Surfski Knowledge Base

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===== Is Previous Kayaking Experience Helpful? =====

**Newbie here\\
Todd Hill** \\
Jun 6  #26915

Hi all\\
I’m an avid sea kayaker and used to be white water paddler. I sail and surf and have a strong connection to water if all kinds.

Born and raised Washingtonian. I live in the Columbia River gorge at the moment and spend time weekly paddling my kayak. I have spent a ton of time up in the San Juan’s and my daughter lives in Bham. A friend recommended I look y’all up since I’m interested in adding surf ski to my life but don’t own one yet. Hoping to get some good beta and maybe someone is looking to lighten there quiver!

I’m 6’2” 190

Todd A Hill

**Larry Bussinger** \\
Jun 7  #26916

I have an older Huki S1-X with retractable skeg I’m selling.  You could give it a try.  360-twotwozero-2342.  Its a bit narrow, but with your experience it might work with the skeg.

Larry Bussinger

**Todd Hill**

Jun 7  #26917

Thanks Larry

I’m looking at a think evo  2 today but\\
Will be in bham on the 19th if I’m still looking I’ll look you up!!

Todd A Hill

**OPS**

Jun 7  #26918

There’s a malo XT s with DJ in Bellingham as well.

dnj79@...

And at the end of July we will be in Hood River, Seattle, B ham with a trailer full of new skis from  FENN and Carbonology.  All levels.

DeAnne Hemmens\\
Ocean Paddlesports

**David Hooper**

Jun 7  #26919

Todd (or anyone else looking for a boat),

I have a Huki S1-R for sale, including a spare steering cable set should you want to move the footrest out to accommodate longer legs. This boat originated with Michael Medler, and is what got me started in surfski. It has some minor surface blemishs, but still paddles great.  While I got it from Medler ~7 years ago, it's been very lightly used the last several. 33.2 lbs.\\
$1200, obo.

Dave H.

**Dennis Mowry**

Jun 7  #26920

Todd,\\
Before you purchase the evo 2 try the Fenn Swordfish S. Very cool boat for surfing. Then gradually work your way into the Fenn Elite S.\\
The one the Champs use.

I recommend not messing around and go carbon for both. With you water abilities you could benefit.

I'm considering selling my Fenn set, which I love, both Carbon, for a Flex to match my Vega.\\
You can demo mine when you get to bellingham and I'll explain more on the different boats.

Maybe we can also hookup to board surf sometime.

**bill**

Jun 7  #26921

I will counter Dennis’s enthusiasm with my experiences in learning.

I was a a solid 4-5 white water paddler with 20+years of avid sea kayaking experience before ski’s took over. I thought ... I’m a gnarly whitewater paddler with years of experience in the ocean as well, this should be a piece of cake transition. I thought, I have lots of ‘paddle fu’ and know how to surf a wave... no problem.  Boy was I wrong.  Before my first downwind in the gorge I had spent a year or so paddling flat water 5 days a week. I had a good base fitness and had got a basic handle on my first hurdle, learning to use a wing paddle.  I went with some people to the gorge and did the Stevenson run for my first downwind.  I went with people I was about as fast as in flat water but who were seasoned down wind paddlers. As we paddled out to the red can in the river I was thinking... this is going to be sweet, I will stay with them and impressive them with my super cool whitewater surfing skills, because they aren’t super cool whitewater paddler like me ....   We got to the red can and grouped up, people hit their gps and off we went.... actually, off they went and i tried to surf and link waves. In 5 min I watched everyone disappear.  I flailed for an hour and by the time I got to the car utterly exhausted, people had their boats on there roofs and were eating lunch.  I was stunned and humbled.

To make a too long a post shorter.... 7 years later I have learned the only thing my whitewater and sea kayaking background gave me that transferred to ski paddling was a reflective low brace and some comfort in a rough water environment.  It did not help me with needing to relearn how to paddle properly,  stability as you need to deal with it differently, how to downwind surf and link waves in the slightest, fitness, how to treat a delicate ski, remounting... etc.  The longer I have paddled I understand more and more that stability trumps a faster ski every time in a downwind.   So I would Highly recommend erring on the side of stability over speed, do not over estimate your skills as a WW/sea kayaker, this is a very different sport and requires you to unlearn a lot of stuff you spent years learning (Like all that paddle fu that is mostly useless on a ski), relearn things you think you know but don’t really (a decent forward stroke), and learn new things (like how to paddle downwind and link waves).   You will eventually need 2 skis, one stable downwind ski and one fast skinny one. Buy a stable one first, you will learn all the new skills needed a LOT faster if you do.  Then pick up a skinny fast ski someday cheep that someone doesn’t use any more because they learned there fat ski is more fun anyway.

.02

Bill

**Todd Hill**

Jun 7  #26922

Thanks Bill\\
Words to heed for sure! I have been humbled many times!! water has a way about her!

By no means do I think my past skills will Leapfrog me into understanding a ski! I’m sure I’ll have to put the time in!

Gotta start somewhere and sounds like flat water stable boat is good advise

Todd A Hill

**Jon Denham**

Jun 7  #26923

What he said...

Very new to surfskis still but have found that a reflexive low brace (been used hundreds and hundreds of times the past few months) is probably the one main thing that has carried over from quite a few years of rough water open ocean sea kayaking and surfing in what are considered narrow, unstable sea kayaks. That one skill has made the transition to surfskis much easier. However, my re-entry skills may be suffering because of this as I haven’t needed them but once and that was in some pretty rough downwind conditions. That re-entry skill has got to be studied and practiced ‘til it’s automatic. That reminds me, I need to practice that some more.

Developing stability to then be able to learn and apply proper forward forward stroke technique and then the power for speed is the challenge(s) I’m working on now. Leg drive and all that... Your background in surfing should help some in downwinders and don’t wait too long to get out and do downwinders in mild conditions. Stable boat...stable boat...stable boat.

My daughter has been wanting to try out the Fenn Swordfish S after hearing of my stability efforts and seeing theraball balance exercises. Oh, Dad...can’t be that bad, from my very athletic high schooler. She sat in the boat in 1 foot of water and was visibly having difficulty staying upright! Refused to take a stroke with the paddle! We’ll work on it more...🤓 I see what you mean, she says.

**Reivers Dustin**

Jun 7  #26924

hehe, a "Dad win" right there.

**Larry Goolsby** \\
Jun 16  #26956

Todd.....Welcome.  Try as many boats as you can before buying. I can speak for many paddlers in saying that your first surfski will be totally different than your best surfski. There are local Bellingham dealers that can let you demo their fleets. Don't go for pretty, go for what feels good when you sit in it. Too bad I don't have one to sell you.\\
Larry Goolsby

**Todd Hill** \\
Jun 17  #26961

Thanks Larry

I did buy one and am happy with it so far! It’s comfy but not to sure how it will feel after three hours sitting in it!

I’m definitely working of figuring it all out and have only had it out on semi flat water so far just trying to get all my ducks in a row before any wind and waves

Re mount it’s coming along well!\\
Still need hours of work though

It’s a THINK EVO 2

Todd A Hill

**Larry Goolsby**

Jun 18  #26965

Great starter boat!\\
LG
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