Comments for Molokai Training – and what ski to use? at http://www.surfski.info , comment 0 to 12 out of 12 comments http://www.surfski.info Sat, 11 Oct 2008 12:42:40 +0100 FeedCreator 1.7.2 http://www.surfski.info/content/view/687/147/#pc_2322 Hey Rob, whichever ski you choose, I'm sure you'll have a great race and do yourself proud. I really enjoy this great website of yours, and love all your articles - so I'm looking forward to your race reports. Best wishes for an awesome experience, and I'm glad we'll be able to share some of it through this medium. - Guy Saville Tue, 06 May 2008 20:13:04 +0100 http://www.surfski.info/content/view/687/147/#pc_2316 Hey Rob trust what your gut feel tells you,id have thought 1st time up your goal would be to finish having the most fun possible,in my experience that means the most stable ski possible and im sure you are paddling the V10 sport ultra,is this not the best big water ski ever designed?picture cape point running at 5m and which ski would you choose? Good Luck and have a blast - mark beck Mon, 05 May 2008 21:09:58 +0100 http://www.surfski.info/content/view/687/147/#pc_2280 Hey Rob I think I know your paddling abilities well enough to summarize your choice in regard of having ample 'wooly condition' expereince and to think that your level of skill warrents the Red 7 Pro rather than (with all due respect an intermediate ski) of the Sport in needing the added stability. Here are some of my reasons: In Deans response to Joe Glickmans '3 Legends' interview at Dubai '08, asking him which were the biggest condition he has raced in he stated that 2004 Cape Town & 2007 Durban World Cup were the largest....memory serves me that you had 'the best paddle of your life' in a Maco6 which is an intermidate to advanced racing ski, yet of recent interest from many of your video footage and reviews on the Red7, you have raved about the downwind & surf riding abilities 'bar nun' to its fanatatic draining abilities and with a modified rudder you have enjoyed improved steering. Having said that I would think you are likely to choose your red Red7 over your Maco6? Just from a personal perspective when I paddled The Crossing in Feb, I had the opportunity to witness the contrast of handling of the RED7 vs the Honcho Guevara ( which it similar in essense to the Epic Sport, yet granted the Guevara did nt have a larger rudder), but in the initial extreme & confused conditions that we encounterd Murray whom has previously written a very complimentary review on the Guevara found that he did not have the ability to generate enough speed to catch the large ocean swells and once he did he found it very difficult to steer & project with the runs saying that he likened the experience to 'wrestling an anaconda'due to the shorteness of the skis travel. By contrast I was in your Red7 Pro and needed to restain myself from dropping off & projecting along in the large runs whilst waiting for Murray and was receiving a dunking of note and that the Red7 handled this extremely well.....read about the experience http://www.surfski.info/content/view/633/156/ and scroll right down to Crossing the Bay on the Red7 part1&2 in the comments section. Just by way of another flat Molo, I would be certain that you would want an effiecent and economically hull ski that would help you home? I know that in both occassions of paddling the Red7 in the Cape Point and The Crossing I found the ski allowed my to retain or improve my speed average above 12km/h in the respective flat and dying downwind conditions needing to catch the fast moving swell to keep my momentum. So my guess is that your nerves are possibly getting the better of you as you embark to fly over to the Molo to paddle a borrowed boat! My advise is paddle what you are familiar with, granted you need to be ensured that the quality of the ski is sea worthy and that you don't suffer any mechanical or structual failures along the way. Good Luck and have fun you lucky bugger! - Jamii Hamlin Thu, 24 Apr 2008 11:01:56 +0100 http://www.surfski.info/content/view/687/147/#pc_2275 On my very 1st time on a ski in Hawaii we did a 10 km fun run from Hawaii Kai to The Outrigger Club.It was small - light winds and perfect blue sea. What you do not understand is this is OCEAN SWELL - not wind chop - so it is so much stronger. We were all on V10 Ultra's and Joe Glickman was on a Ultra Sport. I was much faster than Joe off the mark (as were we all) - but got dumped 2x as I got to learn the waves - I will never forget seeing him power past me just grinding out the swell. If you do not know Hawaii - do not mess around, it is no joke. Stable, strong and confident is the way on your 1st - get brave on your 2nd try. If it gets to 8 ft - you will be happy. Joe is no fool - and forget ego's in Hawaii - the Ocean is so strong - go with it and smile. - Gavin Dickinson Wed, 23 Apr 2008 21:55:04 +0100 http://www.surfski.info/content/view/687/147/#pc_2272 Rob, Oscar drank his way across Europe for a month with only 2 training days, arrived in Dubai and wacked every man jack there in a V10 Sport. If the Molo were really ripping, he could win in a Sport - now, wouldn't that be something! Ok, so we're not the big O - however, this channel can turn stong men into jelly. I'd start paddling the V10 Sport now and plan on using it unless it's blowing less than 10kts - in which case, you could use the '70 - not having paddled the Red 7 would not be much of a handicap in mild conditions.... I share Kenny's experience; the V10S allows me to focus on the stroke rather than staying upright. If the swells are up, being stable will allow you to work the chop off China Walls even 4 hours in. Good Luck! Ken - Kenneth Moore Wed, 23 Apr 2008 08:39:27 +0100 http://www.surfski.info/content/view/687/147/#pc_2271 Before you even did the Millers run on the Sport you were committed to the Surf70 Pro and appeared very comfortable and at ease with using that eventually at Molokai. Id knock out a few runs on the Red7 to get yr head back in alignment. If yr still unsure then take the Sport. - superted Wed, 23 Apr 2008 08:06:28 +0100 http://www.surfski.info/content/view/687/147/#pc_2270 Rob...I will try and make your mind a bit easier , use the V10 Sport..... ;) - Christo Tromp Wed, 23 Apr 2008 06:45:56 +0100 http://www.surfski.info/content/view/687/147/#pc_2269 No matter what the conditions are in Hawaii, if you swim once and struggle to get back on the ski, you will lose more time than you gain from the extra speed of an Elite ski. Enjoy the race. - Clare Chalupsky Wed, 23 Apr 2008 06:33:03 +0100 http://www.surfski.info/content/view/687/147/#pc_2268 Rob, I did the channel crossing in a millenium and in a Mark 1 - back when I used the millenium in all conditions. In the millenium, my brain was fatigued and I didn't have much fun because I had to brace often and was in survival mode too much. On the Mark 1, I was faster and laughing all the way. I wouldn't even consider doing the channel in a Mako 6 or regular V10 IF I had a more stable, higher volume ski available - because I'm not a top 10 Molokai paddler. Plus, you're likely not competing for a top 5 placing, right? So, use the ski that you'll have more fun with and the one that will make you smile and dig harder that last hour. And, like others said, you'll probably be faster on it, too. - nell Wed, 23 Apr 2008 03:29:30 +0100 http://www.surfski.info/content/view/687/147/#pc_2267 Rob, it really depends on what the wind/weather is doing. Since you are a competent paddler, if the conditions are like they were last year, you will curse the day you were born if you are paddling a V10 Sport and you could have been paddling a 17.25" wide boat. Especially after the four hour mark. If the wind is blowing decent (15 trades), then the Sport will be nice and stable even as you fatigue over the length of the course. If you have the option, I'd make it a "game day" decision. BTW, when are you arriving in Hawaii? I'm just getting through with rehab from shoulder surgery and would enjoy getting in a paddle with you on Oahu if you can do that before the race. - Scott Wed, 23 Apr 2008 02:09:02 +0100 http://www.surfski.info/content/view/687/147/#pc_2266 I'd use the sport. But which ever you do decide to use get on it and stay on it now! Use the sport and spend what time you have left practicing going fast on the sport and getting as used to the sport as you posibly can. In a few runs you may find that once you know the boat better you set a new record especially when you are able to put more effort in at the back end of the run because you are less fatigued. - Part Time Wed, 23 Apr 2008 02:01:35 +0100 http://www.surfski.info/content/view/687/147/#pc_2264 Rob, Let your experience be your guide on the V10 Sport. 2nd and 3rd best times on the Millers run should speak loudly. It might be helpful for you to take the Sport out and beat the butts off some of your paddling buddies in their "elite level skis" -nothing like it for getting past that "beginners ski" thing. Best Regards, Mike. - Mike Gregory Tue, 22 Apr 2008 21:52:06 +0100