Dragonboat Blog | The Dragonboating Resource

dragonboat talk for dragonboaters.

In the last 3 years of selling dragon boat paddles equipment to the Australian market I have seen some ‘real’ breaks. It can be quite amusing to see a paddler lose it when their paddle breaks and so far the common breakages I’ve seen are between the shaft and blade. Some of them are clean breaks (like someone has used a saw), others look like cracks from walls running down the shaft and blade (showing splinters of materials sticking out). I have some pictures of different paddles showing their breaks below and I’ll go through the TOP 5 WAYS to break a dragonboat paddle:

1. Drive over a dragonboat paddle with your car (it’s been done on a Trivium paddle before)
2. Place the paddle on a ledge and jump on it
3. Use a heat gun and melt the joint then hit it against a wall
4. Use a drop saw and cut it in half
5. Throw it off a 10+ storey building

Here are some photos of breakages I have collected over the years:

If you liked the Apex Accelerator, you will find it no different with the Ultimate, except for the additional length adjustment in the handle.

The Apex Ultimate dragonboat paddle allows you to change from lengths of 47 to 51 inches. Unfortunately it only allows for an adjustment of 2 inches depending on the length you purchase. For example if you purchased a 47inch Ultimate it only allows up to 49inch or purchasing a 49inch Ultimate would allow up to 51inch. This compared to the G-Power Falcon is not as good because the G-Power Falcon allows for a full range of adjustment between 45inch to 52inches and without compromising the weight. Whereas in the Apex Ultimate you will need to add aluminum rings to increase the length of the paddle and after testing it, I have found the aluminum rings do add considerable weight to the original paddle. The average weight of the paddle with additional rings is about 550grams or 19.5oz. This is a quite a difference compared to the Apex Accelerator which on only weighs around 400grams or 14oz.

I also noted that if you don’t clean the paddle after use, particularly in salt water the handle and aluminum rings start to form rust and this can be quite a hassle.

Lastly the biggest difference I did notice was it had a round carbon fibre shaft instead of an elliptical shaft and I noticed it wasn’t as comfortable to hold compared to the Apex Accelerator. Something I would suggest to Apex: please change to an elliptical shaft!

Overall the dragonboat paddle has been designed ideally for a more seasoned athlete who trains in all different water levels and conditions allowing them to easily adjust their paddle length when necessary.

The uniqueness of the G-power Falcon dragonboat paddle comes from its capability of adjusting the shaft length through the QNect system. The QNect system is a simple and efficient way to adjust the length of the paddle according to your height or comfort using an allen key. Furthermore, it’s quick and easy to disconnect the handle from the shaft to allow for more compact storage.

Due to the adjustable joint, it has been observed that water manages to seep into the shaft. For any paddler looking to use this paddle regularly, they have to ensure the joint is securely tightened. Additionally to store the paddle with the blade tip facing up so that water can be drained out during storage.

On the upside, it is an excellent light weight paddle weighing in at 400g or 14oz with such simplicity and smooth finishes. I liked this paddle when I first saw it because the blade is so well designed and well balanced it just enters the water without any plonking. The paddle has reasonable flex and is not too stiff, which makes it comfortable to paddle over longer periods. I would also highly recommend this paddle for anyone who does a lot of travelling interstate or overseas and needs to disassemble the paddle in order to fit into their luggage.

The Trivium S12 Dragonboat paddle is very unique and could be said to be the lightest dragonboat paddle in the world, at 340g or 12oz! Though that may be a good thing for some, it is very hard to own one of these paddles as Trivium don’t make enough to sell around the world. When I last spoke to the supplier they said they only produce a limited number of paddles per season and most people have to wait between 4-6 months before getting a paddle. Some clubs have even waited 9 months in Australia for their paddles to arrive and gave up waiting, purchasing other paddles that can be delivered within a couple of weeks.

Now why all the fuss and delays? Trivium paddles are delicately hand-made in Lithuania and they are carbon composite paddles consisting of carbon fibre and Kevlar. The reason for a composite of materials is because it needs to retain it’s strength, especially if it’s this light. Something I have noticed about paddling with such a light paddle is it often tends to feather the water and if there is the slightly wind it’s also very easy to loose control of the paddle. One reason why I have decided not to own a paddle that is too light.

The Trivium S12 is bipartite and the handle is joined to the blade via either a ‘GLUE’ connection or an IDBF approved ‘SCREW’ connection. Personally I have not liked seeing joints between shafts and the hassle of un-gluing just to adjust the length is a big job for the average dragonboat paddler. The other issue I feel is that it also weakens a paddle’s durability because there is an extra joint compared to a paddle being assembled in a one-piece construction.

Trivium S12 paddles also offer various grips:

• Sculpted (more like a Palm Grip)
• Ergo T (like a T-Grip, except more rounder around the edges)
• Ergo Medium (a slightly thicker version of the T-Grip)

It’s a positive for the Trivium paddles to have different grips as it can be customised to each individual paddler’s needs. In addition, Trivium have taken the extra step for customisation of their blades and offers individuals and clubs a choice of colours. Needless to say it may be why there is a long waiting period to supplying these paddles.

The RAAB dragonboat paddle is definitely an unique paddle. I thought Chinook would be the first to release a paddle with different colours coated onto the paddle, but RAAB have done a good job as well and actually created coloured carbon weaving on sections of their paddle. The RAAB dragonboat paddle is hand made by Ondrej Raab and is one of the lightest paddles on the market, weighing 400g or 14oz. One thing that stood out to me was the integrated non-slip material on the shaft which looks like it’s been heat shrinked on (It helps a paddler get better grip). Though time and again I still prefer the elliptical shaft and RAAB has used a ribbed carbon fiber shaft that is completely cylindrical. (Trust me you will notice the difference when paddling!)

The paddle is finished with handmade quality (extremely detailed) and compares to the ZRE paddle of similar construction and design. It is constructed in three pieces and funnily enough I was surprised that they still used wooden handles. The wooden handle is softer to hold and is quite comfortable, but I still prefer carbon handles. I understand RAAB now offers the option of a carbon fibre handle. The blade is polished nicely and even has the RAAB logo embossed on the bottom edge. Furthermore the edges are clear coated adding more protection from splitting and allowing for a smoother entry and exit into the water.

Finally any colour can be added to the weaving allowing it to stand out for teams and individuals who want something different. A dream paddle to use!

You can see other reviews in our paddles review section

Who are ZRE?
ZRE stands for Zaveral Racing Equipment and their website is www.zre.com. ZRE is one of the leading manufacturers for top-performance paddles and you can see their awards won in the past here: http://www.zre.com/morenews/award.html

The ZRE Dragonboat Paddle:
I’ve always been asking myself before the day I got my hands on one of these, what is so special about them? Is it because they are made in the USA, uses aerospace material or they just look good? I read a lot of comments from other paddlers from the other side of the world and they kept saying these were the best paddles.

Okay, I am going to give my biased opinion as I have tested, assembled and sold numerous of these paddles. Firstly yes, the ZRE dragonboat paddles do live up to their reputation for being a very light paddle and it performs very well through the water. They have been designed from a paddlers mind combining the best possible materials that are used in aerospace and for Formula 1 racing. Currently these paddles weigh around 410g to 450g or 14.5oz to 16oz depending on what grip and length you choose.

What I like about the ZRE dragonboat paddles is that it provides flexibility. What it means is there are many different grips you can choose from and also many repair options if your paddle breaks.
The Grips: You can choose from:

• Plastic Palm
• Carbon T
• Carbon Palm
• Wooden T

It’s good to have the different grips because they allow for different conditions and each grip feels customised to your own needs. The other thing I mentioned is repair options. Because the ZRE dragonboat paddle is assembled in 3 separate pieces, if you one part gets damaged it can be easily replaced, rather than sending the whole paddle back. Most paddlers are also able to do this themselves. The downside is the paddle doesn’t look like a Burnwater or Apex Accelerator paddle showing a consistent carbon fibre weave. If you’re not fussed about how the paddle looks, then the ZRE will provide you with exceptional performance.

One last thing I did notice about this paddle is the sound it makes through the water on a return stroke. The resonating sound is a “whip” and if you heard it with a full team of 20 paddlers using ZRE paddles then you definitely know they’re coming.

Overall a great well balance dragonboat paddle that I would highly recommend for competition.

You can see other reviews in our paddles review section