Latest News
National Series Notebook: A Red-Hot October
The USA Surfski leaderboard grew to 203 paddlers this week, with seven new names added in five days. Kieffer now sits just ahead of Wilson Reavley (A26), whose 1,959 points represent a full season of racing in the Pacific Northwest. Leon de la Barra moved up to fourth with 1,611, Errez [...]
On Downwinding: Crosswind and Mixed Days
From the parking lot the water looks like nothing worth the drive. Wind chop runs in from the southwest, a leftover groundswell rolls in from the southeast, and where the two meet the surface has no grain to it at all. Somebody at the ramp says he's going to do intervals [...]
2026 Great Stone Dam Race
By Wesley Echols I really enjoyed myself today at the Great Stone Dam Classic, an 8.14 mile race in Lawrence, MA hosted by Shawn Burke, and Francisco. It was a perfect day New England day with 50 degree temps and virtually no wind, so today was about power, can I draft, [...]
On Training: Decision and Commitment
A runner lifts behind you, and for half a second you know exactly what to do. Then the half second passes, and you're still thinking about it. The gap between the boat and the swell has changed by the time you finally push, and what would have been a clean connection [...]
National Series Notebook: A Loaded July
Patrick Dolan flew 5,000 miles from Hawaii to Massachusetts and won the 2026 USA COR National Championships on a grueling open water course against a stacked field of athletes. Five days later, Austin Kieffer won the showcase race at the Gorge Downwind Championships paddlesports festival in the biggest conditions the event [...]
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 [...]
Surfski Reviews
Looking for an ocean ski? Check out the surfski comparison chart!
Epic V10 Sport Performance 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 [...]
2020 Surf Ski Comparison Chart
I updated the 2016 Surfski Comparison Chart with many new skis. Please click on the CHART ALL SKIS header tab above or on the Home page to view the 2020 Chart and the 2016 Chart. Be sure and read the text accompanied with the Chart for clarification. Enjoy! More boats [...]
Huki S1X Special Review – by Wesley Echols
Like most of us buying a new Huki ski, we relish the idea of thinking about all the great options available to choose from, like color, rudder size, seat option, etc. The fact that this was my third new Huki did not diminish my excitement for latest designed Huki, the [...]
Stellar S18S 2G Review is Coming!
Dave Thomas of Stellar Kayaks and Surfskis paddling the new S18S 2G on the Sakonnet. Dave dropped off the Stellar S18S 2G surfski for me to review. I have a lot of paddling to do with surfski reviews stacking up! I love it! Fall/winter is actually a better [...]
Think Zen Surfski Review
Update June 2019. Since my January post about the Zen I have much more bucket time. I even raced the Zen in the June 2019, Ride the Bull Race on a 20 mph day in mixed conditions that included some downwind, quarter beam seas at 25mph, mega big boat chop, [...]