When I returned to the dock for round two of pumping, I was determined to get the board properly inflated this time. It took a few minutes of fiddling with the gauge, but finally, it registered that the board was only pumped to 10 psi, which was way too low. I knew I needed to reach at least 15 psi for optimal performance. Once I got the gauge to hit that number, I eagerly paddled back out onto the water.
The difference was like night and day. The wobble that had plagued me before was completely gone, and the board felt solid and stable underfoot. I was impressed by its performance on flat water – the tracking was incredibly smooth. I even decided to test out a few fancy draw strokes, and they felt light and natural, especially with the height-adjustable carbon paddle that came with the board.
In the afternoon, I took the SUP out again in windy choppy conditions. It was definitely harder to manage, especially when bigger boats passed by, creating large wakes. But this time, with the board fully inflated, it was stable enough to keep me upright. I felt much more confident navigating through the rougher waters.
As the weekend progressed, my confidence grew, and I found myself doing laps around the island, a half mile into the lake. However, I still hesitated to paddle much farther. Lake Vermilion was known for its unpredictable weather, and wind and waves could kick up in an instant. While the board felt sturdy, I wasn’t completely convinced it would hold up well in rougher water conditions.
Back at our shallow dock area, I decided to test out the board as a floating yoga studio. I was pleasantly surprised to find that I was able to execute a few downward dogs with ease. I imagined that true yoginis would feel comfortable practicing tree pose on the board, but for me, it still felt a little too tippy and narrow to attempt.
Seeking some additional perspectives, I enlisted a few friends who owned their own paddle boards to try out the Kokopelli Chasm Lite on Lake Vermilion. One of them, who owned a 12-foot solid board, found it to be less stable compared to her own. However, two others, who owned longer inflatable SUPs, felt that it was on par with their own boards in terms of tracking and stability. Everyone agreed on one thing though – the board’s design was top-notch and well-made.
Reflecting on my experience with the Kokopelli Chasm Lite, I found myself in a unique quandary presented by the company. On one hand, they had created an ultralight inflatable SUP that was beautifully built and easy to transport and store. However, the question remained – did it bring me enough joy and stability on the water to pass the Marie Kondo test? It was certainly a worthy contender, but I still had some reservations about its performance in rougher water conditions.
Overall, my journey with the Kokopelli Chasm Lite had been an adventure. I had experienced the ups and downs of inflating the board properly, testing its stability in various water conditions, and even attempting some yoga poses on it. While it certainly had its strengths, I couldn’t completely disregard the concerns I had about its performance in rough waters. It was a reliable and well-made option for those seeking a lightweight inflatable SUP, but I would advise potential buyers to consider their specific water conditions and needs before making a decision.
