Description
Blackfish Nootka Surf Kevlar fixed
“Our Blackfish Nootka blade is a classic shape and a best-selling paddle. We have been working on building a more robust version for a couple years and the breakthrough came with the advent of SUP foiling. We had a number of athletes who had broken paddles while foiling and wanted to find a solution. The result was the Nootka Surf,” said David Smart, Founder of Blackfish Paddles, Canadian developers of high-performance, handcrafted SUP paddles. “What makes the Nootka Surf unique is the combination of the layup and the materials used, both in the blade and the shaft. The paddle uses kevlar in both the blade and as a wrap on the shaft. This is done because Kevlar handles impact well, think bullet proof vest, whereas carbon does not, think F1 cars in a crash. Using the best quality materials for their intended purpose helps ensure the paddle performs when foiling or surfing.”
Blackfish is a Squamish, BC, company that exclusively offers SUP paddles, nothing else!
High performance at a great price
Weight: 475g before cutting
Paddle size: 520cm2
Fixed
8-degree angle between blade and shaft
ABS rails to protect the sides of the blade
Anti-twist between the adjustable parts to always have the right angle between handle and shaft
All made with Bio-resin
Comes in a lightweight carrying case
Boris Jinvresse in full Nootka Kevlar foil mode
What are your thoughts on performance and durability of the Nootka Surf paddle?
We think it is really important to have a specific downwind foil paddle, this is not only a matter of performance but of safety! It’s really easy to break a paddle during downwind foiling and once you are far from the shore without paddle… things can get really complicated.
As usual with Blackfish Paddles the quality of the finish is perfect. The Kevlar is a special material which can absorb a lot of impact and damage without being broken. When we are on the water with our Kevlar-enhanced Nootka, we feel safe!
The paddle is made with bio resin therefore it’s really light – For us this is really important. The catch is really good and Kevlar does not change the stiffness of the shaft. The blade is large allowing a really powerful catch phase, from the first moment it touches the water, which is important in foiling.
Are we going to lose you to foiling any time soon?
Definitely not! Foiling is an incredible feeling but it’s really different from SUP racing and we love that. We love having a daily training programme, schedule a season, working hard every day to improve our body and especially racing!
What’s the whole hype about foiling?
Foiling means everything and nothing at the same time and that’s why we talk a lot about it. Foiling is not just a new sport, it’s a dozen of new sports in one! Downwinding, surfing, windsurfing, kitesurfing, wing SUP – All these sports can now be practiced with a foil. For each one of them, the feeling is really different with a foil. And then again, you have to know how to practice without foil before having a go with a foil.
