My first paddle was a simple touring paddle designed rather for recreation than some real paddling. I did my first roll with it, I had my first swims with it, I lost it during a swim, then found it etc… It was a nice paddle and I really liked it. After this one I had few others but this February I began to think of buying a really good light-weight paddle, because I felt I could use a paddle worth paddling with.
Fortunately my mate lent my his paddle while he was staying in Prague and after two rides in our local spot I felt this might be The Paddle. I bought it few days after that… So I decided to review it here because I think it really meets the requirements for a top freestyle paddle.
A great info for you before the actual review. If you are interested in trying any Profiplast paddle contact your local kayaking equipment dealer and he may receive demo paddles straight away! Just write a request to the manufacturer - Petr Panenka (panenka@profiplast.cz)..
Profiplast C1 freestyle paddle-Air
With its 690g (24 oz) it really meets the weight requirements of any paddler, but guess what… its blade is not composite…it is plastic. Profiplast managed to develop a new technology called Gas Injection, thus reducing the weight of the blade almost to the weight of a composite one and still keeping the lovable qualities of plastic- reduced cost and abrasion resistance. The thermoplastic is enforced by carbon fibres.
I have been paddling it for nearly two months now and it endured everything, including a 100kg (220pound) me hanging on it while it got stuck between the rocks :))…
This is what it looks like in the inside
The asymetric blade Another important thing about the blade is that it is asymmetric.It really offers a better stroke( forward or backward either onside or offside) than a normal symmetric blade. What I appreciate the most is not the power of the stroke but the fact that it gives a lot of support during the moves, which is precisely what you need. Just imagine doing an onside blunt- If you do the stroke, turn the boat around and the blade gets stuck in the water because it has sunk too far into the water and is not ready to give you sufficient support for your balance… you get out of balance and… trashing follows. This doesn´t happen with Air. The blade offers incredible support and is especially good as a rudder (either onside or offside- while back surfing). I felt my onside blunts immediately improving to over 90% success and I think it is not a coincidence…
Air action photos
And finally there is the price… Imagine you get all this- a perfect freestyle/whitewater C1 paddle- for only cca 100 euro. Including wooden T-grip, asymmetric blade, composite shaft and of course PERFORMANCE.
Conclusion
+ lightweight 690g/24oz
+ asymmetric design of the blade--> better support and stroke
+ abrasion resistance
+ composite shaft
- asymmetric blade- your mate who paddles on the other side can not try your new Air to full satisfaction…:)
Profiplast also manufactures top kayak paddles Ninja, Xena (both freestyle/ whitewater) and Trapper(touring), raft paddles (used by the World Champions in men and women categories), dragon paddles and many more...
Check their website
A review on Xena paddle by Tomas Mahring (2nd place indoor snowkayak Championship 07) coming soon…
If you are interested in this paddle just tell your local dealer to contact the manufacturer (
panenka@profiplast.cz) and you may try a test paddle before buying it! It will be sent to your dealer as a demo.
So long. I promise I get the blunt technique ready really soon.. I need some more pics and nobody wants to take pics of me...:((
The asymetric blade 
