Latest News
On Racing: Finishing Strong
Finishing well has little to do with who is most tired. Everyone is tired. What separates paddlers at the end of a race is not how much they have left, but how clearly they can still act with what remains. The finish is rarely a single effort. It is a sequence [...]
Stability in the Boat-Do you need more?
By Wesley Echols I have paddled a wide range of skis over the years from advanced to beginner in all types of conditions. Below are some helpful hints on becoming more stable in your ski. Boat Choice: think about the conditions that you will be paddling in the 75% of the [...]
On Racing: Expecting the Unexpected
The forecast you checked the night before is completely different when you wake up. The wind has increased, the swell period has changed, and there's a conversation happening near the water's edge about which direction the gusts are going to come from and when. Of course, nobody really knows, at least [...]
On Downwinding: Reading Lines
The line appears before the decision to take it is fully formed. A shift in the water texture, maybe forty meters ahead, something about the way a long roller is organizing at an angle to the dominant swell, and the bow is already moving in that direction. A few strokes in [...]
On Training: Chain of Fools
The stroke catches and the boat runs. There is a feeling to it, a brief firmness in the water that holds long enough for the body to push through, and the boat moves with more economy than it did on the stroke before. Paddlers sometimes describe a boat as "running" on [...]
Nationals: Meet the (Blackburn) Challenge
Every local racing community has a structure. You know who the fast paddlers are, roughly how you stack up against them, and what a good day on the water looks like for you. That knowledge shapes your training, your expectations, and your sense of progress over a season. It also has [...]
Surfski Reviews
Looking for an ocean ski? Check out the surfski comparison chart!
The New Innovative Stellar 18S Surfski, Review 2012
The New Innovative Stellar 18S Surfski is Here!! Read On! 2 Hatches w/2 bulkheads Nice shaped cockpit, drink holder, leash attachment Nice lines Handles, 4 inch rudder McCorrie Beach w/Good Boy Kayak Racks Profile [...]
Epic V10 Sport Ultra Review – by Wesley Echols
The Epic V10S( Sport) is one of a group of more stable surfskis along with the Think Evo, Mako XT, and Huki S1R. The Sport, along with the other Epic skis, is offered in several different layups. I have personally owned the Ultra(24 lbs) and the Performance (32lbs). Like all [...]
Surf Ski Review, Stellar SES, Fenn Spark, Epic V10L
Over the past year I have bought or paddled many skis: Epic V10 Ultra, Epic V14 Ultra, Fenn Glide Elite, Think Uno Max(2), Evo II(2), Think Ion, Think Big Eze, Huki S1X Special, and the Huki S1XL. Included in this long list is the Epic V10L Ultra and the Fenn [...]
New and Updated 2016 Surf Ski Comparison Charts.
Click on the link below for all the charts and tables or go to Wesley's Surfski Chart Reviews on the Home page. https://surfskiracing.org/surfski-reviews-updated-march-2012/
Nelo 550 Surfski Review
My Search of the "Perfect" Surfski My search since 2003 for the "Perfect" surfski has gotten easier with so many surfskis brought to the market since then, most notably in the last two years. Before 2003, I paddled and raced sea kayaks since 1993. My surfski experience started off with [...]