Red Paddle Co 14’0” Elite MSL iSUP

Words & photos: David Partridge

Jamie Harman from Red won the Head of the Dart Inflatable category on this board; a week later, Martin Rendle finished second on the Elite at the 40 km Race to the Castle on the Trent.

I asked Jamie what’s changed with the updated design, “The biggest thing is the weight; we have used new super-light, MSL®800 material, which allowed us to save 2kg.” This material saving is more environmentally friendly, and Jamie also feels the material will last longer. The board I trialled was one of the first, so it has been around for a year and has been well used, but it still seemed stiff and had just a few scuffs. Only the fin showed how much work this board has done (and these are in a standard US Fin box, so they can readily be changed).

A previous iteration of the Elite had a much thinner tail, great for straight-line speed. The newer shape still has a pintail feel but more volume and width, making turns easier and making the board more all-round. It can be used for distance events on rivers, for downwinding, and on the sea, and with easier stepbacks, it is also suited to reservoir racing with more buoy turns.

The board’s rigidity ensures the whole waterline length remains engaged. This is achieved with standard rail battens (the same as the Voyager and Sport) and a stiffening rod that overlaps the position of the battens and can be tensioned to maintain rigidity. This is known as FFC Forward Flex Control, a simple clamp that allows you to adjust the rod length and then close to lock the board.

“We are trying to close the gap on rigid race boards; you deliver more power with less flex. A rigid will often have better “secondary” stability (created by buoyancy in the rails), so a 26-inch inflatable can feel like a narrower rigid board. I have widened my stance using the rail risers as a marker for my feet.”

So how did it feel?
The Red Elite immediately felt stable at low speed, and I could move around on it quite confidently. The carry handle is perfect for carrying, but to get the best trim, you need to be a bit further back, and the deck pad has no distinctive feel, so glancing down seemed necessary to get the trim right and stop the nose-diving into waves. Water shed quickly from the front of the board and didn’t feel too slow with a slight front-down trim.

The bottom of the board is very flat, so the balance feels easy. With a crosswind, I could also lift the windward rail and gain some speed. (something I would struggle with on a less rigid inflatable). The side battens, and the front rod need to be popped in (or out) with a little pressure in the board, say 1-5 PSI. Both are easy.

The board is designed for racing, but having said that, it feels like a fantastic board for an ultra, especially one where there are a lot of portages (the durability of inflatables is perfect for hauling out at a lock ladder compared to the anxiety of lifting out a carbon fibre board). 

Events with an inflatable are just so easy. There is no worrying about roof rack tie-downs or barrier heights, and you can be totally relaxed about leaving the board on a hard surface. Inflatables also pack down and can be stored easily and safely between events.

CONCLUSION
I loved the low weight and ease of hauling the board through 17 portages, the carrying position and balance were perfect. The board felt twitchy for the first 10km but I soon learnt there was actually a lot of secondary stability and you could have a wide stance using the rail ridges as a guide. Trim was easy to achieve but position yourself back from the carry handle. Verdict; it got an older paddler easily into a 4th place and it was down to the board! Loved it.

Price.
Board only: £1,049
Board with bag and pump: £1,199
Board with Hybrid Tough Paddle: £1,299
Board with Prime Paddle: £1,399
Info: https://red-equipment.co.uk/ products/140-elite-msl-inflatable-paddle-board