Werner's Stikine is my favorite paddle for river running and creeking that I have ever used. This paddle has tons of purchase on the water. The stiffness of the carbon fiber and the paddle's blade shape make for a very powerful stroke. This is extremely important to me for those situations when you only have a couple of strokes to clear a big hole or get away from an undercut. The paddle's stiffness also lends to its sensitivity, it is like having a stethoscope to the water; I can feel all of the small currents. The downside to being such a durable and stiff paddle is that it can have a harder impact on the body. This paddle does not make my shoulders hurt when I am just going down river, however I do not use it for playboating. The swing weight is great on this paddle, with the foam core blades each stroke resurfaces naturally. Coming from a crank shaft paddle (AT) I was not used to the neutral bent shaft design, but it did not take but a couple of days for it to feel natural in my hands. I feel much more confident having the Stikine in my creeking/down river quiver; I love this paddle, yet its biggest drawback is that it is completely black, making it very hard to find when you lose it. -Logan