Latest News
On Racing: Finishing Strong
Finishing well has little to do with who is most tired. Everyone is tired. What separates paddlers at the end of a race is not how much they have left, but how clearly they can still act with what remains. The finish is rarely a single effort. It is a sequence [...]
Stability in the Boat-Do you need more?
By Wesley Echols I have paddled a wide range of skis over the years from advanced to beginner in all types of conditions. Below are some helpful hints on becoming more stable in your ski. Boat Choice: think about the conditions that you will be paddling in the 75% of the [...]
On Racing: Expecting the Unexpected
The forecast you checked the night before is completely different when you wake up. The wind has increased, the swell period has changed, and there's a conversation happening near the water's edge about which direction the gusts are going to come from and when. Of course, nobody really knows, at least [...]
On Downwinding: Reading Lines
The line appears before the decision to take it is fully formed. A shift in the water texture, maybe forty meters ahead, something about the way a long roller is organizing at an angle to the dominant swell, and the bow is already moving in that direction. A few strokes in [...]
On Training: Chain of Fools
The stroke catches and the boat runs. There is a feeling to it, a brief firmness in the water that holds long enough for the body to push through, and the boat moves with more economy than it did on the stroke before. Paddlers sometimes describe a boat as "running" on [...]
Nationals: Meet the (Blackburn) Challenge
Every local racing community has a structure. You know who the fast paddlers are, roughly how you stack up against them, and what a good day on the water looks like for you. That knowledge shapes your training, your expectations, and your sense of progress over a season. It also has [...]
Surfski Reviews
Looking for an ocean ski? Check out the surfski comparison chart!
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 [...]
Think Zen Surfski Review
Update June 2019. Since my January post about the Zen I have much more bucket time. I even raced the Zen in the June 2019, Ride the Bull Race on a 20 mph day in mixed conditions that included some downwind, quarter beam seas at 25mph, mega big boat chop, [...]
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. [...]
Nelo 550L Next Review
Nelo 550 SCS layup
New Stellar SR by Tim H
My thoughts on the New Stellar SR 2015 2015 has been a good year for me to build strength and continue improving my stroke technique on flat water. As I bumped up the speed work in April I started to see the fruits in May at the Essex River race. [...]