Didn`t Hayden in Australia incorporate mini-chines to the tail end of their ILS Spec skis a year or two ago?
Great to see more ski shapes and debate going on - keep it up guys!
Owen

Sorry Daryl about the 'looks slow' comment. The full context is 'looks slow in the chop'. But I stand corrected that it is not the case. We look forward to getting some comments from paddlers or even getting the Legend reviewed. Any chance of getting one to Hawaii for the Molokai? Rob will be there.

Well done on the new design, with any different looking design there is bound to be speculation and opinions flying around.

Hi Ritchie,

Sorry I didn't respond sooner. I've been travelling.

I agree with both your statement and Stewart's. At the non-elite level, it is more about the boat, because the boat needs to provide a platform that really does create confidence. This is where the Evo falls, yet it is still a very competitive design.

At the elite level, I believe it's mostly about the engine, as the boats all have roughly the same maximum velocity on flat water, and this has been the case for 15 years. I know, as I have pretty much owned them all. What has changed is that the boats have gotten progessively easier to paddle, without sacrificing speed.

I feel the Legend is the next step. It offers both greater secondary stability (in the elite boat class), and better downwind performance, than the current standard.

Best regards,

Daryl

A few very rushed shots from the Bridge to Beach last weekend. Tommy and Willy on their Legends.



I've also got some of Jeremy and Caine which I'll send to Rob now to post up if he like them.

"I'm hoping that Will, the Australian customer who has had a Legend for a month now, will be getting a review into surfski.info in the next few days."

Well I have had the Legend for a month and competed in 2 events in Sydney, Australia. I placed 19th in the Bridge to Beach and 10th in the Yarra Bay race in Sydney's Botany Bay.

I am used to paddling a spec ski (Slipstream). I have been keen to get into a lightweight modern ocean ski for a while. I part owned an XLR8 which i found quite good and stable in the big stuff.  I also tried out a Mako 6 which my mate owns, I found it to be very fast but a little too unstable in choppy water for me. I guess i could have got used to it.

I started paddling 2 years ago with a squad of guys on kayaks - 'Jimsquad'. My background was a bit of surf swimming in the surf club. The coach is Jimmy Walker (former olympian) and now NSWIS coach. I was lucky because i got in with a group of good paddlers and certainly a good coach who gave me tips as to the right technique early on and monitored my technique as i went.

I also competed in the world cup race in durban last year and placed about 50th (i think). As you can see by my recent results, my paddling as a direct result of better technique and very fast ski has led to a rapid improvement.
 
As soon as i jumped on the Legend it was right for me. Very light (12kg) and felt just like paddling a kayak.  It grabs the runs so well. I have been amazed at how easy it is to link runs out in the big stuff. Where before I would 'wallow' in between swells the legend allows me to glide across to the next swell or just simply go straight over the top to the next one.  It feels like i have my bum on the deck and the rest of the ski is flying (I guess this is what the good paddlers feel when they are going well in races).

It is interesting time, my paddling is improving all the time and now my surfing as a direct result of using the legend has improved immensly.

I am hoping to do the Molokai race this year. A few other Sydney boys are heading over also. Should be a blast!  I just hope the wind really blows and the swell is huge!! Give the Legend a true test.

Regards,

Willy

Alex,

I have only paddled an Evo once and now own a Legend. I cannot comment on Fenn XT as i have never been on one.

The Evo is a very stable ski for someone who hasnt done too much paddling.
The Legend is also very stable but less stable than the Evo. It is narrower and has a radical new chimed hull design that seems to grab any size run with ease.

I own the light 12kg Legend and find it to be the fastest craft i have been on, this has alot to do with the weight and the stability. I dont miss a stroke when i paddle which has happened alot in the past.

The few times I have paddled out through the heads in Sydney where the water gets very rough due to the bouceback against the cliffs the Legend feels very stable.  On the Legend i am able to hold my stroke and my speed togehter which i have never been able to do before.

I would recommend it to you, but you should contact the guys at Think to try it out for yourself.

Hi Willy have you had a chance to paddle in a big downwind like the southerly conditions over easter. If so how did the ski go with the big drops and drainage?