Esquif Demo's out West- input please

Post by **sbroam** » Wed Mar 23, 2011 10:39 am

Side shot to show the bend? Dimensions on the blade and to the bends? Construction of the blade/tip? Pricing?

Wiggins · Post by **Wiggins** » Wed Mar 23, 2011 1:20 pm

I don't know if it is too soon, but here is an event for you: http://www.professorpaddle.com/balls/2011/schedule.asp .

The Professor Paddle Ball is a yearly event that draws people from all over Washington, and to a lesser extent, Oregon and Idaho.

That time of year in Wenatchee there is a type of water for every paddler making it an ideal place to demo boats.

Kyle

Smurfwarrior · Post by **Smurfwarrior** » Wed Mar 23, 2011 4:16 pm

With my wedding being this weekend that's going to be pushing it for me. Thanks for the info though.

coloradopaddler · Post by **coloradopaddler** » Fri Mar 25, 2011 5:25 pm

can you bring a spark to the oc nationals for me to race, oh, i mean try out? i'd like to get in a l'edge too. thanks.
you could come to animas river days in durango, colorado. it's more of a local level river festival.

Smurfwarrior · Post by **Smurfwarrior** » Fri Mar 25, 2011 5:28 pm

PM me the info on that fest and I'll consider it. As for the spark, if I have one my butt will be in it for the race

coloradopaddler · Post by **coloradopaddler** » Fri Mar 25, 2011 5:34 pm

it looks like june 10-12 this year. here is a link to the event's web page: http://www.animasriverdays.org/

Smurfwarrior · Post by **Smurfwarrior** » Fri Mar 25, 2011 7:52 pm

SBroam- Here ya go.

7 3/4" wide

17" long

Blade curve

Fiberglass Shaft, easy on the joints

7.5"-13" (thereabouts) ergo bent position

I like grip tape on the paddle when I'm using gloves...

Smurfwarrior · Post by **Smurfwarrior** » Fri Mar 25, 2011 9:09 pm

The paddle in the pic (Fiberglass ergo shaft) weighs 27.5oz with the griptape fyi.

Smurfwarrior · Post by **Smurfwarrior** » Sun Apr 10, 2011 9:37 pm

Pierre LePaddle (Rick) came down to pick up a boat and demo the L'Edge and the new Esquif paddle. I'm sure he'll be on here in a few days when he gets back to BC with a review of both.

TheKrikkitWars · Post by **TheKrikkitWars** » Sun Apr 10, 2011 10:20 pm

Is that a rebadged Ophion paddle?
In spite of the UK distributor actually contacting me to tell me that I wasn't to say anything bad about them (the cheek of it, as I don't have any relationship to them, though my ex-girlfriend was a paid liar for their parent company [which is how i got to use their products]); I wouldn't touch those with a barge pole.

EsquifVince · Post by **EsquifVince** » Mon Apr 11, 2011 3:19 pm

@ Joshua

These new generation of paddles are a lot different from the one you've tried, thanks to the comments you've made to Sasa (and other comments from other notorious boaters...) the paddles are now much better!

Some times ago, around the same time you had these previous gen. paddles, Esquif almost made a deal with them, but the product was not meeting our expectations yet... No deal was made, until the product was drastically improved. We saw the potential, but it was not a mature product yet...

Please, give the chance to someone to improve! Nobody made it perfect the first time, right? I'm sure your reason not to like them were valid, but we're not talking about the same paddles anymore...

Sadly, we mostly hear of unhappy people on the net, rarely from the happy bunch, but I can tell you (and all other who are interested...) that a lot of great boaters are in love with these paddles, including Louie, Shawn Malone, Jeff, Scriver, myself... They are though, slice well through the water, deliver tons of power and are truly well manufactured, a totally different story from the early versions you've tried.

It would be unfair to judge these new paddles based on your experience with the older generation.

Cheers!

Vincent

Smurfwarrior · Post by **Smurfwarrior** » Mon Apr 11, 2011 5:21 pm

As is, the tip wears like any other composite blade but Sasa Rejec from Ophion can also add custom features like a bomber tip on the blade for hardcore creeking on slightly wet rocks. The shaft is the most impressive composite shaft I've had. See pic below for a comparison between manufacturers. The bottom middle and bottom right are Ophion. Check the direction of the fibers... those in the know will recognize the importance of the directional layup. These are well thought out and well constructed paddles.

TheKrikkitWars · Post by **TheKrikkitWars** » Mon Apr 11, 2011 7:45 pm

I'm happy to be disproved; But I stand by my original statment, I wouldn't touch Ophion's products... The original line made a rather negative impression, of form over function and needless innovation (crinkly blades anyone?).

If they turn out to be good, then I might re-appraise my opinions, In time; But first impressions are the most important; and if I'd been in Sasa's shoes I wouldn't have let those Gen1 paddles out to market.

the great gonzo · Post by **the great gonzo** » Mon Apr 11, 2011 10:22 pm

the shafts look really nice.
One thing I do not understand however, and that is directed at most manufacturers of laminated paddles, is the lack of edge protection. Ever since I had a Bandit and essentially wore its tip off in 1/2 of a season and having the blade starting to delaminate on me I will not buy a paddle any more that does not have a full dynel or similar edge protection.

TGG!

Pierre LaPaddelle · Post by **Pierre LaPaddelle** » Wed Apr 13, 2011 5:01 am

Smurfwarrior wrote:Pierre LaPaddelle (Rick) came down to pick up a boat and demo the L'Edge and the new Esquif paddle. I'm sure he'll be on here in a few days when he gets back to BC with a review of both.

Delighted to, though what the heck do I know? I came to learn!

1. L'EDGE: A highlite of the trip was trying out L'Edge, having read all the current reviews. Smurf's L'Edge featured shortened thwarts, which really brought the gunn'ls in, and apparently increased the speed, but maybe cut down on some initial stability. (I dunno -- I've yet to try the factory configuration.)

Given L'Edge's length and rocker, and other paddlers' comments, it was quicker and faster than I expected it to be. The narrowed gunnl's made for very comfortable paddling, and I didn't find stability to be a problem at all -- just smooth transition from edge to edge.

Bottom line -- I didn't arrive planning to buy a L'Edge, but now I may change my mind!

2. LA PADDELLE: I liked it, right up to the point when Jeff snatched it back from me, right above an interesting drop. It certainly grabbed water more effectively than the old industrial pancake-flipper I'd been using. Comfortable to grip, and neither too rigid, nor too flexy. TGG's concern about edge-protection is well taken: Jeff -- what was it you had applied to the tip?

3. LE HOSPITALITE: Jeff was a wonderful host. He staged a blinding April snowstorm for my arrival in Utah, which really made this Canuck feel right-at-home. And, on the river, he picked lines which got me down some heinous Class II drops in complete confidence, without wetting my pants.

My THANKS to Esquif, for securing the services of such a great ambassador. Jeff's involvement bodes well for the future of c-boating in the west. We may enter the 21st Century yet, while also increasing Esquif's sales!

And my personal THANKS to Smurf for helping me get the leash on my Bulldog! (I owe ya, friend!)

Rick