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
2018 L2L-East Coast Surfski Championships
There was some speculation if this year's race was going to happen. Most of us who are in the paddling community have full time jobs outside of paddling. Gary Williams, Race Director is no different. Trying to juggle family, work, and being the race director for this major event is a [...]
Lighthouse to Lighthouse: Age Gap
2018 Lighthouse to Lighthouse ( East Coast Surfski Champs) by Greg Lesher And the Winner is Nate Humberston! Helmed by force-of-nature Gary Williams, the Lighthouse to Lighthouse Race is the place to be to rack up your worst finishing position of the New England season. With significant prize money (donated by [...]
Nahant Bay Cup: Leveled
If you're a New England paddler and you don't have a signed excuse from your doctor or your congressman, you're pretty much self-obligated to attend Mike McDonough's Nahant Bay Cup - the final regional race before Labor Day rolls in and puts the kibosh on summer. Despite missing a few regulars [...]
Nelo Summer Challenge Recap: Hayley, Sean, Ivan, Andre’
Nice Recap of Nelo Summer Challenge with winners Sean Rice, Hayley Nixon, Andre', and Ivan. https://www.facebook.com/NeloSummerChallenge/videos/2079933082321626/?t=1
Jamestown Double Beaver: The New Guard
For the 11th running of the Jamestown Double Beaver, race director Tim Dwyer decided to mix things up. No longer married to the "Jamestown", "Double", or "Beaver" parts of the name (the last two elements referring to the two passes by Beavertail Light), Tim briefly considered cutting all ties to the past by [...]
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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 [...]
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 [...]
Epic V12 Ultra Review – by Wesley Echols
April 2009 - First Impression My curiosity (re: obsession/compulsion/enjoyment) got the best of me once again courtesy of my friends from The Kayak Centre in Wickford, Rhode Island, who asked me if I might possibly have any interest whatsoever in the new Epic V12 (Note: slight tongue in cheek reference [...]
Think Legend Review – by Wesley Echols
What sets the Legend apart from the other High Performance Skis(HPS) is its drastically different planing hull design with its hard chines and very flat bottom. I was very curious to how it compared to the other HPS in speed and stability. What struck me immediately was the cockpit fit [...]
Fenn Glide Elite Surf Ski Review by Wesley Echols
I received the Fenn Glide at the same time I got my Huki S1X Special since both were on the same KAS trailer back in April 2014. So why am I just getting around now to reviewing the Glide? Other skis to review, the race season, and an initial improper [...]






















