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Title: Best place to buy? Post by: HawaiianLion on August 04, 2009, 01:14:40 PM I've seen the paddles @ MEC and found their selection(& sizes) pretty limited. Any suggestions on other places to buy gear?
Thanks!! Title: Re: Best place to buy? Post by: mandachan on August 04, 2009, 02:08:50 PM Assuming that you're hawaiian... you have the luxury of having an Island Paddler store, which sells many outrigger blades and accessories.
I've had to resort to buying paddles online. I bought my outrigger blade online at kialoa.com, and my dragonboat blade at typhoon8.com. Pogue Sports at the Burrard Compound (near Vanier Park) sells paddling equipment I believe. But I'm not so knowledgable there. :( Title: Re: Best place to buy? Post by: Special K on August 04, 2009, 02:15:35 PM Both Ryan (Pogue Sports) and Mel (Ocean Outrigger) sell paddles. You can contact Ryan directly at [email protected] or check out Mel's webiste at, http://www.outrigger.ca .
Ask to demo a paddle in order to pick the right paddle for you. Good luck! Title: Re: Best place to buy? Post by: IronGiant on August 04, 2009, 03:04:15 PM Western Canoeing and Kayak in Abbotsford just off Hwy 1.
1717 Salton Rd., Abbotsford, B.C. ... (604) 853-9320 ... 1-866-644-8111 Check www.westerncanoekayak.com (http://www.westerncanoekayak.com) under ... you guessed it ... Paddles. Title: Re: Best place to buy? Post by: rtsdhvy on August 04, 2009, 05:04:21 PM On occasion you can find a paddle manufacturer that has a tent/kiosk at the larger dragon boat festivals on the "circuit". I bought my Burnwater Reactor at Alcan in '03 and
my Apex Accelerator in '07(I think) at Kelowna. You don't have to pay shipping and handling and you can get a "feel" for the paddle before you shell out the money for it. I have not seen that many paddle merchants at festivals lately. I think a Merlin sales rep was at RTA this year, and perhaps a Burnwater rep as well. If you can find a used one that fits your needs that could be a way to go as well. Try and get it done before the HST becomes official. Title: Re: Best place to buy? Post by: HawaiianLion on August 06, 2009, 01:01:06 AM Thanks everyone, I appreciate all your help & suggestions!!
Title: Re: Best place to buy? Post by: NFW on August 06, 2009, 01:02:13 AM Generally speaking for paddles, its best if you are able to demo them first hand before buying them to see if they fit you.
(though not all dealers are able to offer you this option) To add to the list of choices given by the others already, here are the list of paddle choices available in no particular order: (incomplete list) - Burnwater (Reactor/Stoker) Vancouver Contact: Greg Lamb ([email protected]) Website: www.burnwater.com - Apex (Durablade/Accelerator/Ultimate Vancouver Contact: Chris Grunow ([email protected]) Website: http://apexpaddles.com - Trivium (S12) California Contact: Bill Ting ([email protected]) Website: www.triviumpaddles.com - ZRE (Dragon) Closest Retail: Western Canoeing & Kayaking (www.westerncanoekayak.com) or Pogue Sports (www.poguesports.com) Website: www.zre.com/catalog - Kialoa (Hybrid) Closest Retail: Open Ocean Outrigger (www.outrigger.ca) Website: www.kialoa.com - Typhoon8 (Wood/Dragonfly) Calgary Contact: Arnold Ngai ([email protected]) Website: www.typhoon8.com - Merlin (td2/cd2/Ghost) Montreal Contact: www.deebee365.com Website: www.merlingear.com - Chinook (Diablo) Closest Retail: Pogue Sports (www.poguesports.com) Website: www.chinookpaddle.com - Grey Owl (Wood/Jet) Closest Retail: MEC (www.mec.ca) or Western Canoeing & Kayaking (www.westerncanoekayak.com) Website: www.greyowlpaddles.com Here's a website for reviews of almost all DB paddles: http://www.dragonglobe.com/reviews/ Good luck in your hunt for your new DB paddle! :wink: Title: Re: Best place to buy? Post by: EWL on August 06, 2009, 11:36:17 PM Wow! Great list! So, now for the reviews of every paddle on that list... anyone? Hahaha...
Title: Re: Best place to buy? Post by: Illuminate on August 07, 2009, 10:36:57 AM Wow! Great list! So, now for the reviews of every paddle on that list... anyone? Hahaha... Here's a review of the Kialoa hybrid: http://readyandreach.wordpress.com/2009/03/11/kialoa-dragon-boat-hybrid-paddle-the-rr-review/ Reviews for the rest can be found at the site NFW posted Title: Re: Best place to buy? Post by: HawaiianLion on August 08, 2009, 03:06:08 AM Hey All,
I visited Western Canoeing and Kayak in Abbotsford earlier today. A great store, reasonable prices, killer service & lots of various paddles(decent amount of D.B. paddles). Anyone ever try/have a ZAVERAL Carbon Fiber D.B. paddle? I'm curious. Thanks, HL Title: Re: Best place to buy? Post by: magicpaddler on August 10, 2009, 08:06:47 AM I have tried it and I think its great. If you want to take one for a test drive talk to Ryan at Pogue Sports
Title: Re: Best place to buy? Post by: mustbecrazy on August 10, 2009, 10:19:16 AM I've had a ZRE blade and loved it! Great quality, great feel...
Title: Re: Best place to buy? Post by: ROAD//RASH on August 10, 2009, 10:21:05 AM +1 for ZRE
I personally like it better than my old Typhoon8 and marginally better than Burnwaters I've tried. Not much experience with the other brands. I've got the regular t-grip but they have a palm grip available as well. Title: Re: Best place to buy? Post by: grifter on August 10, 2009, 01:29:20 PM I bought a ZRE carbon strictly because it was the only one available with a palm grip and have had no complaints with it. I did break the grip (its plastic, not carbon) but Western did a great job repairing for me. The paddle is nice and light, shaft is grippy so wax isn't needed (unlike Burnwaters). Great paddle. Would by another one.
Title: Re: Best place to buy? Post by: NFW on August 10, 2009, 04:41:53 PM I bought a ZRE carbon strictly because it was the only one available with a palm grip Trivium has 3 choices for its grips too, though its on the lighter side. |