Latest News
Ride the Bull: Running the Gauntlet
Just moments after we pulled into our driveway after returning from the Sakonnet River Race, it was time to turn around and head back to the state affectionately known as "Massachusetts's Dewlap" for Wesley and Tim's Ride the Bull race. After underbidding all other syndicates, we had been awarded the lucrative [...]
Sakonnet River Race: Right Tools
The Sakonnet River Race is traditionally the first rough-water race of the New England season. After careful consideration, however, race director Wesley Echols made a tough game-day decision. We had a handful of flatwater races under our belts, but given our collective performance at the most recent outing (three players with [...]
Sakonnet River Race 2019
Fast, Flat and Furious The largest crowd ever assembled(verifiable) for this race since its inception 11 years ago, were treated to the 2nd fastest times ever. Greg Lesher made his way quickly through the field and never looked back over a fast course due to outgoing tide, little wind, only heightened [...]
Essex River Race: Winner to Swimmer
I hold the Essex River Race responsible for getting me in a surfski. When I first wondered "what is that?" while racing in a sea kayak in the early aughts, who knew that I'd end up spending my final years obsessing over loggerhead shrikes and red-winged scrub jays! I'm assuming that I'll [...]
Run of the Charles: Course Adjustment
For many New England paddlers, the Run of the Charles is the first race of the season that is commonly referred to by acronym. Besides that important distinction, the 6 mile ROTC is also one of the largest flatwater races in the area, drawing 20-some skis in the past few years. [...]
A Race to Remember, Austin Kieffer
April, 2019 Maui to Molokai What a race!? The conditions were about as good as any surfski race could ask for. The wind was lined up perfectly and blowing 25 knots, the weather was mild for Maui and a merciful layer of cloud cover had rolled in to shield racers from [...]
Surfski Reviews
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Think Evo II Surfski Review by Wesley Echols
Over the years with so many different boats paddled, the Evo and now the Evo 2 are on my favorite ski list so lets get that out of the way first. They have not gotten as much press or photo time as my other skis since I rarely race intermediate [...]
Nelo 540L Surf Ski Review
Introduction My history with surf skis dates backs to 2003 and my kayak experience predates that. Over these years I launched this site, sold out my Surfski Basics DVD, started reviewing skis, raced extensively, started a race series, gave many lessons, responded to many paddlers regarding boat choices, was instrumental [...]
Fenn Elite Tandem: A “Very Cool” First Paddle with Cliff – by Susan Williams
Cliff Roach and I set out to paddle Mark Ceconi’s brand new Fenn Elite tandem surfski for the purposes of writing a review for surfskiracing.com. Clearly, Mark has been hanging out with his eternally optimistic elementary school students for too long, the poor trusting soul had no idea what we [...]
Huki S1R Review – by Wesley Echols
Let me begin by saying I have owned three S1R’s over the years in different layups. As the chart indicates it is in the stable class of surfskis. It has excellent initial stability. I have seen experienced sea kayakers demo my S1R’s and feel relative comfortable just sitting in this [...]
Update by Reid Hyle, New 2015 Stellar SES 2G Surf Ski Review
October 14, 2015, Reid Hyle's Thoughts on the New SES 2G Definitely put the new SES on your short list if you are a medium sized paddler looking for a new ride. There isn’t much need to go over a lot of detail about what has been changed from the [...]