The Global Paddling Community

Vince Shay: a few words about the Reaction.

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, with larger versions of some of the photos, is available here.

Name: Vince Shay
Age: 36
Occupation: Freelance photographer/ videographer / Surf Kayak Designer
Home base: Shell Beach, California
Website: pointandshootproductions.com
Sponsors: Murky Waters Kayaks, TEVA, Gath, Murrays.com, Werner Paddles, CSkins, Kokatat.


When did the design process of this new surf kayak called the 'Reaction' start?
I started to design the Reaction in January 2005 in response to the growing need for short, extremely fast, highly maneurverable craft in the sport. I had worked with a couple of other designers and manufacturers and results of the designs were promising, but I still knew that we had a long way to go. So, in January I began doing the templating and rough shaping of the Reaction in hopes of surfing it in the 2005 Worlds in Costa Rica that October.

Are you satisfied with the results?
The Reaction works very well. I am extremely happy in the direction this surf kayak has not only taken me, the sport, but other athletes as well. Creating a surf kayak that accommodates everyone is very difficult. As a designer, trying to convince potential manufacturers that my design was worthy of production, I needed to make a kayak that was user friendly but extremely high performance. A tricky proposition. I wanted a lot of different types of athletes, from beginners to experts to be able to jump right in and surf the Reaction. The Reaction has proven to do that so far.

Any changes planned?
So far, to this particular surf kayak, I would make no changes at all! It has proven itself a great production surf kayak. More design work has to be done, and surf kayaks (no matter which design it is) have not reached their pinnacle of performance yet, but I think the Reaction will offer people something they have not surfed yet!

I have another type of surf kayak coming out in January 2006 and it will cater to top athletes. Around 7'8" ! I won't give too much information away on this one, but I will say this: I am taking back my (and Randy Phillips') design, the Intruder. That particular design was ahead of its time and only now is the design starting to be capitalized upon. More on that soon.

Also, I will be doing more designs in 2006 that will cater to the absolute top guys and to the more intermediate, bigger paddler. All the designs I do, I want to incorporate the speed aspect. Too many surf kayaks are way too slow really.


You chose Murky Waters to produce this boat. Why Murky and when did you start working with them?
In December of 2004, I contacted a friend of mine, Corran Addison and asked him if he knew any good manufacturers that would have my best interests in mind. I also had a few other criteria that were really important.

First being integrity of the manufacturer. I wanted to own my design. I wanted to own my plug. A manufacturer only and not a manufacturer who thought he was a designer, too!

Secondly, I wanted a light surf kayak. Surf kayaks can be light and strong at the same time. I wanted a company that was always looking for the cutting edge in technology when it comes to building high end composite surf kayaks. Not a manufacturer who cut corners and was satisfied with the status quo Also, I did not want a boat that was over-built and weighed 30 pounds!

Thirdly, I wanted to find a manufacturer that could offer to the public a surf kayak at a reasonable price. A well-made, extremely light, high end composite surf kayak for a price that most can afford.

Corran Addison suggested I talk with Ed at Murky Waters, so I did. I have never looked back! Murky Waters does the absolute best in composite construction that I have seen. Ed and Mariola are easy to work with and have a positive outlook on surf kayaking as a sport and are truly excited to offer a top product. I am extremely lucky in the fact that I have had some good friends in Randy Phillips (Mega UFO Line) and Mike Johnson (Mako Line) to steer me in the right direction. If it was not for these guys, I would have not been able to put my ideas into creation. Also, board shapers are extremely important people too and I really respect working with guys like Steve Boehne (Infinity Surfboards) and Dave Johnston (Progressive Surfboards).

How many surf kayaks have you designed so far?
As far as how many kayaks I have been involved with, well, the first was the Intruder that Mega now manufactures and sells, and has also based the Maverick and Mustang from. I designed the Intruder with Randy Phillips.

The second was the Aquarius with Mike Johnson that is being produced and sold by PS Composites. Two really uniquely different surf kayaks! I learned different design attributes from both experiences. Volume placement was the design issue for me. Still alot needs to be done in that department for sure. But this goes into more of what I was saying about production kayaks! Not one kayak will accomodate everyone!

My sole design credit is the Reaction. I did this boat on my own. With that said, I cannot take all the credit for it. There were design issues from every surf kayak I have ever surfed and co designed. From volume to templating, to rockers, to bottom design. I did design some interesting tweeks to the Reaction that others have not done yet, but it's just a refinement. Nothing is really that new out there, it's how you put all the elements together that really matters!

Now, I have also helped, rather co-designed with Byron Olson's Vortex kayak. That was an interesting collaboration. I am sure more will come out on that soon, but really that surf kayak is pretty experimental. Every kayak works, but will it be the 'one'. Who knows? I have high hopes for that design. As far as favorite surf kayaks I have been involved with, well, that has to be the Reaction! At this point, it's the most fun I have ever had in a surf kayak. And isn't that what the whole sport is about: having fun!

Have you ever considered creating your own kayak brand, VS Kayaks, for instance?
I have never ever thought of having my own kayak manufacturing company. I really do not like working with toxic chemicals like epoxy resin. I really like to try to design something that I would want to surf! I have my ideas. Wish I had more money to do more, but, someday for sure. I will just let Murky Waters keep building these surf kayaks as long as they will!

You are on the US Surf Kayak Team (West) that became the world champion in Costa Rica. Tell us about the contest... did you enjoy it?
What I enjoyed the most about the World Championships in Costa Rica was meeting all the talented athletes from around the world. Surf kayaking is so small, but very spread out. It's hard to really get together and meet! The World Championships is a great venue for that. It was also a very positive contest. Everyone is out to win, but I think there was more positve vibe in this contest, for how competitive it was, than any other big contest I have competed in! Meeting guys like Chris Harvey and David Jaggs was eye opening for me. Truly talented.

On the negative side, sure I would have liked to surf better waves. For a World Championship the waves were sub par, but sometimes it's not all about the waves, you know! It was definitely fun.

The team uses a whole bunch of different surf kayaks. From my boat, The Reaction, to Johnson Designs, Wold Boats and Mega Boats. Nobody on our US West Team, except me and Dick Wold have an interest in what kayak they use. Personal preference and what they can get their hands on are sometimes what dictate what boat they use!

I expect the future, for not only my surf kayak (which really is so small of a deal in the whole scheme of things) but the sport in itself to be very bright. The World Committee in Costa Rica embraced the removal of International Class kayaks from the High Performance (Open) Class and the restructuring of the way the classes are judged. This should be a big step forward for the sport. The athletes are just amazing and the designs of the surf kayaks are evolving at a rapid pace now.

Any closing remarks?
Thank you Luis for this interview and photos placement. And a big thanks for everyone's time in reading this. For more information on the Reaction please contact Murky Water Kayaks at: www.murkywaterkayaks.com .

Thanks Vince… keep riding!

Text - Luis Pedro Abreu
Photos - Vince Shay & Jim Grossman