#1 in Surfski News and Reviews2025-12-31T20:30:22-05:00

  • On Downwinding: You’re Not Surfing

    Most paddlers learn to think about downwind paddling in terms of waves.  You catch a wave, you ride the wave, and you look for the next wave.  Wash, rinse, repeat.  That model works well enough [...]

  • On Training: Stress and Adaptation

    Nothing in training happens without stress.  In the absence of a stressor, our system remains exactly as it is.  But stress alone is not improvement, and in an ocean environment, misunderstanding that difference is one [...]

  • On Racing: Starting Right

    Most races are decided long before the first buoy or the first run.  They begin in the final minutes before the start, when paddlers are already spending physical, mental, and emotional energy, whether they realize [...]

  • Blackburn Challenge to host 2026 National Championships

    The American Canoe Association has selected the Cape Ann Rowing Club's Blackburn Challenge as the host venue for the 2026 USA Canoe Ocean Racing National Championships, placing one of America’s most iconic open-water races at [...]

  • USA Surfski Paddlers @ 2025 ICF COR World Championships

    The 2025 ICF Canoe Ocean Racing (COR) World Championships were held in Durban, South Africa this past October.  Worlds is the pinnacle international competition for surfski paddlers all over the world, in addition to World Cups [...]

Latest News

Ocean Paddle Sports East at L2L, East Coast Surfski Champs

Austin Keiffer and Ocean Paddle Sports East will be hosting a FREE Surfski Clinic and Demo Day Saturday, September 14th for the East Coast Surfski Champs (Lighthouse to Lighthouse). Also Ocean Paddle Sports East (OPSE) is sponsoring the ECSSC Surfski Hotspot. $250 for the first women and first man to cross [...]

Blackburn Challenge: Sprinbok’ed

As a surfski race, many people find the Blackburn Challenge aggravating.  There's seldom any significant downwind, but there's always confused chop.  It's nearly 20 miles long.  At various points you'll have to contend with suck water, weeds, aggressive tidal currents, heavy traffic, fishing lines, lobstermen hauling traps, and a heart-breaking final [...]

2019 Blackburn Challenge

I was pleasantly surprised when Bob Blair, Race Director of the Blackburn Challenge asked the racers to show hands of the first timers. It seemed like half of the crowd eagerly raised their hands. Blackburn Finish I knew a few these folks like Jean Kostelich who I met years ago at [...]

Different Bull, Still Holding On!

2019 Ride the Bull Race I had the idea to several years ago that we needed a rough water race that would test our skills without being off shore. Having paddled in Jamestown for many years, there are sections that can be challenging on most days. If the wind is Northerly, [...]

Ride the Bull: Running the Gauntlet

Just moments after we pulled into our driveway after returning from the Sakonnet River Race, it was time to turn around and head back to the state affectionately known as "Massachusetts's Dewlap" for Wesley and Tim's Ride the Bull race. After underbidding all other syndicates, we had been awarded the lucrative [...]

find your next boat

Surfski Classifieds

Find your perfect boat today!

Ocean Skis

Racing Skis

FlatWater K1

share the passion

Surfski Reviews

Looking for an ocean ski? Check out the surfski comparison chart!

Go to Top