Hook
- Universal classical paddle for white water and freestyle.
- Very light and durable.
- Resistant to abrasion and contact with rocks.
- Ideal for beginners and experts.
- Tested on various competitions and expeditions.
- The blade has a carbon internal vertical bulkhead located in the central part, which makes the paddle even stronger.
Details
Width - 19.5 cm
Length - 44 cm
Foam - yes
Weight of one blade - carbon 0.33 kg, carbon+fiberglass 0.36 kg, fiberglass 0.39 kg
Technology
The paddle is made with prepreg and hot curing technology at the temperature of 135°C.
Feedback
Sergey Ilin. 2019
The whitewater season is over and I would like to give my feed back on a kayaking paddle I tested during the season. The name of the model was Hook made by the Italian company AKSU.
I already used Hook before during the filming of “Ride The Planet” in the Alps and on the expedition to the Muksu River in Tajikistan, but that paddle had a carbon/Kevlar shaft. This season I got my hands on a Hook with both a carbon shaft and carbon blades.
Ever since June, I've been paddling only with it. During this time I've had the opportunity to test out this paddle in different conditions, anywhere from the waterfalls and low volume rivers of Norway to the massive rivers in Altai and Pakistan. I've also raced with it during the Shoa River Fest, an international tournament where I placed fourth, as well as in the “King of Asia” race where I won the title of King.What is important in a whitewater paddle (in the order from most important to least important)?:
1. The most important element for me is a paddle's durability, as it is a critical quality for the paddler's safety. You can like your light and stylish paddle a lot, but if it breaks in the middle of the rapid it could lead to the serious consequences.
On this note, I want to say that in all my experience using any AKSU paddles, whether made from carbon or carbon/Kevlar, they've never chipped, broken, etc.
2. The power of the stroke
Since Hook is made of stiffer materials, I've never felt any deformation of the paddle while making a stroke. The power of the stroke is only slightly less than from the paddles produced by powerhouses such as Ergonom or Letmann, and the quality remains very high.3. Weight
The carbon version of the paddle feels fairly light, which when considering the stiffness of the paddle, was pleasantly surprising. Although for me personally, weight doesn't play a big role in choosing a paddle.4. Grip Comfort
The Hook's shaft isn't slippery, and gives you a reliable grip. The shaft I was using this year didn't have an ellipse shape for indexing, but even without it my paddling felt good. In the present, all AKSU shafts are manufactured with an ellipse shape under the control hand. The diameter of the shaft is 29mm, which is the average size for whitewater paddles, so the Hook will suit both the owners of daintier palms and giants with huge hands.Overall, it's a quality product, and I liked it a lot!