Mon-Star update by Will Richardson | Sep 10, 2009 | 2010 Star, Classic Stars, Whitewater | 1 comment By Colin Kemp So now I have about 12 days in my new Mon-Star. So far it has been one amazing ride. The ability to be exponentially more retentive has been a huge asset and something that I have never had in the past. I am a self proclaimed outfitting freak, and I have had to adjust my special formula for outfitting success to get the desired results with my new boat. Now that I am in a boat that is truly my size I have way more options. The first and most important thing that I think most big guys will be likely to overlook is the need of a seat boost. I am using the 200% sweet cheeks in order to help give me enough leverage to toss the boat around with authority. Seat position is also something that I have not had the ability to play within the past. So far I am finding that the further towards the bow I sit the better the boat is on a feature. You will need to balance this with your down river performance, so that the bow does not dive to much. In the past I have been able to manhandle any and all freestyle boats, but now finesse and technique are the key. I am having to relearn how to do moves that I have had dialed in the past. However in the long run this will make me a better boater for sure. The attached video shows my first couple of days in the boat on 2 different waves on the South Fork American river. If you look close you will see days one and two that I am sitting lower in the boat and my moves are a bit flat and that once I am sitting taller in the boat they start to get more vertical and what I am used to throwing. There is also a short clip of me in a small hole on the Wausau Whitewater course during the Midwest Freestyle Championships. That was my first experience with the Mon-Star in a hole, and with three podium finishes I cannot complain. Keep your eyes open for another video in the near future with more advanced moves for the Mon-Star. The second half of the video has World Kayak Ambassador Brian Tupper showing the full potential of the new star series after a month and a half of time in the boat. Thanks for the video work Brian! Later ; Colin Jackson Kayak 2010 Mon Star & All Star from Brian Tupper on Vimeo. 1 Comment George Sheldon on July 15, 2011 at 5:18 am Colin, George Sheldon here. From Team River Runner. We have exchanged e-mail and have spoken on the phone. Your note above is very informative. A few questions … Q1: What color MonStar are you paddling in the Brian Tupper video? Red-white-blue? Who’s in the red boat? The green boat? Just trying to keep things straight. All the paddling looks very good (and way down the road from where I am.) I do like the red boat back flip (360). Q2: What weight and height are you? I am thinking that I will like the Monstar at 220 lbs and 6′ 2″ more than the Super Star (which my son, at185-190 pounds and 6’ 3”, likes a lot). My weight is on the upper part of the Super Star range. Think I would like to be closer to mid-range. It just seems that I push the Super Star under the water too much getting unpredictable stability rather than getting a nice controlled ride, and more controlled carving, closer to the surface. I have been in bigger boats recently (the Dagger Green Boat and the Dagger Nomad 8.1 vs. my old Godzilla), and I like the bigger boats. The Godzilla has old outfitting; so, that’s a drawback. But, aside from that, the bigger boats just feel better, quicker, and easier to control. So, I am thinking that at my height and weight the MonStar is the better boat for me (and let my son paddle the Super Star.) Q3: Your thoughts? Do you know people my size or larger who prefer the Super Star? What is the usual choice between these two boats for someone of my weight? Thanks for all your help. George PS and Q4: Like your point about sitting up more (with 200% sweet cheeks) to get more leverage. Does that mean you give up some stability? And, if you do give up some stability, do you care? Reply Submit a Comment Cancel replyYour email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *Comment * Name * Email * Website Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Δ
George Sheldon on July 15, 2011 at 5:18 am Colin, George Sheldon here. From Team River Runner. We have exchanged e-mail and have spoken on the phone. Your note above is very informative. A few questions … Q1: What color MonStar are you paddling in the Brian Tupper video? Red-white-blue? Who’s in the red boat? The green boat? Just trying to keep things straight. All the paddling looks very good (and way down the road from where I am.) I do like the red boat back flip (360). Q2: What weight and height are you? I am thinking that I will like the Monstar at 220 lbs and 6′ 2″ more than the Super Star (which my son, at185-190 pounds and 6’ 3”, likes a lot). My weight is on the upper part of the Super Star range. Think I would like to be closer to mid-range. It just seems that I push the Super Star under the water too much getting unpredictable stability rather than getting a nice controlled ride, and more controlled carving, closer to the surface. I have been in bigger boats recently (the Dagger Green Boat and the Dagger Nomad 8.1 vs. my old Godzilla), and I like the bigger boats. The Godzilla has old outfitting; so, that’s a drawback. But, aside from that, the bigger boats just feel better, quicker, and easier to control. So, I am thinking that at my height and weight the MonStar is the better boat for me (and let my son paddle the Super Star.) Q3: Your thoughts? Do you know people my size or larger who prefer the Super Star? What is the usual choice between these two boats for someone of my weight? Thanks for all your help. George PS and Q4: Like your point about sitting up more (with 200% sweet cheeks) to get more leverage. Does that mean you give up some stability? And, if you do give up some stability, do you care? Reply
