Didier’s Epic Experience Part 2: “Ouspoun”

13 months ago I became the owner of a marvelous V10 Elite, named “Ouspoun.” This name has several meanings: frightful, enormous, and extreme; as in extremely lightweight, extremely fast and extremely rewarding. I have paddled it 119 times, 110 times last season, putting 1082 sea miles (2004 km) in my wake. Let me tell you about this extraordinary ski.

November 2009 - winter was already at the door during our ocean race training sessions at the club. Fellow paddler Jean-Louis, a surfski paddler from the north of France, introduced me to the V10. While seated in the bucket, I wondered at the boats magnificent lines/curves. I saw the deck cut-outs like the waist of Claudia Schiffer! Yes indeed, to become a fanatic of a boat, like with a woman, I need that “coup de foudre.” That evening I took Jean-Louis' V10 home, and I spent half of the night refurbishing it, polishing with 3M Finesse It, and doing my best seamanship work on the boat. The next morning the paddlers didn't show up at the rendezvous due to heavy wind, so I paddled the V10 Performance into the 42 knot Southwester alone!

I had also always liked the shape of the V12, but I knew that its cockpit was a bit shorter than the V10's. Since the first day I discovered it in May 2008, I kept a picture of the V10 near my bed, and every night my last glance was at this ski! I decided to order a V10 Ultra.

I took delivery of the new ski on March 8, 2010, delivered by Jean-Michel, the French importer - I had cooked “crêpes bretonnes” for him in honor of the delivery! But, to my dismay, upon examining the boat I realized the outfitting was not set up as I had hoped, in order to meet the strict French safety regulations. I stressed over the boat for two days, but I would not be able to set it up the way I desired. Calling Jean-Michel, and admitting to him that I am his hardest customer to please, I asked his opinion. He told me that he would get the ski to a “normal” surfski paddler, who didn’t have to comply with the French laws!

My Quest Continued

The carbon V10 pictured on the Epic website is magnificent; the ebony hips of Naomi Campbell shine! I dreamt and I checked my bank account. I sent messages around the world: Boyan Zlatarev, Epic Europe manager told me a gel coat ski is more durable than a pure carbon one, Rob Mousley thought I was careful enough to afford it, and Oscar told me to get a V10 Sport Elite. My choice was made; it will be a V10 Elite, as I already have my V10 Sport Value for really bad weather.

The order was already sent when I suddenly decided to quit competition. There are many reasons why I made this choice; I published them on my blog. Basically, I do not care to be faster than anybody else. What is important to me is to be faster and more confident than I was yesterday. In French competition you need technique to have the best downwind speed, but no knowledge of chart work, nor currents. Following the safety boats, rounding buoys in high visibility conditions: No Thanks! I paddle on the sea, not only on the water. My pleasure is to deal with tide races, swell and fog, to find the best rip currents along the cliffs, not only to surf. I like headwinds as much as I do downwinds. A surf-ski gives me the opportunity to sail like in a sea kayak, but almost twice as fast. With a feather light ski many places, like small harbors along the cliffs, are accessible even if you have to carry it up the stairs. I like to be alone at sea, to have the whole ocean for me, not like surfers at the beach, who fight for a five second surf. I'm selfish and my best paddling partner is my VHF radio: no risk of collision, and far safer than another paddler. In solo paddling I have more concentration, and I feel the elements more acutely. What a thrill to be caught by fog and have a route plan, with all the currents and correct bearings, posted on the cockpit in front of you! For me a good surfskier is 50 % kayaker and 50 ̈% sailor.

The Search is Over

In July 2010, high on the cliffs of Pointe du Raz, I could spot big vessels full of containers coming and going. Every day I was wondering if my ski was inside one of those boxes! At last, on the 5th of August, Jean- Michel delivered the Black Beauty in Bretagne. I invited a nice sporty woman to be the godmother of “Ouspoun.” Without previous experience of kayaking she paddled the V10 Sport with me, while I got to know my new V10 Elite. The transition was rather easy, as we decided to paddle on flat water. There were no capsizes.

A few days later I went paddling at the beach wearing a wetsuit. I spent two hours falling overboard and remounting on both sides, in the surf-zone. It was so easy to remount and slip in a perfectly sleek seat without hip pads!

I knew that the V10 remains the favorite Epic boat for tall paddlers, such as Matt Bouman. How could a 179cm and 70kg paddler like me paddle the same boat? Oscar is 21cm higher and 40kg heavier than me. How can I handle this ski with my narrow hips while Oscar fills up the seat? If Oscar uses a Mid Wing paddle how can I use the same surface with my skinny arms?

I decided to make some modifications to my equipment. I had been clever enough to order a Small Mid Wing full carbon paddle, and I am not ashamed to use a paddle some mistakenly call a children’s paddle. Just check the surface area and remember that the Small Mid Wing is only 15 square centimeters smaller than a Mid Wing, 5cm x 3cm - the size of a respectable table spoon! It was the right choice.

With my narrow 36 cm wide hips in the 39 cm wide cockpit of the V10, I was still a bit slack. Having rubbed in my V10 Sport seat, I had found that padding my paddling shorts around the coccyx gave excellent results. I cut some patches of neoprene and I sewed them on the sides of my shorts. The contact between my hips and the sides of the seat was better, and it made a real difference in term of control without compromising hip rotation. Later I did the same modification on my paddling trousers; using two layers of neoprene I got even better results.

Back home in Cherbourg it was time to modify the ski. It's not a difficult task to drill a hole in the bow of a brand new 4350 euro carbon ski - but in your mind it is! I did it and filled some epoxy before drilling a smaller hole for the central deckline I would install. It was then an easy task to use the bungee deck fittings of the cockpit to install the deckline, on which slides the Carry-Leash. I was so happy when the V8 appeared with nice handles at each end. Personally I do not need, and I do not trust handles on a surfski, but the nice front handle of the V8 makes the installation of a central deckline and Carry-leash a straight foward job.

Why a sliding-leash? To keep the bow in line with oncoming waves if you capsize. A leash fastened in the cockpit can tow you down while the ski is broaching sideways to the beach. Yes, if you are rich you can paddle unleashed in the surf-zone and let your ski drift to the rocky beach!

I have seen comments saying that the V10 front deck is too high and compromises maneuverability in wind. The only point where I found it can be difficult to turn around is, for example, when you are in a very narrow space like between two walls! Having paddled more than 500 miles of headwinds in a year, I can say that the high front deck of the V10 isn't a problem! Another thing which is called a fault, by some paddlers, is for me an advantage. Some have said that the Venturi drain is too slow. No! The Venturi drain is perfect. When I paddle in headwinds, water comes in the cockpit. If the water could escape faster, it would be harder to keep the boat windward. With the help of the remaining water, navigation tools (compass, GPS and watch) and my safety equipment, the ski is slightly heavier in the front and it gives a very neutral and perfect behavior.

When the ski runs downwind the higher speed sucks the water faster. In very strong winds I keep the plug in the Venturi hole. Even if the ski is heavier it has more inertia to break the waves. (An empty cockpit is also 5 kg lighter than the ski which has its cockpit filled with water – good for racers at the start!)

For me, The V10 seems better in side winds than the V10 Sport. Is it its rounded and narrower hull? I feel less impacted by side waves in my V10. It also seems to give a drier ride, it's faster, and it surfs better. If like me you chose the surf rudder, which is 2 cm deeper than the standard rudder, it is better to add a weedguard. The surf rudder adds surface area which is better for downwind, but can make progress in headwinds harder. This is why I made my “Zero Surface” weedguard with a stainless wire. The first time i went to sea with this weedguard I was very disappointed because the whole ski vibrated. It took me several days to find the cheap and easy solution. A simple piece of tape made a wing profile and the problem was solved.

I enjoy long day trips and I would appreciate very much a V10 fitted with a small compartment, enough to store a lunch and dry clothes. The dry bag squeezed under the rear deck bungee remains a poor solution for me, as the wind effect makes it harder to keep the track downwind.

Last season I divided my training into four parts. From September I did four months of endurance following the advice of Oscar. Then from January to mid-April I did intervals with mild heart rate. From mid-April to mid-July the intervals were done sometimes at maximum HR. Then the last month and half I mixed short intervals with performance paddling on a set course; a specific distance in a very challenging place. I did this at Raz de Sein, in front of the westernmost point of France, where I was born. My usual average training distance is 10 sea-miles (18,520 km) but the goal was to do the 5,3 sea-miles crossing between the quay of Ile de Sein to the quay of Bestrée, a small harbor on the south coast of Pointe du Raz, as close as possible to 45 minutes.

On August 13, 2009 I paddled this course in 48'40''with “l'indépendant” (my V10 Sport.) Last year the sea was too bad to attempt a crossing and I lacked experience with “Ouspoun.” In 1926, my grandfather and three persons of his family had saved the lighthouse keepers of La Vieille, using a 4m fishing boat. Raz de Sein is one of the most dangerous places to sail in the world, and it took a full month of attempts before they managed to rescue the starving lighthouse keepers. When I was a kid a small passenger boat made the crossing in 45 minutes. In memory of my grandfather, I wanted to do the same crossing as fast as possible. Very strong tidal races ran perpendicular to the course; if you enter “tempête à la Pointe du Raz” on Youtube you will understand how dangerous the place is!

Last July I did two attempts. When I started the sky was clear, but at Pointe du Raz I was caught in fog with 50m visibility. I was hoping it would clear up in the afternoon, but I had to paddle the entire crossing in the fog; the time was 50'40''. Two days later I did another crossing. Again, just after La Vieille lighthouse I had to follow the course on the compass, due to heavy fog and 100 meter visibility.

Around 2 pm the sun broke through the fog - it took me 47' 48'' to reach Bestrée. The sea was perfect but the currents running eastward at this hour weren't strong enough. On the 10th of August I went again to Isle de Sein in the afternoon. I had been paddling to another lighthouse called Tevennec earlier. I now intended to do the crossing slowly, to follow a friend in his sailboat. He told me that without any breeze I could probably cross faster. And I did: 46' 19''. No waves, no wind and a tide race already running south. Up there my grandfather is proud of me! It will be difficult for me to do better, and now I have to find another goal for the coming season!

I think I could talk about my skis for hours. The V10 Sport and V10 are fabulous machines that make you happy on the sea. If you compare the problems of sailing boats and motor boats with your ski, you are the king. Macaroni powered boats are far greater with less expense. I really love “Ouspoun” and sometimes before climbing in my bedroom I go into my garage to look at its slim shining lines. 9,5 kilograms, it’s a feather to carry, but also a minimum of care is needed. I always rinse the ski after paddling, and often I dry it with a chamois cloth. I always carry it on molded cradles - and a very important piece of advice: never turn your head if the ski is not yet tied down on your cradles, it can escape! My skis never rest on the ground or even on the beach. I carry them from the cradles straight to the sea.

I hope I have given enough personal examples to show that a surfski is not just a competition craft. I have been lucky to learn this sport on a very forgiving but seaworthy ski, the V10 Sport, before shifting to le grand-frère: V10 Elite. I know a Frenchman who tried to shorten the route and he bought a V10L Elite first. Last time he phoned me he wasn't yet able to paddle with his feet in the footwell!

In August 2005 I got the issue of Sea kayaker magazine had special coverage on performance kayaking. I read ten times the article: “Race to Recreation” written by Joe Glickman. I also enjoyed the story of Martin Leonard: “A Passion for High Performance Touring.” At the moment, my practice is probably closer to Martin's than Joe's. And I love every outing.

Please stop by my blog for all of my articles and pictures: dplouepic

- Didier