What sets the Legend apart from the other High Performance Skis(HPS) is its drastically different planing hull design with its hard chines and very flat bottom. I was very curious to how it compared to the other HPS in speed and stability.
What struck me immediately was the cockpit fit of the Legend. Cockpit fit is a very personal thing, but for me this was the best fitting ski I had ever paddled. The micro adjustment footplate offers precision fitting. You can also adjust the toe pedal angle with relative ease. After a few weeks ‘in the saddle,’ I readjusted the micro adjusting footplate and added some small padding in the hip and calf area for a slightly more secure fit. Not only is the cockpit comfortable, but the leg position screams leg drive! The height ratio between your seat and your feet is spot on. Your feet are well below your seat, making your leg drive more natural, while the cockpit feel inspires confidence. I did change out the dual foot straps for a modified Lincke foot strap. The Legend is slightly bigger in the footwell area so paddling in winter mukluks is more comfortable.
While paddling the Legend the first few times, I noticed that the initial stability and subsequently, the secondary stability, felt different than the other skis. It reminded me of my two Nigel Dennis Greenlander Pros (sea kayaks) that I enjoyed and raced for many years. Greenlander Pros are known for their hard chines and excellent tracking.
As with any hard chine boat, you can edge the boat over on that chine, but once past a certain point, the transition comes to an abrupt stop unlike the more rounded hull skis and kayaks where the transition is more subtle. For me, paddling the Legend brought back all the things I loved about the Greenlander Pro: excellent speed and tracking, particularly in following seas. The Legend is no different. It excels in downwind conditions. But first let’s look at is stability.
Secondary stability is excellent, however it feels different than the other ski designs on the market. While very stable, the Legend rocks ever so gently from side to side. What is nice is that this “rocking feel” never increases as the waves get bigger. Like other skis, you get used to its particular feel and think nothing of it. To give you an example of its excellent stability, I paddled the Legend in the 2008 Mayors Cup, which by East Coast, USA standards, was extremely rough. The Legend performed great in these big downwind conditions. Not only did I not swim, but was able to paddle hard without worrying too much about capsizing. The large bow volume on the Legend allows for little, if any, nose-diving of the bow, and virtually no bow slap. My only criticism of the Legend in these conditions was that the 6in rudder was often overwhelmed. As I understand it, a newer designed/bigger rudder will be made available for all Evo’s and Legends in early 2009, which should easily remedy that.
Many of us often hesitate in big downwind conditions, not sure of how the boat is going to handle. With a little input from the rudder, the Legend allows you to concentrate on paddling hard to catch the next wave. Its ability to accelerate on a bump is quite noticeable. When you do drop in on a swell, the flat bottom planes, and off you go, accelerating down the wave in complete control, the whole design focus of the Legend.
Other features of the Legend are worthy of mention. It is one of the easiest HPS to remount, so there lies another plus. Because of my short stature, my hydro pack fits perfectly in front of the foot well. The Legend also has a built in kelp guard, paddle leash attachment, and front hatch just forward of the footwell. The large single drain hole makes the Legend perhaps the driest of all the surfskis.
In summary, I found the Legend to be extremely comfortable with its ergonomic cockpit. For my skill level, it has the right combination of fit, speed, stability, safety, and attention to detail wrapped up in one boat.
Update – Carbon Legend Joins the Fleet!
Because I enjoyed the Kevlar Legend so much, I thought a lighter one would magnify the enjoyment while being faster. I was not disappointed. The Carbon Legend (22lbs stated weight) is about 5 lbs lighter than the stated weight(27lbs) of the Kevlar version. I changed out the old style rudder for a new elliptical one in early March. The longer rudder helped substantially with tracking and settled the boat down in bigger conditions. I also added a kelp guard and changed out the foot straps for a modified single foot strap. Thinks now offers an elliptical 9in rudder, weedless 8in rudder, and weedless 5 inch rudder for flat water paddling.
Like all lighter skis of the same model, the Carbon Legend is significantly faster in all conditions than the Kevlar one. The lightness of the ski enables you to accelerate much faster trying to catch a bump and you are able to hold that speed more easily due to its lightness. Having paddled with my same paddling partner for years in all my skis, I can hold my own with the carbon Legend in any paddling session rather it be intervals, time trials, or certainly rough water paddling compared to his high performance ski. I may lose a little on a super flat day but other than that, the Carbon Legend can hold its own with the other high performance skis. Why? I personally can paddle at full power in conditions while maintaining full leg drive, balance, and maintain better technique due to its stability and comfort of the cockpit. ~Wesley
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