PADDLER 6
Aqua Marina Fusion 10 ’ 10 ” x 32 ” x 6 ” iSUP www . aquamarina . com By Anne Egan
PADDLER 6
REVIEWS
Aqua Marina Fusion 10 ’ 10 ” x 32 ” x 6 ” iSUP www . aquamarina . com By Anne Egan
What are balmy summer evenings for , well many things come to mind , so many possibilities , but for me , it is the freedom and joy that comes from spending time on board a paddleboard and drifting happily and lazily along the River Great Ouse in my home town St Ives .
On this occasion , I had the pleasure of reviewing the Aqua Marina Fusion inflatable board . Inflating the board was straightforward using the pump supplied , and then I found it surprisingly light to lift onto the top of my Toyota and to secure it for the mile journey to the launch point .
First and foremost , the Aqua Marina Fusion ’ s construction is top-notch . The board is made from high-quality materials that feel durable and sturdy . The board is a vibrant blood red-orange and bright orange design . The board comes with one central 9- inch removable fin , which was easy to slide into place and remove . Having not been on a board in a while , I was a little nervous , so the first thing about this board , apart from being light , some 7.8 kg , was it looked and felt tremendously stable , aided by the redesigned broadened tail for more generous volume . Using the three-part paddle supplied as part of the package , I took off on my knees , quickly and easily transferred upright , and began to enjoy my paddling without any wobbling .
The river was glassily still and serene ; a beautiful sunset descended , and I found myself with the entire river empty , apart from a few swans . As I reached the
ancient town bridge , two fellow paddle boarders were coming my way . Its dimensions balance stability and speed , allowing for a smooth , effortless glide across the water . The board maintains its steadiness even in slightly choppy conditions created by a few motor boats later in the evening , making it an ideal choice for various water conditions .
I found the included paddle to be a little heavy and clumsy after a while so after a short time , I changed to my Black Project Tempo paddle so I could get to grips with the feel of the board itself . The board glided effortlessly along the water and was easy to track and turn . The three-part paddle supplied was convenient for transport , and for average size hands , a little bigger than mine would have been fine .
This board would be an excellent choice for beginners to intermediate paddlers . It would also suit paddlers who were heavier or taller than me . I am 5 ’ 1 and 64kg .
Once I started to gather speed , I found the board very easy to manoeuvre , although being relatively short ; this board was possibly too wide once I felt confident . However , on a positive note , the board was so stable it was super easy to adjust the position of my feet without any concerns about losing my balance . The non-slip sand-ripple grooved surface instils confidence , providing excellent grip and allowing you to focus on your technique without worrying about slipping off the board . From a perspective of pure relaxation , for me , it was fine . As the session progressed towards the end , I needed to be mindful of my strokes not to catch the paddle on the rail .
An excellent all-rounder , and I am looking forward to using it again , perhaps seeing how it handles different environments and conditions . If you ’ re in the market for a reliable and performance-driven paddleboard , the Aqua Marina Fusion is worthy of consideration . Price : around £ 450.00