Skip to content
🎁 Holiday Offer Extended | Now thru Dec 16, Get a Free custom Paddle Display with any paddle purchase! 🎄

Flat Rate Shipping $29.99 to the US and Canada with any purchase.

Paddling Insights

Greenland Paddles By Gearlab … Conversation with Founder Chung-Shih Sun

by GearlabTeam 14 Dec 2018 0 Comments

Greenland Paddles By Gearlab … Conversation with Founder Chung-Shih Sun

By SGB MEDIA

Chung-Shih Sun is an award-winning industrial designer. Prior to founding Gearlab in 2008, he offered his professional design services to companies and clients in the fields of intel and product design for more than 20 years. Last month, at Outdoor Retailer, Chung-Shih Sun was recognized as a finalist to receive an Innovation Award for his cutting edge firepit design.

We spoke with Chung-Shih Sun from the Gearlab offices in Taiwan last week to find out why Greenland Paddles are so special to him and what new intros we will see from the brand in Spring 2019.

What was your road map for starting Gearlab?
I live and work in Taiwan, which is one of the largest producers of bikes in the world, and where I came in contact with many carbon fiber manufacturers. Taiwan is an island nation surrounded by three bodies of water — the South China Sea to the Southwest, the East China Sea to the North, and the Philippine Sea to the East.

I have 15-plus years experience as a paddler, and I am a Level 2 instructor. I combined my love for design with my passion as a paddler to create a state-of-the-art carbon fiber Greenland paddle, one of the oldest paddles used for survival by the Inuits.

What year was the business founded?
In 2008. We started off designing and manufacturing bikes and, as a side project, we used our connections with carbon fiber manufacturers to create Greenland paddles on a small scale. The response was so overwhelming in the Taiwanese paddling community, since they understood the benefits of Greenland paddles, that we introduced our designs and the benefits of the Greenland paddles to the North American and European paddling communities — the largest in the world.

What can we expect for Spring 2019?
We are focused on creating paddles for the big-body water enthusiast including the ocean. Our latest designs, launching in Spring 2019, will be the ninth version of the Greenland paddle for the brand. They are lighter with several new internal components to improve the structure for strength, agility and weight. One paddle is slightly wider and offers a slightly sharper edge and costs around $400. Our ambassador feedback around the world has been more than excellent. They are overwhelmed by how well this paddle performs over our current versions.

“Unlike most other paddles on the market, all the Gearlab models are grounded in 1,000 years of tradition and completely revolutionary at the same time. I can paddle longer and more efficiently with no pain compared to any other paddle that I have tried, including Euro blades and custom carved wood paddles. The craftsmanship is impeccable, and they are incredibly fun to use.” — Maureen Nowak, Gearlab Athlete Ambassador, pictured below.

We recognize that the price tag is high for the average consumer so the second paddle for Spring 2019 is a plastic carbon fiber hybrid geared toward first time users, instructors, kayaking clubs, and guides who have heard of Greenland paddles but have not had a chance to try them. It will be in the $120 to $150 price range. We are hoping that this hybrid will be a much easier entree price point and push the greatest volume while getting our brand name out into the mainstream. Now, most people will have the opportunity to try the paddle.

Do you outsource production?
Gearlab outsources the carbon fiber because the material requires industrial machinery to produce but, once the carbon fiber material is delivered to our studios in Taipei, the paddles are hand-crafted, hand-finished and assembled in-house. With all of the specifications for each of the models, there are close to 2,000 paddles going through our facility each season.

What makes a Greenland paddle so appealing?
Greenland style paddles were originally made in wood handcrafted in someone’s backyard or garage for long distance touring. Greenland paddles are actually a lot easier to use and maneuver providing you with greater paddling distance, less fatigue and injury. Most consumers are not familiar with the operation of Greenland paddles because they use traditional European blades where you have bigger sized edges for shorter distances.

In today’s paddling market there are not many Greenland style paddles but there is a need and a demand for this type of paddling experience. And with the need for the niche, and ability to get the carbon fiber, we are able to bring the product to the paddling market. We know that once you are able to experience the ease of using a Greenland paddle, you will fall in love with the experience immediately. Our brand believes that there is a huge opportunity to turn the mainstream paddlers into fans of Greenland style paddles and paddling technique. Through our 30-plus ambassadors, organizations, clubs and word-of-mouth, Greenland paddles have gained legitimacy and the demand is growing.

 

- The original article is released on SGB MEDIA.

Prev Post
Next Post

Leave a comment

All blog comments are checked prior to publishing

Thanks for subscribing!

This email has been registered!

Shop the look

Choose Options

Edit Option
Back In Stock Notification
is added to your shopping cart.
Terms & Conditions

Notice of Changes to Sales in the European Union (EU) Region
Starting from January 1, 2024, Gearlab Outdoors has decided to entrust the sales operations in the European Union (EU) region to our EU general agent. As a result, our official website, GearlabOutdoors.com, will no longer provide the sales and shipping options for EU countries, and the checkout process cannot be completed for EU region orders.

EU customers can still make purchases through our European regional retailers. Please refer to our list of European regional retailers here: GearlabOutdoors.com/retailers-europe.

 

Transit Times
Preparing packages for delivery usually takes 5-10 business days and is NOT included in the overall shipping time (*Actual preparation time may vary due to high season). Actual transit times may vary depending on customs clearance, recipient country’s mail system, public holidays, freight, weather, and other considerations.

 

VAT, Import Duties & Custom Charges
International
While our oceans are free and connected, our country’s borders and duties may not be. VAT, Import Duties & Custom Charge regulations can vary significantly depending on where you live. Customers are responsible to pay any additional duties and tax if incurred at the time of delivery.

Canada
VAT, Import Duties & Custom Charges are included at checkout for our Canada customers when choosing shipping method including DDP (Delivered Duty Paid). This would expedites the delivery process with no additional cost.

Please read our Delivery Policy in full before ordering >

 

Returns & Exchanges
We accept returns/exchanges of unused full-priced items purchased through GearlabOutdoors.com within 30 days of the purchase date.

*Free return shipping if we've sent you the wrong item, size, or your product arrived damaged.
*You have to pay for return shipping if you want to exchange your product for another size.

Please read our Returns & Exchanges Policy in full before ordering >

 

Disclaimer
Gearlab is striving to develop the very best products, and will do its best to promptly update information on the website. Note that the color calibration of individual computer, tablet and phone screens may not accurately depict the true product colors.

 

this is just a warning
Login
Shopping Cart
0 items