This paddle blade is not like the usual "flat-styled" canoe paddles with long handles. The C4 Waterman was specially designed for paddle surfing with a new keel-shaped blade neck on the powerface of the blade. This helps to steer the paddle straight for less paddle wander when taking hard strokes for the waves. This will also help steer the paddle and help minimize rail banging. Also, the wide point of the blade is down deep for a more positive bite in the water, and the front of blade features a "flowing curved face", allowing you to easily skim the blade across the water when "pulling Gs" on those hard bottom turns. This is a departure from the flat-blade canoe paddles that can catch and edge when skimming paddle across the water.