Who are we and what is Ergo Paddle? I am Dennis Czubin, a manufacturing engineer who worked for plastic molding companies, but am now retired. My wife, Sharon, is a retired piano teacher. After canoeing and kayaking for fifty years, I began having wrist, thumb and shoulder pain that limited how much time I could enjoy one of my favorite pastimes. I enjoy sitting close to the water surface, gliding quietly past wildlife and being able to go through areas powered craft can’t reach. The thought of not watching a beaver swim under my kayak, or feel a monster snapping turtle push up the bottom of my canoe again because my aging joints can’t handle a traditional canoe or kayak paddle did not appeal to me. ​ Having worked as an engineer and designer, and having taken classes in ergonomics, I decided that there must be a better way to design a paddle that doesn’t put as much strain on my joints as a traditional kayak or canoe paddle. I felt that using ergonomic principles I could design a paddle that would maximize paddling comfort without sacrificing propulsion or control. ​ I spent most of a winter sketching various concepts using pencil and paper. I first tried designing a single-blade canoe paddle with the best ergonomic shape. One difficulty I ran into was designing a truly comfortable grip that could be used either with a right hand or left hand stroke without having to turn the paddle around when switching hands. Then I decided to concentrate on a kayak paddle instead, because it is not necessary to change hands or turn the paddle around while paddling. ​ Once I came up with a kayak concept that looked promising, I designed a 3D model using Solidworks computer assisted design (CAD). I then bought some straight kayak paddles, some rigid one-inch copper tubing and copper elbows (for connecting the pieces of tubing) and began construction of the first prototype. ​ I spent several hours cutting, fitting, drilling, and pop-riveting this first prototype together. I first used it on a quiet little lake where my wife and I often camp. The first prototype exceeded my expectations! Not only did my wrists stay in a more normal, or natural, position, but I didn’t have to raise my arms above my shoulders. Because the paddle blades are more vertical in the water, the kayak had less yaw, or movement side to side, with each stroke. I found I could propel my kayak slowly and quietly using just my wrists, or much faster with my arms and upper body, and still there was little pain in my joints. I found I could spin the kayak in place by dipping both blades in the water at the same time, so it was easier to take through some tight places. I was able to paddle again for hours on end! ​ I still wanted to build an ergonomic canoe paddle, but couldn’t get past the left/right side paddling problem. One day while camping I took out my canoe with a regular canoe paddle and brought along my Ergo Paddle prototype. Not wanting the Ergo Paddle to show up on social media, which could cause issues with obtaining a patent later, I would not use it until out of sight of other campers or boaters. After paddling out of sight of the campground I switched to the Ergo Paddle and found that it worked incredibly well with my canoe! Not only was it much more comfortable, but I was able to propel my canoe with less effort! I found that the kayak paddle worked quite well, but a slightly wider paddle with a little more downward bend would work better with my wider canoe. Later, I took my wife for a paddle in the canoe. She has issues with her back so she can’t really paddle much anymore. (Sometimes getting older is a bummer!) After struggling against the wind and waves for a while with a single-blade paddle, my wife said we were far enough from the campground that I should use my new paddle. I switched paddles and what a difference! What had been a painful chore suddenly became easy and comfortable, and much easier to fight the wind and waves! ​ Of course, there are some who have told me to just attach a motor to my canoe. What they don’t realize is that for some of us, it isn’t just being able to get to the other side of the lake, or to hurry to the favorite fishing spot. There is a feeling that is hard to describe to someone who doesn’t have that same connection to a lake or stream that some of us get from propelling our own craft through the water. ​ What is Ergo Paddle? It is the world’s first canoe and kayak paddle designed from the ground up (or water up) based on well-established ergonomic principles. Is the Ergo Paddle going to replace every other type of paddle for canoes or kayaks? Of course not. What it will do is make it easier for people who had enjoyed paddling a canoe or kayak, but have pain in their muscles, tendons, and joints, to enjoy a healthy pastime on the water. ​ We cannot wait for your to try Ergo Paddle and enjoy it as much as we do.  ​ ~Dennis Czubin, Founder of Ergo Paddle ​ ​