Waveski

Waveski

Waveski Surfing is a ICF recognized paddlesports discipline where the rider surfs waves sitting down rather than standing up. Waveskis are essentially surfboards outfitted with foot straps, a seatbelt, and/or thigh straps that allow the rider to be attached in a seated position. The rider uses a double bladed kayak paddle to catch waves and perform maneuvers of varying degrees of difficulty while surfing the breaking wave. 

Since the early 1980’s, the United States Waveski Association has served as the official governing body of the sport and has hosted the national titles on both the Atlantic and Pacific coasts.  With the establishment of the Waveski Committee on the American Canoe Association’s National Competition Council, waveski surfing now has the backing of the ACA and a governing body directly linked to the ICF. 

Waveski competitions are run similarly to surf competitions. Competitors compete against each other in timed heats in front of a panel of judges who rate rides based on the premise that the most radical maneuvers in the most critical part of the wave score the highest points.  Waveski riders of all skill levels and physical abilities are always welcome at competitions where they can meet other waveskiers and improve their surfing performance by having their style and technique critiqued.

This is a paddlesport that makes a day at the beach exciting, and has a strong following among whitewater enthusiasts, the adaptive community, and paddlers who just enjoy surfing.  It’s a dynamic sport where the creativity and skill of the rider merge to perform technical maneuvers on what each wave has to offer.