Description
VMG blades is very proud to announce the Orca Paddle.
The world’s first paddle designed as a foil, giving you superior instant catch and the smoothest stroke.
This paddle has been in development for 3 years with James Casey. Our goal was to develop a paddle to meet his exacting standards. The paddle accelerates instantly for downwind paddling, and catching waves, yet also has a smooth efficient stroke for course racing.
Prototypes have been tested around the world including in races like the M20 and M2M in Hawaii, and APP World Series races.
VMG blades approached this design utilizing our vast experience with all kinds of foils, after all a paddle is just another kind of foil with the tip being your leading edge.
To ensure the paddle enters the water smoothly and develops lift (the catch) we modeled the scoop from foil design principles, then tested and refined until it entered the water as cleanly as possible. The result? A strong and instant catch that feels just right.
The face of the blade has a subtle single concave and double dihedral, flowing to a single dihedral at the throat. This refined organic shape means the blade has good hold, with no flutter or cavitation through the power phase. Check out the curvature and smooth foil flows of the paddle’s design, you can see the difference.
The combination of the foiled scoop and the subtle and highly refined face has resulted in a paddle with an instant catch and ultra smooth stroke . It really does adhere to our belief in Velocity Made Good (VMG), or most efficient use of effort towards a goal.
Additionally with the choice of 3 shaft stiffness levels, you can tune the feel of the paddle exactly to your needs.
Features:
- Foiled scoop – for instant catch and superior flow attachment
- Refined organic design – flowing single concave and double dihedral through the body, single dihedral in the throat giving super smooth power delivery
- Ultra light carbon blade – 100% prepreg carbon
- Shafts to suit you – Soft (tapered), Medium(tapered), Hard, and Adjustable
- Padded “Rockstar” Paddle Bag – with internal zip pockets for fins, leashes and accessories
*paddle weight is based on length of 190cm
Nicki Day –
Absolutely stoked with my new Orca 72. It’s so hard to put into words how this paddle works and feels but it seems to make the catch phase effortless and is so easy and kind on your body. I also noticed that my paddling was so much quieter. I compared my distance traveled from previous Garmin data using my old paddle and I am blown away! I will be singing this paddles praises to all my paddle buddies. I am one very happy paddler, thank you Chris and team.
Matthew Scott –
I love the catch on this paddle, James describes it perfectly in the video. The blade engages effortlessly on the catch, doesn’t slip and if your engagement is good there is no noise/cavitation. On exit it is also effortless.
The handle is comfortable on the hands and the shaft is a good diameter..
As someone that suffers from elbow tendonitis I was very pleased that this paddle didn’t aggravate it which I cannot say for other paddles that cost significantly more.
I have the medium flex adjustable 82 and you wouldn’t know it is adjustable. Looking forward to delivery of my fixed length version soon.
John Messenger –
I’ve been on the Orca 72 Medium Fixed shaft now for about a month. The first thing that you will notice with this paddle is the catch. When your paddle is not slipping through a bad catch the effect is POWER. I was lucky enough to try the 82 and 72 prior to purchase, and felt with the power I could hold with slip or vantilation/cavitation the 82 was maybe too big/powerful for my ability and technique. However, now after many runs, excellent time trial results and getting used to this resource of power, my stroke has improved and my efficiency increased. I am about to order an 82 Orca to compliment my 72. At 90 kgs, having dependable power at your fingertips is priceless. No paddle walk, vortexes, slip or excess joint load. I can paddle longer and faster. – upsize me please, let’s add some horsepower.
There’s a lot of good paddles out there, but VMG have tickled something here.