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 Spark both designed for the “small paddler” with an advertised weight limit of approximately 165lbs.  The Stellar SES(weight limit 200 lbs) and the Huki S1X are also in this category. I don’t have a Huki S1X at this point, so I will summarize my findings on the V10L, SES, and Spark. Thanks to Ocean Paddle Sports East, Jim Hoffman for the Fenn Spark and to North Coast Kayaks, Chris Laughlin, for my Epic V10L. It is nice that we now have all brands represented here in New England. My caveat to this review is that it is racing season so I don’t have as much GPS data on the Spark and V10L since I have been training in other skis like the Think Ion(review pending). Nevertheless, this review will be useful for those small to mid size paddlers trying to decide which ski is right for them. Just a reminder of my weight is 177lbs, height 5ft 9in, inseam29.5 inchs, hip 39.5 inches since these are skis for the small/med size paddler. So while I am clearly over the weight limit as advertised on two of these skis, I was curious what these skis offered.

Spark 24lbs, SES Ultra(22lbs), V10L(26lbs)

My friend Bill Lecomte, Big Wave Bill as I like to call him, is also reviewing the Spark since I sold it to him a few weeks ago. He also tried my V10L  before deciding to buy the Spark.  Bill is 5ft 6, 148 lbs and is the best rough water paddler I know. He rarely races, but paddles three to four times per week.  Bill also has an SES that I sold him years ago along with an Evo and Legend.  Bill will put the Spark through the paces in big water that few of us in New England rarely venture out in, 20-25 mph and 2-5 miles off shore. So you can look forward to that review. Bill’s purchase of the Spark over the V10L speaks to the differences in these boats as I will highlight.

Big Wave Bill, the Man!

Stellar SES

Length: 20’4″ / 6.2m
Beam: 16.6″ / 41.6cm
Depth: 13.8″ / 35cm
Paddler: 5′-6’2″ / 1.5m-1.88m
Capacity: 200 lbs / 90 kg

Let’s start with the SES, the boat I have paddled more than any other surf ski since I helped launched the Stellar Surf Ski Brand in 2009. With world wide distribution and the first computer designed ski for the small to mid size paddler, many paddlers have had the chance to own, race, paddled the SES. I have had my best races over the years in my SES’s in all types of conditions from flat water to big conditions. Perhaps my best race ever was my 2011 Beavertail Race where I placed 2nd on a big day. If you look over the Race table below, you can see my performance in all my skis over the years. While I slipped a few places due to better competition, my performance on a particular course has improved since I have become a more experienced paddler. However, as I have gotten older, I tend to lean toward slightly more stable skis like  my Huki S1X Special and Evo II for the big water races. I even have a Evo II Ultimate coming soon with the orange stripe(yipee!)

Blackburn 2011, a PR 2:49:55 on a hot day.

2010 Ses Ultra Sakonnet River Race

As you can see from the Race Table, my SES, even as recent as this year’s 2014 Blackburn, still remains my boat of choice for most flat to moderate condition races. I clocked my 2nd fastest Blackburn Challenge in my trusted 2010 Special Edition(27lbs) Yellow SES on a super fast day. While we know it is not all about the boat, boat choice at my level is an integral part. Elite paddlers can do well in any ski; novice paddles need more stability, guys with my skill level in New England conditions can go either way; High Performance or light weight intermediate. In my racing group, only 5 to 120 seconds separates us in most races. These days most of us are trained up, roughly the same age, have similar rough water skills with some variation. So for example, choosing to paddle an Evo II on a flat day vice my SES will leave me 1-2 minutes behind my pack. You get the point.

The SES is far from the perfect boat as we know. It is no secret as I explained in my 2010 Review, it drains poorly, steering is just okay and takes some anticipation in downwind conditions with the 8 inch rudder. While the beam is 16.6 inch, it still remains the narrowest beam of any ocean going ski. The bucket shape is more square than rounded but still comfortable with limited tapering to the footwell. Over the years, I have padded out my SES to gain more contact in my hips,calves to enhance leg drive and stability. The low hump is well placed even better than the Spark. I have never gotten a tight hamstring or hip flexer in my SES’s. I can paddle them all day long with no issues. Seating is personal as we know. So why am I still paddling my SES’s? Comfort, low hump, and of course SPEED and STABILITY. It remains one of the best performing skis in terms of speed/stability ratio for an advanced paddler. Secondary stability is predictable particularly in the Excel and Advantage Layups. Quality control on these well built skis has been outstanding. https://surfskiracing.org/2010/10/stellar-ses-review-by-wesley-echols/

My most paddled ski, a 2010 SES Excel

The SES with its square bucket fits small/medium size paddlers and up to 32 inch inseam. The small paddlers like Bill, will add more padding for an optimum fit. Bill added foam to the large footwell to displace incoming water. The SES will accommodate a wider variation in paddler weights and hip sizes compared to the Spark. The V10L will accommodate a wider variation of hips but less paddler weight. I do have some padding in my V10L. Some less experienced lighter paddlers may find the SES to corky. My friend Tim H.(160 lbs) has been paddling an SES for two years and finds it a handful in the bigger conditions but is right at home in the flatter ocean conditions. So of the three “lower volume skis”, the SES will fit more paddlers and is noticeably faster than the V10L while the V10L is noticeably more stable.

Epic V10L Ultra

SPECIFICATIONSLength: 20′ 2″ (6.15m)
Width: 17.3″ (44cm)
Depth: 12″ (30cm)
Capacity: 75 kg (165 lbs) optimum

V10L Ultra

I have owned my V10L for about 4 months though I have not raced it.  After the East Coast Championships in September, I plan to race it.  The main reason I have not raced it, is I know it is not as fast as my SES or the Spark. I have had some time excellent time trials and have paddled it in some rough conditions with the 8 inch Universal rudder and the odd shaped flat water rudder. The V10L reminded me of my V10 in that it you have to get it revved up to maximize the speed. Unlike the Spark that is always eager to show off its speed with limited input. Don’t get me wrong the V10L has High Performance Ski (HPS) speed just at the lower end compared to the thoroughbreds, the Spark and SES. See the link for one of my better time trials in the V10L Ultra.  http://connect.garmin.com/modern/activity/565162713

Loaded up for my first paddle

While it is not as fast the Spark and SES, I do enjoy paddling it.  The bucket is more comfortable than my SES with a rounded bucket and the footwell tapers nicely to a narrow catch. With some padding at the hips and calves, my leg drive is better than my SES and feels more natural. The V10L is significantly more stable than the Spark and SES.  If you line up all three skis and ask an intermediate paddler to demo them, they will come away with the V10L based on stability. However, point in case, Bill, an advanced paddler like myself, are looking for speed(me) and surfing characteristics(Bill), hence Bill bought my Spark over the V10L. Remounting is super easy in the V10L, the best of these three skis. I did wonder how my weight effected the performance of the V10L but I was quite comfortable in any conditions. I asked my friends if they thought it was riding too low in the water and they all said no,unlike my Spark. I did buy all three rudders for myV10L. I did find it curious that it is shipped with the weedless rudder. Why not ship it with the universal rudder? So overall the V10L is the most stable, most comfortable ski in this class, but not as fast.

Spark, SES, V10L

Fenn Elite Spark

Length 21 ft, 6.44 m
Width 16.7, 42.5 cm
Vacuum Fiberglass 14 kg
Carbon 22lbs, 11.5 kg
Carbon Hybrid 26lbs

Rose Island Race

I first paddled the Spark at the 2013 US Surfski Championships and came away with two thoughts. I don’t fit and I could not paddle it in the ocean. I paddled it again after the  June 2014 Ride the Bull Race and my opinion changed 360 degrees. What changed? I had on my super thin shorts when I tested it a few months ago so my stability was greatly improved from the neoprene long pants I had on at San Fran.  The Spark does have the most narrow bucket by far of these three skis. I would not be able to paddle the Spark other than in my summer shorts, so that would limit my time in this ski. Now to the good part. Speed!! After a week I got acclimated to the Spark. My experience with the Fenns is that you must get the toe pedals set up perfectly so you do not over steer. So after a week of experimentation in leg length and toe pedal angle, I got it set up for a great fit. Like I mentioned earlier, the Spark is ready to engage from the first paddle stroke. Every time I paddled my Spark I was impressed with the speed. My layup was the carbon/hybrid that is lighter than the 26lbs advertised. It felt like 24 lbs. If you are an advanced light weight paddler looking for speed then look no further. I give the edge on speed to the Spark over the SES. So that means on my Surfski Comparison Chart, the Spark would be rated slightly faster than my SES. The Spark accelerates instantly with one or two strokes and off you go searching for the next bump no matter how small.

Spark at Rose Island Race

Staying just ahead of Tim H in the SES I sold him.

My training race in the Spark in Newport, Rhode Island. http://connect.garmin.com/modern/activity/562507983

The cockpit I needed no padding and the ergonomics were good. As you can see, this is a very, very low volume ski. I do wish the hump was slightly more aft though. My calves were touching  more than they should in comparison to my SES and V10L. I found the Spark unexpectantly more stable than I could have predicted. I even paddled it on a good day out to Beavertail Can and felt great in it. It is the least stable of these three skis but the advanced paddler should adjust quickly to it.  It is the best handling ski of the three. Steering is precise and with some rocker it feels right at home in the refractory stuff, predictable and settled.  My experience is a little different on the Spark because you are sitting low to the water and it is a wet ride. The catch is the most narrow of any ski I have paddled, so it feels like a K1 in these regard.  If you notice the length, this ski is a foot longer than the others.  While I really liked the Spark as you can tell, I thought ultimately I was too big for it. I came away feeling that I wanted the same ski only bigger though not as big as the Glide that I have in my garage. Well what do you know; the Glide S is coming out. I hope that the bucket on the New Glide S is not as deep as my Glide that makes remounting more difficult and I hope they get the hump positioned correctly for the short guys. While I am on the subject of the Fenns, why not put a leash attachment and add bungees to the back deck.  Lastly, I heard from Bill who is really enjoying his Spark now surfing down the big waves in Rhode Island Sound and Narragansett Bay.  Bill has paddled all three skis and shares some of the same observations I have, even being 30lbs lighter.

Very Very Narrow Catch

Finish of Race. Nice Profile of Spark

Very low profile Spark

Summary

All three skis are targeted for the smaller advanced intermediate/advanced paddler with the SES able to handle a wider variation in paddler weights. The Spark has a very small bucket, the smallest bucket of any ski I have reviewed. The V10L also has a generous size bucket for a low volume ski and is very comfortable to paddle. The Spark is the fastest, best handling of the three skis while being the least stable, then follows the SES in terms of speed, and finally the V10L. All three skis have their place in the market depending on your size, what your goals are, your skill level, and your brand loyality.  It is nice to have so many ski options for ALL size paddlers. All my reviews can be found on the Home page by clicking on the Surfski Review Tab including the Surf Ski Comparison Chart. 

SES

Pros:
1. Fits a broader range of paddlers.
2. Great combination of speed/stability
3. Rudders are interchangeable on all models of Stellars and are a good shape.
4. Quality construction including the only company that makes a Pre Preg Carbon Ski.
5. Easiest Foot Plate to adjust with cam locks.
6. Great choice of different layups within a weight range, 22 lbs to 32lbs.

Cons:
1. Draining  could be better.
2. Widest catch of the three.
3. I still want a better line adjuster for toe pedals.
4. More taper into footwell and less volume in front of foot plate.

V10L Ultra

Pros:
1. Will fit many hip sizes and up to 177 lbs(my weight)
2. Most Comfortable bucket.
3. Narrow Catch.
4. Easy to remount.
5. Most stable of the three.

Cons:
1. Not as fast as the other three.
2. Odd shape weedless rudder with little bite.
3. Rudders are not interchangeable throughout the line.

Spark

Pros:
1. Fastest of the three skis
2. Best steering(cable)
3. Very narrow catch
4. Good combination of speed/handling/stability
5. If you are small paddler, you will like the fit.

Cons:
1. Very small bucket so fits a specific size paddler(could be pro as well)
2. No leash attachment, No bungees.
3. Takes allen wrench to adjust pedals.
4. Very, Very low volume ski(could be pro as well)
5. Only one size rudder,no option unless have one specially made.
6. Least stable of the three.

Spark, SES, V10L