Latest News
Battle of the Bay: The Other Half
A key component of Rhode Island's virus mitigation plan has been restricting surfski races to one per month. The legislature was thrilled that in addition to drastically reducing COVID transmission, this mandate has resulted in improved water quality, 70% fewer stabbings, and the virtual eradication of chlamydia. For July, Tim Dwyer [...]
Battle of The Bay 2020
Battle of the Bay 2020 from Wesley Echols on Vimeo. It appears Little Rhody where Tim and I live, is one of the few places to still hold ocean races due to COVID 19. A few weeks ago, Ride the Bull Race was rough and exciting with a great turnout. Saturday [...]
Ride the Bull: Back At It
While the rest of us have been comfortably lounging in our homes with nary a care, Wesley and Tim have been busy worrying about how to salvage the lucrative Rhode Island racing circuit without killing off their best customers. A plan to quarantine all paddlers at Wesley's house for the entire [...]
Ride The Bull Race 2020
With COVID 19 Restrictions and the cancellations of many races, the Ride The Bull Race went off without a hitch. Rhode Island is in the second phase so gatherings can take place with a 15 person limit. Most paddlers were got to the race early looking forward to whatever the ocean [...]
Newbury Kayak and Canoe SD6(Social Distance 6mi)
The SD6 is a way for surf skiers to get some competition and community while all the races and gatherings are prohibited by social distancing.Instead of having actual race meets, everyone will race where they are: Find a convenient body of water, turn on a tracking device and race for six [...]
Chattajack 31: Togetherness
When Mary Beth told me back in May that she wanted to paddle the Chattajack 31, my initial reaction was "Great! I can reciprocate the dedicated support she provided me in last year's race." Fortunately, before that thought had sufficient time to bubble through my brain and rashly express itself verbally, [...]
Surfski Reviews
Looking for an ocean ski? Check out the surfski comparison chart!
NK Rapido Surf Ski Review at 40 miles
Review by Wesley Echols Intro I got my NK Rapido, Carbon Lite layup(Green Tip) at the Run of the Charles Race in Boston, Massachusetts on April 27th, 2026. I had previously paddled the Storm for about 20 minutes and more recently the lastest version of the Nitro at the 2026 [...]
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 [...]
Nelo 550L 2G (WWR) Surf Ski Review
In May 2021, I reviewed the newly designed Nelo 540L 2G and now the 550L 2G in the WWR layup. I have approximately 60 miles in the 550L 2g in various small bay conditions where I live in Portsmouth, RI. I have also raced it on the modified Ride the [...]
Nelo 550L Next Review
Nelo 550 SCS layup
2017 Think Ion 3G Elite Surfski Review
I have a long history with Think surfskis dating back to 2007 when I purchased my first Evo 1G. Since then I have owned numerous Thinks in all layups including Evo 1G/2G's, Uno 1G/2G, Legends, Uno Max 2G, Ion 2g/3g, Big Eze. There has been a Think in my garage [...]