FENN
SKIS
Introduction
Before we start it’s important to make one thing
clear. The perfect ski does not exist, if it did every
manufacturer would only be making one ski, namely the perfect ski.
Every ski from every manufacturer is a compromise.
It might be perfect for a certain paddler in certain conditions, but no good
for another paddler in the same conditions. Similarly a paddler would love a
ski in one set of conditions, but not like it at all if the conditions change.
For this reason all manufactures produce more than
one ski. Fenn makes 11 different models, each
optimised for a certain level of paddler and for a certain set of conditions.
The Fenn
model range
The Bluefin
S is Fenn’s entry level ski. Anyone should be able to
just jump in and paddle, very much like a plastic sit on top kayak. The big
advantages over the plastic boats are much lighter weight, a very efficient
built in rudder, and of course higher speed because they are much longer than
plastic sit on tops.
The XT falls into the same
category as an intermediate multisport boat. About half of absolute beginners
can stay in an XT (although very wobbly), the other
half will go for a few swims before getting the hang of it.
The Swordfish is probably the best ski for
many competitive paddlers. It feels like a top end ski but has lots of
secondary stability. It’s a bit like having trainer wheels, not much inherent
stability when level but becoming more stable when it starts to lean.
The Elite range of skis is aimed at the top
end paddler. There is the standard Elite, Elite S, Glide and Spark. Stability
wise there is not much difference between these 4 skis, with the Glide a bit
less forgiving in messy conditions.
Then there are the LS and Tarpon S skis
designed and manufactured to meet Australian surf lifesaving standards, as well
as two double skis, the Elite double for top end paddlers and the XT double for
beginner/intermediate paddlers.
Construction
After deciding on the model of the ski, the
next step is to decide on the construction.
With surf lifesaving skis it’s easy, these
have to be at least 18kg heavy so there is no point using expensive carbon
fibre and epoxy to save weight. The LS and Tarpon S skis are only available in either
basic glass, or vacuum glass constructions.
With ocean racing skis there is no weight
requirement, so materials and methods to reduce weight are used. All new Fenn ocean racing skis now use a vacuum construction, with
the difference between the 4 available constructions just coming down to the
type of materials used. With better materials the ski can be made lighter and
stiffer, but unfortunately also becomes more prone to impact damage (as anyone
with a carbon framed bicycle will be able to tell you).
Actual average weights for the different
constructions are:
Poly vac (white gelcoat
finish): 16 to 17kg.
Vacuum glass (white gelcoat
finish): 14 to 15kg.
Hybrid (grey epoxy finish): 12 to 13kg
Full carbon (grey epoxy finish): ~11kg
Bluefin S
The Bluefin S is Fenn’s entry level
ski. It’s perfect for learning to paddle, and also as a recreational ski for
those who don’t get a chance to get on the water very often.
Feedback
from the Bluefin S is that is really is a ski that a
total beginner can jump in and just paddle away. Over the years I have found
that many novices found the XT challenging, and were put off by numerous swims
during their first attempts to paddle it. The Bluefin
changes all that, even the first paddle will now be a pleasant experience.
Length:
5.9 metres
Width:
530 mm
XT
This is
an intermediate ski, a bit of a challenge for total novices but usually
mastered after a few days of paddling.
Length:
5.9 metres
Width:
480 mm
Swordfish
The Swordfish is an intermediate/advanced ski.
Read what real paddlers have to say about the Swordfish here.
Here are my views:
In flat water it’s slightly slower than the
top end skis but not by much. I can easily stay with other paddlers at my level
while sitting on their wash, but it requires a bit more effort paddling next to
them.
The big surprise is surfing. It is absolutely
superb in big downwind conditions, especially when it gets a bit technical. The
manoeuvrability and extra stability in steep messy waves makes it the most fun
ski I’ve ever paddled. In these conditions the Swordfish is just as fast as or
faster than any of the other top end skis.
Seats are personal, what one person loves
another will hate and the other way round. For me the Swordfish has the most
comfortable seat of any ski I’ve paddled.
Length:
6.1 metres
Width:
450 mm
Swordfish S
The Swordfish S is a tweaked Swordfish. It has the
same hull but a few changes have been made to the deck. The seat has been moved
forward ~2cm which improves performance in flat and small conditions. Some
paddlers complained about dead leg syndrome with the old Swordfish seat, the
Swordfish S seat has solved that problem and many paddlers say they absolutely
love the new S seat.
Elite
The
Elite is my favourite ski in big conditions. It just loves big wind swell, the
bigger it gets the better the boat performs and the more fun it is. The rudder
is very forgiving, instead of just letting go as was often the case with older
skis it gives the paddler lots of warning when pushing the limits. The ski is
very good at diagonal surfing, conditions often experienced at the
Length:
6.4 metres
Width:
430 mm
Elite S
The
Elite S is essentially a standard Elite with the same tweaking that was done to
the Swordfish. It has a more comfortable seat located slightly forward, and
less volume in the nose. It is my favourite ski in small conditions, in big
conditions the standard Elite is still king.
Elite Glide
The
Glide is a top end ski designed for the top end paddler. It’s the fastest Fenn ski in flat water, but in messy conditions a bit
twitchier than the standard Elite.
Length: 6.44 metres
Width:
425 mm
Elite Spark
The
Spark is tiny. It’s supposed to be for short paddlers only but I can just get my
6”3 with long legs to fit. It’s great into the wind and has the classic Fenn surfing feel, picking up little bumps really nicely.
It handles big ocean swell really well, but with an all up weight (ski plus
paddler) of 95kg water starts coming over the sides when jumping waves in
large, steep wind swell.
Length:
6.44 metres
Width:
425 mm
Surge
The
Surge is a new top end, low volume ski designed mainly for flatish
conditions. It is shorter than the other top end skis.
Length:
5.82 metres
Width:
425 mm
LS
The LS
is the new Fenn surf lifesaving ski. It comes
standard with adjustable footrests and is available in a deep or shallow seat
version. If conforms to Australian SLS specifications and is available in NZ
with or without the SLSA approval label.
Looking
at the evolution of ocean racing skis (which originally started off as spec
skis) adjustable footrests are bound to become a standard feature of SLS within
the next few years. Having a ski that will fit any paddler
means that clubs no longer need a range of skis to cover a range of leg
lengths.
I took
a deep seat LS out at the Mount in some big conditions and was amazed at how
stable and well behaved it was. The nose looks really small when paddling in
the ski but it never ended up diving under.
Jasper Mocke winning the South African SLS champs.
Tarpon S
The
Tarpon S is also designed around the SLSA rules, but is wider and has more
volume than the LS. It is very stable and ideal for someone looking for a
stable ski to have fun in the waves. As with all other Fenns
it comes with a fully adjustable footrest system.
Adjustability
All new Fenn
surfskis have adjustable footrests, the doubles are even adjustable both front
and rear. Most skis will accommodate paddlers from about 5’5 up to 6’6. The
Swordfish S and Elite S have a smaller bump and will accommodate paddlers
shorter than 5’5.
The Elite Spark is designed especially for
shorter and lighter paddlers.