I’ve had my composite Element since December 2009. Since then, I’ve paddled it countless times and on the odd occasion I’ve been lucky enough to get my old man to take some photos of me when he’s been on his breaks during contracts. So this article is mainly a bunch of photos and not really an article as such. You’ll see some of the photos are really small - these are screen shots from video footage that was taken. The same article appears on my website, with double the photos. This is just a pick of the better ones.

You’re probably wondering how the boat is. Well, it’s awesome. Lighter than the plastic, of course, but probably more importantly, it’s stiffer, way stiffer. Unfortunately my boat was a prototype so it doesn’t have fins but as you can see in the photos, it still rips. Fins have advantages and disadvantages but these days I’m so used to not using them, I don’t think I’d even surf a plastic Element with fins now. Being a very keen bodyboarder I know how it feels to ride a board or boat on edge only. Of course, production Elements will have fins boxes, don’t worry. The boat needs a lot more edge control and harder edging without fins because you have to ride the rail and not the fins but you’ll get used to it if that’s your style. Riding with fins is more about a big of edging and some weight transition I find and works damn well, but no fins is sweet too. Just try it. Either way, the boat is really incredible and I’m still loving every single minute of it. Well worth the money. Check out the pics.

Adrian 1 copy

Melkbosstrand. Afrikaans word meaning Milk Bush Beach. Note, all these photos were taken near to Cape Town, South Africa.

Melkbos 16 January 2010_01 Melkbos 16 January 2010_03 Melkbos 16 January 2010_09 Melkbos 16 January 2010_11Melkbos again - Tubewave.  

Melkbos_25_May_2010_002_E1 copy Melkbos_25_May_2010_029_E1_CREL copy Melkbos_25_May_2010_040_E1_CR copy Melkbos_25_May_2010_052_E1_CR copy Melkbos_25_May_2010_053_E1_CR copy Melkbos_25_May_2010_054_E1_CR copy Melkbos_25_May_2010_087_E1_CR copy Melkbos_25_May_2010_094_E1_CREL copy Melkbos_25_May_2010_127_E1_CR copyYet another session at Melkbos, Tubewave.

Melkbos_26_Corner_27_February_2010_173_E1_CR copyJust a few hundred metres north from the normal Melkbos spot (Tubewave) is this spot known as Corner. It’s not as well formed but always bigger. 

Noordhoek_24_February_2010_085_E1_CR copy Noordhoek_24_February_2010_094_E1 copy Noordhoek_24_February_2010_108_E1 copyThe water is always this colour at Noordhoek (North Corner), and always very cold.

Table View and Big Bay 17 Feb 2010_02 Table View and Big Bay 17 Feb 2010_09 Table View video 5 January 2010_014 Table View video 5 January 2010_019 Table View video 5 January 2010_020Various shots from Big Bay and a beach in Table View.

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Another tough day in Cape Town. Note Table Mountain in the background.  Van_Riebeeckstrand_22_May_2010_003_E1_CR copy

The composite Element. Get one… Van_Riebeeckstrand_22_May_2010_067_E1_CREL copyNo fins? No problem. Just carve hard. This boat holds an edge like no other.   

Hope you enjoyed the photos. I’ll try to get more soon when I get the chance, which I definitely will. Our winter season produces some big swell so things can only get better. 

Photography by: Trevor Tregoning, and also a few by Michael Schubert. Thanks guys!