Latest News
USA Surfski Paddlers @ 2025 ICF COR World Championships
The 2025 ICF Canoe Ocean Racing (COR) World Championships were held in Durban, South Africa this past October. Worlds is the pinnacle international competition for surfski paddlers all over the world, in addition to World Cups and (for us) Pan American Continental Championships. The venues for these international competitions are fantastic -- [...]
2025 Bay State Games 6 mile Paddle Race
I was not sure what to expect for the Bay State Games 6 miler, except it was only an hour ride from my house, a triangle course of roughly six miles and hosted by Matt Drayer, surfski paddler of this site and more. For this article I did a quick query [...]
2025 Blackburn Challenge: Sixth Sense by Greg Lesher
Thursday, July 24, 2025, Full Tilt Blackburn Challenge: Sixth Sense The Cape Ann Rowing Club restored the Blackburn Challenge course to its traditional 19.5 mile incarnation for 2025. The results of last year's experimental choose-your-own-adventure race were catastrophic. While undeniably capturing the spirit (and length, in some cases) of Howard Blackburn's [...]
2025 Ride The Bull
"They Don't Call It Ride The Pony" now a laughable quote from John Hair, a many time racer of Ride The Bull. John, Jim, Tim, Mary Beth In 2013, I had to idea of having a rough water race, not too long in length, not too exposed, but would [...]
2025 Nashua River Race
It was a great turnout at Nashua River Race in Groton, Ma. The Nashua River course is 9.69 miles laid out very nicely by Race Director Steve Miller. The venue is perfect with super easy access and parking at the Petapawag Boat Launch. A big shout out and Thanks to Steve [...]
2025 Run Of The Charles
The Run of the Charles was today in Boston, the Charles River Watershed Association maintains the river for all of us to enjoy. Paddle Boston, Charles River Canoe and Kayak, Mark Jacobson, Bryce all the volunteers make it all happen. Meg Farrer , Race Director has done a great job bringing [...]
Surfski Reviews
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2018 Stellar S18S 2G Ultra Update
Stellar S18S 2G Ultra, September 3, 2018 Over the last few months I was able to paddle the 28lb Ultra layup in a varied conditions. So this lighter version was a welcome relief over the 35lb advantage layup I had originally paddled. I don't like time trialing or paddling skis [...]
Stellar Introduces New 18S Surfski, 18R Performance Sea Kayak
Review Update of 18R by Joe Zellner, Winner of the Dakota 72 Mile Race. June 1, 2012 Here are my thoughts on the S18R in Excel layup. When I first saw the boat all I could think was “Wow, what a fast, pretty boat. I always liked the color orange. [...]
Wesley’s Next Surf Ski Review:Think Uno 2G
The video by Chris Chappell, above, is me demoing the Think Uno 1G on the Charles River in 2009. I bought that boat knowing I could only paddle it on flat water or calm ocean conditions. Although I paddled it once on part of the Ride the Bull Course, one [...]
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 [...]
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 [...]