Red Paddle Co. Race Elite
- Written by Staff
- Published in Reviews
- Comments::DISQUS_COMMENTS
Only best products in a given category receive “A” grade.
Overview:
Paddle Board Highlights
Who is it for?
If you’re looking for a fast, premium inflatable race board to paddle in SUP races then the Red Paddle Co. Race Elite is worth a look. This stand up paddle (SUP) board comes in the MSL technology from Red Paddle Co. and is highly durable and has its ups and downs. Due to its width of 26 inches the board is very unstable, however, at only 1.36 lbs per foot (19.1 lbs total) this board is very lightweight. Its shape makes the Race Elite a board for exactly that: a race board for advanced paddlers that can be used in competition. Its construction and shape combined best fit this board for short or long distance racing. Retailing at $1,799 the board is in the high-tier price point but comes with the best that the brand has to offer.
First Impressions
On first impressions, the graphics and color are simple, the shape design is quite thoughtful and the construction strikes as rugged. The Race Elite looks clean coming with a very simple mix of colors and graphics. The shape design is unique for boards in these categories offering features tailored primarily for competitive racing. The construction does appear very durable, as something that can withstand heavy use. This paddle board is easy to carry because of its weight of only 19.1 lbs and the glide feels fast which is to be expected since lightweight construction and speed centric design are at the core of this board model. The board also features something different: the forward flex control which really does help keep the board stiff and rigid and there are 4 different handles to grab onto which is nice and gives a bit of choice on the way you want to carry the board. And once you put it all together, the Race Elite is a fast race board that only lightweight and skilled paddlers will likely comfortably paddle away.
Benefits
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Primary Use
Race UsePaddle Boards fall into two broad categories, All-Around and Specialty boards, with all-around designed primarily for recreation while speciality boards for top performance in specific disciplines
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Durability
Very StrongDurability is largely a result of the board construction and shape, with more durable boards typically carrying more materials (added layers, PVC, etc) and as such adding to the weight.
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Stability
Very UnstableStability is a product of construction and shape, where boards w/ 30”+ wide and 200+ liters in volume offer plenty of stability for your AVG adult while a board under 26” wide is a challenge.
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Glide
FastGlide is a result of board shape and construction, w/ boards weighing under 30lbs and designed for racing offering best glide while recreational boards normally being on the slow side.
Learn more on the Red Paddle Co. website.
Features
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Dimensions
14' x 26" x 5.9"Industry standard in board dimensions reads: L (length, from nose to tail) x W (width, from rail to rail at midpoint length), and H (height, from top to bottom of board at midpoint length).
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Weight
19.1 lbsStandup paddle boards tend to fall into 4 different weight classes: extremely lightweight (under 20 lbs), lightweight (20-28 lbs), average weight (28-35 lbs), heavy (above 35 lbs).
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Volume
340LVolume is a key metric to determine how much weight a board can carry. Boards w/ 200+ liters offer most floatation with boards under 150 liters typically for high-performance surf.
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Capacity
265 lbsCapacity is the max cargo weight a stand up paddle board can carry, considering not only the paddler’s weight but whatever else the paddler may choose to carry alongside him/her.
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Add On's
Race Handles/Forward Flex ControlAdd-on’s include bungee cords, a minimalist way to haul things; connexsup, which allows for all sorts of attachments, even fishing rods; and FCS II/Connect, for easy fin instal.
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Handle
StrapHandles directly affect carrying ease, with external grip handles (Liftsup & EZgrab) offering most comfort, Internal Ergo Grip the mid-tier comfort, and box handles as least comfortable.
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Holders
NoFishing rod holders and/or paddle holders can make paddling that much more pleasant, esp. when needing holders for the rod or having a safe place for the paddle during yoga.
Sizes Available
| Length | Width | Thickness | Volume |
|---|
| 12 Feet 6 Inches | 26 Inches | 5.9 Inches | 300 L |
| 14 Feet | 25 Inches | 5.9 Inches | 340 L |
Similar Products
SIC X
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Red Paddle Race
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Boardworks Shubu x Rocket
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Boardworks Verve
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For more detailed reviews and to look at similar models, visit Supconnect.com. If you like this review, give us the thumbs up. Don’t forget to leave your thoughts in the comments. And make sure to subscribe to our newsletter so you never miss the latest news and reviews from Supconnect.