Storm paddle

A storm paddle is a Greenland paddle that has a very short loom. It is used with a sliding stroke. Only western paddlers see this as a storm paddle. In fact, the Greenland Inuit do not use a term that translates into English as storm paddle.

The difference between a storm paddle and a longer-loomed paddle in Greenland is only the geographic location within the country where the paddle is used. In areas where the storm paddle is used, it is used almost exclusively and is simply called a paddle. It is used with a sliding stroke at all times. So too with areas where longer-loomed paddles are used - it is just a paddle and is used with or without a sliding stroke as conditions dictate. Use of both paddles in a single geographic region is apparently not common.

Among western paddlers, both types of paddle are seen. Since the short-loomed paddle is convenient in heavy weather, it has come to be called a storm paddle and makes a popular spare paddle. Many western paddlers used the long-loomed paddle as a regular paddle with a sliding stroke held in reserve.