Surf ski facts for kids
A surfski is a special type of kayak that's super long and built for speed on open water, like the ocean. It's part of the kayaking family of boats. People often use surfskis for exciting races and for paddling with the wind and waves.
Surfskis are popular because they are fast and can handle different water conditions. They're great for people who love adventure, staying fit, and competing in water sports.
Unlike some kayaks, a surfski has an open "sit-on-top" (SOT) design. This means you sit on top of the boat, not inside it. This makes it easy to get back on if you fall off. Many surfskis also have a special drain to get rid of water that splashes in.
You steer a surfski with your feet! Pedals inside the boat are connected to a small rudder at the back. This steering system helps paddlers catch and ride ocean waves, making for a thrilling ride.
Surfskis first started with surf lifesaving groups. Lifeguards used them to help swimmers in trouble. As lifesaving became a sport, surfski paddling became a key event for strong lifeguards. It's still a big part of lifesaving competitions today.
In the 1950s, lifeguards began holding long-distance surfski races. These were only for trained lifesavers. By the 1970s, "open" surfski races started, like the famous "Molokai Challenge" in Hawaii. In the mid-1990s, the sport grew even more, with new race series starting in South Africa and Australia.
The first big international competition, the I.C.F (International Canoe Federation) World Cup, happened in South Africa in 2004. Then, the first World Surfski Series was held in 2006. In 2013, the International Canoe Federation held its first World Championship in Portugal.
Contents
What Makes a Surfski Special?
There are two main kinds of surfskis: the spec ski and the ocean ski.
Spec Ski
The spec ski is the traditional boat used by surf lifesaving clubs. It has strict rules about its size and weight. Spec skis are built tough and have more rocker (a curve in the bottom) to help them move easily through waves near the shore.
Ocean Ski
The ocean ski is usually longer and has a deeper seat. It's made for long-distance paddling on the open ocean. These skis are often used to race downwind, riding ocean swells.
Surfskis are typically about 5 to 6 meters (16 to 21 feet) long and only 40 to 50 centimeters (16 to 20 inches) wide. This makes them super fast on calm water. Only special Olympic racing kayaks are faster! Surfskis are the fastest boats for long distances on ocean waves.
Even though they can feel a bit wobbly at first, experienced paddlers can use surfskis very well in big waves. Their narrow shape helps them cut through large breaking waves. Paddlers use special double-bladed paddles, often with curved "wing" blades for extra power.
A waveski is different from a surfski. It's more like a surfboard and is mainly used for playing in the surf. Waveskis are usually shorter than 3 meters (10 feet) and have a wide, flat bottom with fins.
Where Are Surfskis Used?
Surfskis are used all over the world for surf lifesaving, riding waves, and for training and racing on calm water or in the ocean. They are most popular in warm coastal places where the sport began, like Australia, South Africa, New Zealand, and Hawaii.
However, surfskis are now popular everywhere, including colder places like Nordic countries, Western Europe, and parts of the US. Many people enjoy surfski paddling as a fun outdoor sport that combines fitness, competition, and adventure. Surfskiers often paddle hard, race, and try to ride waves whenever they can.
How Surfskis Are Made
Some surfskis are made from strong plastic called polyethylene. These plastic boats are heavier but can handle a lot of bumps and scrapes. They're good for rivers or shallow areas.
Lighter surfskis are made from special layers of materials like fiberglass, Kevlar, or carbon fiber, held together with resin. To make them super light, builders use just enough material for strength. More layers can be added for extra toughness in big waves.
Early surfskis were made like old surfboards, from light wood. In the 1960s, they started using foam blocks, strengthened with wood, and covered with fiberglass. As more people wanted surfskis in the 1970s, builders started using molds to make them more easily from glass-fiber. This is when the "spec ski" and "ocean racing surfski" designs really started to become different.
Ocean racing surfskis are longer and have pointy fronts. Lifesaving spec skis often have a wider, flared front to help them not dive under waves when coming back to shore. Ocean racing surfskis also have more curve (rocker) and are designed so the paddler sits more in the middle, which helps with riding waves. They need to float well over waves, be long for speed, and be narrow to cut through water, while still being stable enough for rough conditions.
History of Surfskis
The first versions of the surfski were used in 1912 by brothers Harry and Jack McLaren in Australia. They used them around their oyster beds and on the beaches. They paddled sitting down with small hand paddles, which probably wasn't very fast in the waves! These early boards were hollow and floated well.
Lifesavers later used surfskis to rescue people. Before surfskis, lifeguards used large rowing boats with five people. These boats were expensive and hard to use. People soon realized that a double surfski could do almost the same job. In 1946, surfskis became an important part of lifesaving competitions. Early surfskis were very wide, but over time, they became narrower for more speed.
In the 1980s in Britain, short boats called "surfskis" were also developed from surf kayaks. In 1984, waveski surfing became its own sport, separate from surfskiing.
You might have even seen a surfski on TV! The character Thomas Magnum in the show Magnum, P.I. was often seen on one.
Surfski Competitions
Surf Lifesaving Races
Surfskis are used in surf lifesaving competitions around the world, including Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, and the United States. The International Life Saving Federation manages these races. A typical surfski race is about 700 meters long, starting in the water, going around buoys, and finishing on the beach.
Some events include:
- Surfski race
- Ski relay (teams)
- Oceanman (a multi-sport race)
Open Ocean Racing
Early Lifeguard Races
Lifesavers soon started paddling their surfskis further out into the ocean, and long-distance ocean racing began. The very first standalone surfski race was in 1958 in Durban, South Africa. It was a 20 km race called the Pirates-Umhlanga-Pirates, and it's still held today! Another old race, the Scottburgh to Brighton, also started in South Africa in 1958 and is 46 km long.
Other long-distance surfski races that started within the surf lifesaving movement include:
- The Port Elizabeth to East London race in South Africa (240 km, held every two years since 1972).
- The Cape Point Challenge (52 km around the famous Cape of Good Hope).
- The Mouth to Mouth Surfski Challenge (40 km from Richards Bay to Mtunzini since 1994).
To race in these early events, you had to be a qualified lifeguard who volunteered and competed for a Lifesaving Club.
Open Races for Everyone
The first open ocean surfski race, where anyone could enter (not just lifeguards), was the famous Molokai race in Hawaii. This 60 km event started in 1976 and is often called the unofficial World Championships of ocean ski racing.
In the mid-1990s, surfski racing became even more popular outside of lifesaving. New race series started in South Africa and Australia that were open to everyone.
The first I.C.F (International Canoe Federation) World Cup was held in Cape Town, South Africa, in 2004. Then, the first World Surfski Series happened in 2006. In 2013, the International Canoe Federation held its first official World Championship in Portugal.
Now, there are major surfski races held all over the world!
Popular Surfski Places
Ocean surfski racing has grown a lot in the USA, Australia, New Zealand, and other Pacific countries.
Surfskis are also becoming popular for races in calm bays, lakes, and rivers. One great thing about a surfski is that if you fall out, you can easily climb back on and keep paddling without having to drain water from the boat. A very popular place for inland surfski racing is the Columbia River in Oregon, USA, which often has ocean-like waves.
Fish Hoek, South Africa is one of the most popular surfski spots. Many paddlers from around the world travel there every year. It has great paddling conditions almost all year round. There's a big community of local paddlers who go out from Fish Hoek bay. The most famous route is the Millers Run, a 12 km downwind paddle between Millers Point and Fish Hoek beach.
Famous Surfski Paddlers
- Oscar Chalupsky
- Grant Kenny
- Clint Robinson
- Dawid Mocke
- Michele Eray
- Greg Barton
- Hank Mcgregor
Images for kids
-
A group of surfski paddlers paddle through the surf zone
See also
In Spanish: Surf ski para niños
