In 4 to 5 weeks, I should have the updated SES with the wider bucket to fit most medium size paddlers. As it is, the bucket only fits small hipped paddlers. The length will not change and will fit most everyone from very short to tall paddlers.
The tandem ski will be available as well. The bucket should fit practically everyone as well as the length. It will be a very stable ski with excellent speed at an ideal weight.
The SR is the 19ft by 19in super stable ski that has a great fitting bucket that is not too large and will fit everyone. This is the most stable ski I have paddled with the best secondary stability of any ski. You have to want to fall out to capsize. This ski is available in three layups; Excel-26lbs, Advantage-30lbs, and Sport-33lbs. I fully expect the 26lbs layup will have excellent speed. I have paddled the Advantage layup only but am excited that most sea kayakers will be able to paddled this ski with confidence after a short time. I can't wait too time trial it against the other skis in this class.
October 9 was the Phatwater Challenge. It was a long race(4hrs 16minutes) but one I wanted to do for a few years since I am from Mississippi. Phil Capel(Stellar Rep in Arkansas) brought over a Ses excel me. It is so nice to been in the same model ski for a race. Phil and Robbie made the whole experience stress free with the boat transport, logistics, etc. I came in 8th overall so I was very pleased with that. I bonked severely at 3hrs 30 minutes but still manage to have a good race. Pics and summary will be up soon on SurfskiRacing.com
This is a small race on the Connecticut River. Due the the recent rains the river was super fast!!!! All comers started at the same time, canoes tandem and singles, sea kayaks etc. Chris(mohican), myself(Ses Ultra w/4in rudder), and Peter(from Vt) along with 3 tandem canoes were out in front and negotiated the first turn around the bridge abutement about a half mile down river. Peter capsized in his Mohican, so I was right behind Chris for the first mile. Then I passed Chris and Chris and Roger Gocking were only seconds back. The tandem canoes but a large gap on us hugging the shore line up river. We were only doing about a 13 minute mile at this point. I kept looking back so see who was gaining on me. While I thought it was Roger, it was actually Peter who clawed his way back to me just before the second turn. Now going downriver we were doing a 6 minute mile. I made a better turn and has a 2 boat lead on Peter but that did not last long. Peter closed the gap and passed me with about 2 miles to go. Peter won by a few seconds with Roger taking 3rd and Chris in 4th.
Stellar Sponsored the SurfskiRacing.com Race Series. Tim Dwyer, my training partner edged me out by 2 points. It came down to the last race which was the Lighthouse to Lighthouse Race on September 18th. Tim won a new Stellar paddle. So I came in second while Tom Kerr and Jim Hoffman tied for 3rd. Bob Capellini won the Iron Man award for competing in all but one of the nine races that made up the Series. The awards were presented at the L2L race. Full results of the Series can be found on SurfskiRacing.com.
My ocean ski experience to date includes all epic models, think
legend, stealth ocean ski & paddling fenn elites I was excited to read
your reviews of the stellar SES models as I have always believed the
good intermediate paddler has been under-catered for when it comes to
fast stable ski options.
Your ski table has been an excellent source of information when considering
ski options. To date I was concerned that your financial interests as a Stellar
agent may create some bias to detract from your excellent resource.
Having now paddled the ultra (9.5kg prepreg unidirectional carbon) model
& the advantage (14kg glass layup) in various conditions, I can support your reviews
wholeheartedly. The SES is an excellent ski & a pleasure to paddle - it
is an unusual mx of stability, comfort & speed.
Being (180lbs)82kg & (5ft.8in)1.79m, I felt the SES model fitted like a glove i particularly liked the
slightly shorter length for maneuverability through surf & riding shorter
steeper swells. There are many market leading aspects to this brand,
including the affordability. I feel this boat is going to blow open the
market for the intermediate paddler that is less than 90kg. Keep up the
great work Wesley.
Regards, Tony Hackland
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Hey Wesley
SES was great, I was most impressed with how it handled and the speed. Unfortunately it didn't fit my butt and after about 30 min the tight squeeze started to get more painful. I was very disappointed it did not fit,however in all other respects the boat was fantastic.
Tony(another Tony from Australia)
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Hi Wesley
Have a few hours in the SES so far (flatwater) and I am really impressed with the predictable stability. I can already sprint at half a mile per hour faster than my current ski. I love the comfort and fit. It just feels like the boat was made for someone my size. Your review is so right on! Have to thank you again for your effort to inform new paddlers about the sport.
I am loving the boat so far...it's great to finally have a boat that fits so well (my weight approx. 170 lbs.). It seems to catch our short wind swell better than any ski I have paddled yet! In the short "slop and chop". I feel the 20' length is perfect. At times when my 21' boat would bury, the SES fits perfectly between the waves. I am pulling 9.5-10.5mph avg. on a few 15-20 knot downwind runs I've done recently. In the flats I feel I am .1-.2 mph faster as well. I am going to stick with the heavier boat for now since I tend to get lots of use. The boat actually stays on my truck 5-6 days/week. My last carbon boat dinged up pretty good. I will let you know about the mayor's cup. It is a very comfortable seat (not quite as much as my 6), but I have no backside and need to pad up any boat I have ever had. I also adjusted the cables with a couple small clamps just behind the peddles. I felt they were angled too far back. I also added some bungees to the pedals so that the steering will auto adjust.
There were three Stellars in the race. Two were in the top ten including myself with a 7th place finish in my SES Excel, and Dean Jordaan in his rented SE Advantage. Chris Chappell paddled his SE Advantage as well.
Below are pics takened at local Kayak Shop of me demo SR. This ski is super stable and has excellent speed and is the lastest entry into the "stable class of skis". There are only a few available at this time. I will be paddling it more in the near future in ocean conditions.
See my complete review of SES on Surfskiracing.com.
I also paddled the SR surfski this weekend. It is 19ft by 19inches. It is the most stable Stellar ski with amazing secondary stability where you can edge it over until water comes in the bucket and it will just sit there and not go any further. While I have not time trialed it, I am anticipating it will have the speed in the range of the stable class of skis. I watched 2 sea kayakers who have never paddled a surfski before, get in it and feel extremely comfortable within a minute. It was flat water. This will be a great ski for sea kayakers making the transition or for hesitant intermediate surfskiers who are having stability issues in the bigger water. I should have one in my garage in a few months to write a formal review. Bucket width is nice size that should fit most people on the lines of the SE bucket. Stay tuned!!
Spent an hour yesterday playing in the ocean waves off Cormorant Rock at the mouth of the Sakonnet River and Rhode Island Sound. This was my first true ocean paddle. This is the SES advantage layup. The boat handle great, super stable, responsive, and fast.
Both models, the SE and SES are in now in the three layups. I raced the SES Ultra in the Essex River Race this weekend and tied for 1st place with my training partner Tim Dywer in his V12. I got a great feel for its top end speed and how it handled in 1ft beam chop at race pace, that feel would be stable and fast.
I paddled the SES Advantage layup today in 2-3 ft ocean conditions off Sachuest Point and again stability is incredible with no loss of speed. Amazing stability!!
My review of the SES model on Surfskiracing.com will be up next week and will be added to the Comparison Chart. This model is tailored- made for small to mid size paddlers with the most narrow bucket of any ski on the market. So ifyou thought you were always swimming in the bucket of other skis then look no further.
After time away from paddling, Olympian Mike Walker returned in top form to take another King of the Harbour crown in his new Stellar Elite! Read Full Story and See Pictures!
