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DRAGON BOAT PADDLES

!2014

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! BY JODE H. LAX

!!WHEN CHOOSING A DRAGON BOAT PADDLE, YOU SHOULD CONSIDER: !!!! YOUR REQUIREMENTS:!

A longer shaft Increased stiffness Less weight A tool to help you improve Equipment to better match your current skills Equipment to better match your anticipated skills !!

! YOUR BUDGET:!Best price Greatest value for the money An investment in your paddling prowess !!

! YOUR LEVEL OF EXPERIENCE:!Committed beginner Long-term intermediate racer Sport division go-getter Gym-goer with aspirations Experienced national and international racer !

APEX ACCELERATOR

• One-piece construction • Carbon fibre • Foam core • Elliptical shaft • Choice of T-grip or palm grip • 370 - 450 grams • 45” - 51” available

$269 !

Canada

BRÁCA-SPORT DRAGON

• Two-piece construction • Carbon fibre • Foam core • Round shaft • Wooden palm grip or carbon T-grip • 400 grams • 45” - 51” available • Adjustable shaft option (5 cm range)

$260 !

Lithuania

CHOOSE YOUR PADDLE CAREFULLY !!There have never been so many paddles available to dragon boaters to choose from. Selecting the right one for you will come down to a combination of specific technical features and your own paddling needs. !The first thing you should do is answer the three questions listed on the previous page. This will bring you most of the way to making a good purchasing decision. !Second, you should consider particular technical attributes that you are looking for or would benefit from. These could include a paddle with adjustable length, palm grip, elliptical shaft, “concave” blade shape, etc. !Finally, look through the list of available models, and see which ones meet all these characteristics. !!!!!!! PADDLE TECHNICAL FEATURES: !!!Adjustable !!!!Top rated !!!!Great value !!!!Unique desirable feature !

BURNWATER REACTOR II

• One-piece construction • Scratch- & slip-resistant matte

finish • Carbon fibre 2x2 twill weave • Foam core • Elliptical shaft • T-grip • 370 - 390 grams

$265 "

U.S.A

" BURNWATER PYRO

• One-piece construction • Scratch- & slip-resistant matte

finish • Carbon fibre 2x2 twill weave • Composite fiberglass inner structure • Foam core • Elliptical shaft • T-grip • 440 grams

$220 "

U.S.A

" CHAMPION CARBON FIBRE

• Carbon fibre • Foam core • Circular shaft • Palm grip • 450 grams

$220 "

China

CHINOOK DIABLO

• Three-piece construction • Spun carbon fibre • Foam core • Elliptical shaft • Choice of T-grip or palm grip • 405 grams

$130 "

Canada

CHINOOK SUNDOWNER

• Two-piece construction • Choice of black, blue, red • Carbon fibre • Foam core • Elliptical shaft • Choice of T-grip or palm grip • Under 400 grams (for 49” paddle)

$210 "

Canada

" DOUBLE DUTCH DRAGON CARBON PRO

• Carbon fibre • Foam core • Round shaft • T-grip • 399 grams • 43” - 51” available

$225 "

Netherlands

G’POWER FALCON CARBON II

• Two-piece construction • Carbon fibre • Foam core • Circular shaft • T-grip • 360 grams • Adjustable length up to 51”

$250 "

Poland

G’POWER FALCON CARBON II-KEVLAR

• Two-piece construction • 80% carbon fibre/20% kevlar blade • 100% carbon fibre shaft • Foam core • Circular shaft • T-grip • 430 grams • Adjustable length up to 51”

$250 "

Poland

"

GREY OWL HIGH PERFORMANCE

• Solid wood • Blade cambered ash and bass (7

laminates) • Urethane tip • Elliptical shaft • Shaft laminated ash with a bass core

(3 laminates) • T-grip oiled maple • 567 grams (on average) • 44” - 51” available

$55 "

Canada

GREY OWL JET

"• One-piece construction • Moulded carbon fibre composite • Foam core • Elliptical shaft • T-grip • 552 grams • 44” - 51” available

$265 "

Canada

KIALOA DRAGON CARBON

• 3K carbon fibre • Foam core with carbon reinforced

frame • T-grip • 365 grams

$270 "

U.S.A

MERLIN CD2

• Carbon fibre • Choice of colours (and logos, team

colours, etc. can be added) • Foam core • Circular shaft • Shaft extends into the blade • T-grip • 440 grams (approx.) • 44” - 51” available

$225 "

Australia

MERLIN CD3

• Flat woven carbon fibre • Choice of colours (and logos, team

colours, etc. can be added) • Thermoplastic core • Circular shaft • Shaft extends into the blade • T-grip or palm grip • 390 grams (approx.) • 44” - 51” available

$255 "

Australia

MERLIN TD3

• Fibreglass blade and carbon fibre shaft

• Choice of colours (and logos, team colours, etc. can be added)

• Thermoplastic core • Circular shaft • Shaft extends into the blade • T-grip or palm grip • 400 grams (approx.) • 44” - 51” available

$215 "

Australia

PAN AM DRAGONBOAT PHENOM

• Two-piece construction (separate handle)

• Choice of colours (black, red, blue) • Foam core • Circular shaft • T-grip or palm grip • 385 grams (approx.)

$190 "

China

RAAB ADJUSTABLE

• Two-piece construction • Carbon fibre • Foam core • Circular shaft • T-grip or palm grip • 402 grams • Adjustable 47” - 51”

$375 "

Czech Republic

RAAB DRAGON

• Two-piece construction • Carbon fibre • Foam core • Circular shaft • T-grip or palm grip • Wood T-grip (+$25 for carbon T-

grip or carbon palm grip) • 360 grams

$330 "

Czech Republic

SIMON RIVER SPORTS ELITE 1

• Three-piece construction • Carbon fibre or carbon composite • Foam core • Circular shaft • T-grip • 450 - 510 grams

$190 "

Canada

TYPHOON8 DRAGONFLY

• One-piece construction • Carbon composite • Scratch- & slip-resistant matte

finish • Foam core • Elliptical shaft • T-grip or palm grip • 44”, 46”, 48”, 50”, and 51” • 380 grams

$230 "

Hong Kong

TYPHOON8 HAMMERHEAD ADJUSTABLE

• Two-piece construction • Carbon composite • Foam core • Elliptical shaft • T-grip • Adjustable 46,5”- 51” • 390 grams

$290 "

Hong Kong

XPIRITS JAPANESE WAVE

• One-piece construction • Carbon 2x2 twill weave • Foam core • Elliptical shaft • Ergonomic T-grip • 390 - 430 grams

$220 "

"

XPIRITS XFIRE

• One-piece construction • Carbon 2x2 twill weave • Foam core • Elliptical shaft • Ergonomic T-grip • 390 - 430 grams

$220 "

"

ZRE DRAGON XL

• Carbon fiber/Graphite/Epoxy • Foam core • Elliptical shaft • Choice of T-grip or palm grip • 315 grams (maximum – for 51”

paddle) • 45” - 51” available

$310 "

U.S.A.

ZRE RAZOR R1

$250 "

U.S.A.

• Carbon fibre • Foam core • Elliptical shaft • Choice of T-grip or palm grip • 382 grams • 45” - 51” available