Cannot help with a similar blade to the Odin S.
I tried an Odin S for about 2 minutes, went home and ordered a standard Odin.
I paddled with the Epic mid for about 8 years then switched to the Odin. I'll never go back. My wrists, elbows and shoulders never ever get sore, and I just turned 60. I sprint like a psycho on occasion.
Odin has a more forgiving catch and release, perfect for downwinding. I downwind only, no flat water. I can run the Odin shaft out at 210-211. The Epic was brutal by comparison, I could only run it at 207 - 208 before losing control and risking sore joints...
I busted a blade and the West Coast representative fixed me up fast. Nothing but good good to say about Gara quality. Light, strong. They had a video about how they make them - very high tech. That bubble was probably just a cosmetic hickey from doing a layup with a mold that was still too hot. You have to cool them down before starting another layup or the resin will go off early. Those molds cost 4 thousand each years ago. That's the big problem with a shop trying to run production. You gotta have a bunch of molds. Gara has the good molds, it's on the video. That's what it takes to make a light, strong quality blade and that's what Gara is. Cheap paddle blades are heavy and weak. I won't trust my life on the water for a few hundred bucks, but that's just me.
Nothing bad to say about Epic's, I never had a problem. I just don't like the grabby catch. I can plant the Odin, then pull and it doesn't feel like I'm doing something wrong... it's just more forgiving...
South Africans will get my money if it has anything to do with downwind. Those people are into it.