Starboard, JP-Australia and Naish are well suited even for beginners - SUPR, Black Project and GTS are convincing in the top class - but more for paddlers with good technique.
1 Starboard Bolt L 2-piece
The similarity in name is probably coincidental, but the large-surface "Bolt" is also bursting with power during fast sprints. It releases this power very willingly, the paddle always sticks in super cleanly and immediately builds up a lot of pressure. Top for powerful paddlers or on long distances for a paddling style with "speeds" in the moderate range.
Weight662 grammesPrice 489 EuroInfo www.star-board-sup.com
2 Black Project Hydro Travel 83 Race 3-piece
The seemingly incompatible has been created: A three-piece travel paddle with the look and feel of a one-piece race paddle. Two wobble-free plug-in connections with a small push button and hexagonal cross-section of the connecting tube ensure a smooth-walled, play-free paddle feel. The fixed-length paddle is extremely light in the hand, grips powerfully and needs to be paddled cleanly.
Weight 595 grammesPrice 385 EuroInfo www.blackprojectsup.com
3 JP-Australia Carbon 83 2-piece
For a comparatively reasonable surcharge, JP-Australia upgrades you from the glass-carbon to the full-carbon league. This is noticeable in the weight and again in the stiffness. Despite the modern racing outline, the blade is very easy to paddle, not quite as powerful as the Starboard, but somewhat more versatile and also saves energy over long distances.
Weight 705 grammesPrice 299 EuroInfo www.jp-australia.com
4 SUPR Pacer Pro-Elite 1-piece
Just having a paddle that you don't come across on every corner ennobles the SUPR. And it gets you into the classiest first-class lounge at an economy price. The product of a German-Dutch symbiosis between Olaf Schwarz and Double Dutch is a super-light race paddle in a fixed length in one available size for the time being. It appeared to be very well balanced: The paddle wants to be guided cleanly, is powerful, super stiff and, above all, light as a feather.
Weight 485 grammesPrice 379 EuroInfo www.supr-paddles.com
5 Naish Carbon Plus 85 Vario RDS
The tuning version of the particularly thin paddle from our big test offers the same delicate, sensitive handling, but is even lighter and, above all, significantly sportier and firmer. The thin shaft feels great in the hands and offers very little wind resistance. A good pressure-building, handy, classy wave and touring paddle. The thin Naish paddle benefits particularly strongly from the carbon tuning.
Weight 580 grammesPrice 349 EuroInfo www.naishsurfing.com
6 GTS Narrow 85 2-piece
If superlatives are to be cleared, then please do it like this: The GTS has the longest blade, the narrowest blade and is even stiffer than the race one-piece. It resembles the Black Project both visually and in terms of paddle feel, wants to be dipped properly and then offers a little more power. The handle is comparatively delicate.
Weight 662 grammesPrice 349 EuroInfo www.grandtoursports.com
