The Global Paddling Community

Interview with Vince Shay, kayak surfer, photographer and videographer from the USA.

This interview was originally produced for the Portuguese web site 'kayaksurf.net' and is published exclusively on Playak in english to make it available to a wider audience. The portuguese version of the interview is available here.

Kayaking Experience
What the heck is my kayaking experience? Great question, Luis. I got involved with kayaking about eight years ago when I decided to get a Necky Rip to do rivers. Never had any idea to really surf kayaks, really. I mainly dabbled, very briefly, doing some Class 3, Class IV, and very easy Class V on the Kern River in California. My favorite was definantly Brush Creek and the Upper Forks. Although, I had fun, the surf is what appealed to me much more. Maybe its because I had surfed most of my life in the ocean….Not to mention I have gotten beat down in the river enough to know how much more dangerous it is than the surf! Yes, I am sort of a wuss… So, my ‘kayaking’ experience is pretty limited. I still feel very claustrophobic being enclosed in a surf kayak. Even though I don’t have that much experience with kayaks (eight years isn’t that much) I learn very quick.

Competition Records
Wow, this question really is a good one! I have many great finishes from every contest I have entered, but, my most memorable ‘Win’ was at the Santa Cruz competition. And, the 2005 USA West’s World Championship win in Costa Rica was absolutely the BEST ‘Win’ I could ask for with the USA Team. What a Team Effort and Great Contest Venue. Other than these times, I definitely have fond memories of every contest I have entered and always have fun…which is what ‘competition’ is about anyway, right?

Kayaks Designed
I am only going to list the kayaks I personally designed on my own, even though I co-designed a couple others with some well-known designers.

Here goes:

• Agua Libre (latest design)
• Twist
• Reaction

All my kayak designs were in some way influenced by Mike Johnson’s or Randy Phillips’ work. NOT one design out there has not been influenced from other designs before it. Gotta give credit where credit is due!
Also, I personally want to thank ALL of the Murky Water Team. No, we don’t have a select few, we feel at Murky Water Kayak, every single person who purchases a product from us is part of our Team. You don’t have to Win contests or even place well, to get the Benefit of ‘Team’. Murky Waters is all about a Community. If you have dealth with Ed and Mariola, you know what I mean..if you haven’t maybe you should!

Video Productions
Right now I am re-releasing the Search 2: More Paddlesurf Chronicles. Why? Well, since I stopped selling it in around 2005, I got a bunch of email inquiries about availability of the video. Of course, I had to say that I discontinued it! It actually broke my heart, really…I had put so much effort into it and I wanted people who love paddlesurfing to get a copy and experience the stoke of the sport and what we all, that worked on that one with me, tried to accomplish. So, this year, 2009, I released the title again, with a Redesigned cover. If interested you can get more information here: https://www.createspace.com/260285

One of my most favorite videos I have produced was UP Time: A Waveski Video. About three years ago, my friend Fletcher Burton asked me if I would help him create this title. Of course! Inititally, since we don’t have music rights to this title, he just gave it away, freely,to promote the sport of waveskiing in the USA. That is how much he loves the sport! And he spent a lot of cash doing this, with no hope of a return. So last year, I asked him if I could release it for sale to the public at a nominal fee! I got SO MANY emails about this one from all around the world. Fletcher gave me his ‘OK’ so I did it. This one is a ‘Must See’ and it’s a great video. https://www.createspace.com/255417

I am now working with some members of the paddlesurf community on some projects that I think a lot of you will appreciate out there. More on that at the Santa Cruz Competition!

A Long Story Short from Vincent Shay on Vimeo.

More On Surf Kayak Designs
I just released the Agua Libre with, of course, Murky Water Kayaks in Canada as the manufacturer. This surf kayak is really geared toward the Top of the sport. Every design is just an ‘expansion’ of the last, but, with the Agua Libre I looked at everything I have done over the years to what is currently out there and went bigger. Something completely different, really. I am very pleased with it! I think it will be a big hit at the 2009 Santa Cruz Competition. I also have a couple more things up my sleeve for the middle of 2009! I’ll definitely keep you all informed, for sure.

I just did a surf kayak review with Canoe and Kayak Magazine in California where not only my surf kayak, The Agua Libre, was reviewed by the staff but the Valley surf kayak line was also reviewed. I had never surfed any of the Valley boats, so, of course, I made it a point to surf one that day. It was really cool to have Sean Morley take my Agua Libre out and I took out the shortest Valley boat (forget the name now…). Together, we surfed some fun, clean 3-5 foot waves. I was actually really blown away with the Valley product…and Sean loved the Agua Libre. That is what is SO important in this little sport to keep in perspective! We are ALL out for the same thing; a great time in the waves. I know that Sean had never surfed my designs and I had never surfed his, so, it was truly an honor to have him not only in my Agua Libre, but to comment how much he liked it! And, I gotta say, publically, if I didn’t design my own surf kayaks, I would purchase the Valley boats, both the Rush and the shortest kayak. Very good products!

The Worlds In Portugal
I am focusing more on surf kayak and kayak design rather than competition surfing. Been that way for me for about three years really. I would love to go to Portugal, but, it’s a very difficult time of year and for people like me in the USA (can you say ‘Struggling Artist’?) the economy is just sad. A very depressing time right now for the USA and possibly the World it seems, so, unfortunately, unless, my sponsors pay my way to the Worlds, I cannot attend! But you never know. I know its going to be a Great Worlds, though.
Evolution of the Kayaksurf Scene
Since I have been involved with surf kayaking I have seen the surf kayak designs and athletes come full circle. Once a sport of the ‘spin-to-win’ tactic and basic ‘length of ride for maximum points’ to advance (and actually pulling it off for a Win!), well, no longer. These days if you don’t pull off an aerial, you have no chance of not only winning a contest, but, advancing from your heat! A true testament to the evolution of the sport.

Right now I feel as if the athletes involved (Hobson, Speller, Harvey, Sage, Johnson, and a few more…) are now in sync with the best surf kayak designs. There used to be a huge gap between the surf kayak and/or the athlete, where what you would see is that either the athlete couldn’t deal with the high performance of the kayak or the athlete would be way too advanced for the craft. At this point, I think things, for most of the best guys in the world, the surf kayaks are no longer inhibiting the performance as much. Plus, there are just way more great athletes surfing kayaks. Which,is a ‘Win-Win’ for all involved, and more than that, the sport grows and gains more respect as a credible endeavor.

The Discussion of the Different Surf Tribes
These days there is so much more awareness from the kayak community when it comes to the Surf Etiquette. It’s a touchy subject, still, in the surf community. There are still spots that surf kayaks and waveskis will never be tolerated, no matter how respectful or how good the paddlesurfer is. Its just not going to happen…well, I take that back. It may happen, but, more times than not, with less than a positive outcome for all involved. To me, it’s just not worth it. But, then again, I am so spoiled on the Central Coast of California. A lot of empty, great waves here, that I don’t have to surf with a bunch of agro surfers who are angry at the world and hate not only paddlesurfers, but don’t even like others surfers! Surfing the waves is not supposed to be about that. Unfortunately, it is, though.

So, when I hear the banter on Boatertalk about Localism, etc, I sort of laugh sometimes. About ‘Localism’ and ‘Entitlement’; basically who owns the waves. No one does, but, it’s the Culture. It’s not right and its not going to change anytime soon! You may not agree with Localism, and I don’t condone it, but I must say that wait until you, as a paddlesurfer has this really epic spot you call your ‘Home Break’. You and your close ‘surf kayak’ buddies surf it on a regular basis! Its pretty much ‘Yours’. Then, one day, as you surf perfect, 6-8 foot surf, with warm offshore winds holding up the waves so you can pull into another insane barrel (stay with me here!) and you kick out only to see a few ‘non-locals’ charge out to get them some of that! How would that make you feel? Be honest! It SUCKS. You have never seen them before and now you gotta ‘Share’. Besides, you waited a year for this Perfection!

That feeling of ‘F*ck that Sh*t, I ain’t sharing my spot’ is what Localism is, to a great extent, about. I am not saying it’s completely right, but, if you were really honest with the way the above scenario would play out and how it would make you feel,then you would understand more.

But, then again, I could be full of sh*t (please tell me if you think I am!) and you may be one of those people who don’t mind a bunch of random people surfing your break.

So, that is my take on things…

DEEP Magazine
Yeah, the DEEP Magazine deal was really cool for not only USA Waveskiing but I believe Waveskiing in general. DEEP is primarily a California Surf Culture magazine, but the editor, Chuck Graham is a big supporter of any sort of paddle craft, he allowed me to write a story and post photos in the mag! Plus, our USA Waveski National Championships put on by Brian Kusmar, Island Waveskis, and Crew was simply the BEST event I have experienced for some time.

But, I must say, it was YOUR readers, Luis, who actually broke records for DEEP, as far as readership. That one article you posted on your site was read by all of your faithful following of people! And thanks to Kayaksurf.net for getting it out there. Glad you all liked the write-up…I think what is so important here is to expose the paddlesurf sport and the great athletes that partake to the surfing clan who will see, through photos, etc that there are some really cool and dynamic things going on in the world, as far as paddlesports is concerned.

Waveskis or Surf Kayaks?
Now that is another good question. Gotta say, right now, waveskis are the best for me,but I will always surf both type of craft. I fought it hard for many years….When people told me, ‘Get a waveski Vincent, you will get more air and wavekis surf better, etc, etc’. Well, I always knew that, but, I always wanted to be part of a sport, such as ‘surf kayak’, that was so raw, really. To see Chris Harvey get an air in a surf kayak is so awesome, because, frankly, I know how difficult it is!
I always strive for that, still in a surf kayak, but, in the last few years I have really enjoyed seeing some others really take the sport of surf kayaking to new levels.

Thanks a lot Vince!

Text - Luis Pedro Abreu
Photos - Vince Shay
Video - Vincent Shay Media