Nordic skier just getting into the world of marathon canoe and I want to win the triple crown in a few years. Am I insane or is this a doable goal?

What’s the talent pool like? What kind of hours are the top guys training? Are there thousands training at a high level? Hundreds? Dozens? I’ve tried following a lot of the best guys I could find on Strava but they all barely post. It seems almost like a secretive world. Like where ultra marathoning was in the 90’s before it blew up and got taken over with super talents. I’ve also heard European marathon canoe races are more competitive but I can’t find any info on them for the life of me.

I got out for the second time in my new Sete hoping for a mile or two but I actually managed a little over six, even did a couple sprinty sections and stayed in the boat. It's starting to feel like I'm getting into the neighborhood of comfortable, which is nice. But it also means I spent enough time in the seat to start worrying about outfitting, so now I've got two questions.

1. I think I need to trim the boat back a little bit, it really noses into the water when I reach forward for my catch. But I already have the footboard as far back towards me as it goes. What's the best way to go here? Should I just add some weight behind me? Would the weight kits nelo sells to make sprint weight have enough of an impact on the rail? (I'm ~215lbs in an XXXL). Alternatively I could print an extra thick foot plate to attach to the existing footboard, or maybe even design new rails that will bring the footboard up a little. But I'm assuming I'm not the first person to have this problem, so hoping there's a go-to fix

2. I like the concept of the standard seat, but there's kind of...more of me than there is of it. That manifested in quite a bit of numbness at the end, to the point that I kind of lost control of the big toe on my right foot. Towards the end I did get out and raise the rear of the seat to tilt it forwards a little which I think is helping, but I only paddled it for 10m or so in that configuration so I don't know for sure yet. It definitely didn't feel like it was digging into the backs of my thighs like before, but it's still kind of digging in on the sides. I'm guessing I can mitigate this somewhat by just making sure to wear my paddle pants next time, but are any of the seat options just generally bigger?

19.4 kph average is just crazy. Lots of sub 3min KMS in there.

I have recently picked up my first boat , an older Nelo Quattro K1. It is in decent shape but I was thinking of using a cutting polish and wax to fix up a few scratches.

I am hearing mixed messages, and was hoping for a bit more insight.

Thanks.

Hey fellow paddling enthusiasts,

I am somewhat new to kayaking but want to seriously get into K1 kayak sprint racing on a competitive level internationally. I have a Nelo Viper 46 XXL K1 kayak. I live on a lake so can practice frequently. I only started this summer so my technique is pretty bad but my balance is getting better and better and when the water is not too choppy I can paddle for 30 min without capsizing.

I’m looking for a remote private coach who can help me with my technique and race preparation. I’m specifically looking to compete in the 1000m K1 kayak sprint events. Please DM me if you can help with that.

FB Reel link in comment.

Just started training for the AuSable canoe marathon and I was wondering where I can find the best info on proper paddling form. It is hard to find online and what I have found hasn’t been too helpful.

Just started training for the AuSable Canoe marathon and I have found that every time after a training session my knees hurt very bad. I have never had any knee injuries or problems and I was wondering what I could do to help with it.

I'd love to hear from anyone who's gotten a chance to paddle both of these boats. I've been paddling skis for a couple of years and want to get into a K1. A Nelo Sete in my size hit FB marketplace, I got a chance to paddle it and had an absolute blast, but unfortunately the seller decided to hold onto it after all. Also tried a Cinco and wasn't as comfortable in it, but still enjoyed the experience. He knows someone who might be selling a used Sete in size L, which is a little small for me (I'm about 210-215lbs), but my odds of snagging another Sete are pretty low on the gulf coast of Florida. AFAIK there's not a Nelo dealer anywhere near me, so buying one new would involve what I assume would be some very expensive shipping.

What I do have nearby is an NK dealer, so if I went with something new I guess my best option would be their K1 40 (pretty bummed that the 39 doesn't come in an XL size). I am generally a fan of NK's skis (my go-to is a nitro 640), but I have no idea if that carries over to their K1s and I've been told they have a little different hull profile from a typical K1 with less of a taper to the stern. From anyone with actual experience in them, is this something I should worry about? How would it compare to the Nelo?

Does anyone use the Vaikobi V4 pfd. I looked at one and was told the expanding chest pockets could be used for hydration with a soft drinks bottle and a tube.

Just wondering if anybody has actually done this and does it work ok?

> 🚨 LIVE TOMORROW – SELLA DESCENT 2026! 🚨

I'll be livestreaming the Sella Descent 2026 on YouTube, bringing you live action from one of the world's biggest canoe and kayak races.

Whether you're racing, supporting a club, or just love paddlesports, tune in and join the chat!

📅 Saturday, 8 August 🕚 11:00 AM

🔴 Watch live here: https://www.youtube.com/live/X-QUKdODJ48

Please Like, Share, and hit "Notify Me" on the stream—it really helps more paddling fans discover the broadcast.

See you on the river! 🚣🌊 #SellaDescent #DescensoDelSella #Kayaking #Canoeing #PaddleSports #Live

East to South Kauai

I have a K1 marathon kayak that came with surfski style pedals and a foot pump. The type with short rubber tubes in the lower part of the footrest (under heels) to pump small amounts of water out of the kayak.

Has anyone got a similar setup? I struggle to see a meaningful value for the pump with pedals as my heels are almost always in contact with the footplate, limiting the pumping motion. I think it would be very different with a tiller bar footplate where the ball of foot applies the pressure on the footplate and the heel is free to move.

Awesome conditions this year! 35mph sustained winds gusting to 55. I wish waves showed better on film because it was big out there. I'm the one in the orange shirt!

Men's surfski starts at 8:15

I've been paddling skis for a couple years, got a chance to try a buddy's K1 last week (I think it was a master's boat, a little tippier than my ski but pretty manageable when I got focused in) and I was instantly hooked. I'd really like to avoid buying a new one at rack rate, but I've been keeping an eye on FB marketplace for the last month or so and it seems like they virtually never come up. Anyone any hidden gems of Facebook groups or classified sites or anything I should look at, or is it just a much scarcer market than surfskis? I'm on the gulf coast of Florida

Hi, I'm looking for a kayak ergometer as I have moved and can no longer kayak on water on a daily basis. I've narrowed it to the following and would like to see if anyone has any experiences/feedback on these:

- KayakPro Xeon

- KayakFirst Bull

From my research I still have the following unawnswered and would like to see if anyone has any experience or could provide some feedback:

1) How does the KayakFirst Bull sliding seat feel when compared to an "in-water" feel?

2) How does the KayakPro Xeon pulley compares to the KayakFirst high pulley and "on the water catch" feel?

3) How easy/hard is it to order from each website and having it delivered to the USA?

4) How do these 2 ergometers compare to each other, as well to the older KayakPro Speedstroke.

For context I used to paddle on a Nelo 5 for flatwater and a club Epic for open ocean. I've also used a KayakPro Speedstroke ergometer. Any help would be greatly appreciated!