What is a surfski?
A Surfski is a sit-on-top kayak, designed so that if flooded with water the boat is able to drain itself, and is easy to remount if the paddler was to fall out. Unlike a recreational kayak they are generally made from lightweight materials like fibreglass or carbon, and are therefore much easier to handle, and move effortlessly through the water. Surfskis are ideal for all abilities of paddlers from novice to competitive, without the need for much variation in design, other than width. Additionally the boat can be used in all conditions, perfect for the mirror-like conditions in the morning, to the surfing waves that can arrive in the Okanagan on a windy day. Surfski paddlers use carbon paddles that have a “wing” shaped blade, that is lightweight, and can be adjusted to various angles, and lengths based on the paddler.
KPC has five surfski singles available for club use, as well as paddles and PFD’s (Personal Flotation Device aka lifejacket). We have 2 x Think ACE, which is the most stable option, and is comparable in balance to a recreational sit-inside kayak, 1 x Think EZE which is less stable than the Think ACE, but also ideal for an introductory boat in flat conditions. Lastly we have 2 x Think EVO, which is a longer boat designed for racing, and is for more competent paddlers, and glides more easily through the water than the wider, shorter models.
Think ACE
Think ACE
Think EZE
Think EVO
Paddle Blade
Harry McLaren and his brother Jack used an early version of the surf ski in 1912 around the family’s oyster beds on Lake Innes, near Port Macquarie, New South Wales, Australia, and the brothers used them in the surf on Port Macquarie’s beaches.
The board was propelled in a sitting position with two small hand blades, which was probably not a highly efficient method to negotiate the surf. The deck is flat with a bung plug at the rear and a nose ring with a leash, possibly originally required for mooring. The rails are square and there is a pronounced rocker. The boards’ obvious buoyancy indicates hollow construction, with thin boards of cedar fixed longitudinally down the board.
Surf skis were later used by lifesavers to rescue drowning swimmers. Until the 1960s, surf boats—lightweight rowing boats with a crew of five—were responsible for the rescue work in and behind the surf line. These boats were expensive and require a huge amount of skill to be used effectively. It was soon realised that a double surf ski could do almost everything that a surf boat could do, and in 1946 the importance of surf skis was noted by the surf lifesaving associations and they were included in lifesaving competitions and championships. Riders could stand up on them to surf them back to shore. These early surf skis were very wide and bear little resemblance to their modern counterparts. Surf skis were quickly introduced into surf lifesaving as a competition event. Over time they became narrower to maximise speed.
Surf skis are a narrow hulled craft paddled with a double bladed paddle similar to a kayak. Surf skis originated in Australia by the McLaren brothers to surf on Port Macquarie’s beaches in 1912. They were later used by lifesavers to rescue drowning swimmers. Until the 1960s, surf boats – lightweight rowing boats with a crew of five – were responsible for the rescue work in and behind the surf line. These boats were expensive and require a huge amount of skill to be used effectively. It was soon realised that a double surf ski could do almost everything that a surf boat could do, and in 1946 the importance of surf skis was noted by the surf lifesaving associations and were included in lifesaving competitions and championships. Riders could stand up on them to surf them back to shore. These early surf skis were very wide and bear little resemblance to their modern counterparts. Over time surf skis have become narrower to maximize speed.