That's great! You're gonna love it -- it takes some time, but the reward is definitely worth the effort. If you get a chance, circle back to us and let us know what surfski you went with, and how it goes!

Nathan, it's our pleasure to share our learning journey. Thanks for your kind comment.

Thanks Nathan! Where do you live/paddle? Mostly ocean or calm water?

DOWNWIND is the best, great to hear you are hooked like we are. Where do you live / paddle?

The Paddle Channel I live on the Gold Coast, Australia and paddle along the east coast from Cairns to Sydney depending on my work.

All right! Let us know what you think. We found surfski paddling to be challenging in the beginning, so plan to learn in small chunks. For us, we were okay for about 40-45 minutes when we first started, but after that our core was too tired to really paddle well. But it was definitely worth sticking with it!

@@ThePaddleChannel ok so the first few weeks. Been extremely windy here 20 to 25 knots, way more flighty in the wind getting to the water. Yet to go outside as they are offshore winds so staying in the harbour. Feels very stable into and down wind. Pretty decent on cross wakes from ferries and tugs. That locked in feeling at 10 and 20 degrees of centre is very real. It just wants to sit there. Playing around with sitting position to get a good leg drive. Been for 3x hour and one hour and a half paddles. Not real full on high speed runs maybe about 70 to 80% effort. Can’t wait for the wind to drop, even to swing around to not being offshore, to give it a good run.

Hope it’s going well. I have just started paddling V1 and it’s a new challenge. I still have my Surfski and love being on the water.

Hope it’s going well! I have just started to learn paddling a V1. A brand new challenge.

It's fun to share the journey with others as we learn. Thanks for sharing with us.

Always learning and always 1% better each paddle! Where do you live/paddle? Mostly ocean or calm water?

@@barryblackburn5910 Hobart, calm open water and flat water (rivers mainly)

Couldn't agree more!

Thank you!! Stoked you liked the video. Where do you live/paddle? Mostly ocean paddling or calm water?

Glad you enjoyed it, Pedro. As Barry says, "Surfski is an exercise in humility..." :)

Thanks for the kind comment! Where do you live / paddle? Mostly in the ocean or in calm water?

This is a great comment. I will need to read it several times to process 😂😂. Thank you very much for this.

Great tip -- we'll play with that and see if we can "get it"! Thank you!

This is a good example of hip rotation, staying closely in sync with torso rotation. Hip goes forward in line with shoulder on set up. Much easier on a k1, but principle is the same. Note by doing this it prevents over rotation kzfaq.info/get/bejne/bZyCi9GK2tvHY6s.html

@@waverideraus4882, great example! Our friend Hunter describes the rotation as creating a "picture frame", where the hips are the lower edge of the frame and the shoulders are the upper edge. Then we're supposed to rotate the entire frame as one -- it's a great teaching cue. Now we just need to master the application. Thanks for that great example!

Thanks for sharing the link. Great video to study.

Michael, keep in mind that Barry is paddling a gen 1 V10 and a V11 in the ocean and swirling inlet currents in most of these clips -- both of those craft are considerably more tippy than the V8. Choose your conditions carefully as you get to know the V8, and you'll soon love it! I believe the V8 is 1cm wider than the Bluefin, so they are probably pretty similar in stability. The V8 will definitely be more tippy than the fishing kayak, but it's a good stable surfski. Remounting is pretty much what you described. Have a look at vimeo.com/60809717. The key is to be confident with your remount before you need it. If if helps, our friend David, who started on a V8 (kzfaq.info/get/bejne/fMqnebF3s6-ag3k.html), has reported the only time he has fallen out was when he did it on purpose to practice remounts. 'Looking forward to hearing about your V8 experience! -- Rod

My goal is to be paddling at 78 years old. Very impressive! Thanks for commenting.

I think the V8 was a great choice.

Ok, that's inspiring. I'm 58 and considering upgrading to surfski after 20 years of seakayaking, and thought maybe I was too old. Guess I will rent one and practice with a group tho..

@@hansb5107 Go for it! I'm 54, 10 years OC1 experience (2k/year) and just about to order my first SS as I tried one recently and fell in love wit it :-). Cheers, Florian from Hong Kong

That's when there were no "novice" surfskis...you've jumped into the deep end! :) But if you master that boat, you'll be able to paddle anything...

Thanks thats awesome, ive got a rough hold on it in still water, too windy for surf practise just yet thanks for the reply excellent informative channel! 😎

@@ThePaddleChannel turns out it's an Anderson mk5? Kanu and it's from 84-86 and it was controversial and rare anyways went out in the light surf for a second attempt with more practise yesterday, was a totally succes and I am wrapped and hooked I was able to save myself a few times well and went with against ad along side the surf all with decent stability at a decent speed even did some low speed manuvers and messed about so glad I didn't throw in the towel early!! Many thanks!! 😁

@@danielspoon1234 you have a classic! Good to hear you're hooked...that was our surfski experience. Frustrating at first, and now totally hooked. Thanks for circling back and letting us hear the great news.

I got myself a paddle partner now took my workmate out 300m offshore (very calm day, slight swell) three times and back fell off just as much as i did it was quite amazing with time and practice he should be stabile enough to paddle some distances i am hooked now

Thanks, Stephen!

Thank you for the positive constructive feedback.

Thank you! Cheers!

Thank you Peter! Where do you live and paddle?

@@barryblackburn5910 I live in Saint Johns, Fl and paddle SJ River and creeks. Lived for 28 years in Stuart, Fl. I am down to one ski Zen, but owned many other surfski brands...even though I prefer flat water paddling.

Barry was in the Epic V11 (all white ski) and some clips he was in the Epic V10 1st Generation (yellow and white ski). I would say that Surfski is one of the most challenging / rewarding sports I have tried.

Thank you! What Surfski model do you paddle? Have you tried different models?

'Hope you're loving it, Jody! Are you getting some ocean time?

@@ThePaddleChannel been more lake time lately and not enough ocean time. Plan to change that if i can ever stop working. But the lake time been great for getting my flat water time on the surf ski

@@jodyodell6159 one can never get enough ocean time, but flat water work is great, too!

A big part of it is just spending time on that type of water. There are a few other tips we have learned now that might help -- maybe we'll make that video some day!

Go for it!!! You got this! Thanks for the comment! Where do you live/paddle?

We both still paddle zero feather. Rod tried feathering everywhere from 15-60 degrees for a while, but returned to 0 degrees after a few months due to wrist pain. A few reasons we stick with zero degree are: * When we were learning, a number of coaches/teachers recommended zero feather for easier bracing. Since we paddle in the ocean most of the time, that seemed like a good option. * Despite both of us having backgrounds in exercise physiology, we couldn't see that feathering really offers a true biomechanical advantage (though many very experienced paddlers would disagree). * Feathering does introduce additional movement at the wrist, and that has the potential for repetitive use injury. A good technique coach would probably mitigate that risk, but we don't have a coach here, so we just kept it simple. :) * Both of us have been pleased with our performance, both downwinding and racing, at zero degree feather. Again, there are plenty of paddlers who would disagree, but we're both happy with zero degree feather and don't have plans to change. Thanks for your kind comments!

@@ThePaddleChannel 🙏🌊😎

We still paddle at zero degree feather. What did you decide to do?

Ocean paddling is a lot more fun when we actually in the boat -- good advice!

Yes! Always faster IN the boat! 😂 Thanks for the comment! Where do you live / paddle?

Thank you for this positive / constructive feedback. 🤙🏽

Barry Blackburn most people don’t rotate enough, including me, so give yourself a break.

Really enjoy your honest assessment of yourself and the discussion points. Also refreshing that you guys give an honest viewpoint as athletes that are just getting into the sport. Come say hi if you guys come to Cape Town and specifically Fish Hoek Beach Sports club where the mocke brothers base themselves. Be good to host you and go grab some surf. Cheers mate

@@kjmilner thanks so much for the encouragement! A trip to South Africa 🇿🇦 would be a dream come true. Maybe one day!?!

Hey, Rob, it's Rod here. Barry can answer the leash question more fully, but I know that particular leash had a tendency to tangle badly, especially in the surf zone, so I think you're right. You're spot on about tippy vs. not tippy -- surfski manufacturers are doing a great job of making skis for all levels of skill, challenge, activity, goals, etc. It's good to know the Cruze is an option you recommend.

@@ThePaddleChannel I use a coiled 11' sup leash attached to my pfd side straps so less extended or entrapment issues than on the leg. Easier detached if in a pickle or entrapment in a river environment. I use the same for on a SUP in river, tidal currents and surf.

@@RobCasey-SalmonBayPaddle coiled leash is definitely the way to go. Barry was "between coiled leashes" when that vid was shot -- better to go out with an uncoiled leash than not go at all, that's our motto. We'll have to play with the pfd attachment -- thanks for sharing that with us.

@@ThePaddleChannel that works. coiled can bounce back.

Water does get into the cockpit at times. Most modern surfskis will have some type of venture bailing system that will empty the water for you as you regain speed. As for water after flipping, just righting the boat tends to dump most of the water out, and then the bailer takes care of the rest when you start moving again. That's one of the great things about surfskis...you don't have to worry about water getting in the boat.🙂

@The Paddle Channel ok fantastic thank you. I'll have someone take a look at my fenn ski and water in the cockpit seems to be excessive. Thanks for the reply!

Nah, don't give it a pass! It's well worth the effort and time -- the surfski can be challenging, but very rewarding and shockingly fun. You can learn how to drag yourself into a ski in flatwater first.... :) After that, you can tackle mid ocean. It will be worth it... ;)

It wasn’t easy but to be fair the V10 and V11 were not the most stable boats for a beginner. The V8, or V8 Pro would have been ideal with less falling out. I went with the V10 and V11 because I found them used at a great price. Keep paddling!!

Richard, Barry is in a V11 for most of this video. He's also in a Gen 1 V10 in some clips (with the yellow paint).

Yes. V11 and first generation V10. What ski(s) do you paddle? Would love to do Miller’s Run!!

A v10 and a v11? It means you started already with advanced surfskis! Wouldn't it have been easier to start with a V8, V7 or V8 Pro instead?

@@andreteixeira5635 yes it would have been easier in a wider ski. I found the V10 and V11 for an excellent price so I just went for it!!

That is very true, Nikolai!

Agree. What ski(s) do you paddle now?

We've found it best to sit up tall and lean forward slightly. And yes, it's pretty common to have a strong side. If you find you're lopsided (it's not unusual), pay attention to your hands and see if they're doing the same thing throughout each stroke -- that's a good place to start, anyway. But just noticing one side is lesser than the other is step one, so you're already on the way to fixing any issues!

Yes, sit up tall and lean forward from the hips ever slightly.