The PaddlerUK magazine March 2015 issue 1 | Page 24

ThePaddlerUK 24 THE UK S ULTIMATE ONLINE www.nswatersports.com PADDLESPORT STORE! in association with in association with New dealer for Tiderace in Scotland After three years’ hard work and having sold a huge number of Tiderace Sea Kayaks (many to those who paddled on his trips), Roddy McDowell of Kayak Bute has decided to focus on the paddling, guiding and training part of his business. Tiderace wish him every success in these future endeavours and thank him and his team for such an effective dealership over the years. w 01642 520234 01642 520234 Neptune Surf 9ft SUP http://www.neptunesups.com By Tez Plavenieks Neptune’s Surf 9ft was the first board from this new UK brand we stepped on. Conditions on the day were less than ideal with mushy swell the order of the day. Paddling out through the foam the 9ft initially feels a tad wobbly, although give it chance, as the board’s secondary stability soon kicks in. There’s a very familiar feel with the Surf – everything settles down and feels comfortable after the first few minutes of paddling. Handling heavy chop and froth Neptune’s design is great for intermediate to advanced riders looking for a stick to cope with shonky conditions. With immediate effect the new Tiderace Sea Kayak dealer for Scotland is the Glenuig Inn on the Sound of Arisaig on the west coast of Scotland, run by Steve Macfarlane, When a face does stand up it’s a quick pivot (with practice) to get paddlers in the right space before taking the drop and accelerating rapidly. Sloppy conditions highlight the true nature of your sled these really come to fore with Neptune’s offering. Riders looking to turn will be wanting a responsive ride that can carve tightly, keep going through flat spots and float round sections or up to the lip – the Neptune Surf does all this and more. The Inn was featured in the last issue of Ocean Paddler Magazine, showing the fabulous paddling to be had in the area as well as the wonderful facilities at the Inn. We’ll admit, we did swap out the stock fins with a more performance orientated set, and this is worth doing if you want rippability. However Neptune now has a pro range that comes with carbon rails and carbon honeycomb performance fins, so all bases are covered.The Surf, however, still has a lot of carving potential to unlock and all paddlers will enjoy discovering how far it can be pushed. Having built the watersports side of the business with a fleet of Tiderace Sea Kayaks, it is a natural progression to provide and then sell the kayaks. Lip hits were slick and rebounds fast but predictable. On steeper waves riders can get right over the tail which allows for some sliding action, while a quick step forward engages the nose and drives paddlers down the line. In Steve’s words, “We are delighted to become part of the Tiderace dealer network and to introduce even more paddlers to the joy of Tiderace Sea Kayaks from our ideal location on Scotland’s iconic west coast” Bamboo wood veneer finish is a uniquely identifiable trait for Neptune while the weight of the board was fine for all but feather lights to proactively squirt into pockets of juice. To arrange a demo, to order a boat, or simply to have a chat about the available range, contact Steve at Glenuig Inn: Conclusion While not the smallest of performance SUPs on the market Neptune’s Surf 9ft is still loose enough to offer paddlers a stoke inducing session. As they manufacture their own kit, within reason, all sizes are available and at no extra cost. Riders with less than ideal wave locations will appreciate the throw about but balanced nature of the 9ft while beginner paddle surfers will discover plenty of performance to grow into. Phone: [phone] or 0795 735 6099 www.glenuig.com Email: [email protected] Price: £529.00 (regardless of size) or £629.00 for the Pro version (+£100.00 more to include their adjustable carbon paddle) Info: [email protected]