In marketing terms, I would be referred to as an “early adopter”. This is someone who looks forward to trying the newest products as they become available to the market. However, in regards to the newest V10, I was late to the game. Like most surf skiers trying to find out information about new boats, I talked to my training partners who both have Epic V10 Ultras, searched the web for information and tried their respective boats very briefly after training paddles.With so many paddlers buying V10’s, I was curious to see just how fast it was compared to my other skis. My first ten minute experience in the v10 I had that “Wow” experience. I have gotten this before in other surf skis for different reasons: for example the Wow fit of the Evo years ago, the Wow comfortable bucket of the Hawx, the Wow glide/speed of the SES, the Wow speed/comfort of the Mohican, the Wow speed of the V14, and now the Wow stability of the V10. As you can see, my Wow moments spread across time as the surf skis have gotten better.
Wesley in Epic V10 Ultra at Bay Voyage Inn, Jamestown, RI
We all have expectations when buying a new boat. I am no different. Often these expectations are met, sometimes partially met, sometimes not, based on many factors that I have often stated in my other articles. I race so I want the fastest boat based at my current skill level in the conditions I will be racing that day. I also review surf skis so I try to think about how each ski best suits a particular paddler. Below is a list of questions you should be asking when buying new boat. Each could be weighted differently based on your personal circumstances. Below are my answers.
1.What is your paddling goal? Fitness, racing, social.
Wesley Answer: Racing, Fitness and reviewing surf skis.
2.What type of water will you be primarily training/racing in? Flat,ocean, bays, etc.
Wesley Answer: Bays (55%), Rough ocean(30%), Flat water(15%)
3. How frequently will you be paddling per week? Are you willing to put the time in to become more stable.
Wesley Answer: three to five times per week year around.
4. Will you own only one ski and want it to do it all? or will you own more skis for different conditions?
Wesley Answer: I will have many skis for varying conditions or races to maximize my skill level. I primarily like to be in one ski for bay, one for rough, and one for flat water racing.
5.What is your current skill level and will you be willing/able to progress if need be?
Wesley Answer: Advanced for the water I train and race in.I am always trying to improve my fitness and technique. Remember we are all products of the water we train in.
6. How does the boat fit? Does it fit you in bucket width and leg length?
Wesley Answer: I fit in virtually every ski with padding. Some skis the hump height is too high for my short 29.5 inch inseam. I weigh 177.
7. What layup is best for your needs? Lighter is faster/Less stable.
Wesley Answer: I like my bay and flat water skis to be the lightest possible, 22 – 24lbs and my rough water skis 26-28.
8.How much do you want to pay? Lighter skis are more expensive.
Wesley Answer: fair price.
9.Is customer service important to you?
Wesley Answer: I like to deal with manufacturers, dealers and distributors who appreciate my contributions to the local surf ski community and are professional in their dealings with customers and shops. I work full time as a pharmaceutical representative so I appreciate a professional marketing/selling model that tries to meet the needs of a given customer.
10.What is your most recent reference point(boat have you been paddling lately). The more you demo boats the more informed you are.
Wesley Answer: The last four years I have been in Stellars but reviewed over 25 boats before that. In past 8 months, I have reviewed the Nelo Vintage, Vajda Hawx, Uno Max, V10 and paddled the Hukis, Fenns. I currently own, Mohican, Hawx, Uno Max, Evo II, V10, V14, 18S, (4) SES’s, SE2.
https://surfskiracing.org/surfski-reviews-updated-march-2012/
11.Have you paddled several different skis to have more than one reference point in varying conditions? Anyone can paddled surfskis in flat water. The differences most often are in ocean conditions.
Wesley Answer: Yes. We are lucky to have a wide variety of conditions here on the New England Coast. What we don’t have are great downwind conditions. However Newport, Rhode Island(the Ocean State) where I live, is one of the sailing capitals of the world so we have wind, but it is not always easy accessible downwind conditions. I live minutes away from virtually any type of conditions which makes it a great training ground and excellent venue for reviewing surf skis. The caveat is that it is New England, so I spend roughly 6 months from November through April in drysuit. During this time frame, I take a much more cautious approach to my paddling but I still manage to be on the water at least 3 times per week on Narragansett Bay or if super cold below 25, on the Narrow River. So I am a product of these type of waters. If I lived in San Francisco, I would be a better downwind paddler. Remember we are all products of the water we train in. Most of the guys I train and race with are excellent mixed condition paddlers, jack of all trade type paddlers.
Sakonnet River, Narragansett Bay, East Passage Training Waters. Aquidneck Island that I live on.
Jamestown training waters.
12. How old are you? Your balancing skills are better if you are younger. Starting in later in life requires more “bucket time”.
Wesley Answer: 54
Stability
So when I bought my Epic V10 Ultra I was surprised how stable this ski is. No Epic twitch of yesteryear, I mean none. Just to remind you, I had at least two V10L’s, performance and ultra, three V10 sports, ultra and performance, and a V12 ultra. Primary stability is rock solid. My technique has never been better due to the stable platform the V10 offers, intermediate stability for sure, no disagreement here. So most paddlers will immediately like this feature just like I did, the “Wow factor”. However, don’t mistake that superb primary stability into a false sense of security when you get into bigger bay and ocean conditions. While I could be almost comatose padding the V10 in flat and mild conditions, you will still need to have good stability skills in bigger conditions and like any surf ski get used to its specific handling characteristics. So it is not quite as stable as the “intermediate” class of skis in ocean conditions, almost, but not quite. So my Evo II, and previous SEI are more stable but ironically for the newer paddler, the primary feels initially less in these intermediate skis.
Like most things in life, it is helpful to catagorize items so we can have a better and easier understanding of them in relationship to each other. There are thousands of examples but surf skis,cars and pharmaceuticals come immediately to mind. Just think how the categories of cars has expanded over time as the technology and customer needs evolved. Where once we had compact cars, now we have sub compact,once we had sedans, now we have sport sedans, once we had wagons, now we have utility vehicles or SUV’s, etc. As we know, surf skis have evolved to0, thankfully. You can thank all the manufacturers, paddlers, and market competition for this. Just a few short years ago in the USA market, you had limited choices or categories of skis. Now with the V8, Eze, S18S, and Blue Fin you have true novice skis. One step up and you have true intermediate skis like the Swordfish, V10 Sport, Evo II, SEI, SR, S1R with more coming based on speed and stability. At the top end or as I call high performance skis(Hps) you have the V14, SES, V12, Uno Max, Fenn Elite, Fenn Glide while the SEL, S1X, S1X special round out this class. Most recently to the market are the welcomed cross over skis, like the S1XL, SEL, V10, Hawx that bridge the gap from intermediate to HPS with more on way.
Like my car analogy, the intermediate class now needs to be expanded or sub divided to advanced intermediate. The V10 fits this category for me in terms of over all stability and speed. Keep in mind, it does not really matter what class of ski you paddle “well”, emphasis on “well” unless your ego gets in way. It only matter which ski or skis meet your needs based on the 11 questions you answered in paragraph 3. Regardless of how I categorize the V10, it is selling extremely well for all the right reasons: stability (Wow), speed, fit, accessibility, and brand loyalty.
Speed
While I experienced the Wow factor in terms of stability,I did not want to jump to conclusions about the speed after only a few short demos. Although I must say, my initial thought based on several reference points including paddling my Stellar SEI and Evo 2 against my training partners in their V10’s has proven to be correct. On one occasion this summer, I did some interval training in my new SEI Excel(8inch rudder) while Tim was in his V10 Ultra with modified skinny rudder. On each two minute interval Tim was even to one boat length ahead of me. Two weeks later I raced the SEI in the mix condition Ride the Bull Race with Tim in his V10, and I came ahead by 1:30 seconds which admittedly was not his best race. On a separate occasion, I paddled my Evo II while Chris paddled his V10 Ultra. We also did some short intervals and were neck and neck in downwind and beam intervals.
Chris Chappell in his V10 Ultra during the summer.
Based on this limited sample size, and my reviews of the SEI and Evo II, I thought both had very similar downwind speeds as the V10. Now having owned Hawx, SEI, V10, and the Evo II all within six months of each other I have a better understanding of the differences in speed. I like to have at least one race in a ski but having the boat only a three weeks now and no races, the other data points will have to suffice.
Start of Race, Greg,Eric,Wesley(SEI)
Tim inV10 at Ride the Bull Race
Sakonnnet River Time Trials
http://connect.garmin.com/activity/413193141
http://connect.garmin.com/activity/411355403
http://connect.garmin.com/activity/411348639
Jamestown Training with Tim D(V10 Ultra w/universal) and Tim H.(Old v10 sport ultra
http://connect.garmin.com/activity/413193135
SEI with Tim in V10 Ultra this summer
http://connect.garmin.com/activity/326592140
SEI,Ride the Bull Race, Tim in V10 Ultra
http://connect.garmin.com/activity/331868686
Just a few weeks ago, I gave my newest training partner,Tim Hudyncia a 30 second head start in his old style 23lb V10 sport on one of my time trial courses. Tim H. has been on a steep learning curve in the year he has been paddling skis but now he is just off the training pace with Tim D. and myself in flat to moderate conditions as evidenced by this paddle and subsequent training paddles over the past month. It took me a mile to catch Tim, another 1.62 miles to open up 40 second gap by the time we finished at McCorrie Point. It was a flat day and I used the weedless rudder. Just yesterday, all three of us plus Bob Wright(V8), Tim H.(old V10 sport ultra), Tim D.(V10 ultra w/universal rudder) and myself did a 11 mile out and back training paddle in flat to two foot seas following seas, typical of this Jamestown training run. On the way up the three of us did three short interval, 2 min, 1.30 min, 1.30 min in upwind conditions. So Tim D. and I in identical boats were virtually even in all three intervals while Tim H. was only a one to two lengths behind. Once we turned at the North End of Jamestown, we headed downwind in two foot seas and occasional 3 footer though against the incoming tide at virtually race pace. Tim H took a closer line to avoid the tide while Tim and I searched out the bigger waves. We often were neck and neck, or Tim D. would be a few lengths ahead until I caught back up. We stopped at one point to make sure Bob was okay, then set out to catch Tim H. again. It must be said that Tim and Tim were very well rested each not paddling in over a week or in Tim D case, two weeks. Myself, on the other had already done two shorter time trials and an erg time time trial this week. So on the second push to catch Tim H and stay close to Tim D, I was paddling in that fatigued(low HR)but hard mode. I pulled up next to Tim H 5o yards before the Newport Bridge while Tim D was three lengths ahead of us.
Tim and Bob as we get started on our 12 mile winter paddle.
Bob Wright
Tim H moving well in his V10 sport
Wesley after hard finish in group training paddle putting the V10 through the paces.
Link to my review of the SEI.
https://surfskiracing.org/2013/07/seistellar-elite-intermediate-review-by-wesley-echols/
Link to my review of the Evo II
https://surfskiracing.org/2013/11/think-evo-2-review-by-wesley-echolssurfskiracing-com/
My time trials on the Sakonnet River with the V10 illustrated similar speeds as well. Wanting to give the benefit of doubt to the V10, I used the weedless rudder for my time trials on the Sakonnet and not the 8 inch. I also used my Jantex Gamma Mid Light versus my heavier Jantex. I made sure I was giving an excellent effort in my time trials as evidence by my heart rate and my perceived effort to ensure I was getting as much speed as possible. It just so happen that these time trials were in very flat conditions, very flat. As we know, the speed of a ski can’t hide on flat water. So compared to my other skis, I would place the V10 in the advance intermediate class. Downwind, my Evo II(27lbs) or my SEI(24lbs) that I had can certainly hold their own by comparison. In the flats, the edge is to the V10. This is not a knock on the V10,as it occupies a space in my mind of being the fastest intermediate ski in all around conditions, hence the “advanced intermediate” ski. The market bears this out. Many intermediate and advanced intermediate paddlers who found the V12 too unstable, quickly moved to the V10 and have been extremely satisfied. Its speed and stability don’t approach the V12,V14 or other HPS. Locally many of the top paddlers are paddling V10’s preferring its stability over its top end speed or they are brand loyalist.
Fit
Just a few weeks ago, I raved about the Evo II fit, my personal best fitting ski. The V10 and my V14 are extremely comfortable even though the bucket is very different from other skis. The Epics have very shallow buckets so you tend to sit more on top of the skis vice being “in” the ski. The deepest buckets are the Fenns while the most shallow are the Epics. So what does this mean to the paddler? First of all they are very easy to remount with low gunwales so your chest can easily clear them requiring less lift. So you can feel confident that you will be able to remount easily in any conditions. Secondly, the V10 fits virtually every mid size to large paddler or large hipped paddler like Chris Chappell (web master). With a shallow bucket most of your lower body is above the gunwale so as not to constrict the paddler. Contrast this to deeper buckets where the sides of the buckets constrain the larger paddler. Even for the small hipped paddler like myself in winter clothing, I don’t need any padding. If the V10 is too constricting, just add a seat pad to raise you hips even higher with less constraint. The Epic buckets are sized and shaped almost perfectly for hip rotation. You feel connected in the hips while being able to rotate. However, because the bucket is so shallow, most paddlers will not have upper leg support as you do in other deeper bucket skis like the Evo II, and Uno Max. You do get contact in the calf area which is very important in stability and leg drive. The hump while low is placed a where my calves barely touch. The catch is nicely narrow and my winter paddling boots fit. With my short legs, the bailer is only 1/2 inch from the my heel which works perfectly for using the bailer. However ,if you are any shorter than I am, you could have problem where your heel would be over the bailer, not good. The seat to heel height is good but some will prefer to add a pad for even better leverage without sacrificing too much stability.
Other features include a built in leash attachment, aft handle, and emergency rudder attachment point. You also get a choice of three rudders but be aware that the leading edge is different in two of the rudders so placing a weed guard permanently could be a problem if you want to use all three rudders. You could modify your weed guard to accomodate all three like Chris did on his and I have done on my Stellars.
So what would I improve on the my Epics? The foot strap is integrated in such a way you can’t replace it easily with a beefed up strap like I prefer. Having switched out my footplate on my V14 from the tall boy to the standard foot plate, I would beef up the attachment points for a more secure fitting. The rudder yoke seems almost too simplistic but it works well and and is easy to change rudders with an allen wrench. Lastly, I have never understood the funny shaped weedless rudder. I prefer a different shape weedless rudder like on most of my other skis. These are all minor points. My only other wish would be for the Ultra layup to come in a robust 25-26lbs vice the 28lb at the current price point.
In summary the V10 meets the needs of many paddlers: its very stable, has competitive speed in all conditions for most paddlers, fits virtually every mid size to large paddler with a very comfortable bucket. In the Epic line if you want more speed and have the skill set, you have the V12 or V14. I have owned and reviewed the V12 so next up is my V14 review.
https://surfskiracing.org/2009/07/epic-v12-ultra-review-by-wesley-echols/
I wanted to thank Chris Laughlin of North Coast Kayaks for his professional help in securing my V10!
Picking up the V10 from Chris Laughlin
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