Abstract: A paddle assembly includes a tubular shaft that is configured to be coupled to a blade of the paddle assembly. The shaft has a shaft length, a first flexural rigidity at a first location along the shaft length and a second flexural rigidity at a second location along the shaft length. The ratio of the first flexural rigidity to the second flexural rigidity can be at least approximately 1.20. The shaft is substantially linear along the shaft length. The shaft has a shaft midpoint. The first location and the second location are substantially equidistant from and on opposite sides of the shaft midpoint. The shaft can have a tubular configuration. The shaft has a plurality of layers of material at each of the first location and the second location. The orientation of the layers of material at the first location is different than the orientation of materials at the second location. A modulus of elasticity of the materials used to form the shaft varies along the shaft length.