My surfski career started out much like my kayak career. In the early 1990’s I bought my first boat, a new plastic P & H Capella that served me well for a year. Then I wanted something lighter and faster and progressed to a 55 lb Nigel Dennis Greenlander Pro with no skeg. I raced that boat as hard as any surfski while learning how to roll, how to master the various draw strokes, paddle float re-entry, etc, leading to to my ACA Ocean Certification and my BCU Star 3 with Star 4 training. I soon upgraded to faster performance kayaks like the Seda Glider that I raced my first Blackburn in and then I owned a Westside Boat Shop EFT, Thunderbolt, and Thunderbolt X. My kayak training was invaluable. It taught me more than draw strokes, it taught me safety, leadership, and how to apply sound judgement on the water.
In 2003 I bought my first surfski, an XT, then a few months later a Huki S1X. My quest for the perfect surfski to match my skill level at any given time, racing appetite, and conditions I train in, over the next 12 years, resulted in me buying and reviewing more surfskis than anyone else in the world. I have paddled some fine skis over the years and performed well in most of them. However, the perfect to near perfect ALL AROUND boat for racing, comfort, durability, quality has eluded me. I often told my good friends for years if I was only doing fitness and ocean paddling/racing, my Evo 2, and Huki S1X Special are at the top of the list along with the recent addition of my new Stellar SR 2G. These three skis are great all around skis and I have raced them all. However, my Stellar SEL 1G Ultra in orange and black was as close to perfection for racing in terms of hull design/speed/stability as I could get. However, I can’t leave out my SES 1g Ultra and Excels for Pure Racing on flat and ocean. I paddled the SES more than any other ski ever and had my best races paddling it.
Finish of 2013 Blackburn in SEL 1G Ultra(22lb Pre Preg Unidirectional Carbon)
Garage with my favorite SEL 1G Ultra and SES 1G in yellow. Garage 2011.
My Sel 1G Ultra was an excellent ski and I ranked it as the best combination of stability and speed of any ski on my comparison chart. The hull shape was excellent, fast in the flats with the 4 inch rudder, and tracks downwind with the lightness of a 22lb ski in pre preg unidirectional carbon. Its speed was exceptional for how stable it was, only a few seconds per mile off the pace of my SES’s. By the way, Stellar made the first pre preg surfski in 2010 just in case you were wondering. While I was very comfortable in the Sel 1g, I wanted more. I wanted a rounded, ergonomic seat that tapered into the footwell, a narrow catch and better turning. Well low and behold, I got what I asked for, The New SEL 2G!!
SEL2Gvideowalk from Wesley Echols on Vimeo.
Stellar takes customer feedback and input from all over the world, so a lot of thought goes into a new ski or a redesigned ski. I certainly gave Dave and Ed my input having paddling the SEL 1G as much as anyone. I also at one point told Dave, we have the opportunity to design and build a phenomenal ski. Last Sunday, Dave and Ed drove down from their home in Northfield, Massachusetts for the Sean Rice Clinic with the new SEL. Dave paddled it for a few days then handed it over to me.
Dave Thomas/Ed Hofmeister, Designers Stellar Kayaks and Surfskis
Hour 4 in the SEL2G in Newport
I paddled it for 4 hours on Sunday, then another hour on Monday with some very short time trials, then another hour on Tuesday with a 1.63 mile time trial, then another hour with Chris on Wednesday doing very short intervals(see video), then 2 hours on Saturday with a 3.17 mile time trial(video), 1 mile interval, 2 mile interval. Whew! I used both the 8 inch rudder and the 4 inch rudders.
2016 Stellar SEL 2G Surf Ski with Wesley Echols from Wesley Echols on Vimeo.
With time in the bucket over the past week, the design changes proved an overwhelming success! See the videos for details but here are the highlights. We optimized the hull to improve the speed along with moving the cockpit and rudder forward to catch the bumps more easily to provide better turning and handling. We shortened the overall length while increasing the overall volume to accommodate more paddlers. In the 1G if you were over 205-210 lbs, you were too heavy for it in ocean conditions. Now the 2G will fit heavier paddlers. The bucket shape is totally new, rounded, properly sized. Like the new SR 2G and SES 2G, your butt fits in the bucket securely without sliding around despite padding or no padding. So despite your size, you feel locked into the bucket with ample hip rotation. The seat to heel ratio is excellent where as the SEL 1g, the off set was minimum. The taper of the bucket to the footwell is nice and narrow so your calves have proper contact with the boat and you legs line up straight for optimal leg drive. The catch is like night and day compared to the 1G, narrow without diminishing stability. Perfect!
Profile SEL 2G
Speed and Stability
Updated Oct 3, 2015.
1st Race in SEL 2G, downwind,1-2 seas with some occasional 3 foots towards end. Below is my garmin data along with the video.
https://connect.garmin.com/modern/activity/910777493
2015 Cape Cod Surf Ski Race by Wesley Echols from Wesley Echols on Vimeo.
The 1G was awarded my highest honor for the best combination of Speed/Stability of any ski I have paddled. The 2G will replace the 1G for this honor. Speed has increased with better acceleration and better handling to drop into the slightest bump. Leg drive is dramatically improved due to bucket design changes so naturally you will be faster. Also with increased leg drive combined with superb stability, your platform for rotation and length of stroke will improve. With just one weeks worth of time trial data, I believe the 2G is faster in all conditions. Stability is outstanding just like on the 1G for the intermediate and advanced paddler. Like in the 1G, I was able to use the 4 inch rudder in flat to moderate conditions and I expect to do the same with the 2G but with better handling. I used the 4 inch on yesterday’s 12 mile paddle.
Finish of Double Beaver 2012
My Standard 1.63 mile time trial course.
https://connect.garmin.com/modern/activity/880078867
My Standard 3.17 mile time trial course racing with Tim H in his SES 1G w/4 inch rudder.
https://connect.garmin.com/modern/activity/881753614
Stellar 2016 SEL 2G Three Mile Time Trial from Wesley Echols on Vimeo.
The gunwales are moderately low, so this ski is very easy to remount with a shallow bucket.
Fit
For fit comparison, many large hipped paddlers that fit in a V10, should fit in the SEL 2G. NOTE: The buckets are different shaped with the SEL 2G not as wide in the thigh area. The widest part of the SEL 2G is actually in the hip area. Because of the new shaped bucket, I can actually paddled the SEL 2G without padding and feel very stable with no sloppiness. My butt fits very securely into the lower back of the bucket while allowing for rotation. For those Stellar paddlers, it fits similarly to the new SR 2G. I believe most paddlers will find our new buckets to their liking. I love it. Stellar historically had low humps and this continues allowing for maximum leg drive regardless of leg length. I put 2 paddlers in the SEL 2G, one with a 35.5 inch inseam and one that was 5ft 4inch. Both fit. The track accommodated both. So long legged paddlers up to 36 inches should fit with a low profile summer shoe.
So as you can tell, I really like the SEL 1G for it hull design, quality build and overall performance. Everything I wanted improved in the 1G was done on the 2G and it all works beautifully! So finally after 12 years of reviewing surf skis and seeing the progression of ski designs, I can say the SEL 2G has ended my Quest for the best overall fitness, racing surfski suitable for all conditions for the the intermediate to advanced paddler ocean paddler.
However, if you pin me down, I still need a minimum of 3 boats for all my racing needs, the Mohican for pure flat water racing, the new SR 2G for Huge water(think 2015 Blackburn) and my novice friends, and yes, the SEL 2G for everything in between. My garage will be very lonely with only 3 skis, so okay, the SES 2G for flatter stuff, my Stellar K1 Apex 85 for training, and yes my Stellar tandem. Darn, I am up to 6 boats now.
Garage July 2015, Left Side. Yellow SEL 1G, SR 2G in Green, SEI, SR 2G in Multisport Layup, S2E.
My review would not be complete without my disclaimer. I am the Performance Director for Stellar Kayaks and Surfskis and have worked for Stellar since we launched the surfskis in 2010. I took one year away in 2014 and rejoined the team in January 2015. I also have reviewed more surfskis than anyone in the world. That was never my goal, but my ski quest fueled my passion for skis and that turned into sharing my knowledge via this website and via Stellar while growing the surf ski community along the way.
Below is Dave paddling the SEL 2g.
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