Curious as to what paddle you are using.

My advice:
- use the lighter paddle possible, but that will not break. For me, that means around 400g for a 8" / 170cm paddle (Gong pro), I broke the lighter ones, but the 400g resist.
- use a round, small diameter shaft: it will provide the needed flex to spare your joints. Avoid big and oval shafts, they are quite stiffer.
- at 100kg weight, using sub-8' boards, I prefer a 8" blade. Lighter riders or people with boards with more glide will enjoy a 7"
- get a fluid blade shape with no heavy dihedral or fancy designs, so that you can "surf" the blade on the wave face to lean on it

I have the Black Project Lava with T Handle.
90% carbon so it's got a bit of flex but is very strong.
I have had two fanatic carbon 80s.
One snapped - not by me but a stronger mate of mine.
The BP lava seems to have more power compared to the fanatic in my opinion and the t handle really helps in the surf.
If you need advice on paddles you can talk/email Chris Freeman from Black Project directly.
He's the paddle guru.
I don't have any affiliation with BP, just discovered them on my last trip to Maui.
They post world wide for $30 usd.

Hey Nugdam,
I have been using a Ke Nalu xTuf Wiki 74 for the past couple of years and It is the best paddle I have had. I used (and still have) the Fanatic Carbon 75 as well which were good for size (less stress on the shoulders) but I did break a few of these as well.

I have broken a Ke Nalu shaft as well after about only 6 months, but the awesome Ke Nalu crew replaced it for me free of charge!! Really easy to dismantle the paddle pieces and re-assemble. The smaller shaft diameter on the Ke Nalu paddles is also quite comfortable compared to the larger Fanatic shaft.

I was a die hard QB user until shoulder surgery and they got a bit stiff for me . Moved to the Starboard Balsa enduro and now the Carbon Endro which is so light & strong still with some give. Plenty of good ones out there , just my fav at the moment.
sup.star-board.com/products/enduro-paddle/

I do like how with Ke Nalu how you can select the head the shaft and Handel great idea.

+1 for kenalu xtuf. I have had the 60% carbon as my surf paddle for years. Great flex, and it's copped a flogging (including learning to foil) and still going strong. I recently put my 84 kohini blade on, and really like the narrow width and soft catch.

this is the one i use. its great. very light weight, big difference from my previous fanatic paddle. narrow shaft has been good for a full year though i was sceptical it would be strong enough at first. Fixed length of course. And i was plesently surprised by the price $250 i think.

i dont like the silver carbon weave though, i reakon it looks like scales of a fish. having some fish looking thing splashing around the side of your board probably isnt a great idea.

Is anyone using a Smik paddle ?
If so, what sizes n construction ?
Cheers

Cheers for the input mate. I'm looking at the xtuf with possibly the mana 82 paddle or the wiki 84. It's great you can buy parts if you need them.

Maybe I need a few beers before I pull the trigger ha..

lane.mead@kenalu.com

Hey Nugman

i use the Mana for long paddles a DW runs and the Wiki for surf. The Mana is very light and great when you are paddling over 10km. I used the Wiki for that first and it was great but heavier. The WIki is bullet proof and has a hard edge to protect against rocks etc so it preserves better and is not Carbon.
i like both but for different uses so buy one and save for the other.

I use the xtuf shaft with kenalu mana 82 blade. I've had this paddle almost two years and love it. It's super light weight and my shoulders definitely appreciate the small blade.