Other than that, my biggest problem is one or two sore shoulders from pulling with too much enthusiasm. Only other problem was everybody else wanting to try it and then not wanting to give it back.
Summary: This is probably the last whitewater paddle I will ever buy. Because it gets a 10 and because I can't afford to buy another.
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Reviews >> Accessories >> Paddle >> Zen