Latest Surfski News

Tuesday, 17 October 2023 07:11
“What the bloody hell are you doing here?” I thought to myself a few moments after launching on the brand new V10 4G for the first time. It was getting dark; it was raining; the squalls were lifting sheets of spray off the water… directly offshore. What WAS I thinking? The answer is that I’m a sucker for new toys – and if I get my hands on one, I HAVE to play with it. Damn the weather, full speed ahead… Since then I’ve paddled the boat many more times, in much pleasanter weather. Here’s what I think of this,…
Thursday, 08 June 2023 12:42
East London, South Africa: Angus Warren watched helplessly as the shark’s teeth crunched through the hull of his surfski. “It seemed to go on and on,” he says, “pushing and chomping. I was thinking, why is it not working out that it isn’t food? “I can’t tell how long it took, but I had enough time to shout a couple of times to the others.” The next thing he knew, he was in the water…
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Thursday, 27 April 2023 18:42
CAPE TOWN - Hank McGregor and Josh Fenn convincingly claimed back their Prescient Freedom Paddle title on Thursday in a dramatic race marked by tough conditions and a rain-delayed start.  Conditions were extremely tough - a brisk northwester blowing spray from the big confused chop into the paddlers' faces as they headed out to the island.  Huge breaking surf on the far side of the island ensured a wide line but the wind dropped as the fleet started on the journey back to the finish, making it that much more difficult and energy sapping to catch the runs.  
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Tuesday, 25 April 2023 11:50
Last Friday, however, I paddled with Dawid on a windless autumn evening in Cape Town. Cruising from Fish Hoek to Muizenberg, we paddled together, stopping at all the coves to surf a few waves. In short, the operative word was "fun". This was a different Dawid - off duty - and, well, I've never paddled with anyone so noisy before. Whistling, singing, shouting to folks on shore - yahooing as he caught a wave. Heading home at dusk we crept up behind a group of seals lazing on the surface. Dawid began barking like a five-year-old paid by the bark...until…
Thursday, 09 February 2023 07:39
A look back - aaaaargh! A mountain. Let it go through... A smaller one, with a glimpse of something massive lurking further out to sea. Catch it, catch it! Sprint, sprint, you’re on it, here’s the break zone, keep going, keep going, the roar from behind and the sudden acceleration as a massive foamy caught up to me, keep it straight, keep it straight... Phew. Arrived. Panting. Stop the watch. ok. Made it. Empty the boat, pick it up to prevent it knocking you down. Done.
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Saturday, 26 November 2022 17:16
The South Africans cleaned up today at the most prestigious surfski race in Australia – arguably the most prestigious race in the world - taking five out of the top six places and the entire podium at the Shaw and Partners “The Doctor” in Perth. Defending women’s champion, Kiwi Danielle McKenzie won the women’s trophy.
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Saturday, 19 November 2022 13:01
Gold Coast paddler, Cory Hill, took first scalp in the five-event ocean ski racing series, the Shaw and Partners WA Race Week, winning the inaugural race today, the 24km Fenn West Coast Downwinder from Fremantle, just south of Perth, to Sorrento Beach. In fine conditions with a 16 knot SSW wind courtesy of the famed Fremantle Doctor, the start off Port Beach was intense with the top paddlers in a terse battle to make the first break.   But it was 33-year-old Hill – the 4-times DOCTOR champ who relishes the Perth conditions – who was able to shake the field…
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Tuesday, 16 March 2021 13:54
It’s not easy to catch a rolling, runaway single ski in 30kt of gusting wind – and as they attempted to grab it, Alex and his doubles partner lost their balance and fell into the water. By the time they’d remounted, the single ski was gone – blown away by the strengthening near-gale. They turned and paddled back upwind to find their buddy.
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Wednesday, 03 March 2021 12:08
Accident reports are easy to write when the story ends happily, but this one didn’t and it’s with a very heavy heart that I’m writing this, with a view to learning what we can from it.
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Wednesday, 15 July 2020 09:13
When the NSRI found Duncan MacDonald, he was approximately 6km off Smitswinkel Bay, drifting rapidly further offshore. Gale-force squalls whipped sheets of spray off the waves, reducing visibility almost to nothing. What Happened? Given the small size of the surfski community, there’s always intense interest whenever there’s a rescue. What happened? What did they do wrong? What can we learn from it? Clearly there are lessons to be learnt from any mishap – so here’s a description of what happened, shared with the permission and cooperation of the folks involved in the hope that we might all learn from this…
Friday, 24 April 2020 11:41
Durban – As the continued coronavirus lockdown grips the country, Canoeing South Africa will host a 24 hour Canoeing4COVID-19 event this weekend as a way to raise funds for members of the broader paddling community that have been badly affected by the lockdown.
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Wednesday, 11 March 2020 14:35
“Hey, Rob! Help!” The shouts penetrated the sound of the howling wind and crashing waves – and even through the noise it was obvious from the tone of his voice that something was seriously wrong. I turned and headed back upwind.
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Tuesday, 03 March 2020 14:43
Many paddlers use Personal Locator Beacons, or tracker apps like SafeTrx on their mobile phones. But handheld VHF radios are also a great choice to consider – especially when they’re DSC-capable like the Standard Horizon HX870E.
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Monday, 24 February 2020 12:01
I finally got my hands on a demo Fennix Swordfish S this weekend and did two Miller's Runs in succession to see if I could feel any difference in handling between the 2018 Swordfish S and the new Fennix model.  Conditions were challenging: False Bay was covered in whitecaps, whipped by a combination of a 25-30kt southeaster and small, confused seas.  The result?  I definitely want to spend more time in this boat.
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Thursday, 26 December 2019 10:30
The shark smashed like a freight train into Roger Swinney’s surfski in an explosion of noise and spray, knocking him off into the water.  “I managed to get back on the ski,” he said, “but I fell off again and as I remounted the second time, I saw the swirl and tips of the shark’s fins. “I didn’t see it clearly, but from the force of it and the movement in the water, it looked big!”
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Surfski Review: Carbonology Sport Flash

Saturday, 07 July 2012 10:24 | Written by  Brett McDonald
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Brett McDonald and the Flash Brett McDonald and the Flash

When I was first offered the opportunity to demo the “Flash”, Carbonology’s first foray into the full-length elite ski market, I recalled Rob’s impression in his review of the Carbonology Atom, “it made me look like a paddling super-hero”.  But on my first encounter with the “Flash” the first impression I got was that it presented more like a mild mannered Clark Kent than some super hero.

Simple and Elegant

While the “Flash” decals are just that, the ski is much like the other Carbonology ski’s, somewhat understated or to once again borrow from Rob’s Atom review “simple and elegant”.

This meshes quite well with what I know of the Carbonology team of manufacturer and distributors; they are content to let the skis talk for themselves and have been a slowly but surely increasing their presence in the ski market without much fanfare.

At the beginning of the year I had been paddling a Carbonology Vault for around 10 months and more out of jest than anything else I posted on the Carbonology Facebook page that a full length version of the Vault was on my wish list for 2012, much to my surprise the reply was “have you been spying on us?... watch this space!”

Here we are 6 months later and after being initially released on the European market it has finally landed on Western Australian shores and should be in the hands of those in the Eastern states as this review hits the web.

Construction

The Vault I’ve been paddling is in the Hybrid lay-up so when I was asked which lay-up I would like to demo the flash in I went for the same lay-up. I have found the hybrid lay-up of Glass re-enforced with Carbon to be quite stiff and very robust.

My ski is still in excellent condition despite the accidental knocks that all skis cop over time; I really think it is the best value for money from all the lay-ups available.

As opposed to other manufacturers who quote a weight for specific ski’s Carbonology have gone the ballpark method. There is obviously much less material used in say an Atom to a Flash, yet they quote a flat 12kg for all hybrid lay-up single ski’s.

carbonology lay-up

On the bathroom scales test my Vault weighs in at 12.5kg while the Flash weighs in at 13kg.

Vital Statistics

  • Length: 6,35m
  • Width at seat: 445mm
  • Width at front of footwell: 315mm
  • Deck height in front of footwell: 345mm
  • Nose height at front of ski: 265mm

So to those familiar with the Vault how does it compare… well I lined the two ski’s up bucket to bucket and this is what I found: there’s an extra 30cm in the nose and 13cm in the tail.

Vault v Flash

noses-looking-forward  rear-views

 

Bucket

After 35 kms in the Flash over 3 days this week I have yet to have any issues, the bucket is quite snug on my 90kg 6ft 2in frame, which I feel adds to my stability.  While initially I though the bucket a narrower version of the Vault bucket I also noticed that the hump under the knees is lower. This is sure to please the short-legged paddler who has problems with big humps under the knees.

When setting up the footplate for my leg length I also noticed that the bucket is slightly longer, not sure exactly how much but there is at least two more notches left on the footplate adjustment in the Flash. Given that I am 6ft 2in you would need damn long legs to max this bucket out.

cockpits

Flash (L) and Vault (R) 

Looking forward from the bucket this ski is decidedly thin. Take a close look at the photos and get yourself a tape measure out, a 315mm catch!!!

Footplate

The footplate is the standard Carbonology plate, which appears to be a favoured design among many ski manufacturers. The footlength can be adjusted in a matter of seconds by pulling out the locator lugs, adjusting the length then feeding the rudder lines through the pedals to bring them back upright. The only time some knot tying is required is when you wish to adjust the pedal angle.

 flash-cockpit

Steering

Carbonology skis use stainless steel rudder cables attached to cord in the footwell, which in my mind is the best of both words, giving very precise rudder control and feel while allowing easy adjustment footplate length and rudder pedal angle.

cover

tiller bar

Rudder

After my swim I decided to check out the rudder and found that it was a swept back elliptical rudder. Hein from Carbonology stated that in testing the usual rudder shape was too aggressive and this new rudder smoothed that out but still gave good feel and response.

One pleasant surprise was that they have kept the same rudder shaft length, so I was able to swap out the ocean rudder for my river rudder, however the new elliptical rudder has the shaft set further back from the leading edge so if fitting a weed deflector it needs to be done with the ocean rudder fitted so as not to foul it when switching rudders.

Top Secret one way draining bullet scuppers

Hein from Carbonology tells me they have been able to integrate a one-way valve into their bullet scuppers that stops the footwell from filling with water when you slow to a stop. This would be very handy sitting on the start line to a race. Unfortunately they are only fitted as an option on new skis and he didn’t see fit to send a ski with them fitted to us for review so I was unable to test its performance. I look forward to hearing what becomes of this new design.

Speed versus Stability

The biggest reason I bought a Vault was for the added stability it gave over the previous Epic V10L I had been paddling for the 9 months prior. The Vault has me a smidgeon more stability, which enabled me to really focus on my stroke, rather than losing energy to staying upright.

When I decided I wanted something quicker again I started paddling most of the big name elite skis, which reminded me of the speed versus stability question again… just how much extra speed can I get out of a “faster” ski in choppy conditions or when I am fatigued.

Carbonology Flash  Carbonology Flash

First Paddle

I joined the regular Saturday morning group in Mandurah for a 15km paddle through the estuary and canals. The tide was ripping in that day so any thoughts of figuring out what speed the ski was doing were thrown out the window. I decided the paddle would be more about how the ski felt. 
Although I noticed a smidgeon more "life" in it's primary stability than the Vault I had all but forgotten I was paddling an elite level ski within 7-8km's. It also tracked very well on washes which was one bug bear with the Vault. Although the Vault wash hangs really well I feel I have to do a lot of rudder work on my Vault to stay in the sweet spot, the extra length in the Flash has given it better straight line tracking

Speed Test

I put the speed versus stability question to the test with a 5.3km triangular ocean course in 10-15 knot winds and a short wind driven chop of 1-2 foot .

I recorded each time trial on my Garmin, but placed the Garmin where I couldn’t see it, as I didn’t want to have the speed displayed encourage my performance.  I went flat out for both efforts with a 40-minute rest period in between.

The first leg of the course was cross chop for about 600m then turned into a approx. 2.5km upwind leg with the chop at about a 20 degree angle from the right before turning for a straight downwind leg of about 2.2km.

I took the Vault out first and as I bought this ski for its cross chop and upwind abilities found the going pretty straight forward. I was copping some waves in the lap over the bow and the odd one in the chest but the double bullet scuppers made quick work of the water in the footwell. Then it was around the marker and into the short steep downwind chop, which is always fun in this short ski.

After my rest I set off on the Flash for a warm up then headed off cross wind. The ski was just a little tippier but not to the extent that I needed to brace, maybe a few wider strokes on occasion were needed to make sure I wasn’t leaning too far but I didn’t feel unsure in the ski. I did catch myself feeling like I needed to hurry up, maybe that I wasn’t achieving the same stroke rate that I had on the Vault? Turning upwind the effect was almost immediate, the longer length of the ski ironed out the chop and the lesser degree of pitching kept the ride much drier. Although the wind was 20 degrees from the right the low volume nose wasn’t affected.

Again I felt as though I was putting in some wider strokes and couldn’t rate as highly. As I rounded the marker for the downwind I was right on a runner and as my GPS would later tell me I accelerated straight up to 15km/hr….then as I kicked the rudder pedal to move off the runner as it dissipated I found myself in the water!!! What the heck?!..how did that happen?! That question didn’t last too long in my mind as the realisation that I was 2 km offshore in waters where a Great White attacked a ski only the week before rushed into my mind.

It was at this point I realised that I hadn’t given any thought as to whether I’d be able to get into this narrower bucket while rocking around?...a few deep breaths and I was up and in the bucket, one foot in, brace,  start paddling then lift the second foot in and I was away!! In no time I was back and gliding on these runners. The thought later occurred to me…

I have a small river rudder on the Vault, which really needs to be worked hard to steer in these conditions, I hadn’t given the Flash’s ocean rudder the respect it deserved and paid the price. Now I was aware of how well it steered I had no further problems and quickly found myself paddling through waves to catch the next lump.

When I finished the course on the Flash I honestly had no idea which ski had gone faster, so after a few photos of the ski on the beach it was home to download the tracks and analyse the data.

I wasn’t surprised at what I observed, the Flash and the Vault were neck and neck on the cross chop and upwind and if you were to twist my arm for a winner I would probably have to say that I think the Vault was the better performer. In the downwind the Vault appeared to have better acceleration onto the short steep chop but the Flash held the chop better and didn’t seems to wallow off the back of runs as much.  I was able to be just as aggressive in steering the Flash and could paddle as hard as I wanted through a wave to get onto a run without feeling the wobble I have experienced in some elite skis.

Taking into account the 30 seconds it took me to remount and get going from my swim the Vault was only 30 seconds quicker over the 5.3km course, not a definitive result by any stretch of the imagination.

Flatwater performance

I paddled the ski in a 28km marathon flat-water paddle.

Before I reveal the race results we finally got some still weather: the ocean was like a pond with slack mooring lines in the boats moored off my beach and each one facing a different direction.   I knew the conditions were perfect for some comparison runs with the Vault.

After warming up in both skis and paddling a 1km straight line over the same water at about 80% effort (marathon race pace) I established that the Flash showed a .3km/hr speed advantage over the Vault.

Marathon Race

My last marathon race about a month ago on the river my average pace in the Vault was 12.2km/hr over 18km. Today over 27km it was 12.5km/hr or again .3km/hr faster;)

Another difference today was that I was doing a lot more turns washleading than the previous race, so I must have been paddling at a reduced intensity! 

One other thing to note was that as I fatigued I didnt feel any less stable in the ski, somewhat important in an elite level ski.

Carbonology Flash

Carbonology Flash

Conclusion

I hope this review has shed some light on this new entry to the market.

Who this boat may appeal to:

  • Those looking for a low volume ski that isn’t prone to being blown around by cross winds.
  • Those currently paddling an elite level ski who find it too twitchy but don’t want to sacrifice speed
  • Those looking to move up from an intermediate ski such as the Vault, Swordfish or Evo II.