The blade
At 740 cm² the Pro is the largest blade VE make for whitewater, and the most aggressive. Power arrives the instant the blade is buried and keeps driving all the way to the exit, which is what you want when a stroke has to do a lot in a short space: a boof off a lip, a move set up late, a loop that needs every bit of the catch.
That makes it a freestyle blade at heart, though it is also a good match for strong paddlers who want maximum purchase on steeper water. It asks more of the shoulders than the smaller blades, so it is worth being honest about how much paddling you do before choosing it.
Glass or Aircore carbon
Aircore is VE's carbon blade construction. On a blade this size the weight saving matters, because a big blade carried high through a stroke is what tires you out. Carbon is also stiffer, so more of a hard catch goes into the boat. Glass weighs a little more, has slightly more give and costs less. Carbon blades on a glass shaft are a sensible middle ground.
Straight, cranked or split shaft
A straight shaft suits most paddlers. A cranked shaft holds the wrist in a more neutral position, which is worth considering on a blade that loads up this hard, and helps anyone with existing wrist, elbow or shoulder trouble. A split shaft comes apart into two pieces for travel, expeditions and spares, and adds length and feather adjustment on the go.
The other VE whitewater blades
The Flyte at 735 cm² is nearly as big but built around stroke efficiency rather than outright bite. The Creeker at 700 cm² is the forgiving all rounder and the one most paddlers end up with.
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How to choose a VE whitewater kayak paddle covers blade size, construction and shaft choice across the whole range.
