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Table of Contents

Surfskis

If this is your first ever investigation of surfskis, you may want to start on our introduction page.

This page is a good place to start research on choosing your first surfski or your next surfski. Here is information we hope will help guide paddlers toward good decisions on the types of skis that will best work for each paddler's skill level and their local paddling conditions. No sales talk here. Just advice and accumulated experience in choosing surfskis.

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Comparison of Intermediate Surfski: NK Storm 570 and Beginner Surfski: Think Zen

ss_comparison3.jpg

Photo (click to enlarge) from surfskicomparison.com (which as of 2025 is a little out of date)

Visual Comparison:

(note that some stats at surfskicomparison.com are missing or differ from the ones in our surfski tables - it is not always easy to keep stats completely up to date - the manufacturers occasionally change them, particularly with new generations)

Paddling Speed Comparison:

  • Speed comparison video of NK Storm 570 and Think Zen
  • It is not at all uncommon for speed tests done by beginning or intermediate paddlers to result in more stable surfskis being as fast or faster for them than more advanced surfskis - example Vega vs Vega Flex comparison from the Paddle Channel.
  • …

Surfski Specs Lists and Brands

Your First Surfski

Many 1st timers will probably feel some “jittering” the first couple of times they paddle a surfski. But for almost everyone that will quickly diminish if you are in a stable, beginner class surfski. Jitters and instability can last much longer or be interminable if you are trying to paddle a surfski that is beyond your current comfort and skill level.

After you have paddled a surfski a fair amount, you should have a much better idea about what you are looking for in any surfski you subsequently wish to purchase. There's no substitute for experience in teaching you what you prefer in performance and fit. But there are some general guidelines to seriously consider for a first surfski:

Previous Paddling Experience (Can I, Should I Jump to Intermediate Skis, Yeah, Nah…Probably Not A Good Idea for Most Paddlers)

Choosing

Can't Overemphasize Stability

  • 5 myths about stable, "slow", surfskis 5/15/2020 Boyan Zlatarev
  • Glassy Conditions can Challenge Stability Jasper Mocke video
  • TCSurfski Stable vs. Elite
  • Rough Approximation of Stability by Width: (the primary and secondary stability will vary with hull shape, cockpit height and your personal fit in the cockpit so your experience of stability in any surfski in comparison to other surfskis can easily differ from a comparison just based on width)
    • Example of 2 surfskis with similar specs but different handling surfski.info discussion
    • Remember - a heavier version of the same model will generally be more stable & for many a bigger/better rudder can add significant stability
    • 52cm or more - Beginner
    • 48cm -52cm - Improver
    • 45cm-48cm - Intermediate
    • 44cm or less - Advanced/Elite
    • …
  • Bob Putnam's Surfski Stability Scale
    • Really Tippy Ski: You have no idea what time it is, because if you try to look at your watch, you're going in.
    • Regular Ski: You can glance at your watch to figure out what time it is.
    • Stable Ski: It's so stable you can set your watch on it.
  • …

Not Interested in Racing?

  • Touring Surfskis This is a growing category of stable surfskis, built to accommodate more gear
  • Adventures - check out tales of more ambitious trips attempted and/or completed with surfskis or various forms of boat that seem like distant relatives of surfskis or kayaks but sometimes paddled with double bladed paddles at least.
  • …

Equipment Setup

Mocke Brothers - Never sacrifice stability for speed

Your Next Surfski

Ready for a more “advanced” surfski?

"Catch And Release"

- On surfski.info Pilotdov's creative way to sample surfskis where he otherwise does not have access to variety -

  • “To get a feel for different designs, I’ve resorted to buying, testing, and reselling skis. I don’t make money on the sales—sometimes I break even, and sometimes I take a small loss—but it’s worth it to sample what’s out there. I jokingly call it my “Catch-and-Release Ski Program,” though some paddling friends call it “Surfski Speed Dating.”” * Note * for this to work without taking too much financial loss, we assume there has to be some sort of decent resale market not too distant from the paddler.
  • …

Stable Surfskis Are Not Just For Beginners

Speed Comparisons

Humor

More Resources

Vega Flex vs Vega Flatwater Speed

Handling and Design Characteristics

Plastic Surfskis

DIY

The Future

Page Tools

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