On Racing: Current, Tide, and Timing
Current is the quiet architect of many races. Unlike wind, it rarely announces itself. There is no sound, no visible force—just the subtle difference between working hard and going nowhere, or moving efficiently with effort [...]
On Downwinding: Decision Scope
Around the ninety-minute mark, a bump builds ahead and gets left alone. Not because of anything physical. The opportunity was real. But a sprint that reads as obvious on a twenty-minute run reads differently when [...]
On Training: Recovery and Adaptation
The main concept behind "training" of any sort is that damage accumulates when work occurs, and adaptation happens during recovery. There's a well-established process at this point for optimizing our adaptation mechanism to quickly achieve [...]

Nationals: Shifting Context
The first thing you notice at an unfamiliar venue is the water: how it flows, how the wind sets up, how the waves stack, whether there's chop on top of swell or just one or [...]
On Racing: Wind Direction and Strength
Wind strength gets the headlines. Wind direction decides the race. Many paddlers fixate on how hard the wind is blowing, yet struggle to explain from where it is actually affecting them once they are on [...]

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 [...]
On Downwinding: Preparing for Wind, Without Wind
Not every downwind season begins with downwind conditions. In many places, spring offers fragments rather than full runs: partial wind, confused chop, short fetch, or days that never quite organize. It is easy to treat [...]
On Equipment: Leashes
"I'm a good swimmer, I'll be fine." The boat is five feet away, then ten, then fifteen. The hull is above the water, catching air, rolling with the waves. You are floating in the water, [...]
On Training: Endurance as Structural Tolerance
Something went in a shoulder during what should have been a recovery paddle. Not a hard session, not a race, just an hour on flat water at a pace that required nothing in particular. The [...]
Nationals: Shared Uncertainty
There are paddlers in the launch area you've never raced before. Names you've seen in results from the other coast, or heard mentioned by someone who trains differently, in water you've never paddled. They're rigging [...]
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 Classifieds
Find your perfect boat today!
Surfski Reviews
Looking for an ocean ski? Check out the surfski comparison chart!
2015 Redesigned Stellar SR Review
Since 2003 when I began paddling surfskis, I have reviewed more surfskis than anyone else in the world making those reviews public via this website. Like most things in life, I did not intentionally set out to buy so many surfskis. I simply started out trying to find the perfect [...]
Ninja and Swordfish.Much Fun!
I made a road trip down to Mark Ceconi's (SurfskiRacing.com) neck of the woods, combining a business trip with a paddling session. While I had planned on paddling both Friday evening and Saturday, I arrived at Mark's too late to go paddling. However, the evening was far from lost. While [...]
Epic V10 Sport Ultra Review – by Wesley Echols
The Epic V10S( Sport) is one of a group of more stable surfskis along with the Think Evo, Mako XT, and Huki S1R. The Sport, along with the other Epic skis, is offered in several different layups. I have personally owned the Ultra(24 lbs) and the Performance (32lbs). Like all [...]
Stellar SEI 2G (Excel) Surfski Review
Stellar Kayaks and Surfskis Stellar Kayaks and Surfskis was established in 2009 and launched its first surfski models in 2010 of which I was a part of. The USA distribution is located in Northfield, Massachusetts, has grown dramatically since then, becoming one of the premier brands of kayaks and surfskis in [...]
The New Innovative Stellar 18S Surfski, Review 2012
The New Innovative Stellar 18S Surfski is Here!! Read On! 2 Hatches w/2 bulkheads Nice shaped cockpit, drink holder, leash attachment Nice lines Handles, 4 inch rudder McCorrie Beach w/Good Boy Kayak Racks Profile [...]























