Yesterday I took the 2008 Kialoa Methane paddle for a test run. It was a demo from Sam at Wind Surf n Snow.
One word: Flyweight (small but powerful).
This little paddle absolutely rips in the surf. It’s so light and so easy to work with, yet it's still got heaps of power.
I went out the Basin at Mona Vale with a very light onshore blowing and only about one foot of swell (maybe two on the big ones). The sun was out, heaps of people on the beach, warmish water and I was in boardies for the first time of the season - nice. There were only two other guys out, one on a SUP and the other on a lid. It didn’t look like much from the beach but there was the odd one or two coming through which provided a really good little ride.
This paddle was seven inches overhead for me - a good surfing length, in my opinion.
I had been warned that the Methane might feel a bit weird or a bit gutless when you first start using it (if you were used to a bigger blade) so I wasn't expecting much on my first few strokes. I kept this in mind when I jumped on and started paddling ... wow, bang, just a few little/short stokes and I was powered up and charging out the back at speed. Now I might have timed it well with a bit of backwash (there was some around) but I was pleasantly surprised at the power this little puppy puts out - right from my first few strokes.
The Methane (like the other Kialoas) has heaps of life and plenty of spring when paddling. It’s got super smooth entry and exit from the water with each stroke and I didn’t notice any cavitation - even when the non-dihedral blade is pushed hard.
Those short, little power stokes that you do when trying to get onto a wave is where the Methane comes into its own. There were a number of waves where I really wasn’t sure if I would be able to get it or not but thought I would give it a try none-the-less. The Methane excelled. I got every wave I paddled for (except one ridiculously small one). You just need to go a bit crazy and concentrate on heaps of tiny yet powerful stokes and don’t give up, even if you think you’ve missed it. With just the smallest lift from the wave and lots of these little power stokes, I could get my 11 footer planing enough to stay on the wave until it broke. Amazing. Check out the last wave (after the underwater shot) on the video below to see what I mean.
The simple "T" handle works great. It's very comfortable, creates good blade control and is easy to tell if you have thrown it into your hand the wrong way around. The thin, oval shaped shaft is also very nice to grip.
The weight of the Methane is another of its positive characteristics. At only 650g (uncut), it feels like a feather and makes for very easy hand changes and generally moving the paddle around when riding on a wave. Even with its super light weight, the Methane still feels strong and solid.
The workmanship and materials used in the Methane live up Kialoa’s great standard. I was using a relatively new one but it had no signs of any damage or flaws. It looks and feels like a quality piece of engineering.
Highs:
- Light weight.
- Agile in the surf.
- Comfortable design.
- Quality construction.
Lows:
- Relatively high price tag.
- Doesn’t come with a cover.
- Logo is just a sticker which may come off over time.
Here's a video of the session:
Nice review Casso.. I love mine also.
It would also be a perfect paddle for women, children and new paddlers because when not pushed hard it's very light through the water allowing you to work on paddling technique and also not get pulled off balance when you paddle like the way a big blade does...It should also work well for racing and distance paddling.
It's maybe not the best paddle for a bigger guy that just wants to cruise around without paddling at a rate.
DJ
