Fenn Fenix Cuda First Impressions

First Impressions: Fenn Fenix Cuda
I picked up the Fenn Fenix Cuda this morning from Bruce Gipson and immediately took it for a paddle in the Intracoastal Waterway (ICW) in Boca Raton. Later in the day, after driving back to Miami and getting some work done, I took it out again at Virginia Key, where I chased crew boats and their coaching skiffs while riding their wakes.
Based on these two paddle sessions, I can already tell this ski is special. While it’s still early in my experience with the Cuda—and I haven’t taken it on a full downwind run or into big conditions yet—my initial impressions are very positive. I think many paddlers, especially those familiar with Epic V9, V10, Fenn Swordfish, Spark, or Carbonology Vault, will find this review useful.
My Skill Level & Approach
For context, I consider myself an intermediate-level paddler, and I am not an expert. My stroke technique is something I need to improve, and I plan to work on it with coaching. However, now that I have a ski with good stability, I can focus more on my paddling technique, I know I’ll be able to refine my skills, improve my efficiency, and build more strength.
Stability & Handling
Right away, the Cuda feels like an intermediate ski in terms of stability—similar to the older, pre-factory fire Fenn Swordfish S (which I own two of), but with handling and acceleration that remind me more of an elite ski like the Fenn Fenix Elite Spark.
The secondary stability is excellent, allowing for solid maneuvering without feeling twitchy. This gives it a very confidence-inspiring feel, making it easier to control the ski in dynamic water.
While the bucket width feels similar to the Spark, the Cuda is about a half-inch wider overall and appears to have slightly more volume. I believe this contributes to its stability while still keeping it highly performance-oriented.
Maneuverability & Surfing
One of the standout features so far is how maneuverable the Cuda feels. During my second session, I followed crew boats and their coaching skiffs, using their wakes to get a feel for how the ski moves in a surf setting.
The Cuda responded effortlessly, letting me position myself in the best part of the wake, accelerate when needed, and exit left or right with confidence. It doesn’t feel like a ski that locks into a line and dictates where you go—it responds well to the paddler’s inputs, making it easy to adjust positioning while surfing.
Given this, I have high hopes for its downwind capabilities, but I’ll know more after I get it into proper conditions.
Acceleration & Downwind Potential
While I haven’t tested it in full downwind conditions yet, the acceleration is noticeably quick. Being able to sprint into the sweet spot of a swell is crucial for downwind paddling, and the Cuda seems like it will do this well.
Tomorrow, I’ll be testing it in ocean swell, wind chop, and in-and-out surf conditions at Norris Cut, so I’ll have a better idea of how well it picks up runs, holds a line, and maneuvers in bigger water.
Comfort & Seating Position
Fenn is known for making comfortable buckets, and the Cuda is no exception. Of all Fenn skis, I’ve always found the Spark to have the most snug and comfortable bucket, and the Cuda is right in that zone.
One of the biggest things I noticed was how the seating position naturally promotes an upright posture. I tend to slouch while paddling (something I’m actively working on improving), but the deep seat and low hump kept me in a strong, engaged position without forcing my knees too high.
This also helped me reach further forward during the catch phase of my stroke, which is a key part of improving my technique.
Comparison to Other Skis
I’ve paddled a range of skis over the years, from beginner/intermediate to elite-level models, and here’s where I think the Cuda fits in:
More stable than the Spark, thanks to it being slightly wider and reduced rocker.
Similar in stability to the Swordfish S, but possibly even more stable for me since the Swordfish sits higher in the water due to its higher volume.
Maneuverability is closer to an elite ski like the Spark or Carbonology Vault. The Vault is known for being twitchy but very agile—I think the Cuda has some of that agility but without the twitchiness.
Great acceleration, making it easier to get onto waves and adjust position while surfing.
Ideal for intermediate to advanced paddlers looking for a mix of stability and performance without jumping fully into an elite ski.
That said, I believe the Cuda is listed as an elite ski, but since the Fenn website is still down, it’s challenging to confirm that directly from Fenn or get any information from Fenn. I suppose they just make good boats, and that's enough in this context.
Final Thoughts (For Now)
The Fenn Fenix Cuda seems to strike a perfect balance between stability and performance—stable enough that I can focus on refining my stroke technique rather than just staying upright, but still quick, agile, and responsive.
While it’s too early to make a final judgment, my first impressions are that this ski will be fantastic for downwind, surf zones, and technical ocean conditions.
Tomorrow’s session at Norris Cut should give me more insight into:
✅ How it handles cross chop
✅ How well it holds a line
✅ Its ability to maneuver in ocean swell
I’ll update this review with more thoughts after that session.
If you’ve paddled a Swordfish, Spark, Vault, or similar skis, I’d love to hear your thoughts on how the Cuda compares! Since this ski is brand new, the more paddler feedback we can gather, the better.

Addendum: Fenn Fenix Cuda – Assessing Its Stability and Handling in Rough Conditions
After taking the Fenn Fenix Cuda into truly rough, confused seas today, I’ve reassessed my initial impression of its stability and handling. I no longer consider this an intermediate ski—at least not for me. While it has slightly more stability than the Fenn Elite Spark, it still requires active engagement and presence to stay upright in rough conditions. It’s not a Swordfish or an XTS, and it feels more closely related to an Elite Spark with just a slight increase in stability rather than an intermediate ski.
Conditions and Performance

• The conditions at Norris Cut today were demanding:
  16 mph southeast winds
  Larger northeast swell from open water
  Smaller but still considerable southeast wind swell
  Confused sea inside the reef, big buildup on the reef, and larger ocean swell outside the reef
Inside the reef, the conditions were highly confused—a true washing machine of waves bouncing off each other and probably some refraction back from the beach, making balance a real challenge. On the reef, the swell stacked up in two dominant directions, creating tricky, technical conditions where at times I had two simultaneous wave crests from different directions.
Beyond the reef, the conditions became more uniform but still challenging, with the primary swell coming from one direction and the wind from another. The effort required to paddle upwind through what I called the gauntlet. It was not that difficult, but I had to concentrate. I did swim a few times because I was not paying enough attention to what I was doing, it's a new ski for me, and as I already mentioned, I am really at the intermediate level (okay, enough excuses. I just need to work on my stroke). Turning around was more manageable compared to other skis, and I did not have to get my legs out to do this like I would have to do on my Classic Spark. Once turned around, the downwind ride back over the reef to shore was fast, easy, and fun.

In terms of performance:
Upwind, against the swell and cross swell and crosswind, the ski handled cross chop well—it maintained directional control and didn’t have a tendency to weathervane.
Upwind performance felt more manageable than the Swordfish S, though that could be due to the lighter layup. The layup I have on the Cuda is the Carbon Vauum, 24 pounds
On the wave face, it just wanted to surf. I was able to maintain forward speed even on the edge of the wave crest, not just in the trough.
Downwind, the ski held its line well and remained maneuverable. I could take it in any direction I wanted, which I suspect is due to the forward rudder placement, similar to the new Spark.
Initial vs Secondary Stability. The initial stability is lively, but the secondary stability is better than I have felt on other skis.
The ski does pearl on larger waves, I was a little surprised by this, but I was told by our distributor here, Bruce, that it is due to its reduced rocker. However, leaning back easily lifted the nose out of the water, and the sloped seat back made this adjustment simple.
Remounting was easy—the rails feel lower than the Swordfish S, and the bucket doesn’t feel as deep.
It feels light but controlled—not overly reactive like one may expect from the lighter ski.
It catches and holds waves effortlessly—I was surprised at how little effort it took to drop into a wave. On other skis that I have, I would have had to work harder to make that happen. The only ski I can compare its natural surfing ability to is the Epic or the new Fenix Swordfish S. The SFS (Fenix Swordfish S) is a great ski, but for me, the volume was too much, but the thing just wants to surf anything. I wish Fenn had a low-volume version of the SFS. For that matter, I also wish that Epic had a low-volume version of the V10. We lower-weight guys are just out of luck, but that is why I guess Fenn invented the Cuda.
Final Thoughts
After today, I saw the Cuda as an expert-level ski or a sub-elite ski. While it does have a little more stability than an Elite Spark, it still requires active input to stay upright in confused water.
For my personal paddling, I see the Cuda as a high-performance ski that I can grow into. The reduced rocker means better stability but also more pearling, which is a tradeoff I’m okay with. Its ability to catch waves easily, hold a line, and maneuver downwind makes it a great choice for technical conditions, but it’s not a ski that takes care of you—you have to be engaged.
I’ll continue testing it in different conditions. Still, for now, I’d say the Cuda is incredible, best suited for those already comfortable on higher-performance skis or who want to take the next step but maybe are not ready for the Fenn Elite or Spark models.

Addendum: Further Testing of the Fenn Fenix Cuda, day three of testing
After another session with the Fenn Fenix Cuda, I have even more insights to share, particularly regarding how it handles ocean swell, maneuverability, stability, and remounting in real-world conditions.
Today’s conditions were calmer than yesterday, with a 10-knot east wind and an outgoing tide. This setup created good surf conditions over the reef at Norris Cut, but the waves were smaller due to the lower tide and lighter wind. I paddled out several times to Javi’s Tower, about ¾ of a mile offshore, where the conditions gradually built up with deeper water, steady wind, and open ocean fetch.
Surfing & Handling in Mixed Ocean Conditions
Inside the reef, the Cuda made it effortless to stay in the sweet spot of the wave trough, maintaining glide without excessive effort.
Over the reef, where the outgoing tide interacted with the swell, the waves built but weren’t as large as the previous day. The shallower water (about 12 inches over the reef) slowed the ski slightly, and wave energy was affected by bottom interaction.
Beyond the reef at Javi’s Tower, the deeper blue water created larger, more consistent swells from the east. However, as is common in Miami, there was also a cross-swell from the northeast and southeast, likely due to the Bahamas deflecting wave energy.
The Cuda performed exceptionally well in these conditions, holding its line when needed and allowing for easy directional changes when required.
Pearling & Mitigation Strategies
One notable characteristic of the Cuda is that it tends to pearl in certain conditions. Unlike the Swordfish S or Spark, which resist diving, the Cuda will bury its nose and stay buried unless you actively correct it.
However, Fenn clearly anticipated this, as the Cuda has a sloped back on the seat bucket, allowing paddlers to lean back effectively to shift weight aft and lift the bow. This mitigation strategy works well—I found that:
✅ If I leaned back in anticipation, the nose stayed up.
✅ If the nose started to submerge, shifting my weight backward quickly helped recover.
This makes the Cuda’s trim highly adjustable depending on how the paddler positions their weight.
Acceleration & Downwind Readiness
The Cuda’s acceleration continues to impress—it picks up speed quickly, making it easy to position into the sweet spot of a wave. While I haven’t done a full downwind run yet, I can already tell that it will be a highly capable downwind ski, especially with the ability to make quick adjustments in wave positioning.
Maneuverability & Control
One of the most standout features of the Cuda is its superb maneuverability. This ski goes exactly where you want it to go, responding immediately to input. Whether adjusting course while surfing or holding a line, the Cuda remains predictable and responsive.
Comfort & Posture Benefits
Seat comfort is on par with the Spark, which I consider one of Fenn’s best-fitting designs. Unlike some other models (Epic V9, new XTS, and older Swordfish S models), which caused discomfort for me personally, the Cuda allows for extended paddling without discomfort.
Additionally, the seating position naturally promotes an upright posture, which has helped me maintain better form. Since I tend to slouch, the low hump and deep bucket encourage proper positioning, allowing for better forward reach during the catch phase of my stroke.
Confidence & Power Application
The Cuda is the first elite ski I feel comfortable fully powering up, even on a downwind. I can lean forward and bump the ski to prolong a wave ride, something I struggled to do on the Spark due to balance constraints.
Remounting: No Issues
I capsized twice today, and both times I remounted without issue. The low rails and bucket depth seem to contribute to easy remounts, making it more forgiving than some other elite-level skis.
Final Thoughts After Further Testing
Pearling is something to be mindful of, but it can be managed with weight shifts.
Acceleration is strong, which will be key for downwind paddling.
Maneuverability is exceptional, giving precise control over direction.
The bucket is comfortable, and the seating position promotes good posture.
Remounting is easy, making it a more confidence-inspiring elite ski.
I feel comfortable applying full power, something I couldn’t always do in other elite skis.
As I continue testing the Cuda in larger surf and full downwind conditions, I’ll update with more insights. But so far, this ski is proving to be a fantastic balance of stability, speed, and performance.
Would love to hear thoughts from others who have paddled the Cuda.
I added a picture of the Cuda Bucket so you can see how far it slopes back. Compare this to other skis.

Thanks Pilotdov that is a very useful write-up on the Cuda.
It sounds like it would be more manageable than the Spark but the increment of improvement for me would probably be small and I may be better to hold out for the Swordfish LV (if they ever make it) or a new version of the V10L which is likely to be a bit more downwind capable based on the last 2 modifications made to the V10.
I should try the Cuda for myself tho.
Any other Cuda users out there that can add their impressions?

Who knows if the FENN will ever make an SFS LV, but I would be interested if they do. Regarding an Epic G4 V10 LV, I asked them if they would do it and got a maybe. They looked into it, and their design team (respectfully, Greg Barton) informed the higher-ups that they could not make a low-volume version of the Gen 4 V10. Perhaps they would find a way if they thought there was a demand for such a ski. I believe there is. There are more intermediate surfskiers out there than there are elite Surfskiers.

I took the Cuda out today on a big for me 12-mile downwind, and it was good. It would have been perhaps better for me and more enjoyable to have an intermediate ski with me for this one, like a Cabronology Vault LV instead. Still, for this being my 5th time on the Cuda and going on big blue water downwind with 15 to over 20 knots of wind and six-foot seas, I think we did pretty well together.

Also, the pearling issue, I realized, is not an issue on bigger, longer waves; really, it's only a thing on shorter wavelength waves. On the bigger ones, the nose slides down the wave face and stays on top of the water.