Paddling the ski

I only had the opportunity to paddle the boat for a day, so I took it Hout Bay – one of my favorite testing grounds where the ocean swell rebounds off the steep rocky cliffs and creates a whole range of sea states.  In places the confused chop tests your ability to stay upright, but if you’re awake, you find that you can catch runs in all directions – it’s a great place to paddle.

In the harbor I had the ski up to 15kph sustained (briefly!) which is fast for me.  In the chop outside as we were paddling into the wind, I found to my surprise that although the ski is slightly tippier than the Elite, I found it quite manageable and was able to put the hammer down and accelerate away from my paddling buddy.  The secondary stability is, in any case, very solid and I never felt as though I was going to come out of the boat.

After heading out for a couple of km into the light southeaster, we turned downwind, heading towards Seal Island.  This area always offers something in the way of rides on the reflected swell bouncing off the bottom of Chapman’s Peak.  To me it seemed as though the ski leapt onto the waves with alacrity.

It also seemed slightly more responsive to the rudder than the Elite.

Wake-riding

Reaching Seal Island, we noticed Nauticat - a big tourist catamaran - coming up behind us, so we paddled around the island, intending to catch her as she started back to Hout Bay Harbor.

Having rounded the island (paddling over a sleeping Dungeons Reef, famous for big wave surfing) I headed back over the kelp towards the channel – and hit 18.2kph riding a swell across the shallow water.

Perfect timing: Nauticat was leaving the island and I headed towards her, crossing her stern to catch the wake on her seaward side.  What with the choppy sea swell running in from the right, it was a roller coaster ride; Nauticat travels at around 13kph, making it easy to stay on the wave.  She also leaves a series of wake lines, so if you do broach off, you can easily recover and catch the next set.  All in all, it’s not only great fun, but great practice for catching and staying on runs.

Dale had headed towards the bay to catch Nauticat in slightly calmer water – soon we were both on her wake, with Dale on the wave line in front of mine.  He eventually broached and I had to pull off my wave too in order not to T-bone him.  By then Nauticat was well into the bay, leaving a clean wake for hundreds of metres on either side.  I crossed her stern again and caught up with the left hand wake 150m behind – and rode it all the way back to the harbor.

It seemed to me that the SL was very controllable – both in the roller coaster chop outside the bay and on the smooth, short wake on the flat water.  I was able to slide diagonally down the wake, making my way back towards Nauticat.

Conclusions?

I have to say: the boat feels fast.  Maybe that’s something to do with the slim nose or the lightness of the boat.  I didn’t weigh it, but it’s somewhere around 12kg in the carbon layup that I paddled. 

To tell for sure, I’d want to paddle it in a couple of races in order to compare it with my regular marks.

And the tippiness?  Hout Bay is a good testing ground precisely because there’s always a lot of movement in the water.  The ski seemed very handleable to me – but my personal bête noir conditions when it comes to tippy boats, is when I have to paddle across a strong wind in big waves…

Comfort

The boat is extraordinarily comfortable – for me.  My backside is supremely compatible with Fenn skis – but this is not true for everyone.

Some hard facts

So much for feelings, what are the actual differences between the regular Mako Elite and the Slim Line?

I took the rudders off the boats and set them up, propping them up on two pieces of straight wood to even out the bumps on our deck.

the two skis are very similar in shape (SL below)

The cockpits are virtually identical - except for the changes noted below

Simple, sturdy footplate mechanism - no changes here.

The SL has a larger scupper than previous boats.  It seems to work well but I prefer the bullet scuppers installed on my Elite, left.

Rocker

Without a dead flat surface, it’s very difficult to be certain – but I couldn’t find any appreciable difference between the two skis. 

Rudder placement

The rudder on the SL is 10mm further forward than the Elite.  This might explain the apparent increase in responsiveness that I felt on the water.

The rudder on the SL has moved 10mm forward

Hull Width

The Slim Line is, as its name suggests, appreciably narrower than the Elite – from the seat forward to the nose.

The slimmed nose is evident - on the right if you're blind!

Volume

The SL’s nose is appreciably narrower than the Elite’s – but what about the volume?  Without building a set of calipers I couldn’t measure the relative widths to any degree of accuracy due to the curvature of the foredeck.  So I measured the circumference of the hull at set points instead.

Bearing in mind the tolerances of my wife’s sewing measuring tape, it appears that the SL has slightly greater volume behind the cockpit and slightly less in front.  What does this mean?  One might deduce that the ski will lift onto smaller runs more easily, but what happens when the narrower nose slices into the wave in front in bigger conditions?  Conventional wisdom suggests that a wider nose (like that of the Red7 Surf 70 Pro) can be beneficial to prevent the nose dipping.  Time will tell.

Seat and footwell

The seat depth in the two skis is identical – the maximum depth of the bucket being 205mm from the rails.

The hump between bucket and footwell has been lowered slightly – improving the comfort of the cockpit (and, presumably, the stability since lower legs means lower centre of gravity).

The bottom of the bucket has been narrowed slightly, which suits me, but it may be tight for paddlers with bigger backsides.

Race Results

The introduction of the ski was typically low-key – Hank McGregor, Jeremy Cotter and Hayden Smith paddled them at the Dubai Shamaal to absolutely no fanfare.

The disappointing results – McGregor and Cotter came sixth and eighth respectively had more to do with the line that the two men took, and they didn’t blame the ski.  They paddled together, closer inshore than the lead group, and smacked into a strong current that took away any chance they had of dominating the race.  Hayden Smith, on a similar inshore line was happy with his thirteenth position.  He’d been training for the ultra long distance Southern Shamaal and had been focusing on endurance rather than speed.  (A week later, paddling the SL again, he came second in the 250km Southern Shamaal.)

In conversation before the race, McGregor said that one of the things he enjoyed about the new ski was the narrowness of the cockpit at the catch.  “I used to hit the Elite with my paddle,” he said.  “That doesn’t happen at all now.”  

Current Surfski World Champ Dawid Mocke hasn’t paddled his SL much, not wanting to upset his pre-Perth training.  He’ll be spending more time in the boat on his return from Australia.

McGregor said the only question mark he had was how the ski will perform in big downwind conditions.  (Mocke paddled the ski to a personal best on a Millers Run in Cape Town but felt he might have done an even faster time on his Elite.)

Clearly the jury is out on the ski’s performance in big downwind conditions.

As for me, I’m looking forward to trying my hand in the ski in a couple of races – and on a Millers Run or two!  Right now though I don’t have access to one – so I’ll have to contain my impatience.

Zeplin Mark II

Towards the end of last year, Kayak Centre released the updated version of their Zeplin ski – aimed at the beginner to intermediate paddler.

I’ve had a demo boat for a couple of months now, and have paddled it in a variety of conditions.

First Looks

The ski looks big: it has a huge amount of volume in the nose and tail – and the trademark humped hood over the footwell.  (The hood on the first version of the Zeplin was too high and I kept bashing it with my paddle but the mark II is much better.)

The cockpit hood

As you’d expect for a ski designed to be stable, it has a wide, flattish hull.

For a larger image, click here

For a larger image, click here

For a larger image, click here

Most beginner skis are short; this one is just as long as the elite skis – around 6.4m.

To give you some idea, my Fenn Mako Elite is around 43cm wide at the seat; the Zeplin is 48cm; at the catch the Elite is about 34.5cm; the Zeplin is 43cm.

Finish

The finish is good – Kayak Centre have been manufacturing kayaks and skis for many years and their experience shows.

In standard glass layup, the ski should weigh in at less than 16kg.

What’s changed?

• The bucket is narrower
• The cockpit has moved forward
• The hood is smaller

Bucket and footwell

The first version of the Zeplin had a massive bucket that I slid around in; this one, while still wide (39.5cm on the inside) is much better.  My coccyx impacted with the bottom of the bucket so I installed my trusty Lincke butt pad which sorted out the problem.

Paddler's eye view

The Kayak Centre skis have an easy to use footplate adjuster – a lever mechanism manipulates the locks.  Some observers have questioned the reliability of the setup; but my buddy Dale Lippstreu has had an EOS 660 for some months now with no sign of corrosion or wear on the mechanism.  Worth keeping an eye on though.

Footwell Hood

I’m still in two minds about the hood.  It’s pretty easy to remove (being held on with Velcro) and I paddled the ski both with and without the hood.  In biggish downwind conditions the hood made a dry ski even drier; without the hood some water came into the footwell over the sides of the cockpit.

(Equipped with bullet scuppers, the footwell drains rapidly.  This is one of the driest skis I’ve ever paddled.)

I usually carry the ski upside on the roof of my car; when the hood is on the ski, it impacts the car’s roof...  which means you really have to install cradles so that you can transport the ski right-way-up.  Or, as I did, take the hood off.

Paddling the ski

I gave the ski a pretty good workout – in all kinds of conditions, from flat water in Hout Bay harbor, to small, confused chop around the edges of Hout Bay to roaring gale-force downwind in False Bay.

Flat Water

This is a wide, stable ski.  You’re not going to expect to compete with the racing snakes on flat water.  But the Zeplin didn’t feel entirely like a barge – perhaps due to its length (although the nose does stick up out of the water to some extent).  Who wants to paddle on flat water anyway?

Confused chop

One evening I took the ski out into Hout Bay with two other paddlers; one on an EOS 660 and the other on a Fenn Mako Elite.

Conditions were challenging – with classic Hout Bay reflected chop running in all directions.

Paddling in cross-chop the other two found that their stroke was compromised by the tippiness of their skis – while had no trouble at all in keeping 100% of my effort in my stroke.  And I kept up with them with ease.

When we turned downwind, the other two did pull away – but it was instructive to see just what a difference the stability of the ski made when we were going across the chop.

A little while later, this was illustrated again when I was paddling my Mako Elite in choppy conditions upwind in False Bay.  Another friend was on his Zeplin – and actually pulled away from me.  This guy is built like a tank with strength to match – but he’s not nearly as experienced as me.  Again when we turned downwind it wasn’t long before I passed him – but in the chop he had my number.

Big Honking Downwind

I paddled the Zep on a number of classic big Millers Runs – and loved the boat.  In a nutshell – it holds its line well, is maneuverable and, because it’s so stable, it’s easy to put those explosive strokes in that are necessary to catch runs.

Most importantly (and this improved still more once I installed the optional elliptical surf rudder) it had very little tendency to broach.  There is nothing that irritates me more than losing control as I accelerate down the face of a wave...

Optional Surf Rudder (top) and standard rudder

Finally – because of the stability, it makes an awesome camera platform!

Midwinter Millers HD from Rob Mousley on Vimeo.

Remounting

Because of its width, I found that remounting the ski, while straightforward, was more comfortable when done sidesaddle.

Who should consider the Zeplin?

In my opinion, here’s the sweet spot in the market for the Zep:

• Bigger paddlers – 85kg and over.
• Looking for a stable boat.
• Looking for a bigger boat than the XT/V10 Sport/Horizon – especially in downwind conditions.

What I like

• The construction quality
• The footplate adjustment (with the caveat that it’s quite complex with a number of parts to it)
• The stability
• The directional stability – I can track down steep runs diagonally.
• The maneuverability – especially with the big surf rudder, the ski is very nimble downwind.

What I don’t like

• The cockpit hood – limits your options on the car (carry it the right way up)
• The drain plug position (the first few times I paddled the ski I wasn’t even aware of it stuck under the hood and I left it unplugged)
• The small rudder in downwind conditions

Too many paddlers use skis that are too tippy for them

(This is a theme that professionals like Oscar Chalupsky often repeat.)

If you’re a paddler who loves going out in rough conditions, but you find that your stroke is compromised by having to brace all the time; if you find that you’re nervous about going downwind in big waves and wind – try something like the Zeplin.

There’s nothing like being relaxed and able to focus on putting all your energy into your technique.

Construction and Design of the GYM

The main frame of the GYM is a combination of aluminum and steel.  There are two main sections to the horizontal frame with one fitting inside the other one and secured with hard anodized aluminum plates and allen bolts.  The front and rear supports give it a wide base of support.  The seat shape is wider and flatter than most K1 seats and should fit most paddlers well.

The supplied seat

Erik's homemade unstable seat

The seat is mounted on hard anodized aluminum plates which attach to the frame and allow for three different seat heights.  The lowest of these is a close approximation to most racing surfskis on the market today.  The footplate is full and angled forwards slightly like most surfskis.  The pull bar is padded, adjustable, and solid.  Footplate position is micro-adjustable via a nylon belt.  The fan/flywheel is housed in aluminum.  I did not take this apart to examine the interior.  The shaft is a 3-piece coated aluminum shaft with a middle male piece and outside female pieces that all screw together with standard type barrel screw adjusters.

The GYM is 114” long ( about 10 inches longer than the Speedstroke).  The space required is somewhat dependent on the size of the paddler, but it will need about 64” of width and about 72” of ceiling height.  It weighs about 50 lbs.  The GYM doesn’t fold or stuff into a closet, but it doesn't take up too much floor space if it is pushed against a wall while not in use.

Resistance on the GYM is adjustable and the amount of resistance can be accurately measured.  Here is how it works:  On the fan/flywheel is a lever that toggles from 0 to 9.  Zero gives the least resistance and 9 gives the most.  The paddler selects a level and paddles for a few seconds to get the fan/flywheel to reach a speed of greater than 700 revolutions per minute.  Once a speed of over 700 is displayed on the monitor, the paddler stops paddling and lets the fan/flywheel coast to a stop.   Sensors monitor the rate of fan/flywheel deceleration at up to 100 times per second.  The amount of resistance detected is displayed in the stroke rate box as a number.   Since the fan/flywheel pushes air, and since air density changes with both altitude, temperature, and barometric pressure, one can get an accurate measure of their GYM's resistance so that they can accurately compare workload (time over a distance) against another paddler on another GYM, or get an accurate comparison of your own workload at two different points in time.

The GYM’s frame houses a stretched out bungee cord that runs an exhausting course from the fan/flywheel pulleys to the rear support legs, to the front support legs, to the mid frame underneath the computer monitor, back to the front support legs, back to the rear support legs, and then to the rope pulleys on the other side of the fan/flywheel.

For a kayak ergometer to be effective as an on-water simulation, it needs to engage the resistance immediately as the top hand starts to drop down and back, and this can only be accomplished if the fan / flywheel pulleys are located far in front of the paddler and not too low.  This design will cause the paddle ropes to be close to horizontal throughout the stroke allowing for an immediate "catch" once the top arm transitions from moving forwards and across to moving down and back. On shorter kayak ergometers, the first third of the stroke is seriously compromised because the top arm must drop down and back too far before the ropes start spinning the resistance wheel.

Computer Monitor

The buttons on the monitor aren't labeled in familiar abbreviations.  But, the computer monitor is actually very simple to understand and use - unlike many gps units and bike computers.

There are five number sets simultaneously displayed.  On the top line is “meters to go” which is set by the paddler.

The second row gives either “pace per 500 meters” / kcal burned / or watts, and the paddler can decide which one to view.   I initially found this number difficult to work with as I usually view current speed on the gps when outdoors.  However, one adapts to this new number fairly quickly.

The third row shows elapsed time.  The time begins once the flywheel starts turning and then runs continuously until the "meters to go" gets to zero.

The lower left display shows the stroke rate, and the lower right display shows your current heart rate.

Optional software

Already in use is a software product named i-race Express that allows multiple GYMs in the same room to connect and race against one another on a laned regatta type course with the ability to see the race animated on a screen.  This software was used at last year's British, French, and US indoor kayak championships and allowed both athletes and spectators to view the virtual races on computer screens.

In the works are updated versions of the i-race Express software as well as the Virtua-race software which allow for online racing and online group training sessions.  The Virtua-race gives the user a first or third person view of a 3D course to paddle through.  Both of these software products are PC based and require connecting your GYM to your PC which is easy to do.  User options for the i-race Express and the Virtua-race include racing head to head with up to 31 other boats online, racing other computer controlled boats that have a programmable pace, or simply time-trialing solo on a course that gives you a picture to look at as well as the basic numeric data.

Another software product available called E Monitor Pro 2 displays and records the following parameters:   Distance, Stroke number, Stroke rate, Stroke length, Heart rate, Speed, Watts, Ave Watts, Drag, and Graphic Power curves for left and right sides.  According to Grayson Bourne, K1 sprinters are utilizing the E Monitor Pro 2 software to design the race plan that works best for their physiology.  For example, a paddler can get a power curve their cumulative strokes in a 500 or a 1000, find out exactly when power starts to drop, institute changes to their power output, and see improved times - all with a repeatable, accurate, ergometer test.

So what is it like to use?  How hard can it be?

The paddling position is about right.  Both surfski paddlers and higher seat K1 paddlers will be able to simulate their on-water paddling positons pretty closely with the paddlers feet lower than their seat.

Paddling with the lever at setting “9”, feels pretty similar to paddling a K1 or ski with a bungee around the hull.  Setting 7 or 8 feels about like a real ski, and paddling at setting “0” feels about like you’re paddling on a double’s wake at moderate speed.

How hard can it be?  The day after I put the GYM together, I tried level 9 with a 68" (too long!) shaft, and attempted some intervals to see what ol’ “Doc Hudson” could do.  My first time trial attempt was 5 km which should have taken about 22 minutes.  I made it about 12 minutes into it when I absolutely exploded.   If you had made a cartoon out of that attempt, you would have drawn a mushroom cloud wafting up on that frame.  Ok, Fail #1 which was a bit tough on the ego.

I next tried a shorter 1500 meter time trial with the same settings.  I figured that this one would be easier, after all, how hard can it be to paddle hard for 6 minutes?  But, just to be safe, I went upstairs and told my wife that if she heard a “thud” sound, you know, like a body flopping onto a concrete floor, then she might come check on me - at her convenience, of course.  I think that I got to about minute 4 before I almost fell off the machine from hypoxia.  Mushroom cloud #2.  Zero for two.  That left me with the 500 meter event.

I can hold my breath for two minutes, so how hard could a 500 be?  I set off on a 1 min 40 pace for the first minute - and mushroom cloud #3 floated up at about 1 min 30 seconds.  Such was my introduction to the GYM.  I've since learned how to interpret my effort in "pace per 500 m".   

Reasons for owning a kayak ergometer.

Even paddlers that have access to water year 'round can still benefit from owning a kayak ergometer.  If you are an 8-5 rat like me, then for several months each year if you live at a higher latitude, you might face darkness or cold during your morning or evening training sessions - that is if the water is not iced over.  While paddling in those elements is an option, it is safer, and more convenient to sit on a kayak ergometer.   Plus, the more efficient use of your time will likely keep your spouse and kids happier.

Another reason to own a kayak ergometer would be for improving your own technique or teaching and training others.  I strongly believe that technique learned or changed on an ergometer like the Speedstroke or GYM is both applicable and specific to on-water paddling.  Furthermore, on an erg like the GYM, one is able to slow the paddle stroke down and dissect each movement, consider the timing and the force vector of that movement, and then commit that learned technique to muscle memory.  In the Youtube link below, see how easy it is for a coach to teach basic technique on the older Speedstroke model:

Pluses

1. The GYM is exceptionally robust.  I think that this GYM will outlast me.  The only question will be which one of my children will inherit it.
2. Excellent simulation of the kayak stroke technique.  One can honestly develop proper technique on this ergometer.
3. The rope pulley system is exceptionally smooth.  The catch is immediate and solid.  Paddling on the GYM feels very close to paddling on water.
4. Computer - Having so much data on a compact display is great.  I also like that because of the ability to calibrate the computer monitor, I can accurately measure how much power I can produce today, mid season, next year, and next decade independent of the boat and the weather.
5. Software options.

Minuses

1. Cost.  While the cost seems rather high for what might be thought of as off-season supplementary training equipment, the price is competitive with other proper full-feature kayak ergometers on the market.  The GYM should outlast most all skis, too, if they are used regularly.  From my past experience with Kayak ergometers, you sort of get what you pay for.
2. The shaft just doesn’t feel as nice on the bare hands as carbon does.  It also is weighted towards the center as opposed to at the ends like a real paddle.  But, the diameter is right, the adjustability is useful, and a replacement all carbon ZRE shaft is always an option for the persnickety folks.
3. It's too stable compared to a real boat, but this is true of rowing ergometers and bike ergometers, too.   I think that some sort of instability built into the seat might be a nice option.

Summary

Over the past decade, I have owned and/or tried four other kayak ergometers, and the GYM is hands-down the best one as a stand alone unit.  Add in the availability of software and the accurate calibration, and the GYM encourages a kayak ergometer community not unlike the Concept rowing community.

Keep up to date with the latest Kayak Pro information on their facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1839100054

After being absent from water and therefore paddle sports for a long time, I am finally living back near the water and am enjoying rekindling my enthusiasm for kayaking.  I had been following the rise of ocean paddling and was super keen to give it a go.  I still had my old surf lifesaving spec ski, but I wanted the thrill of speed on the waves that the new ocean racing skis could offer.

First Purchase

Before my first purchase, I surfed the web looking for product reviews, forums and for the actual race results of the different skis in the market place.  In the end, I went with the ski that I just simply saw the most of - a Fenn Elite.  The Fenn craft seemed to be everywhere and have had a great deal of success at ocean racing events.  I thought that if a majority of the paddlers I saw bought this boat, then it must be a good craft.

The Fenn Elite is a great craft, but to my dismay, it was not the best boat for me.  Everyone is different, and for me this ski was immediately the wrong purchase decision.  Whilst the ski handled and performed much to expectations, it was the paddling position that I could not tolerate.  The bucket is very low, almost following the cylindrical hull.  Thus, the bucket is extremely curved, forcing my hip bones to rotate in.  The low position did not allow for kayak like drive, and the hump between the bucket and the footwell was in the way.  I’m not sure why, but the bucket shape made me lean back, instead of forward like in a K1 and I just couldn’t get any power through my stroke.  I chocked up the bucket with inches of foam, trying to get more height and to flatten the seat out so my hips wouldn’t be rotated in, but this sacrificed stability and I just couldn’t get the right feel that I wanted from the boat.

At this time, it is important to qualify that I have a six foot (185cm) mesomorph body type.  A mesomorph has a large bone structure and large muscles.  When lean, I sit between 95kg and 100kg, so I am much larger than the average guy.  Obviously the problems I experienced with the Fenn’s bucket may well not be a problem for you, and this is obvious by the number of people happily paddling and racing on Fenn craft.

If at first you don't succeed...

In despair, I started searching for another craft – determined this time to try the boat before making a purchasing decision.  I tried a number of boats from brands that you would all well recognise, all of which were very good.  Though not the last boat on my list of boats to try, when I took the Vajda Orca for a paddle on Sydney Harbour, I knew straight away that this was the boat for me and that I did not need to try any others!

Click here for a larger image

Click here for a larger image

The build quality of Vajda Orca is superior to all the other ski manufacturers that I have seen.  It is light and strong, and has great looks to go with its beautiful design lines.  I don’t want to name any brands in particular, but this ski is miles ahead in build quality and aesthetics.  I’m sure that other manufacturers will be clamouring to catch up with Vajda’s build quality.  This ski has already been blown off my racks onto the concrete floor in my garage.  I watched the ski bounce a foot into the air after it slammed in the concrete.  I was convinced that I was going to witness total destruction, but to my amazement the ski did not even have a mark on it!

Handling

Aside from the build quality, the Vajda Orca performs extremely well in all conditions.  I believe the Vajda Orca to be at least as fast as any ski on the market in both flat and in downwind conditions.  On my local training time trials, I am consistently covering more distance on the Vajda Orca then I was on my previous ski.  I believe this is mostly due to the fact that I am more comfortable on the ski, but obviously this ski must be fast as well.

The boat has a great trim and tracks very nicely but can turn on dime, thanks in part to the clever position of the rudder and the rounded tail section.  In flat conditions, the boat runs like a K1.  In small chop the boat is very settled and very quiet, with none of the slap that I felt on some other skis that I have paddled.  In the ocean, the rounded tail section allows the paddler to feel the runs early, and helps to accelerate the ski early so that catching runs is all too easy.  Both the front and rear decks seem to have the perfect volume and the giant scupper works a treat.

Stability and Comfort

The Vajda Orca Ski is easy to handle with great feedback from the rudder and has great primary and secondary stability.  But most importantly, in my opinion the Vajda Orca Ski has the most comfortable bucket on the market; because when you can’t sit comfortably in a craft, you can’t perform at your best!  The bucket is raised so that it is higher than the footwell, like in a K1.  This allows the paddler to sit upright or forward, rotate through the torso and drive with the legs to generate real power.  The higher seat also made it possible for Vajda to flatten the seat, so that the hip bones don’t get pushed in and up.  The hump between the bucket and the footwell is no problem on this ski.  I can sit comfortably on this ski for hours.

If you are in the market for a new ski, don’t make the same mistake I did.  Make sure you paddle the ski before you buy it.  What may be the best ski for someone else may not be the best ski for you.  But whatever you do, make sure you try the Vajda Orca before you buy any ski, it’s a ripper.

Build: Plain and Simple

Well, perhaps “elegant and simple” would be closer to the mark.  I’ve seen a number of skis from Carbonology Sport (including the innovative Green7 built of cork composite under license from Red7) and I’ve been uniformly impressed with the quality of build.

The boats are light and strong and the finish is comparable to most manufacturers around the world.

The ski is relatively short (5.95m/19'6") and narrow (.44m/17.3").

Being physically quite small, and vacuum moulded, the skis are light: 9-14kg/20-31lb depending on the layup.

The Atom (bottom) is a relatively small ski - EOS 660 (top) and Zeplin (middle) by contrast 

Setting the boat up

Installing the rudder was simple – the tiller bar being attached with a self locking nut; the shaft is beveled to lock the bar at 90 degrees the rudder.

The tiller bar is particularly accessible on this ski: the entire assembly stands proud of the deck, covered by a tear shaped blister.  Simple.  Elegant.

The tiller bar stands proud of the deck

...and is protected with a simple cover

The rudder lines comprise steel cables running from tiller bar to cockpit joined to rope that runs through the self-adjusting rudder pedals.  So, setting up the footplate on the beach was a quick and painless exercise.

(Having used a wide variety of rudder lines over the years, I like this arrangement – in my opinion, steel cables are still the most robust, reliable solution.)

The footplate ended up near the limit of its adjustment, emphasizing that this is not a boat for very tall people.  (I’m 1.87m/6’2”).

Paddling the ski

I paddled the ski in a variety of conditions ranging from a race on flat water, to a fairly hectic downwind run and on choppy water in Hout Bay.

The cockpit is snug and I felt secure – although my coccyx was left raw after a couple of hours in the boat.  This is a personal affliction – and I’m pretty certain that most paddlers (provided they have a narrow backside) will find the Atom comfortable to sit in.

Flat race

This was a round the cans race in Fish Hoek bay.  My impressions of the boat were:

• It seemed fast; I was slightly ahead of where I’d be normally.
• I felt quite tippy.
• It seemed very responsive and quick onto the small bumps
• It turns on a dime

And these impressions were reinforced with all the other paddling that I did in the ski.

Choppy, messy water

We paddled in Hout Bay one evening in classic conditions for the area: Hout Bay is surrounded by cliffs on two sides and the incoming ocean swells bounce off them, sending reflected waves in all directions.  The resulting chop can be challenging, but often offers runs wherever you’re heading.  It can be a lot of fun to paddle there.

That evening though, I really battled, focusing more on staying upright than paddling fast.  Both upwind and downwind, my paddling buddies were able to drop me.

Back on the flat protected water of the harbor, however, it was a different story.  We did a couple of sprints and every time I paddled away from the other skis.  After the first run I looked back to see my buddy reversing.  “I thought I had some plastic on the rudder,” he explained.  He hadn’t.

Downwind

I did a Millers Run (my favorite 12km downwind route here in Cape Town) in the ski on a blustery day, 25kt of SE with 3-5ft waves.

The conditions were classic for this run: not much in the way of big ocean swell; the waves were short, steep, wind generated.

Considering my feeling of twitchiness in the choppy water in Hout Bay, I felt surprisingly stable, both going out to the turning rock (800m diagonally into the wind and waves) and on the runs downwind.  Going into waves I often find it easier if there’s a strong wind (unless it’s right on the beam); it seems to give you something to push against.

Skis are often at their twitchiest as you move through the crest of a wave, as you’re about to accelerate; It’s frustrating sometimes to have to brace at the exact moment you need to make the strongest strokes and many a wave has been lost this way.  I think the low volume of the Atom helps in that the ski may sink into the wave more than some others – creating stability just at the point it helps most.

Broaching

I did find that if I wasn’t careful, I could let the ski broach quite easily.  I suspect that here in Cape Town we have these short, steep, wind swells more frequently in other parts of the world – and that any tendency to broach might not be as important elsewhere.  Suffice to say that I lost control of the ski on several occasions.  The broach wasn’t as vicious as on some other skis I’ve paddled, however, and by keeping speed up I was usually able to turn downwind again without wallowing.

I found the boat quite wet.  I weigh around 83kg and if I buried the nose, the water would come over the foredeck and fill the cockpit.  With dual Red7 Bullet scuppers the footwell drained fast and, in contrast to some other skis I’ve paddled, the Atom was still responsive and easy to accelerate even with the weight of water in the flooded cockpit.  (The cockpit is relatively small of course, so the volume of water is too.)

I did the run in 48min – which is what I’d expect to do in those conditions on my usual ski.  So given that I was unused to the boat, and broached a lot, it was an excellent time – highlighting once more that to me, this is a fast craft (especially if you know what you’re doing!)

Click here for a bigger image

Click here for a bigger image

Click here for a bigger image

What I like

• The high quality build
• The aesthetics of the boat – simple and elegant
• The feel of the cockpit overall – felt snug and secure
• The speed and acceleration onto runs
• The turning ability of the boat, especially on flat water
• The lightness of the ski

What I don’t like

• The tippiness; I found it a handful in messy, choppy water
• The bucket!  (My coccyx suffered – but most people seem comfortable in the ski)
• The low volume – perhaps it’s a personal thing, but for my weight, I like to have more volume in the nose of a ski.

“Fast, but you need to know what you’re doing”

When Hein van Rooyen (who owns Carbonology Sport) sent me the ski, he said, “It’s a fast ski – but you need to know what you’re doing.  It’s not a beginner’s boat.”  For once I am 100% in agreement with the manufacturer; it is really fast – amazing, considering that it’s a relatively short ski.

As a 48 year old mid-packer though, I found that my balance and skill level weren’t good enough to get the best out of the ski in rougher conditions.

But for elite or A-grade paddlers - especially if they're on the smaller side - this ski is well worth a look.

(Trying out a new ski is sometimes a little hairy.  I tried a prototype once on a big downwind – the ski was a total lemon and had terrible drainage.  The cockpit filled with water and the ski became almost uncontrollable.  In the words of a Spanish friend, “I fear for my life”!)

First Looks

This is a very good-looking ski.  The boat that I paddled had been made in Italy at the Allwave factory there and, judging by the seams, they have build techniques that are more precise than most manufacturers.  Every other ski that I’ve ever seen has a thick layer of resin over the seam – which disguises any imperfections in the mating of the deck with the hull.  Not the CX.

For a bigger image, click here

For a bigger image, click here

For a bigger image, click here

The CX has quite pronounced "hard chine" - and the precision of the build is shown by that unhidden seam

Deep-V up front; broad and flatter behind

The fittings too are precise and beautifully engineered.  Apart from their experience with outrigger canoes, the company also has long experience of building yachts, and this is evident in controls that adjust not only the footplate but also the angle of the rudder pedals.  The tiller bar too is a beautiful machined stainless steel part – a far cry from the roughly stamped, bent and filed apologies for a bar that I’ve seen in some other skis!

Footplate Adjustment

A line with a plastic handle is placed conveniently near your right hand.  Pull the handle and the footplate locks are released.  The first time I paddled the ski I set up the footplate too short.  By pulling the handle and pushing the footplate with my heels, I was able to reset the leg length in seconds. 

Pull on the bobble to release the footplate locks

The footplate is longer than other skis I’ve paddled, leaving you to steer with your toes.  This took a little time to get used to, but given the lightness of the steering (as a result of the balanced rudder) I found that I enjoyed being able to push with my whole foot on the plate.

Pedal angle adjustment

The rudder lines, after passing through the rudder pedals, are combined to a single rope running through a cleat mounted on the front bulkhead of the cockpit.  Again – this is very easy to adjust: pull the line tighter to tilt the pedals back; looser to tilt them forward.

Adjusting the pedal angle

Ease of adjustment v Simplicity

Some of the folks who have seen the boat questioned whether the pedal angle adjustment was really necessary.  “Won’t that slip eventually?” was one comment.  All I can say is that in the month that I had the boat, it didn’t slip at all.

Some other skis use a simple knot for this purpose (the lines run around the front of the cockpit and are tied together); some require each line to be adjusted in turn.  It was certainly convenient though to be able to adjust the pedal angle so easily (following the example of Oscar Chalupsky I’ve formed the habit of setting my pedals much flatter then I used to.  I used to have them tilted slightly towards me; now I set them almost tilting away from me – which reduces the amount of inadvertent steering as you paddle.)

Footplate and pedal angle controls - well engineered but too fiddly?

Cockpit

I found the cockpit very comfortable; one of the more comfortable skis I’ve tried.  I’m one of the few people who can’t paddle the Epic skis without a bum pad (my coccyx rubs raw) and I find Fenns most comfortable.  So if you’re compatible with a Fenn bucket, you’ll fit this one too.  One caveat though: this is a narrow ski and several of the folks who tried it found it a very snug fit.

Emergency steering gear

Honcho were the first (that I saw) to install a “get me home” emergency steering system on a ski.  The idea behind this is that if you break a rudder line, you can hook a strong elastic cord to the tiller bar on the same side as the unbroken line.  The rudder is now tensioned and automatically steers toward the side of the broken line – but you can steer with the pedal whose line is still attached.

(Honcho have since gone out of business; some of the moulds were taken on by Knysna Racing Kayaks in South Africa.)

Allwave have a superb implementation of this idea; I tested it and it works perfectly.  With the bungi attached, the rudder has a strong enough tendency to turn to one side, that the ski is controllable even when moving fast downwind.   When not in use, the bungi is hooked to the cover that extends over the tiller bar.  Very neat.

The emergency rudder steering system - hooked out of the way

The left hand rudder line has snapped; the emergency steering system is now hooked to the right hand end of the tiller bar. Steering is now possible using the right hand rudder pedal only.

The bungi has a blunt stainless steel hook on the end - hooked here onto the tiller bar

This impressed me sufficiently that I’m going to modify my skis to have a similar system.  I’ve seen many paddlers break rudder lines – and at least five I can remember happened in big downwind conditions with extreme discomfort resulting. 

Paddling the CX

Ok, so enough of the wonderful engineering of the ski.  What’s it like to paddle?

Flat water

We did a number of flat-water sprints inside Hout Bay Harbor.  My impression is that the ski is no slower than the other high-end skis.  I also had an elite paddler try it in flat conditions with his training group and he too said that he was impressed with the way the boat performed.

Nauticat Test – Broaching

I hate a ski that broaches too easily (and although broaching seems to be something that doesn’t really happen to elite paddlers, it’s the bane of us mid-packers going downwind).  The old Fenn Mako6 was a case in point – in the kind of downwind conditions prevalent here in Cape Town (steep wind generated swell), the Mako6 would broach at the drop of a hat – making for frustrating and irritating paddling.  (A larger elliptical surf rudder completely changes this characteristic of the Mako6, and I can strongly recommend the conversion to anyone still paddling the ‘6.)

There’s an 88 ton catamaran tourist boat that operates out of Hout Bay Harbor.  Every hour she sets off towards Duiker (aka Seal) Island about 4km away, leaving a superb wake behind her.  When the weather’s not suitable for downwind paddling, we like to ride Nauticat’s wake, picking it up at the harbor mouth and staying on it until the boat reaches the island.  We tool about in the channel until the tourists have had their fill of the Seals, then we hop back onto her wake and ride it back to the harbor.

Apart from the fun, it’s a great exercise in catching small runs.  (Just lately the captain has increased the average speed to nearly 15kph, which makes it even more challenging to stay on the wave.)

But it’s also a great test of the tendency of a ski to broach.  The waves streaming out behind the boat are short and steep, and if a ski is prone to broaching, it’s almost impossible to handle.  You feel the ski slewing out of control; you veer sideways and by the time you’ve turned the ski back on course you’re one wave further back.

The Allwave CX handles the Nauticat Test with aplomb – it was easy to stay on the wave and I could steer backwards and forwards moving out and then back in along the wave.  Phenomenal handling that bode well for downwind paddling.

Choppy water and messy downwind

Having ridden Nauticat’s wake back from the island, we met a friend at the entrance to the harbor and set off again back across the bay.  A light southeaster was blowing and the water, as always in Hout Bay, was choppy. Heading directly into the wind, I found the ski a blast; I was able to put my head down and drop my companions at will.

At the base of Chapman’s Peak we turned around to set off downwind back to the harbor.  Now however I found that I felt quite unstable in the ski and, instead picking up the runs in the slop as normal, I battled to find a rhythm and my buddies dropped me.  I’m still not sure quite why I found the ski difficult to handle in these conditions – but it happened again during a messy Millers Run, described below. 

Downwind paddling

I did several Millers Runs in the ski – two classic runs in southeasters, and a Reverse Millers in a northwester.

Millers #1

Conditions: 2-3ft waves, 15-20kt Southeaster (20-22kt registering at the half-way point, Roman Rock).

I found the ski quite twitchy, but found that the faster I went, the more secure I felt.  The ski accelerated very easily onto the runs and was exceptionally easy to maneuver.  With never a hint of a broach, I was touching the rudder to turn the ski to chase the next dip.

Although the nose of the ski seems to be quite low in volume, it didn’t seem to nosedive and although some water came in over the cockpit sides, it drained very quickly through the bullet-equipped bailers.

Easy Remount

Approaching Fish Hoek Bay, I hooked the paddle on a wave and in the blink of an eye I flipped into the water.  I was back in the ski and paddling inside 30 seconds, which is pretty fast for me.  The ski is easy to remount!

And I beat my buddies handily in spite of falling in.  So far so good. 

Reverse Millers

When the northwester blows, we go with it, offshore from Fish Hoek to Millers Point.  When the wind is strong, the runs start at the mouth of the bay, but usually they only start half way to the lighthouse, growing in size steadily.

In contrast to the Millers Run the waves are usually regular and clean – purely wind generated chop.

What fascinated me was the way I could paddle the runs diagonally – 20-30 degrees either direction, again, without a hint of a broach.

In these conditions, the ski is a joy to paddle.

Millers #2

Conditions: 3-4ft waves, 25kt SE.

The first 800m of the run is often quite challenging, since you’re paddling diagonally out into the wind and swell to get to Bakoven Rock – which marks the beginning of the downwind section to Fish Hoek. 

In the side-wind and waves I found the ski twitchier than my regular steed (the Fenn Mako Elite).  I’d like to try the ski with a slightly de-tuned rudder.  The rudder is very effective and well balanced and perhaps a rudder with less bite would improve the stability.

The run itself went very well – the ski’s maneuverability was again striking.

In the bigger runs I never nosedived and although the cockpit did flood once or twice over the rails, I noted that (perhaps because the volume of the cockpit itself is relatively small) even with the weight of the water, the handling didn’t deteriorate markedly.  (I’ve paddled other skis that were almost unmanageable with a full cockpit, wallowing and continuously nosediving.)

On balance I’ll gladly accept the dampness caused by the low cockpit rails  - given how easy the ski is to remount.

Millers #3

Conditions: 2-3ft but messy, confused seas, 20kt SE 

My final run in the ski wasn’t so happy.  Once again, the waves were small but were ricocheting in all directions – and I couldn’t get settled in the boat.  I found it difficult to make ground against my buddies and ended up taking a swim halfway between the lighthouse and Fish Hoek beach.

Swimming

I took a total of three swims while paddling the ski and apart from confirming that it’s an easy remount(!) I suspect that the secondary stability may be a little less than the Fenn Mako Elite – making it a slightly less forgiving ski.

I like: the footplate measurement tape; the position of the scuppers; the leash anchor point

I like: the "don't copy" warning notice!

What I like

• The Aesthetics – Italians sure know how to design style into a boat!
• The superb quality of the build
• The weight
• The comfort of the cockpit
• The footplate adjustment control
• The shape of the footplate (longer than normal)
• The steering
• The acceleration and handling on clean downwind runs
• The lack of propensity to broach
• The speed on flat/choppy water
• The emergency steering setup

I don't like: the flimsy rudder - it needs to be beefed up so that incidental knocks on the ground or even rocks don't damage it like this

What I don’t like

• I found the ski a little more twitchy than my Mako Elite.
• I didn’t perform well going downwind in small confused seas.
• A couple of the folks who tried it said they found the bucket too narrow.
• The name…  Surely there’s a sexier/more exotic/more elegant name out there than “Allwave CX”!  The ski deserves it!

In Summary

This is one of the most exciting new skis I’ve ever paddled.  It’s clearly for advanced paddlers – but it seems fast and catches runs with alacrity.  I’d like to see a version slightly wider (and less tippy).

In my opinion, this ski ranks up there with the rest of the “elite” level skis…  If you can get your hands on one, definitely include it in your list of skis to try out.

In particular women and men of lighter build may find this a particularly agreeable ski – it’s light, has low volume and a narrow cockpit.

Words and Images

The book is written by Kevin Brunette in association with Dawid and Nikki Mocke.  Kevin describes himself as a “serious recreational paddler” and has been paddling with the Surfski School training groups longer than almost anyone else.  He’s a technical author and his writing style reflects his engineering background: the concepts are described clearly and simply, with little embellishment.

The book is worth buying for the photos alone.  It’s packed with stunning full color images taken by Jean Tresfon, himself a keen paddler.  (For more of his work, check out http://www.flickr.com/photos/jtresfon/sets/)

Dawid Mocke, showing how it's done in fabulous downwind conditions

Dawid and Nikki paddle past the Roman Rock lighthouse in False Bay, Cape Town.  Roman Rock is the half way point on the infamous Miller's Run

Mocke Magic

The book is essentially a distillation of the Mocke approach to teaching surfski paddling.

Dawid and Nikki Mocke have been running their Surfski School for 8 years and have introduced over four thousand people to the sport in Cape Town alone*.  Dawid has been the de-facto Surfski World Champion for the last three years, while Nikki has extensive sprint experience (culminating in a 7th place at the Beijing Olympics in the South African women’s 1000m K4 team) to add to her own surfski achievements (among them World Champion in 2006 and 2010).

Most importantly though, the Mocke’s have an absolute passion for paddling and for passing on their knowledge – and this shines through, throughout the book.

Audience

While SURFSKI with the Pros is aimed at the beginner to intermediate level paddler, more advanced paddlers will also find useful tidbits.

The first half of the book covers the basics: choosing and handling your gear; getting onto the water for the first time; paddling technique and safety considerations.

The text then goes on to more advanced topics: navigating the surf line; group paddling and downwind paddling; training and competing and finally some of the theory behind ski and paddle shapes.  Finally the FAQ section condenses the most commonly asked questions from the Mocke’s many years of teaching.

Using the Book

While you could sit down and read it from cover to cover, this is the kind of book that’s perfect for dipping into, simply because the information is so neatly packaged into logical chunks.  The chapters on group paddling and downwind paddling are cases in point!

What I liked about the book

• The breadth of information – from selecting your first ski to planning your training regime.
• The clear and simple presentation of the information
• The fantastic illustrations

What I didn’t like so much

• I felt that the language was a little too staid in places – but heck, it’s a how-to, not a thriller!

Overall

This is an excellent book, long overdue.

Surfski paddling is a complex business and takes years to master – and even then you can always find ways to improve.  This book is both a means of accelerating the learning curve and an inspiration to get out on the water; read the chapter on downwind paddling and the first thing you want to do is go out and practice the concepts!

*The Surfski School concept has been franchised and operations based on the concept are running in Durban and East London.  Contact the Mockes if you’re interested in opening your own school.

Simple and Elegant

While the “Flash” decals are just that, the ski is much like the other Carbonology ski’s, somewhat understated or to once again borrow from Rob’s Atom review “simple and elegant”.

This meshes quite well with what I know of the Carbonology team of manufacturer and distributors; they are content to let the skis talk for themselves and have been a slowly but surely increasing their presence in the ski market without much fanfare.

At the beginning of the year I had been paddling a Carbonology Vault for around 10 months and more out of jest than anything else I posted on the Carbonology Facebook page that a full length version of the Vault was on my wish list for 2012, much to my surprise the reply was “have you been spying on us?... watch this space!”

Here we are 6 months later and after being initially released on the European market it has finally landed on Western Australian shores and should be in the hands of those in the Eastern states as this review hits the web.

Construction

The Vault I’ve been paddling is in the Hybrid lay-up so when I was asked which lay-up I would like to demo the flash in I went for the same lay-up. I have found the hybrid lay-up of Glass re-enforced with Carbon to be quite stiff and very robust.

My ski is still in excellent condition despite the accidental knocks that all skis cop over time; I really think it is the best value for money from all the lay-ups available.

As opposed to other manufacturers who quote a weight for specific ski’s Carbonology have gone the ballpark method. There is obviously much less material used in say an Atom to a Flash, yet they quote a flat 12kg for all hybrid lay-up single ski’s.

On the bathroom scales test my Vault weighs in at 12.5kg while the Flash weighs in at 13kg.

Vital Statistics

• Length: 6,35m
• Width at seat: 445mm
• Width at front of footwell: 315mm
• Deck height in front of footwell: 345mm
• Nose height at front of ski: 265mm

So to those familiar with the Vault how does it compare… well I lined the two ski’s up bucket to bucket and this is what I found: there’s an extra 30cm in the nose and 13cm in the tail.

Bucket

After 35 kms in the Flash over 3 days this week I have yet to have any issues, the bucket is quite snug on my 90kg 6ft 2in frame, which I feel adds to my stability.  While initially I though the bucket a narrower version of the Vault bucket I also noticed that the hump under the knees is lower. This is sure to please the short-legged paddler who has problems with big humps under the knees.

When setting up the footplate for my leg length I also noticed that the bucket is slightly longer, not sure exactly how much but there is at least two more notches left on the footplate adjustment in the Flash. Given that I am 6ft 2in you would need damn long legs to max this bucket out.

Flash (L) and Vault (R) 

Looking forward from the bucket this ski is decidedly thin. Take a close look at the photos and get yourself a tape measure out, a 315mm catch!!!

Footplate

The footplate is the standard Carbonology plate, which appears to be a favoured design among many ski manufacturers. The footlength can be adjusted in a matter of seconds by pulling out the locator lugs, adjusting the length then feeding the rudder lines through the pedals to bring them back upright. The only time some knot tying is required is when you wish to adjust the pedal angle.

Steering

Carbonology skis use stainless steel rudder cables attached to cord in the footwell, which in my mind is the best of both words, giving very precise rudder control and feel while allowing easy adjustment footplate length and rudder pedal angle.

Rudder

After my swim I decided to check out the rudder and found that it was a swept back elliptical rudder. Hein from Carbonology stated that in testing the usual rudder shape was too aggressive and this new rudder smoothed that out but still gave good feel and response.

One pleasant surprise was that they have kept the same rudder shaft length, so I was able to swap out the ocean rudder for my river rudder, however the new elliptical rudder has the shaft set further back from the leading edge so if fitting a weed deflector it needs to be done with the ocean rudder fitted so as not to foul it when switching rudders.

Top Secret one way draining bullet scuppers

Hein from Carbonology tells me they have been able to integrate a one-way valve into their bullet scuppers that stops the footwell from filling with water when you slow to a stop. This would be very handy sitting on the start line to a race. Unfortunately they are only fitted as an option on new skis and he didn’t see fit to send a ski with them fitted to us for review so I was unable to test its performance. I look forward to hearing what becomes of this new design.

Speed versus Stability

The biggest reason I bought a Vault was for the added stability it gave over the previous Epic V10L I had been paddling for the 9 months prior. The Vault has me a smidgeon more stability, which enabled me to really focus on my stroke, rather than losing energy to staying upright.

When I decided I wanted something quicker again I started paddling most of the big name elite skis, which reminded me of the speed versus stability question again… just how much extra speed can I get out of a “faster” ski in choppy conditions or when I am fatigued.

First Paddle

I joined the regular Saturday morning group in Mandurah for a 15km paddle through the estuary and canals. The tide was ripping in that day so any thoughts of figuring out what speed the ski was doing were thrown out the window. I decided the paddle would be more about how the ski felt. 
Although I noticed a smidgeon more "life" in it's primary stability than the Vault I had all but forgotten I was paddling an elite level ski within 7-8km's. It also tracked very well on washes which was one bug bear with the Vault. Although the Vault wash hangs really well I feel I have to do a lot of rudder work on my Vault to stay in the sweet spot, the extra length in the Flash has given it better straight line tracking

Speed Test

I put the speed versus stability question to the test with a 5.3km triangular ocean course in 10-15 knot winds and a short wind driven chop of 1-2 foot .

I recorded each time trial on my Garmin, but placed the Garmin where I couldn’t see it, as I didn’t want to have the speed displayed encourage my performance.  I went flat out for both efforts with a 40-minute rest period in between.

The first leg of the course was cross chop for about 600m then turned into a approx. 2.5km upwind leg with the chop at about a 20 degree angle from the right before turning for a straight downwind leg of about 2.2km.

I took the Vault out first and as I bought this ski for its cross chop and upwind abilities found the going pretty straight forward. I was copping some waves in the lap over the bow and the odd one in the chest but the double bullet scuppers made quick work of the water in the footwell. Then it was around the marker and into the short steep downwind chop, which is always fun in this short ski.

After my rest I set off on the Flash for a warm up then headed off cross wind. The ski was just a little tippier but not to the extent that I needed to brace, maybe a few wider strokes on occasion were needed to make sure I wasn’t leaning too far but I didn’t feel unsure in the ski. I did catch myself feeling like I needed to hurry up, maybe that I wasn’t achieving the same stroke rate that I had on the Vault? Turning upwind the effect was almost immediate, the longer length of the ski ironed out the chop and the lesser degree of pitching kept the ride much drier. Although the wind was 20 degrees from the right the low volume nose wasn’t affected.

Again I felt as though I was putting in some wider strokes and couldn’t rate as highly. As I rounded the marker for the downwind I was right on a runner and as my GPS would later tell me I accelerated straight up to 15km/hr….then as I kicked the rudder pedal to move off the runner as it dissipated I found myself in the water!!! What the heck?!..how did that happen?! That question didn’t last too long in my mind as the realisation that I was 2 km offshore in waters where a Great White attacked a ski only the week before rushed into my mind.

It was at this point I realised that I hadn’t given any thought as to whether I’d be able to get into this narrower bucket while rocking around?...a few deep breaths and I was up and in the bucket, one foot in, brace,  start paddling then lift the second foot in and I was away!! In no time I was back and gliding on these runners. The thought later occurred to me…

I have a small river rudder on the Vault, which really needs to be worked hard to steer in these conditions, I hadn’t given the Flash’s ocean rudder the respect it deserved and paid the price. Now I was aware of how well it steered I had no further problems and quickly found myself paddling through waves to catch the next lump.

When I finished the course on the Flash I honestly had no idea which ski had gone faster, so after a few photos of the ski on the beach it was home to download the tracks and analyse the data.

I wasn’t surprised at what I observed, the Flash and the Vault were neck and neck on the cross chop and upwind and if you were to twist my arm for a winner I would probably have to say that I think the Vault was the better performer. In the downwind the Vault appeared to have better acceleration onto the short steep chop but the Flash held the chop better and didn’t seems to wallow off the back of runs as much.  I was able to be just as aggressive in steering the Flash and could paddle as hard as I wanted through a wave to get onto a run without feeling the wobble I have experienced in some elite skis.

Taking into account the 30 seconds it took me to remount and get going from my swim the Vault was only 30 seconds quicker over the 5.3km course, not a definitive result by any stretch of the imagination.

Flatwater performance

I paddled the ski in a 28km marathon flat-water paddle.

Before I reveal the race results we finally got some still weather: the ocean was like a pond with slack mooring lines in the boats moored off my beach and each one facing a different direction.   I knew the conditions were perfect for some comparison runs with the Vault.

After warming up in both skis and paddling a 1km straight line over the same water at about 80% effort (marathon race pace) I established that the Flash showed a .3km/hr speed advantage over the Vault.

Marathon Race

My last marathon race about a month ago on the river my average pace in the Vault was 12.2km/hr over 18km. Today over 27km it was 12.5km/hr or again .3km/hr faster;)

Another difference today was that I was doing a lot more turns washleading than the previous race, so I must have been paddling at a reduced intensity! 

One other thing to note was that as I fatigued I didnt feel any less stable in the ski, somewhat important in an elite level ski.

Conclusion

I hope this review has shed some light on this new entry to the market.

Who this boat may appeal to:

• Those looking for a low volume ski that isn’t prone to being blown around by cross winds.
• Those currently paddling an elite level ski who find it too twitchy but don’t want to sacrifice speed
• Those looking to move up from an intermediate ski such as the Vault, Swordfish or Evo II.

First Looks

To me the boat is a thing of beauty - the finish is absolutely superb.

This is a V10 Performance - a vacuum glass layup - that weighs about 23.6kg, not bad at all for a glass double.

The buckets are really comfortable - I can't sit in the old V10 without getting a raw coccyx in a few minutes.  

(Forgive me for not posting photos - I'll be putting them into the full review in a week or two once we've had time to paddle it a little more.)

First Paddle

Last weekend there wasn't any wind so we took the ski for a session across to Muizenberg beach where we caught waves for while.  She handles well on the (small) waves and we were cruising 22kph before pulling out where the surfers were waiting in the water.

On the flat water we were cruising 12kph with very little effort and maintaining 13kph when we focused on putting a little more power, but more importantly synchronisation...  You can feel when rear paddler is out of synch and it's amazing to watch how the speed comes down when it happens.

First Downwind 

Yesterday afternoon the wind cranked up to a respectable 25-30kt SE so we hauled the ski out for a Millers Run.  Conditions were challenging: the waves were so close together and so messy that it was difficult to get on a run without dragging the rear paddler through the crest of a wave...  But near the lighthouse we started to get some longer swells and it was a joy to feel the boat accelerate down the runs.

Conditions made it difficult to maneuver the ski, but every now and then we were able to get going and I could turn and curve back so as to re-take the wave that we were on...

Taking a swim

At the back of my mind was the time we'd taken our last swim - paddling Dale's Fenn Mako Elite Double - about 500m from Fish Hoek Beach.  On that occasion we'd struggled to get back in the boat and I was very conscious that we should actually have practiced BEFORE taking the new boat on a reasonably hectic Millers Run!

We were speeding down a wave when I let my paddle come too far back just as the boat rolled - the paddle caught and in an instant we were swimming.

Letting the ski come broadside to the wind, we ducked under the hull and popped up on the windward side.  

Now to try the remount!

Truly it was a non-event.  I popped onto the boat, side-saddle style, and simply sat there with legs over the sides while Dale got on behind me.  A quick stab with the paddle to straighten the camera on the fore-deck and away we went, no trouble at all.

Part of the reason it's an easy remount is that the rails are low - the seat's quite shallow and that also makes it comfortable to sit there with your legs out.

So now we know that coming out isn't a problem - and I'm looking forward to spending more time in the boat.  We've got a downwind race scheduled for next weekend.  Blow wind, blow!

Here's the video:

V10 Double Remount from Rob Mousley on Vimeo.

The “Switch” is the brainchild of the designers that brought us the Carbonology Atom.  Although the Carbonology Atom has been well recognised as a very fast ski, it really only carved out a niche market with very skilled paddlers.

Rob Welsh and Gary Butlion have been back to the drawing board and with the assistance of a silent partner and what they have learnt from the Atom, they set about designing a ski that would retain the shorter length, low volume and good speed, but make it more accessible to us mere mortal paddlers.

While not being any expert on hull design the immediate differnces to me were the reduced rocker and the increase in stern volume in the new design.

The group took the “switch” plug to Carbonology and had the owner, Hein, build a handful of skis for testing. Being very proud of his work, Hein stickered the skis with his Carbonology branding, but at the time of writing this review the owners of the “Switch” are yet to decide who the builder of this ski will be.  [Editor: I've since confirmed that the ski is most definitely a "Carbonology" boat!]

Prototype or Pre-Production?  Carbonology-buit Switch

Why the “Switch”?

The short answer….. is that it is a ski that can “switch” from underslung rudder to a trailing rudder.

The longer answer…..

Four years ago when the Atom was first designed, I was contacted as a then adventure racer to see if I was interested in paddling a new short ski that would be built for multisport racers. But after ascertaining it was an elite level ski I politely declined the opportunity given I only had 2 days a week to train in my then V10L. With all the other training adventure racers do I just couldn’t afford to be trying out a new ski in the training time I had.

History tells us that the Carbonology Atom went on to be one of, if not, the fastest flat water ski on the market…but with a stability level that only die-hard paddlers could master.

A look at the hull shape

Adventure and multisport racers have to divide their time between swimming, running, riding and paddling. Given that they often climb into their ski after having done one of those activities prior they need to have craft that even when fatigued they can perform in. Adventure racing is also about point to point racing, so a ski that copes with wind, swell and chop from all directions is the order of the day.  Adventure racers also find themselves racing in rivers, estuaries and lakes where a trailing rudder is sometimes needed.

I guess you’ve figured out by now that this is no ordinary “Ocean Ski”, in my opinion it is by design, a crossover between an ocean ski and a downriver racing K1.

Layups

I have had two skis to paddle.

The first ski I was given was a “Ocean” Carbon Lay-up weighing in at a smidge under 11kg. This ski was built to test it’s ocean capability and was fitted with dual bullet scuppers.

The second “Multisport” ski was laid up using a carbon & kevlar woven cloth, comes in at 14kg and had the river plastic tube scupper fitted.

Tube scupper for river use

Finish

The gel coats on both skis are a grey colour that appears like a matt finish and I reckon it looks great. It gives the skis a utilitarian look, something adventure racers often like.

Bucket drainage

Both skis had an inspection/access port reset into the bucket hump. The port allows the fitting and replacement of the river scupper plastic tubing option. It could also be a handy place to store items like your keys, phone, etc.

This multsport layup ski had the downriver scupper which consists of some plastic tubing run from the footwell through the hull to under the seat, held in place and sealed with silicone sealant.  The benefit of this plastic tube is that it can run over rocks and logs in a river and not sustain damage. When it wears out it can be removed and replaced with some more inexpensive tubing.

The Carbon Ocean ski had the two bullet scupper. I know they are not meant to induce too much drag due to the bullet design but they drain so well I have to question whether one would be enough?

The river scupper option with the plastic tube is functional but not outstanding. There was a constant 1 -2 inches of water around my heels at any speed below about 11km/hr and is much slower to drain.

Neat design for the rear handle and tiller cover

Seat and Bucket

While ski seats tend to be a lottery depending on the shape of your rear end, for me I found the seat in the ski the most comfortable I have used.  This comes as no surprise as someone who finds the all Carbonology buckets comfortable.

Comfortable bucket

The hump is very low in this ski. Great news for those with short legs and it allows for excellent leg drive. There is a drawback with this though. I discovered this on a cold winters morning when paddling the ski with the river scupper, the footwell fills with water as you get in, then as you start paddling that frigid water sloshes up into the seat, brrrrr. I guess a cork or plug could be used to prevent this. My usual ski has the snorkel valves fitted and I am accustomed to having a dry footwell in these cold conditions.

I am 6ft 3in tall and I fit in the bucket without any effort. The footplate had a few more inches of adjustment left and with my size 12 feet (UK 47) I could fit my feet with minimalist shoes into the footwell without an issues.

The bucket is shaped so that you are very snug in it. I find this an advantage stability wise as you have a larger area of contact should you need it to stabilise yourself without restricting rotation and leg drive. It also reduces the amount of water it can hold when water splashes over the sides or bow.

The footplate used was the standard carbonology footplate which is very easy to adjust without the need for any tools. You just pull out two spring loaded lugs, adjust the length and release the lugs, an operation taking a few seconds.

Trailing rudder

The Multisport layup ski I paddled  had a second set of rudder tubes fitted with the stainless cables ready to go. Rather than dictate which trailing rudder should be fitted, at this point in time the idea is to supply the ski ready, but not fitted with a trailing rudder to allow the customer to decide which rudder fits their needs.

Two sets of rudder lines

Paddling the Switch

(Brett came over all shy about his voice-over so masked it with music!)

Upwind

The ski is very stable upwind and its low volume bow allows it to maintain momentum as it goes through small waves, however, it’s low volume also makes it a wet ride with quite a bit of water making it into the bucket in anything over a 1-2 foot chop. The ski with the dual bullet scuppers drains this water almost instantly but the plastic tube scupper struggled to empty the water before it was topped up in the stormy conditions I paddled the ski in. While not ideal, the speed of the ski was not too badly effected due to the low volume of the footwell.

Cross wind and at angles.

As a ski that is aimed at adventure racers I have tested it extensively in cross winds and chop between 1 -3 feet. It is the fastest stable ski I have paddled in these conditions, it really is well suited to point to point racing allowing you to keep the power on without having those “moments” some skis can throw in. The low volume and profile bow does not allow the wind to push the ski around as you crest waves.

Downwind

The ski is fun to paddle downwind, picking up runs very easily, but…it’s low volume bow will spend a great deal of time underwater if you are not picking a direction to travel and working across the runs. The skis short length allows it to make the most of short wind driven runners which are found on protected water like harbours and lakes. I have not done any big downwind conditions (over 2 metres) so I can’t comment on its ability here)

Stability

The question most people ask when seeing a new ski, is will I be able to paddle it? As someone who paddles elite level skis I guess I am not really qualified to answer that for anyone. All I can report is that I find it more stable than other elite level skis I have paddled and it is nothing like the Atom it shares some heritage with. I feel it would be within the ability of the intermediate to elite level adventure racer who can only find 2 – 3 paddling sessions a week.

But is it fast?

Before paddling the ski, I did an 8km warm up paddle in my own (12kg) ski on flat water to get an idea on what speed I could do in the current conditions at various heart rates.

When I jumped in the Carbon (11kg) Switch, I was immediately surprised by the skis stability for it’s size and volume. When underway I saw that it was indeed faster than my own ski over the same body of water for some given heart rates. I did a standing start in it and saw a .5km/hr higher top speed! So the difference in speeds at both my cruising and race pace was enough to impress me.

After a week and 90km in the 11kg Carbon ski I changed to the 14kg Carbon/Kevlar ski. I paddled this heavier ski in a lot of stormy weather and only in the past few days did I find some calm conditions to test it’s speed.  While it retained good cruising and race pace I felt it was on par with my current ski. For this weight of ski, on flat water, with the plastic hose scupper option, that is impressive.

Surf

While I don’t generally test other peoples skis in surf, the winter storms we have had in Perth have been generating a lot of swell. I couldn’t help but spend time in the ski on a favourite break that doesn’t close out so it’s a safe break for skis. This ski just loves the waves. Not sure why that is, whether it’s the length combined with the hull shape but I had an absolute ball spending hours riding wave after wave over a few sessions.  The ski is happy sitting right up “in” the wave or carving along the face without being pushed sideways. The rudder sent with the ski is quite big, so would help in the surf.

Conclusion

In summary I think the designers should be happy with their design. I think it is a good mix of stability and speed, low volume and versatility which will appeal to the adventure racing market. As a paddler who understands adventure racers, I would recommend you check this ski out if you know there is one in your area. Time will tell if paddlers see it as a downwind weapon, but that is a review for someone else to write.  

Paddling the ski

I only had the opportunity to paddle the boat for a day, so I took it Hout Bay – one of my favorite testing grounds where the ocean swell rebounds off the steep rocky cliffs and creates a whole range of sea states.  In places the confused chop tests your ability to stay upright, but if you’re awake, you find that you can catch runs in all directions – it’s a great place to paddle.

In the harbor I had the ski up to 15kph sustained (briefly!) which is fast for me.  In the chop outside as we were paddling into the wind, I found to my surprise that although the ski is slightly tippier than the Elite, I found it quite manageable and was able to put the hammer down and accelerate away from my paddling buddy.  The secondary stability is, in any case, very solid and I never felt as though I was going to come out of the boat.

After heading out for a couple of km into the light southeaster, we turned downwind, heading towards Seal Island.  This area always offers something in the way of rides on the reflected swell bouncing off the bottom of Chapman’s Peak.  To me it seemed as though the ski leapt onto the waves with alacrity.

It also seemed slightly more responsive to the rudder than the Elite.

Wake-riding

Reaching Seal Island, we noticed Nauticat - a big tourist catamaran - coming up behind us, so we paddled around the island, intending to catch her as she started back to Hout Bay Harbor.

Having rounded the island (paddling over a sleeping Dungeons Reef, famous for big wave surfing) I headed back over the kelp towards the channel – and hit 18.2kph riding a swell across the shallow water.

Perfect timing: Nauticat was leaving the island and I headed towards her, crossing her stern to catch the wake on her seaward side.  What with the choppy sea swell running in from the right, it was a roller coaster ride; Nauticat travels at around 13kph, making it easy to stay on the wave.  She also leaves a series of wake lines, so if you do broach off, you can easily recover and catch the next set.  All in all, it’s not only great fun, but great practice for catching and staying on runs.

Dale had headed towards the bay to catch Nauticat in slightly calmer water – soon we were both on her wake, with Dale on the wave line in front of mine.  He eventually broached and I had to pull off my wave too in order not to T-bone him.  By then Nauticat was well into the bay, leaving a clean wake for hundreds of metres on either side.  I crossed her stern again and caught up with the left hand wake 150m behind – and rode it all the way back to the harbor.

It seemed to me that the SL was very controllable – both in the roller coaster chop outside the bay and on the smooth, short wake on the flat water.  I was able to slide diagonally down the wake, making my way back towards Nauticat.

Conclusions?

I have to say: the boat feels fast.  Maybe that’s something to do with the slim nose or the lightness of the boat.  I didn’t weigh it, but it’s somewhere around 12kg in the carbon layup that I paddled. 

To tell for sure, I’d want to paddle it in a couple of races in order to compare it with my regular marks.

And the tippiness?  Hout Bay is a good testing ground precisely because there’s always a lot of movement in the water.  The ski seemed very handleable to me – but my personal bête noir conditions when it comes to tippy boats, is when I have to paddle across a strong wind in big waves…

Comfort

The boat is extraordinarily comfortable – for me.  My backside is supremely compatible with Fenn skis – but this is not true for everyone.

Some hard facts

So much for feelings, what are the actual differences between the regular Mako Elite and the Slim Line?

I took the rudders off the boats and set them up, propping them up on two pieces of straight wood to even out the bumps on our deck.

the two skis are very similar in shape (SL below)

The cockpits are virtually identical - except for the changes noted below

Simple, sturdy footplate mechanism - no changes here.

The SL has a larger scupper than previous boats.  It seems to work well but I prefer the bullet scuppers installed on my Elite, left.

Rocker

Without a dead flat surface, it’s very difficult to be certain – but I couldn’t find any appreciable difference between the two skis. 

Rudder placement

The rudder on the SL is 10mm further forward than the Elite.  This might explain the apparent increase in responsiveness that I felt on the water.

The rudder on the SL has moved 10mm forward

Hull Width

The Slim Line is, as its name suggests, appreciably narrower than the Elite – from the seat forward to the nose.

The slimmed nose is evident - on the right if you're blind!

Volume

The SL’s nose is appreciably narrower than the Elite’s – but what about the volume?  Without building a set of calipers I couldn’t measure the relative widths to any degree of accuracy due to the curvature of the foredeck.  So I measured the circumference of the hull at set points instead.

Bearing in mind the tolerances of my wife’s sewing measuring tape, it appears that the SL has slightly greater volume behind the cockpit and slightly less in front.  What does this mean?  One might deduce that the ski will lift onto smaller runs more easily, but what happens when the narrower nose slices into the wave in front in bigger conditions?  Conventional wisdom suggests that a wider nose (like that of the Red7 Surf 70 Pro) can be beneficial to prevent the nose dipping.  Time will tell.

Seat and footwell

The seat depth in the two skis is identical – the maximum depth of the bucket being 205mm from the rails.

The hump between bucket and footwell has been lowered slightly – improving the comfort of the cockpit (and, presumably, the stability since lower legs means lower centre of gravity).

The bottom of the bucket has been narrowed slightly, which suits me, but it may be tight for paddlers with bigger backsides.

Race Results

The introduction of the ski was typically low-key – Hank McGregor, Jeremy Cotter and Hayden Smith paddled them at the Dubai Shamaal to absolutely no fanfare.

The disappointing results – McGregor and Cotter came sixth and eighth respectively had more to do with the line that the two men took, and they didn’t blame the ski.  They paddled together, closer inshore than the lead group, and smacked into a strong current that took away any chance they had of dominating the race.  Hayden Smith, on a similar inshore line was happy with his thirteenth position.  He’d been training for the ultra long distance Southern Shamaal and had been focusing on endurance rather than speed.  (A week later, paddling the SL again, he came second in the 250km Southern Shamaal.)

In conversation before the race, McGregor said that one of the things he enjoyed about the new ski was the narrowness of the cockpit at the catch.  “I used to hit the Elite with my paddle,” he said.  “That doesn’t happen at all now.”  

Current Surfski World Champ Dawid Mocke hasn’t paddled his SL much, not wanting to upset his pre-Perth training.  He’ll be spending more time in the boat on his return from Australia.

McGregor said the only question mark he had was how the ski will perform in big downwind conditions.  (Mocke paddled the ski to a personal best on a Millers Run in Cape Town but felt he might have done an even faster time on his Elite.)

Clearly the jury is out on the ski’s performance in big downwind conditions.

As for me, I’m looking forward to trying my hand in the ski in a couple of races – and on a Millers Run or two!  Right now though I don’t have access to one – so I’ll have to contain my impatience.

Zeplin Mark II

Towards the end of last year, Kayak Centre released the updated version of their Zeplin ski – aimed at the beginner to intermediate paddler.

I’ve had a demo boat for a couple of months now, and have paddled it in a variety of conditions.

First Looks

The ski looks big: it has a huge amount of volume in the nose and tail – and the trademark humped hood over the footwell.  (The hood on the first version of the Zeplin was too high and I kept bashing it with my paddle but the mark II is much better.)

The cockpit hood

As you’d expect for a ski designed to be stable, it has a wide, flattish hull.

For a larger image, click here

For a larger image, click here

For a larger image, click here

Most beginner skis are short; this one is just as long as the elite skis – around 6.4m.

To give you some idea, my Fenn Mako Elite is around 43cm wide at the seat; the Zeplin is 48cm; at the catch the Elite is about 34.5cm; the Zeplin is 43cm.

Finish

The finish is good – Kayak Centre have been manufacturing kayaks and skis for many years and their experience shows.

In standard glass layup, the ski should weigh in at less than 16kg.

What’s changed?

• The bucket is narrower
• The cockpit has moved forward
• The hood is smaller

Bucket and footwell

The first version of the Zeplin had a massive bucket that I slid around in; this one, while still wide (39.5cm on the inside) is much better.  My coccyx impacted with the bottom of the bucket so I installed my trusty Lincke butt pad which sorted out the problem.

Paddler's eye view

The Kayak Centre skis have an easy to use footplate adjuster – a lever mechanism manipulates the locks.  Some observers have questioned the reliability of the setup; but my buddy Dale Lippstreu has had an EOS 660 for some months now with no sign of corrosion or wear on the mechanism.  Worth keeping an eye on though.

Footwell Hood

I’m still in two minds about the hood.  It’s pretty easy to remove (being held on with Velcro) and I paddled the ski both with and without the hood.  In biggish downwind conditions the hood made a dry ski even drier; without the hood some water came into the footwell over the sides of the cockpit.

(Equipped with bullet scuppers, the footwell drains rapidly.  This is one of the driest skis I’ve ever paddled.)

I usually carry the ski upside on the roof of my car; when the hood is on the ski, it impacts the car’s roof...  which means you really have to install cradles so that you can transport the ski right-way-up.  Or, as I did, take the hood off.

Paddling the ski

I gave the ski a pretty good workout – in all kinds of conditions, from flat water in Hout Bay harbor, to small, confused chop around the edges of Hout Bay to roaring gale-force downwind in False Bay.

Flat Water

This is a wide, stable ski.  You’re not going to expect to compete with the racing snakes on flat water.  But the Zeplin didn’t feel entirely like a barge – perhaps due to its length (although the nose does stick up out of the water to some extent).  Who wants to paddle on flat water anyway?

Confused chop

One evening I took the ski out into Hout Bay with two other paddlers; one on an EOS 660 and the other on a Fenn Mako Elite.

Conditions were challenging – with classic Hout Bay reflected chop running in all directions.

Paddling in cross-chop the other two found that their stroke was compromised by the tippiness of their skis – while had no trouble at all in keeping 100% of my effort in my stroke.  And I kept up with them with ease.

When we turned downwind, the other two did pull away – but it was instructive to see just what a difference the stability of the ski made when we were going across the chop.

A little while later, this was illustrated again when I was paddling my Mako Elite in choppy conditions upwind in False Bay.  Another friend was on his Zeplin – and actually pulled away from me.  This guy is built like a tank with strength to match – but he’s not nearly as experienced as me.  Again when we turned downwind it wasn’t long before I passed him – but in the chop he had my number.

Big Honking Downwind

I paddled the Zep on a number of classic big Millers Runs – and loved the boat.  In a nutshell – it holds its line well, is maneuverable and, because it’s so stable, it’s easy to put those explosive strokes in that are necessary to catch runs.

Most importantly (and this improved still more once I installed the optional elliptical surf rudder) it had very little tendency to broach.  There is nothing that irritates me more than losing control as I accelerate down the face of a wave...

Optional Surf Rudder (top) and standard rudder

Finally – because of the stability, it makes an awesome camera platform!

Midwinter Millers HD from Rob Mousley on Vimeo.

Remounting

Because of its width, I found that remounting the ski, while straightforward, was more comfortable when done sidesaddle.

Who should consider the Zeplin?

In my opinion, here’s the sweet spot in the market for the Zep:

• Bigger paddlers – 85kg and over.
• Looking for a stable boat.
• Looking for a bigger boat than the XT/V10 Sport/Horizon – especially in downwind conditions.

What I like

• The construction quality
• The footplate adjustment (with the caveat that it’s quite complex with a number of parts to it)
• The stability
• The directional stability – I can track down steep runs diagonally.
• The maneuverability – especially with the big surf rudder, the ski is very nimble downwind.

What I don’t like

• The cockpit hood – limits your options on the car (carry it the right way up)
• The drain plug position (the first few times I paddled the ski I wasn’t even aware of it stuck under the hood and I left it unplugged)
• The small rudder in downwind conditions

Too many paddlers use skis that are too tippy for them

(This is a theme that professionals like Oscar Chalupsky often repeat.)

If you’re a paddler who loves going out in rough conditions, but you find that your stroke is compromised by having to brace all the time; if you find that you’re nervous about going downwind in big waves and wind – try something like the Zeplin.

There’s nothing like being relaxed and able to focus on putting all your energy into your technique.

Construction and Design of the GYM

The main frame of the GYM is a combination of aluminum and steel.  There are two main sections to the horizontal frame with one fitting inside the other one and secured with hard anodized aluminum plates and allen bolts.  The front and rear supports give it a wide base of support.  The seat shape is wider and flatter than most K1 seats and should fit most paddlers well.

The supplied seat

Erik's homemade unstable seat

The seat is mounted on hard anodized aluminum plates which attach to the frame and allow for three different seat heights.  The lowest of these is a close approximation to most racing surfskis on the market today.  The footplate is full and angled forwards slightly like most surfskis.  The pull bar is padded, adjustable, and solid.  Footplate position is micro-adjustable via a nylon belt.  The fan/flywheel is housed in aluminum.  I did not take this apart to examine the interior.  The shaft is a 3-piece coated aluminum shaft with a middle male piece and outside female pieces that all screw together with standard type barrel screw adjusters.

The GYM is 114” long ( about 10 inches longer than the Speedstroke).  The space required is somewhat dependent on the size of the paddler, but it will need about 64” of width and about 72” of ceiling height.  It weighs about 50 lbs.  The GYM doesn’t fold or stuff into a closet, but it doesn't take up too much floor space if it is pushed against a wall while not in use.

Resistance on the GYM is adjustable and the amount of resistance can be accurately measured.  Here is how it works:  On the fan/flywheel is a lever that toggles from 0 to 9.  Zero gives the least resistance and 9 gives the most.  The paddler selects a level and paddles for a few seconds to get the fan/flywheel to reach a speed of greater than 700 revolutions per minute.  Once a speed of over 700 is displayed on the monitor, the paddler stops paddling and lets the fan/flywheel coast to a stop.   Sensors monitor the rate of fan/flywheel deceleration at up to 100 times per second.  The amount of resistance detected is displayed in the stroke rate box as a number.   Since the fan/flywheel pushes air, and since air density changes with both altitude, temperature, and barometric pressure, one can get an accurate measure of their GYM's resistance so that they can accurately compare workload (time over a distance) against another paddler on another GYM, or get an accurate comparison of your own workload at two different points in time.

The GYM’s frame houses a stretched out bungee cord that runs an exhausting course from the fan/flywheel pulleys to the rear support legs, to the front support legs, to the mid frame underneath the computer monitor, back to the front support legs, back to the rear support legs, and then to the rope pulleys on the other side of the fan/flywheel.

For a kayak ergometer to be effective as an on-water simulation, it needs to engage the resistance immediately as the top hand starts to drop down and back, and this can only be accomplished if the fan / flywheel pulleys are located far in front of the paddler and not too low.  This design will cause the paddle ropes to be close to horizontal throughout the stroke allowing for an immediate "catch" once the top arm transitions from moving forwards and across to moving down and back. On shorter kayak ergometers, the first third of the stroke is seriously compromised because the top arm must drop down and back too far before the ropes start spinning the resistance wheel.

Computer Monitor

The buttons on the monitor aren't labeled in familiar abbreviations.  But, the computer monitor is actually very simple to understand and use - unlike many gps units and bike computers.

There are five number sets simultaneously displayed.  On the top line is “meters to go” which is set by the paddler.

The second row gives either “pace per 500 meters” / kcal burned / or watts, and the paddler can decide which one to view.   I initially found this number difficult to work with as I usually view current speed on the gps when outdoors.  However, one adapts to this new number fairly quickly.

The third row shows elapsed time.  The time begins once the flywheel starts turning and then runs continuously until the "meters to go" gets to zero.

The lower left display shows the stroke rate, and the lower right display shows your current heart rate.

Optional software

Already in use is a software product named i-race Express that allows multiple GYMs in the same room to connect and race against one another on a laned regatta type course with the ability to see the race animated on a screen.  This software was used at last year's British, French, and US indoor kayak championships and allowed both athletes and spectators to view the virtual races on computer screens.

In the works are updated versions of the i-race Express software as well as the Virtua-race software which allow for online racing and online group training sessions.  The Virtua-race gives the user a first or third person view of a 3D course to paddle through.  Both of these software products are PC based and require connecting your GYM to your PC which is easy to do.  User options for the i-race Express and the Virtua-race include racing head to head with up to 31 other boats online, racing other computer controlled boats that have a programmable pace, or simply time-trialing solo on a course that gives you a picture to look at as well as the basic numeric data.

Another software product available called E Monitor Pro 2 displays and records the following parameters:   Distance, Stroke number, Stroke rate, Stroke length, Heart rate, Speed, Watts, Ave Watts, Drag, and Graphic Power curves for left and right sides.  According to Grayson Bourne, K1 sprinters are utilizing the E Monitor Pro 2 software to design the race plan that works best for their physiology.  For example, a paddler can get a power curve their cumulative strokes in a 500 or a 1000, find out exactly when power starts to drop, institute changes to their power output, and see improved times - all with a repeatable, accurate, ergometer test.

So what is it like to use?  How hard can it be?

The paddling position is about right.  Both surfski paddlers and higher seat K1 paddlers will be able to simulate their on-water paddling positons pretty closely with the paddlers feet lower than their seat.

Paddling with the lever at setting “9”, feels pretty similar to paddling a K1 or ski with a bungee around the hull.  Setting 7 or 8 feels about like a real ski, and paddling at setting “0” feels about like you’re paddling on a double’s wake at moderate speed.

How hard can it be?  The day after I put the GYM together, I tried level 9 with a 68" (too long!) shaft, and attempted some intervals to see what ol’ “Doc Hudson” could do.  My first time trial attempt was 5 km which should have taken about 22 minutes.  I made it about 12 minutes into it when I absolutely exploded.   If you had made a cartoon out of that attempt, you would have drawn a mushroom cloud wafting up on that frame.  Ok, Fail #1 which was a bit tough on the ego.

I next tried a shorter 1500 meter time trial with the same settings.  I figured that this one would be easier, after all, how hard can it be to paddle hard for 6 minutes?  But, just to be safe, I went upstairs and told my wife that if she heard a “thud” sound, you know, like a body flopping onto a concrete floor, then she might come check on me - at her convenience, of course.  I think that I got to about minute 4 before I almost fell off the machine from hypoxia.  Mushroom cloud #2.  Zero for two.  That left me with the 500 meter event.

I can hold my breath for two minutes, so how hard could a 500 be?  I set off on a 1 min 40 pace for the first minute - and mushroom cloud #3 floated up at about 1 min 30 seconds.  Such was my introduction to the GYM.  I've since learned how to interpret my effort in "pace per 500 m".   

Reasons for owning a kayak ergometer.

Even paddlers that have access to water year 'round can still benefit from owning a kayak ergometer.  If you are an 8-5 rat like me, then for several months each year if you live at a higher latitude, you might face darkness or cold during your morning or evening training sessions - that is if the water is not iced over.  While paddling in those elements is an option, it is safer, and more convenient to sit on a kayak ergometer.   Plus, the more efficient use of your time will likely keep your spouse and kids happier.

Another reason to own a kayak ergometer would be for improving your own technique or teaching and training others.  I strongly believe that technique learned or changed on an ergometer like the Speedstroke or GYM is both applicable and specific to on-water paddling.  Furthermore, on an erg like the GYM, one is able to slow the paddle stroke down and dissect each movement, consider the timing and the force vector of that movement, and then commit that learned technique to muscle memory.  In the Youtube link below, see how easy it is for a coach to teach basic technique on the older Speedstroke model:

Pluses

1. The GYM is exceptionally robust.  I think that this GYM will outlast me.  The only question will be which one of my children will inherit it.
2. Excellent simulation of the kayak stroke technique.  One can honestly develop proper technique on this ergometer.
3. The rope pulley system is exceptionally smooth.  The catch is immediate and solid.  Paddling on the GYM feels very close to paddling on water.
4. Computer - Having so much data on a compact display is great.  I also like that because of the ability to calibrate the computer monitor, I can accurately measure how much power I can produce today, mid season, next year, and next decade independent of the boat and the weather.
5. Software options.

Minuses

1. Cost.  While the cost seems rather high for what might be thought of as off-season supplementary training equipment, the price is competitive with other proper full-feature kayak ergometers on the market.  The GYM should outlast most all skis, too, if they are used regularly.  From my past experience with Kayak ergometers, you sort of get what you pay for.
2. The shaft just doesn’t feel as nice on the bare hands as carbon does.  It also is weighted towards the center as opposed to at the ends like a real paddle.  But, the diameter is right, the adjustability is useful, and a replacement all carbon ZRE shaft is always an option for the persnickety folks.
3. It's too stable compared to a real boat, but this is true of rowing ergometers and bike ergometers, too.   I think that some sort of instability built into the seat might be a nice option.

Summary

Over the past decade, I have owned and/or tried four other kayak ergometers, and the GYM is hands-down the best one as a stand alone unit.  Add in the availability of software and the accurate calibration, and the GYM encourages a kayak ergometer community not unlike the Concept rowing community.

Keep up to date with the latest Kayak Pro information on their facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1839100054

After being absent from water and therefore paddle sports for a long time, I am finally living back near the water and am enjoying rekindling my enthusiasm for kayaking.  I had been following the rise of ocean paddling and was super keen to give it a go.  I still had my old surf lifesaving spec ski, but I wanted the thrill of speed on the waves that the new ocean racing skis could offer.

First Purchase

Before my first purchase, I surfed the web looking for product reviews, forums and for the actual race results of the different skis in the market place.  In the end, I went with the ski that I just simply saw the most of - a Fenn Elite.  The Fenn craft seemed to be everywhere and have had a great deal of success at ocean racing events.  I thought that if a majority of the paddlers I saw bought this boat, then it must be a good craft.

The Fenn Elite is a great craft, but to my dismay, it was not the best boat for me.  Everyone is different, and for me this ski was immediately the wrong purchase decision.  Whilst the ski handled and performed much to expectations, it was the paddling position that I could not tolerate.  The bucket is very low, almost following the cylindrical hull.  Thus, the bucket is extremely curved, forcing my hip bones to rotate in.  The low position did not allow for kayak like drive, and the hump between the bucket and the footwell was in the way.  I’m not sure why, but the bucket shape made me lean back, instead of forward like in a K1 and I just couldn’t get any power through my stroke.  I chocked up the bucket with inches of foam, trying to get more height and to flatten the seat out so my hips wouldn’t be rotated in, but this sacrificed stability and I just couldn’t get the right feel that I wanted from the boat.

At this time, it is important to qualify that I have a six foot (185cm) mesomorph body type.  A mesomorph has a large bone structure and large muscles.  When lean, I sit between 95kg and 100kg, so I am much larger than the average guy.  Obviously the problems I experienced with the Fenn’s bucket may well not be a problem for you, and this is obvious by the number of people happily paddling and racing on Fenn craft.

If at first you don't succeed...

In despair, I started searching for another craft – determined this time to try the boat before making a purchasing decision.  I tried a number of boats from brands that you would all well recognise, all of which were very good.  Though not the last boat on my list of boats to try, when I took the Vajda Orca for a paddle on Sydney Harbour, I knew straight away that this was the boat for me and that I did not need to try any others!

Click here for a larger image

Click here for a larger image

The build quality of Vajda Orca is superior to all the other ski manufacturers that I have seen.  It is light and strong, and has great looks to go with its beautiful design lines.  I don’t want to name any brands in particular, but this ski is miles ahead in build quality and aesthetics.  I’m sure that other manufacturers will be clamouring to catch up with Vajda’s build quality.  This ski has already been blown off my racks onto the concrete floor in my garage.  I watched the ski bounce a foot into the air after it slammed in the concrete.  I was convinced that I was going to witness total destruction, but to my amazement the ski did not even have a mark on it!

Handling

Aside from the build quality, the Vajda Orca performs extremely well in all conditions.  I believe the Vajda Orca to be at least as fast as any ski on the market in both flat and in downwind conditions.  On my local training time trials, I am consistently covering more distance on the Vajda Orca then I was on my previous ski.  I believe this is mostly due to the fact that I am more comfortable on the ski, but obviously this ski must be fast as well.

The boat has a great trim and tracks very nicely but can turn on dime, thanks in part to the clever position of the rudder and the rounded tail section.  In flat conditions, the boat runs like a K1.  In small chop the boat is very settled and very quiet, with none of the slap that I felt on some other skis that I have paddled.  In the ocean, the rounded tail section allows the paddler to feel the runs early, and helps to accelerate the ski early so that catching runs is all too easy.  Both the front and rear decks seem to have the perfect volume and the giant scupper works a treat.

Stability and Comfort

The Vajda Orca Ski is easy to handle with great feedback from the rudder and has great primary and secondary stability.  But most importantly, in my opinion the Vajda Orca Ski has the most comfortable bucket on the market; because when you can’t sit comfortably in a craft, you can’t perform at your best!  The bucket is raised so that it is higher than the footwell, like in a K1.  This allows the paddler to sit upright or forward, rotate through the torso and drive with the legs to generate real power.  The higher seat also made it possible for Vajda to flatten the seat, so that the hip bones don’t get pushed in and up.  The hump between the bucket and the footwell is no problem on this ski.  I can sit comfortably on this ski for hours.

If you are in the market for a new ski, don’t make the same mistake I did.  Make sure you paddle the ski before you buy it.  What may be the best ski for someone else may not be the best ski for you.  But whatever you do, make sure you try the Vajda Orca before you buy any ski, it’s a ripper.

Build: Plain and Simple

Well, perhaps “elegant and simple” would be closer to the mark.  I’ve seen a number of skis from Carbonology Sport (including the innovative Green7 built of cork composite under license from Red7) and I’ve been uniformly impressed with the quality of build.

The boats are light and strong and the finish is comparable to most manufacturers around the world.

The ski is relatively short (5.95m/19'6") and narrow (.44m/17.3").

Being physically quite small, and vacuum moulded, the skis are light: 9-14kg/20-31lb depending on the layup.

The Atom (bottom) is a relatively small ski - EOS 660 (top) and Zeplin (middle) by contrast 

Setting the boat up

Installing the rudder was simple – the tiller bar being attached with a self locking nut; the shaft is beveled to lock the bar at 90 degrees the rudder.

The tiller bar is particularly accessible on this ski: the entire assembly stands proud of the deck, covered by a tear shaped blister.  Simple.  Elegant.

The tiller bar stands proud of the deck

...and is protected with a simple cover

The rudder lines comprise steel cables running from tiller bar to cockpit joined to rope that runs through the self-adjusting rudder pedals.  So, setting up the footplate on the beach was a quick and painless exercise.

(Having used a wide variety of rudder lines over the years, I like this arrangement – in my opinion, steel cables are still the most robust, reliable solution.)

The footplate ended up near the limit of its adjustment, emphasizing that this is not a boat for very tall people.  (I’m 1.87m/6’2”).

Paddling the ski

I paddled the ski in a variety of conditions ranging from a race on flat water, to a fairly hectic downwind run and on choppy water in Hout Bay.

The cockpit is snug and I felt secure – although my coccyx was left raw after a couple of hours in the boat.  This is a personal affliction – and I’m pretty certain that most paddlers (provided they have a narrow backside) will find the Atom comfortable to sit in.

Flat race

This was a round the cans race in Fish Hoek bay.  My impressions of the boat were:

• It seemed fast; I was slightly ahead of where I’d be normally.
• I felt quite tippy.
• It seemed very responsive and quick onto the small bumps
• It turns on a dime

And these impressions were reinforced with all the other paddling that I did in the ski.

Choppy, messy water

We paddled in Hout Bay one evening in classic conditions for the area: Hout Bay is surrounded by cliffs on two sides and the incoming ocean swells bounce off them, sending reflected waves in all directions.  The resulting chop can be challenging, but often offers runs wherever you’re heading.  It can be a lot of fun to paddle there.

That evening though, I really battled, focusing more on staying upright than paddling fast.  Both upwind and downwind, my paddling buddies were able to drop me.

Back on the flat protected water of the harbor, however, it was a different story.  We did a couple of sprints and every time I paddled away from the other skis.  After the first run I looked back to see my buddy reversing.  “I thought I had some plastic on the rudder,” he explained.  He hadn’t.

Downwind

I did a Millers Run (my favorite 12km downwind route here in Cape Town) in the ski on a blustery day, 25kt of SE with 3-5ft waves.

The conditions were classic for this run: not much in the way of big ocean swell; the waves were short, steep, wind generated.

Considering my feeling of twitchiness in the choppy water in Hout Bay, I felt surprisingly stable, both going out to the turning rock (800m diagonally into the wind and waves) and on the runs downwind.  Going into waves I often find it easier if there’s a strong wind (unless it’s right on the beam); it seems to give you something to push against.

Skis are often at their twitchiest as you move through the crest of a wave, as you’re about to accelerate; It’s frustrating sometimes to have to brace at the exact moment you need to make the strongest strokes and many a wave has been lost this way.  I think the low volume of the Atom helps in that the ski may sink into the wave more than some others – creating stability just at the point it helps most.

Broaching

I did find that if I wasn’t careful, I could let the ski broach quite easily.  I suspect that here in Cape Town we have these short, steep, wind swells more frequently in other parts of the world – and that any tendency to broach might not be as important elsewhere.  Suffice to say that I lost control of the ski on several occasions.  The broach wasn’t as vicious as on some other skis I’ve paddled, however, and by keeping speed up I was usually able to turn downwind again without wallowing.

I found the boat quite wet.  I weigh around 83kg and if I buried the nose, the water would come over the foredeck and fill the cockpit.  With dual Red7 Bullet scuppers the footwell drained fast and, in contrast to some other skis I’ve paddled, the Atom was still responsive and easy to accelerate even with the weight of water in the flooded cockpit.  (The cockpit is relatively small of course, so the volume of water is too.)

I did the run in 48min – which is what I’d expect to do in those conditions on my usual ski.  So given that I was unused to the boat, and broached a lot, it was an excellent time – highlighting once more that to me, this is a fast craft (especially if you know what you’re doing!)

Click here for a bigger image

Click here for a bigger image

Click here for a bigger image

What I like

• The high quality build
• The aesthetics of the boat – simple and elegant
• The feel of the cockpit overall – felt snug and secure
• The speed and acceleration onto runs
• The turning ability of the boat, especially on flat water
• The lightness of the ski

What I don’t like

• The tippiness; I found it a handful in messy, choppy water
• The bucket!  (My coccyx suffered – but most people seem comfortable in the ski)
• The low volume – perhaps it’s a personal thing, but for my weight, I like to have more volume in the nose of a ski.

“Fast, but you need to know what you’re doing”

When Hein van Rooyen (who owns Carbonology Sport) sent me the ski, he said, “It’s a fast ski – but you need to know what you’re doing.  It’s not a beginner’s boat.”  For once I am 100% in agreement with the manufacturer; it is really fast – amazing, considering that it’s a relatively short ski.

As a 48 year old mid-packer though, I found that my balance and skill level weren’t good enough to get the best out of the ski in rougher conditions.

But for elite or A-grade paddlers - especially if they're on the smaller side - this ski is well worth a look.

(Trying out a new ski is sometimes a little hairy.  I tried a prototype once on a big downwind – the ski was a total lemon and had terrible drainage.  The cockpit filled with water and the ski became almost uncontrollable.  In the words of a Spanish friend, “I fear for my life”!)

First Looks

This is a very good-looking ski.  The boat that I paddled had been made in Italy at the Allwave factory there and, judging by the seams, they have build techniques that are more precise than most manufacturers.  Every other ski that I’ve ever seen has a thick layer of resin over the seam – which disguises any imperfections in the mating of the deck with the hull.  Not the CX.

For a bigger image, click here

For a bigger image, click here

For a bigger image, click here

The CX has quite pronounced "hard chine" - and the precision of the build is shown by that unhidden seam

Deep-V up front; broad and flatter behind

The fittings too are precise and beautifully engineered.  Apart from their experience with outrigger canoes, the company also has long experience of building yachts, and this is evident in controls that adjust not only the footplate but also the angle of the rudder pedals.  The tiller bar too is a beautiful machined stainless steel part – a far cry from the roughly stamped, bent and filed apologies for a bar that I’ve seen in some other skis!

Footplate Adjustment

A line with a plastic handle is placed conveniently near your right hand.  Pull the handle and the footplate locks are released.  The first time I paddled the ski I set up the footplate too short.  By pulling the handle and pushing the footplate with my heels, I was able to reset the leg length in seconds. 

Pull on the bobble to release the footplate locks

The footplate is longer than other skis I’ve paddled, leaving you to steer with your toes.  This took a little time to get used to, but given the lightness of the steering (as a result of the balanced rudder) I found that I enjoyed being able to push with my whole foot on the plate.

Pedal angle adjustment

The rudder lines, after passing through the rudder pedals, are combined to a single rope running through a cleat mounted on the front bulkhead of the cockpit.  Again – this is very easy to adjust: pull the line tighter to tilt the pedals back; looser to tilt them forward.

Adjusting the pedal angle

Ease of adjustment v Simplicity

Some of the folks who have seen the boat questioned whether the pedal angle adjustment was really necessary.  “Won’t that slip eventually?” was one comment.  All I can say is that in the month that I had the boat, it didn’t slip at all.

Some other skis use a simple knot for this purpose (the lines run around the front of the cockpit and are tied together); some require each line to be adjusted in turn.  It was certainly convenient though to be able to adjust the pedal angle so easily (following the example of Oscar Chalupsky I’ve formed the habit of setting my pedals much flatter then I used to.  I used to have them tilted slightly towards me; now I set them almost tilting away from me – which reduces the amount of inadvertent steering as you paddle.)

Footplate and pedal angle controls - well engineered but too fiddly?

Cockpit

I found the cockpit very comfortable; one of the more comfortable skis I’ve tried.  I’m one of the few people who can’t paddle the Epic skis without a bum pad (my coccyx rubs raw) and I find Fenns most comfortable.  So if you’re compatible with a Fenn bucket, you’ll fit this one too.  One caveat though: this is a narrow ski and several of the folks who tried it found it a very snug fit.

Emergency steering gear

Honcho were the first (that I saw) to install a “get me home” emergency steering system on a ski.  The idea behind this is that if you break a rudder line, you can hook a strong elastic cord to the tiller bar on the same side as the unbroken line.  The rudder is now tensioned and automatically steers toward the side of the broken line – but you can steer with the pedal whose line is still attached.

(Honcho have since gone out of business; some of the moulds were taken on by Knysna Racing Kayaks in South Africa.)

Allwave have a superb implementation of this idea; I tested it and it works perfectly.  With the bungi attached, the rudder has a strong enough tendency to turn to one side, that the ski is controllable even when moving fast downwind.   When not in use, the bungi is hooked to the cover that extends over the tiller bar.  Very neat.

The emergency rudder steering system - hooked out of the way

The left hand rudder line has snapped; the emergency steering system is now hooked to the right hand end of the tiller bar. Steering is now possible using the right hand rudder pedal only.

The bungi has a blunt stainless steel hook on the end - hooked here onto the tiller bar

This impressed me sufficiently that I’m going to modify my skis to have a similar system.  I’ve seen many paddlers break rudder lines – and at least five I can remember happened in big downwind conditions with extreme discomfort resulting. 

Paddling the CX

Ok, so enough of the wonderful engineering of the ski.  What’s it like to paddle?

Flat water

We did a number of flat-water sprints inside Hout Bay Harbor.  My impression is that the ski is no slower than the other high-end skis.  I also had an elite paddler try it in flat conditions with his training group and he too said that he was impressed with the way the boat performed.

Nauticat Test – Broaching

I hate a ski that broaches too easily (and although broaching seems to be something that doesn’t really happen to elite paddlers, it’s the bane of us mid-packers going downwind).  The old Fenn Mako6 was a case in point – in the kind of downwind conditions prevalent here in Cape Town (steep wind generated swell), the Mako6 would broach at the drop of a hat – making for frustrating and irritating paddling.  (A larger elliptical surf rudder completely changes this characteristic of the Mako6, and I can strongly recommend the conversion to anyone still paddling the ‘6.)

There’s an 88 ton catamaran tourist boat that operates out of Hout Bay Harbor.  Every hour she sets off towards Duiker (aka Seal) Island about 4km away, leaving a superb wake behind her.  When the weather’s not suitable for downwind paddling, we like to ride Nauticat’s wake, picking it up at the harbor mouth and staying on it until the boat reaches the island.  We tool about in the channel until the tourists have had their fill of the Seals, then we hop back onto her wake and ride it back to the harbor.

Apart from the fun, it’s a great exercise in catching small runs.  (Just lately the captain has increased the average speed to nearly 15kph, which makes it even more challenging to stay on the wave.)

But it’s also a great test of the tendency of a ski to broach.  The waves streaming out behind the boat are short and steep, and if a ski is prone to broaching, it’s almost impossible to handle.  You feel the ski slewing out of control; you veer sideways and by the time you’ve turned the ski back on course you’re one wave further back.

The Allwave CX handles the Nauticat Test with aplomb – it was easy to stay on the wave and I could steer backwards and forwards moving out and then back in along the wave.  Phenomenal handling that bode well for downwind paddling.

Choppy water and messy downwind

Having ridden Nauticat’s wake back from the island, we met a friend at the entrance to the harbor and set off again back across the bay.  A light southeaster was blowing and the water, as always in Hout Bay, was choppy. Heading directly into the wind, I found the ski a blast; I was able to put my head down and drop my companions at will.

At the base of Chapman’s Peak we turned around to set off downwind back to the harbor.  Now however I found that I felt quite unstable in the ski and, instead picking up the runs in the slop as normal, I battled to find a rhythm and my buddies dropped me.  I’m still not sure quite why I found the ski difficult to handle in these conditions – but it happened again during a messy Millers Run, described below. 

Downwind paddling

I did several Millers Runs in the ski – two classic runs in southeasters, and a Reverse Millers in a northwester.

Millers #1

Conditions: 2-3ft waves, 15-20kt Southeaster (20-22kt registering at the half-way point, Roman Rock).

I found the ski quite twitchy, but found that the faster I went, the more secure I felt.  The ski accelerated very easily onto the runs and was exceptionally easy to maneuver.  With never a hint of a broach, I was touching the rudder to turn the ski to chase the next dip.

Although the nose of the ski seems to be quite low in volume, it didn’t seem to nosedive and although some water came in over the cockpit sides, it drained very quickly through the bullet-equipped bailers.

Easy Remount

Approaching Fish Hoek Bay, I hooked the paddle on a wave and in the blink of an eye I flipped into the water.  I was back in the ski and paddling inside 30 seconds, which is pretty fast for me.  The ski is easy to remount!

And I beat my buddies handily in spite of falling in.  So far so good. 

Reverse Millers

When the northwester blows, we go with it, offshore from Fish Hoek to Millers Point.  When the wind is strong, the runs start at the mouth of the bay, but usually they only start half way to the lighthouse, growing in size steadily.

In contrast to the Millers Run the waves are usually regular and clean – purely wind generated chop.

What fascinated me was the way I could paddle the runs diagonally – 20-30 degrees either direction, again, without a hint of a broach.

In these conditions, the ski is a joy to paddle.

Millers #2

Conditions: 3-4ft waves, 25kt SE.

The first 800m of the run is often quite challenging, since you’re paddling diagonally out into the wind and swell to get to Bakoven Rock – which marks the beginning of the downwind section to Fish Hoek. 

In the side-wind and waves I found the ski twitchier than my regular steed (the Fenn Mako Elite).  I’d like to try the ski with a slightly de-tuned rudder.  The rudder is very effective and well balanced and perhaps a rudder with less bite would improve the stability.

The run itself went very well – the ski’s maneuverability was again striking.

In the bigger runs I never nosedived and although the cockpit did flood once or twice over the rails, I noted that (perhaps because the volume of the cockpit itself is relatively small) even with the weight of the water, the handling didn’t deteriorate markedly.  (I’ve paddled other skis that were almost unmanageable with a full cockpit, wallowing and continuously nosediving.)

On balance I’ll gladly accept the dampness caused by the low cockpit rails  - given how easy the ski is to remount.

Millers #3

Conditions: 2-3ft but messy, confused seas, 20kt SE 

My final run in the ski wasn’t so happy.  Once again, the waves were small but were ricocheting in all directions – and I couldn’t get settled in the boat.  I found it difficult to make ground against my buddies and ended up taking a swim halfway between the lighthouse and Fish Hoek beach.

Swimming

I took a total of three swims while paddling the ski and apart from confirming that it’s an easy remount(!) I suspect that the secondary stability may be a little less than the Fenn Mako Elite – making it a slightly less forgiving ski.

I like: the footplate measurement tape; the position of the scuppers; the leash anchor point

I like: the "don't copy" warning notice!

What I like

• The Aesthetics – Italians sure know how to design style into a boat!
• The superb quality of the build
• The weight
• The comfort of the cockpit
• The footplate adjustment control
• The shape of the footplate (longer than normal)
• The steering
• The acceleration and handling on clean downwind runs
• The lack of propensity to broach
• The speed on flat/choppy water
• The emergency steering setup

I don't like: the flimsy rudder - it needs to be beefed up so that incidental knocks on the ground or even rocks don't damage it like this

What I don’t like

• I found the ski a little more twitchy than my Mako Elite.
• I didn’t perform well going downwind in small confused seas.
• A couple of the folks who tried it said they found the bucket too narrow.
• The name…  Surely there’s a sexier/more exotic/more elegant name out there than “Allwave CX”!  The ski deserves it!

In Summary

This is one of the most exciting new skis I’ve ever paddled.  It’s clearly for advanced paddlers – but it seems fast and catches runs with alacrity.  I’d like to see a version slightly wider (and less tippy).

In my opinion, this ski ranks up there with the rest of the “elite” level skis…  If you can get your hands on one, definitely include it in your list of skis to try out.

In particular women and men of lighter build may find this a particularly agreeable ski – it’s light, has low volume and a narrow cockpit.

Words and Images

The book is written by Kevin Brunette in association with Dawid and Nikki Mocke.  Kevin describes himself as a “serious recreational paddler” and has been paddling with the Surfski School training groups longer than almost anyone else.  He’s a technical author and his writing style reflects his engineering background: the concepts are described clearly and simply, with little embellishment.

The book is worth buying for the photos alone.  It’s packed with stunning full color images taken by Jean Tresfon, himself a keen paddler.  (For more of his work, check out http://www.flickr.com/photos/jtresfon/sets/)

Dawid Mocke, showing how it's done in fabulous downwind conditions

Dawid and Nikki paddle past the Roman Rock lighthouse in False Bay, Cape Town.  Roman Rock is the half way point on the infamous Miller's Run

Mocke Magic

The book is essentially a distillation of the Mocke approach to teaching surfski paddling.

Dawid and Nikki Mocke have been running their Surfski School for 8 years and have introduced over four thousand people to the sport in Cape Town alone*.  Dawid has been the de-facto Surfski World Champion for the last three years, while Nikki has extensive sprint experience (culminating in a 7th place at the Beijing Olympics in the South African women’s 1000m K4 team) to add to her own surfski achievements (among them World Champion in 2006 and 2010).

Most importantly though, the Mocke’s have an absolute passion for paddling and for passing on their knowledge – and this shines through, throughout the book.

Audience

While SURFSKI with the Pros is aimed at the beginner to intermediate level paddler, more advanced paddlers will also find useful tidbits.

The first half of the book covers the basics: choosing and handling your gear; getting onto the water for the first time; paddling technique and safety considerations.

The text then goes on to more advanced topics: navigating the surf line; group paddling and downwind paddling; training and competing and finally some of the theory behind ski and paddle shapes.  Finally the FAQ section condenses the most commonly asked questions from the Mocke’s many years of teaching.

Using the Book

While you could sit down and read it from cover to cover, this is the kind of book that’s perfect for dipping into, simply because the information is so neatly packaged into logical chunks.  The chapters on group paddling and downwind paddling are cases in point!

What I liked about the book

• The breadth of information – from selecting your first ski to planning your training regime.
• The clear and simple presentation of the information
• The fantastic illustrations

What I didn’t like so much

• I felt that the language was a little too staid in places – but heck, it’s a how-to, not a thriller!

Overall

This is an excellent book, long overdue.

Surfski paddling is a complex business and takes years to master – and even then you can always find ways to improve.  This book is both a means of accelerating the learning curve and an inspiration to get out on the water; read the chapter on downwind paddling and the first thing you want to do is go out and practice the concepts!

*The Surfski School concept has been franchised and operations based on the concept are running in Durban and East London.  Contact the Mockes if you’re interested in opening your own school.

Simple and Elegant

While the “Flash” decals are just that, the ski is much like the other Carbonology ski’s, somewhat understated or to once again borrow from Rob’s Atom review “simple and elegant”.

This meshes quite well with what I know of the Carbonology team of manufacturer and distributors; they are content to let the skis talk for themselves and have been a slowly but surely increasing their presence in the ski market without much fanfare.

At the beginning of the year I had been paddling a Carbonology Vault for around 10 months and more out of jest than anything else I posted on the Carbonology Facebook page that a full length version of the Vault was on my wish list for 2012, much to my surprise the reply was “have you been spying on us?... watch this space!”

Here we are 6 months later and after being initially released on the European market it has finally landed on Western Australian shores and should be in the hands of those in the Eastern states as this review hits the web.

Construction

The Vault I’ve been paddling is in the Hybrid lay-up so when I was asked which lay-up I would like to demo the flash in I went for the same lay-up. I have found the hybrid lay-up of Glass re-enforced with Carbon to be quite stiff and very robust.

My ski is still in excellent condition despite the accidental knocks that all skis cop over time; I really think it is the best value for money from all the lay-ups available.

As opposed to other manufacturers who quote a weight for specific ski’s Carbonology have gone the ballpark method. There is obviously much less material used in say an Atom to a Flash, yet they quote a flat 12kg for all hybrid lay-up single ski’s.

On the bathroom scales test my Vault weighs in at 12.5kg while the Flash weighs in at 13kg.

Vital Statistics

• Length: 6,35m
• Width at seat: 445mm
• Width at front of footwell: 315mm
• Deck height in front of footwell: 345mm
• Nose height at front of ski: 265mm

So to those familiar with the Vault how does it compare… well I lined the two ski’s up bucket to bucket and this is what I found: there’s an extra 30cm in the nose and 13cm in the tail.

Bucket

After 35 kms in the Flash over 3 days this week I have yet to have any issues, the bucket is quite snug on my 90kg 6ft 2in frame, which I feel adds to my stability.  While initially I though the bucket a narrower version of the Vault bucket I also noticed that the hump under the knees is lower. This is sure to please the short-legged paddler who has problems with big humps under the knees.

When setting up the footplate for my leg length I also noticed that the bucket is slightly longer, not sure exactly how much but there is at least two more notches left on the footplate adjustment in the Flash. Given that I am 6ft 2in you would need damn long legs to max this bucket out.

Flash (L) and Vault (R) 

Looking forward from the bucket this ski is decidedly thin. Take a close look at the photos and get yourself a tape measure out, a 315mm catch!!!

Footplate

The footplate is the standard Carbonology plate, which appears to be a favoured design among many ski manufacturers. The footlength can be adjusted in a matter of seconds by pulling out the locator lugs, adjusting the length then feeding the rudder lines through the pedals to bring them back upright. The only time some knot tying is required is when you wish to adjust the pedal angle.

Steering

Carbonology skis use stainless steel rudder cables attached to cord in the footwell, which in my mind is the best of both words, giving very precise rudder control and feel while allowing easy adjustment footplate length and rudder pedal angle.

Rudder

After my swim I decided to check out the rudder and found that it was a swept back elliptical rudder. Hein from Carbonology stated that in testing the usual rudder shape was too aggressive and this new rudder smoothed that out but still gave good feel and response.

One pleasant surprise was that they have kept the same rudder shaft length, so I was able to swap out the ocean rudder for my river rudder, however the new elliptical rudder has the shaft set further back from the leading edge so if fitting a weed deflector it needs to be done with the ocean rudder fitted so as not to foul it when switching rudders.

Top Secret one way draining bullet scuppers

Hein from Carbonology tells me they have been able to integrate a one-way valve into their bullet scuppers that stops the footwell from filling with water when you slow to a stop. This would be very handy sitting on the start line to a race. Unfortunately they are only fitted as an option on new skis and he didn’t see fit to send a ski with them fitted to us for review so I was unable to test its performance. I look forward to hearing what becomes of this new design.

Speed versus Stability

The biggest reason I bought a Vault was for the added stability it gave over the previous Epic V10L I had been paddling for the 9 months prior. The Vault has me a smidgeon more stability, which enabled me to really focus on my stroke, rather than losing energy to staying upright.

When I decided I wanted something quicker again I started paddling most of the big name elite skis, which reminded me of the speed versus stability question again… just how much extra speed can I get out of a “faster” ski in choppy conditions or when I am fatigued.

First Paddle

I joined the regular Saturday morning group in Mandurah for a 15km paddle through the estuary and canals. The tide was ripping in that day so any thoughts of figuring out what speed the ski was doing were thrown out the window. I decided the paddle would be more about how the ski felt. 
Although I noticed a smidgeon more "life" in it's primary stability than the Vault I had all but forgotten I was paddling an elite level ski within 7-8km's. It also tracked very well on washes which was one bug bear with the Vault. Although the Vault wash hangs really well I feel I have to do a lot of rudder work on my Vault to stay in the sweet spot, the extra length in the Flash has given it better straight line tracking

Speed Test

I put the speed versus stability question to the test with a 5.3km triangular ocean course in 10-15 knot winds and a short wind driven chop of 1-2 foot .

I recorded each time trial on my Garmin, but placed the Garmin where I couldn’t see it, as I didn’t want to have the speed displayed encourage my performance.  I went flat out for both efforts with a 40-minute rest period in between.

The first leg of the course was cross chop for about 600m then turned into a approx. 2.5km upwind leg with the chop at about a 20 degree angle from the right before turning for a straight downwind leg of about 2.2km.

I took the Vault out first and as I bought this ski for its cross chop and upwind abilities found the going pretty straight forward. I was copping some waves in the lap over the bow and the odd one in the chest but the double bullet scuppers made quick work of the water in the footwell. Then it was around the marker and into the short steep downwind chop, which is always fun in this short ski.

After my rest I set off on the Flash for a warm up then headed off cross wind. The ski was just a little tippier but not to the extent that I needed to brace, maybe a few wider strokes on occasion were needed to make sure I wasn’t leaning too far but I didn’t feel unsure in the ski. I did catch myself feeling like I needed to hurry up, maybe that I wasn’t achieving the same stroke rate that I had on the Vault? Turning upwind the effect was almost immediate, the longer length of the ski ironed out the chop and the lesser degree of pitching kept the ride much drier. Although the wind was 20 degrees from the right the low volume nose wasn’t affected.

Again I felt as though I was putting in some wider strokes and couldn’t rate as highly. As I rounded the marker for the downwind I was right on a runner and as my GPS would later tell me I accelerated straight up to 15km/hr….then as I kicked the rudder pedal to move off the runner as it dissipated I found myself in the water!!! What the heck?!..how did that happen?! That question didn’t last too long in my mind as the realisation that I was 2 km offshore in waters where a Great White attacked a ski only the week before rushed into my mind.

It was at this point I realised that I hadn’t given any thought as to whether I’d be able to get into this narrower bucket while rocking around?...a few deep breaths and I was up and in the bucket, one foot in, brace,  start paddling then lift the second foot in and I was away!! In no time I was back and gliding on these runners. The thought later occurred to me…

I have a small river rudder on the Vault, which really needs to be worked hard to steer in these conditions, I hadn’t given the Flash’s ocean rudder the respect it deserved and paid the price. Now I was aware of how well it steered I had no further problems and quickly found myself paddling through waves to catch the next lump.

When I finished the course on the Flash I honestly had no idea which ski had gone faster, so after a few photos of the ski on the beach it was home to download the tracks and analyse the data.

I wasn’t surprised at what I observed, the Flash and the Vault were neck and neck on the cross chop and upwind and if you were to twist my arm for a winner I would probably have to say that I think the Vault was the better performer. In the downwind the Vault appeared to have better acceleration onto the short steep chop but the Flash held the chop better and didn’t seems to wallow off the back of runs as much.  I was able to be just as aggressive in steering the Flash and could paddle as hard as I wanted through a wave to get onto a run without feeling the wobble I have experienced in some elite skis.

Taking into account the 30 seconds it took me to remount and get going from my swim the Vault was only 30 seconds quicker over the 5.3km course, not a definitive result by any stretch of the imagination.

Flatwater performance

I paddled the ski in a 28km marathon flat-water paddle.

Before I reveal the race results we finally got some still weather: the ocean was like a pond with slack mooring lines in the boats moored off my beach and each one facing a different direction.   I knew the conditions were perfect for some comparison runs with the Vault.

After warming up in both skis and paddling a 1km straight line over the same water at about 80% effort (marathon race pace) I established that the Flash showed a .3km/hr speed advantage over the Vault.

Marathon Race

My last marathon race about a month ago on the river my average pace in the Vault was 12.2km/hr over 18km. Today over 27km it was 12.5km/hr or again .3km/hr faster;)

Another difference today was that I was doing a lot more turns washleading than the previous race, so I must have been paddling at a reduced intensity! 

One other thing to note was that as I fatigued I didnt feel any less stable in the ski, somewhat important in an elite level ski.

Conclusion

I hope this review has shed some light on this new entry to the market.

Who this boat may appeal to:

• Those looking for a low volume ski that isn’t prone to being blown around by cross winds.
• Those currently paddling an elite level ski who find it too twitchy but don’t want to sacrifice speed
• Those looking to move up from an intermediate ski such as the Vault, Swordfish or Evo II.

First Looks

To me the boat is a thing of beauty - the finish is absolutely superb.

This is a V10 Performance - a vacuum glass layup - that weighs about 23.6kg, not bad at all for a glass double.

The buckets are really comfortable - I can't sit in the old V10 without getting a raw coccyx in a few minutes.  

(Forgive me for not posting photos - I'll be putting them into the full review in a week or two once we've had time to paddle it a little more.)

First Paddle

Last weekend there wasn't any wind so we took the ski for a session across to Muizenberg beach where we caught waves for while.  She handles well on the (small) waves and we were cruising 22kph before pulling out where the surfers were waiting in the water.

On the flat water we were cruising 12kph with very little effort and maintaining 13kph when we focused on putting a little more power, but more importantly synchronisation...  You can feel when rear paddler is out of synch and it's amazing to watch how the speed comes down when it happens.

First Downwind 

Yesterday afternoon the wind cranked up to a respectable 25-30kt SE so we hauled the ski out for a Millers Run.  Conditions were challenging: the waves were so close together and so messy that it was difficult to get on a run without dragging the rear paddler through the crest of a wave...  But near the lighthouse we started to get some longer swells and it was a joy to feel the boat accelerate down the runs.

Conditions made it difficult to maneuver the ski, but every now and then we were able to get going and I could turn and curve back so as to re-take the wave that we were on...

Taking a swim

At the back of my mind was the time we'd taken our last swim - paddling Dale's Fenn Mako Elite Double - about 500m from Fish Hoek Beach.  On that occasion we'd struggled to get back in the boat and I was very conscious that we should actually have practiced BEFORE taking the new boat on a reasonably hectic Millers Run!

We were speeding down a wave when I let my paddle come too far back just as the boat rolled - the paddle caught and in an instant we were swimming.

Letting the ski come broadside to the wind, we ducked under the hull and popped up on the windward side.  

Now to try the remount!

Truly it was a non-event.  I popped onto the boat, side-saddle style, and simply sat there with legs over the sides while Dale got on behind me.  A quick stab with the paddle to straighten the camera on the fore-deck and away we went, no trouble at all.

Part of the reason it's an easy remount is that the rails are low - the seat's quite shallow and that also makes it comfortable to sit there with your legs out.

So now we know that coming out isn't a problem - and I'm looking forward to spending more time in the boat.  We've got a downwind race scheduled for next weekend.  Blow wind, blow!

Here's the video:

V10 Double Remount from Rob Mousley on Vimeo.

The “Switch” is the brainchild of the designers that brought us the Carbonology Atom.  Although the Carbonology Atom has been well recognised as a very fast ski, it really only carved out a niche market with very skilled paddlers.

Rob Welsh and Gary Butlion have been back to the drawing board and with the assistance of a silent partner and what they have learnt from the Atom, they set about designing a ski that would retain the shorter length, low volume and good speed, but make it more accessible to us mere mortal paddlers.

While not being any expert on hull design the immediate differnces to me were the reduced rocker and the increase in stern volume in the new design.

The group took the “switch” plug to Carbonology and had the owner, Hein, build a handful of skis for testing. Being very proud of his work, Hein stickered the skis with his Carbonology branding, but at the time of writing this review the owners of the “Switch” are yet to decide who the builder of this ski will be.  [Editor: I've since confirmed that the ski is most definitely a "Carbonology" boat!]

Prototype or Pre-Production?  Carbonology-buit Switch

Why the “Switch”?

The short answer….. is that it is a ski that can “switch” from underslung rudder to a trailing rudder.

The longer answer…..

Four years ago when the Atom was first designed, I was contacted as a then adventure racer to see if I was interested in paddling a new short ski that would be built for multisport racers. But after ascertaining it was an elite level ski I politely declined the opportunity given I only had 2 days a week to train in my then V10L. With all the other training adventure racers do I just couldn’t afford to be trying out a new ski in the training time I had.

History tells us that the Carbonology Atom went on to be one of, if not, the fastest flat water ski on the market…but with a stability level that only die-hard paddlers could master.

A look at the hull shape

Adventure and multisport racers have to divide their time between swimming, running, riding and paddling. Given that they often climb into their ski after having done one of those activities prior they need to have craft that even when fatigued they can perform in. Adventure racing is also about point to point racing, so a ski that copes with wind, swell and chop from all directions is the order of the day.  Adventure racers also find themselves racing in rivers, estuaries and lakes where a trailing rudder is sometimes needed.

I guess you’ve figured out by now that this is no ordinary “Ocean Ski”, in my opinion it is by design, a crossover between an ocean ski and a downriver racing K1.

Layups

I have had two skis to paddle.

The first ski I was given was a “Ocean” Carbon Lay-up weighing in at a smidge under 11kg. This ski was built to test it’s ocean capability and was fitted with dual bullet scuppers.

The second “Multisport” ski was laid up using a carbon & kevlar woven cloth, comes in at 14kg and had the river plastic tube scupper fitted.

Tube scupper for river use

Finish

The gel coats on both skis are a grey colour that appears like a matt finish and I reckon it looks great. It gives the skis a utilitarian look, something adventure racers often like.

Bucket drainage

Both skis had an inspection/access port reset into the bucket hump. The port allows the fitting and replacement of the river scupper plastic tubing option. It could also be a handy place to store items like your keys, phone, etc.

This multsport layup ski had the downriver scupper which consists of some plastic tubing run from the footwell through the hull to under the seat, held in place and sealed with silicone sealant.  The benefit of this plastic tube is that it can run over rocks and logs in a river and not sustain damage. When it wears out it can be removed and replaced with some more inexpensive tubing.

The Carbon Ocean ski had the two bullet scupper. I know they are not meant to induce too much drag due to the bullet design but they drain so well I have to question whether one would be enough?

The river scupper option with the plastic tube is functional but not outstanding. There was a constant 1 -2 inches of water around my heels at any speed below about 11km/hr and is much slower to drain.

Neat design for the rear handle and tiller cover

Seat and Bucket

While ski seats tend to be a lottery depending on the shape of your rear end, for me I found the seat in the ski the most comfortable I have used.  This comes as no surprise as someone who finds the all Carbonology buckets comfortable.

Comfortable bucket

The hump is very low in this ski. Great news for those with short legs and it allows for excellent leg drive. There is a drawback with this though. I discovered this on a cold winters morning when paddling the ski with the river scupper, the footwell fills with water as you get in, then as you start paddling that frigid water sloshes up into the seat, brrrrr. I guess a cork or plug could be used to prevent this. My usual ski has the snorkel valves fitted and I am accustomed to having a dry footwell in these cold conditions.

I am 6ft 3in tall and I fit in the bucket without any effort. The footplate had a few more inches of adjustment left and with my size 12 feet (UK 47) I could fit my feet with minimalist shoes into the footwell without an issues.

The bucket is shaped so that you are very snug in it. I find this an advantage stability wise as you have a larger area of contact should you need it to stabilise yourself without restricting rotation and leg drive. It also reduces the amount of water it can hold when water splashes over the sides or bow.

The footplate used was the standard carbonology footplate which is very easy to adjust without the need for any tools. You just pull out two spring loaded lugs, adjust the length and release the lugs, an operation taking a few seconds.

Trailing rudder

The Multisport layup ski I paddled  had a second set of rudder tubes fitted with the stainless cables ready to go. Rather than dictate which trailing rudder should be fitted, at this point in time the idea is to supply the ski ready, but not fitted with a trailing rudder to allow the customer to decide which rudder fits their needs.

Two sets of rudder lines

Paddling the Switch

(Brett came over all shy about his voice-over so masked it with music!)

Upwind

The ski is very stable upwind and its low volume bow allows it to maintain momentum as it goes through small waves, however, it’s low volume also makes it a wet ride with quite a bit of water making it into the bucket in anything over a 1-2 foot chop. The ski with the dual bullet scuppers drains this water almost instantly but the plastic tube scupper struggled to empty the water before it was topped up in the stormy conditions I paddled the ski in. While not ideal, the speed of the ski was not too badly effected due to the low volume of the footwell.

Cross wind and at angles.

As a ski that is aimed at adventure racers I have tested it extensively in cross winds and chop between 1 -3 feet. It is the fastest stable ski I have paddled in these conditions, it really is well suited to point to point racing allowing you to keep the power on without having those “moments” some skis can throw in. The low volume and profile bow does not allow the wind to push the ski around as you crest waves.

Downwind

The ski is fun to paddle downwind, picking up runs very easily, but…it’s low volume bow will spend a great deal of time underwater if you are not picking a direction to travel and working across the runs. The skis short length allows it to make the most of short wind driven runners which are found on protected water like harbours and lakes. I have not done any big downwind conditions (over 2 metres) so I can’t comment on its ability here)

Stability

The question most people ask when seeing a new ski, is will I be able to paddle it? As someone who paddles elite level skis I guess I am not really qualified to answer that for anyone. All I can report is that I find it more stable than other elite level skis I have paddled and it is nothing like the Atom it shares some heritage with. I feel it would be within the ability of the intermediate to elite level adventure racer who can only find 2 – 3 paddling sessions a week.

But is it fast?

Before paddling the ski, I did an 8km warm up paddle in my own (12kg) ski on flat water to get an idea on what speed I could do in the current conditions at various heart rates.

When I jumped in the Carbon (11kg) Switch, I was immediately surprised by the skis stability for it’s size and volume. When underway I saw that it was indeed faster than my own ski over the same body of water for some given heart rates. I did a standing start in it and saw a .5km/hr higher top speed! So the difference in speeds at both my cruising and race pace was enough to impress me.

After a week and 90km in the 11kg Carbon ski I changed to the 14kg Carbon/Kevlar ski. I paddled this heavier ski in a lot of stormy weather and only in the past few days did I find some calm conditions to test it’s speed.  While it retained good cruising and race pace I felt it was on par with my current ski. For this weight of ski, on flat water, with the plastic hose scupper option, that is impressive.

Surf

While I don’t generally test other peoples skis in surf, the winter storms we have had in Perth have been generating a lot of swell. I couldn’t help but spend time in the ski on a favourite break that doesn’t close out so it’s a safe break for skis. This ski just loves the waves. Not sure why that is, whether it’s the length combined with the hull shape but I had an absolute ball spending hours riding wave after wave over a few sessions.  The ski is happy sitting right up “in” the wave or carving along the face without being pushed sideways. The rudder sent with the ski is quite big, so would help in the surf.

Conclusion

In summary I think the designers should be happy with their design. I think it is a good mix of stability and speed, low volume and versatility which will appeal to the adventure racing market. As a paddler who understands adventure racers, I would recommend you check this ski out if you know there is one in your area. Time will tell if paddlers see it as a downwind weapon, but that is a review for someone else to write.