I've been doing some "fitness" training with Ian. I use my EFT. It is kind of like a kayak, but lightweight (40 lbs.). It takes a bag in the front and has a rear hatch - no deck lines. Ian usually uses his Futura surfski. I haven't tried a surf ski because I am sure I will be led toward the "dark side" of pure speed. We're pretty evenly matched; however, in flat water I have to work to keep up. I use a neoprene sprayskirt, but it can get hot with that rate of exercise. Rolling is possible.

For those paddles, I travel light and usually go for distance and/or time. I made it around Fishers in 3:30 once and I wasn't trying all that hard. Ian and I did a Connecticut River paddle from Middletown to Old Saybrook (29 miles) this summer. Heavy headwind from GoodSpeed to the end. Additional resistance training.

The goal is to get the boat up to speed and keep it there - aerobic exercise. Good for cardio and race training. I use a wing paddle and after Ben Lawry's class, I hope to go faster and longer with less energy. I didn't stop around Fishers and only stopped a couple of times on the CT paddle because of seat issues and refueling. A big hydration bag is a must to avoid dehydration headaches and cramping.

As we learned from a recent kayak incident with a fatality, minimal gear (including safety gear) is carried by some on these type of paddles. I don't skimp when it comes to that and that's why I like having the rear hatch. If more go the way of the surf ski, we need to remember the safety equipment, and conditioning and skill set of our companions to minimize risk the best we can.

Remember - we do this for fun.