Newest Stellar: 18R, Next Generation Performance Sea Kayak

I paddled the brilliantly designed 18R for the 1st time last week for 10.8 miles on one of my time trial courses. My last 5.5 miles downwind and with current was at 7.026 mph. That is screaming fast in a sea kayak and an excellent time even compared to some of my skis on this course. I have done this course 243 times mostly in skis. This was after paddling upwind for 5.5 miles. I was at 84% of Heart Rate for the entire 11 miles. This was my first time in a sea kayak for over a year so as I get it dialed in I will be even faster. For the New England paddlers that want to break 3 hours in the Blackburn and not be in a ski, this maybe your best option. More to come. Exciting! Further time trials will tell, but I believe this will be the fastest performance sea kayak on the market. This boat is the Excel layup(32lbs). More to come!

The Fat Paddler on the SR

See the below link on the Fat Paddlers comments on the Stellar SR.

http://slipstreamsurf.com.au/

2011 In Review, Boats for Everyone! Yeah!

The past two years have been exciting for Stellar and the surfski market as a whole. In 2011 Stellar introduced the SR, probably the most stable intermediate surfski on the market with excellent speed in this "intermediate" class of skis. Now with the introduction of 17-18ft "beginner" skis from Epic and Think, more skis are available for truly every person out there. With an aging kayak market at least here in the USA, getting more crossover paddlers into more stable skis is better. Once they get into a stable ski, they can then choose to move up in class of skis, purchase a better fitting ski, etc.

2011 also welcomed many new manufacturers of skis primarly in the European market, while other established surfski makers(Fenn) added the Swordfish to there line bridging the gap between the XT models and the Mako models. Stellar added the SE2 double for 2011 which has proved to be almost as fast as the top end doubles but way more stable. Stellar also introduced the SEL which has incredible speed, is extremely stable, and low volume that fit almost everyone. I expect this model to be a top seller once more paddlers try it. Stellar introduced it a few months ago and it is just now paddlers across the world are getting their hands on it. This continues the Stellar theme of fast boats with best in class stability.

With the ease of social networks, blogging, websites, etc, it is easier for paddlers to get various opinions on skis. The trick like any research is to tease out what is useful and what is not from different sources that you trust. The tried and true method of demo as many skis as possible is the best way to go. Decide on what your goals are in paddling a ski, what type of water you primarily paddle in so you can decide on the stability of the ski, frequency of paddling, cost, and quality of the boats. If you can answer this questions truthfully with all the info you have at your disposal then you are well on your way to getting a ski/skis that you can enjoy.

SEL+Training+Technique=PR

Phil Capel in his SEL at 2011 Phatwater Challenge on Mississippi River.

On Tuesday, November 22, I had an all time PR for my 11 mile course from Mccorrie Point to 3^rd Rock in my Stellar SEL Excel. This is the Sakonnet River Race Course that I host, just a mile shorter. I have done this course 82 times since 2002. My previous record was in my SES Excel February 5, 2011. Today I broke that record by a minute. My average pace was 9.11(minutes per mile) with a HR avg of 140. I have only used the 4 inch rudder with the SEL since I have had it. This PR is significant for several reasons:

1. Winter paddling requires extra gear so I have an extra 10 lbs of stuff: drysuit, pogies, extra hat, phone, epirb, muckluk boots.

2. Cold water is more sticky than warm summer water so times could be slower though not today.

3. Today was very flat. Previously I would have said my SES’s were faster on a day like today but my times(races, PR’s) have not supported this over the past six months. The SEL’s stability lets me lengthen my paddle by a centimeter getting a longer catch and I can solely focus paddling technique,leg drive and not stability.

4. One notable obvious difference between the SES and the SEL is the longer length of the SEL allows it to track like a rail, so not much correction in the steering to counter stability. Just point it and go. Go Fast!!

5. Training: Nothing happens without training! Last week, I just started my erg training(concept 2) in preps for the World Indoor Championships in Boston in February. I believe this training is already paying dividends. My previous PR for this course was in February 2011 as mentioned, was just 2 weeks before the World Championships a year ago. On another training note, I ran a 5 mile road race on Thanksgiving Day with virtually no running training time and did well. So the paddling/erg training is paying dividends when I want to cross train.

6. Lastly, I have been working on my technique during the off season as Ben Lawry has suggested to me for the past few years: My catch on my right side was slightly shorter than my left and on my left side I have been working on a cleaner exit.

So this confirms for me again that the SEL has the top end speed over distance of the any other high performance ski on the market due to its perfect combination of stability and speed. Looking forward to my Ultra SEL in a few months!!!