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The Element is a surfkayak. A pretty unique one, actually. This kayak is at the forefront of an exciting new development in the kayaking scene. Imagine higher speed and better carve than you will ever experience in your playboat. Imagine using that high speed and hard carve to throw bigger and faster freestyle wave moves than you ever did before. That’s what the Element is all about.
The Element is shorter than a traditional surfkayak, which gives up a little bit of speed compared to a traditional surfkayak, but the shorter length makes the Element a lot more maneuverable. Super quick directional changes is the name of the game. The shorter length is also key in making big freestyle moves possible.
Apart from the pronounced carving rail which becomes progressively harder towards the stern, the hull also features release edges, similar to those on a playboat. Again, this is key for making playboat moves possible, as it makes spins and grinds effortless. This is also the reason why the Element is relatively forgiving.
The pronounced bow rocker is perfect for a late take-off or surfing steep waves. The peaked volume in the stern keeps the boat buoyant, enabling the hull to release easily even at lower speeds and in choppy conditions. The seating position is similar to that in a whitewater kayak, with knees spread out instead of close together as is the case with traditional surfkayaks. The Element is made of polyethylene (plastic) like the rest of Fluid’s boats, making it is super durable.
Naturally, the Element is designed for waves, not holes. But it is not confined to ocean waves. A lot of effort has gone into making sure the Element works equally well on river waves, both small and big ones. If you live at the coast, the Element is the perfect tool to experience some real speed, while also giving you the opportunity to throw freestyle moves in ways you’ve never done before. If you live inland and have access to some green waves, the Element will let you catch waves you haven’t surfed since the death of long playboats. Not only that, you will actually be able to carve around on the wave, spin, do some moves, instead of just parking in a front surf. You will be able to explore sections of waves you could never even stay on before.
Fins
The Element has a quad fin setup. Instead of designing a new fin system, we decided to make use of a great fin system that is already available on the market. The fin system is produced by 4WFS. The system uses fin disks that enable different splay angles.
The Element is supplied with a set of fin disks, but not with fins. One reason is that 4WFS has a huge variety of fins available, which is one of the reasons we’re using their system in the first place. So check out their fins on their website and order whichever fins you fancy. The second reason for not supplying the fins with the boat is that some paddlers, especially those who will primarily use it on river waves, won’t even need the fins. Fins make the boat carve better of course, but it also hinders freestyle moves a bit. And on many river waves, you don’t want too much carve otherwise you’ll find yourself back in the eddy everytime you put the boat on edge.
Keep in mind that a quad system was used to spread the fin surface areas over more fins, which means shorter fins can be used. This makes it easier to launch from shallow spots or beaches, and will protect the fins from impact when hitting submerged rocks. |
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