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rental [2023/12/09 03:08] preavley |
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| Surfski.wiki tries to encourage folks to include information about surfski availability (and we do have rental listings on [[:places_surfski|various location pages]] where they have been found). But as you will discover during your travels, finding a surfski to paddle can be more difficult than finding good paddling conditions, or downwind runs to paddle. | Surfski.wiki tries to encourage folks to include information about surfski availability (and we do have rental listings on [[:places_surfski|various location pages]] where they have been found). But as you will discover during your travels, finding a surfski to paddle can be more difficult than finding good paddling conditions, or downwind runs to paddle. | ||
| - | Given the relative expense and fragility of surfskis along with the risks and liabilities that may surround downwinding in many locations, surfski rental so far has been a very small part of the surfski world. As of 2023 it is almost non-existent. And the few folks who do provide rental surfskis are not entirely unreasonable if they require significant vetting of your paddling abilities and/or significant rental fees along with steep security deposits for all but flatwater paddling of their boats. Surfski retail prices are high and transporting them to out of the way places can cost as much or more than those purchase prices. (For durability it is not uncommon for rental services that we are aware of to employ plastic surfskis. (In 2023 Nelo seems to be opening a number of sites in Spain where they are offering plastic 510 surfskis). But even though they are not much fun to lift and carry given how heavy they are, many [[:plastic_surfskis|plastic surfskis]] can provide plenty of downwinding fun in the hands of a reasonably capable paddler.) | + | Given the relative expense and fragility of surfskis along with the risks and liabilities that may surround downwinding in many locations, surfski rental so far has been a very small part of the surfski world. As of 2023 it is almost non-existent. And the few folks who do provide rental surfskis are not entirely unreasonable if they require significant vetting of your paddling abilities and/or significant rental fees along with steep security deposits for all but flatwater paddling of their boats. Surfski retail prices are high and transporting them to out of the way places can cost as much or more than those purchase prices. (For durability it is not uncommon for rental services that we are aware of to employ plastic surfskis. (In 2023 Nelo seems to be opening a number of sites in Spain where they are offering plastic 510 surfskis - Melilla , Benalmádena , Villajoyosa , Bárbate ). But even though they are not much fun to lift and carry given how heavy they are, many [[:plastic_surfskis|plastic surfskis]] can provide plenty of downwinding fun in the hands of a reasonably capable paddler.) |
| If you do rent or borrow a surfski, its condition and the safety it does or doesn't provide directly determines your well being if you paddle anywhere involving risk. Carefully check out the condition of rental/borrowed surfskis and their steering assembly function. | If you do rent or borrow a surfski, its condition and the safety it does or doesn't provide directly determines your well being if you paddle anywhere involving risk. Carefully check out the condition of rental/borrowed surfskis and their steering assembly function. | ||
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| * **Important International Races **- for some popular races, surfski companies and representatives will bring a number of surfskis. Sometimes they are available for rent during the race and surrounding days with the intention of selling these boats at a discount after the races are over. Sometimes there are only enough of these boats to supply the top international paddlers who will attend these races. Other times there could be additional surfskis available for more participants. In general you should reach out to reps long before the scheduled event - that is generally going to be the best chance for you to get in on such a rental. If many boats are being transported, your share of the transport cost will be lower. | * **Important International Races **- for some popular races, surfski companies and representatives will bring a number of surfskis. Sometimes they are available for rent during the race and surrounding days with the intention of selling these boats at a discount after the races are over. Sometimes there are only enough of these boats to supply the top international paddlers who will attend these races. Other times there could be additional surfskis available for more participants. In general you should reach out to reps long before the scheduled event - that is generally going to be the best chance for you to get in on such a rental. If many boats are being transported, your share of the transport cost will be lower. | ||
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| + | ===== Example Strategy for Finding a Boat from Traveling Sea Kayaker ===== | ||
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| + | * Written about [[https://dnorwell.medium.com/the-aegean-athens-to-turkey-in-a-kayak-273c378ac294|trip from Greece to Turkey]] (some of the recommended strategy is for when you are onsite where you wish to paddle - in other words, your last opportunity) | ||
| + | * //The recipe for borrowing kayaks in a foreign country is as follows: be keen; email any leads (kayak clubs, rental companies, and kayak shops), and post friendly, ambitious requests on local paddler group pages (facebook) with photos; and walk around town for hours asking boat-related people. Below is a post I did for a winter trip in Sweden (which is another story).//<WRAP centeralign> | ||
| + | **Post for kayak and resources in Sweden** | ||
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| + | {{https://miro.medium.com/v2/resize:fit:566/1*4OCQvYFJTwGzu2ZbHbFWlA.png?direct&400x624}} | ||
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| + | </WRAP> | ||
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| + | * //This post had me a boat, gear, and a place to sleep in hours. // | ||
| + | * //Athens is different. After eight days scouring the Greeks, the only kayak shop in town (Cannibals Kayak House) agrees to sponsor our journey. They are happy to help and share resources. People of the water are friends indeed.// | ||
| + | * … | ||
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| <WRAP indent> | <WRAP indent> | ||
| - | **DON'T BE A SURFSKI SNOB **- some places, in particular Hawaii, may traditionally have far higher concentrations and availability of outrigger canoes than surfskis. If you just want to get out on incredible waters and experience wonderful downwind runs, open your horizons to paddling outrigger canoes, SUPs, Foils, etc. - you likely will not regret it. | + | **DON'T BE A SURFSKI SNOB **- some places, in particular Hawaii, may traditionally have far higher concentrations and availability of outrigger canoes or other water vehicles than surfskis. If you just want to get out on incredible waters and experience wonderful downwind runs, open your horizons to paddling outrigger canoes, SUPs, Foils, etc. - you likely will not regret it. |
| * [[:switching_to_outrigger|2023 Switching to Outrigger Discussion]] | * [[:switching_to_outrigger|2023 Switching to Outrigger Discussion]] | ||
| + | * [[https://youtube.com/shorts/bUWL1VfpKXg?si=AeltzEwoTUVdfWvL|Don't Worry, Just Wing It]] | ||
| * … | * … | ||
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