Innovation has always been central to our mission at Black Project and at any time there are always a number of projects which are in the works, not all of which will end up in the range. The paddles project was first discussed over two years ago but was initially put on hold due to the large development and set up costs involved. It was clear however that we wanted to develop our range and continue our move into the stand up market and hence work continued as time and finance allowed. Bringing new and exciting products to the market for all to enjoy is one of the most rewarding aspects of my job and therefore I am thrilled to be announcing that following extensive development and logistical work the first of our paddles have now shipped to customers worldwide and more are on the way as we move into full scale production.

Everything we do at Black Project is about quality and performance and hence we designed our paddles to use the highest quality materials available and tested them to destruction in a range of paddling environments together with a variety of riders with different needs. Once this process was complete we worked closely with our factories in the USA and Asia to ensure the finest quality production standards were in place for full scale production. We chose a leading composite manufacturer based in the USA to make our shafts, this enables us to ensure the upmost quality and strength to weight ratio. Our other factory in Asia makes the remaining items in their purpose built and dedicated paddle factory using the latest technology and production methods.

During our development and testing it was clear that weight was an area which we wanted to push the limits. We wanted a perfectly balanced feather weight paddle capable of withstanding the forces and impact that the biggest of riders could generate. Paddle breakage was not an option for us and we proceeded to brake a number of paddles from other manufacturers and compared these to what ours could withstand. Part of this process is careful negotiation with the factory to see what is possible, the principle of ‘Marginal Gain’ is extremely important. Small ‘marginal’ improvements in a number of areas when added together can make a large impact. The result is a very light, full carbon paddle ready to take a beating in the waves and a pounding on the race course. Depending on size your paddle will be between approximately 415 – 435 grams (14.6 – 15.3 ounces).

The Epic95 will appeal to a wide range of paddlers who can adapt their paddle to their specific requirements by selecting one of three shafts flex patterns and one of two handle options. Riders spending more time in the waves will likely choose the T-Handle and either Medium or Flex shaft while riders spending more time on flat water and racing will likely prefer the PALM handle and Medium or Stiff shaft options. At 97 square inches (613 cm2) the Epic is a high aspect blade 7 3/4 inches (19.7cm) wide with dihedral shaping to promote positive movement through the stoke and minimize flutter.

All paddles come with a full length protective bag, we want your new investment to last a long time and keeping it protected when not in use reduces damage so that you can enjoy it for longer, there is nothing worse than dinging up your gear when it’s not even in use! The red ABS rail both adds our branding and protects your blade from impact for longevity. As with our fins the high density foam core of the blade is CNC manufactured before laminating and molding can take place, the result is a precision instrument on both the inside and outside which adds to strength, reduces weight and improves longevity.

More details of the paddles together with riders feedback will be released soon, we are currently working on the product pages and also making them available on the online store. We have been working with a number of USA based and worldwide dealers to ensure that the paddles will be available in your area quickly. Thanks to our network of riders and dealers our first batch was sold out before it was even completed or even went on official sale, it is great to have a loyal fan base built on our reputation for quality. The next batch is on its way and if you are keen to get your name down then please get in contact with us.

In the weeks and months ahead you will start to notice that we will be using the new BlackProjectHawaii.com and BlackProjectSUP.com URLS alongside the original BlackProjectFins.com domain so that we can give more dedicated focus and support for our riders and dealers.

More to follow…