Contents

Paul Marais

Paul Marais is often referred to as one of the "Founding Fathers" of the modern South African surfski movement. While names like Hank McGregor and Dawid Mocke dominate the modern era, Marais was the dominant force of the 1980s and early 90s, bridging the gap between traditional "spec" surf lifesaving and professional long-distance ocean racing. >>

Pierre Vilella

Pierre Vilella is the undisputed "Crown Prince" and the face of the European surge in surfski. As of 2026, he is the highest-ranked European paddler and the primary challenger to Australian and South African dominance. >>

Rachel Clarke

Rachel Clarke is the undisputed queen of New Zealand ocean paddling and a dominant force in the international female surfski circuit. While legends like Hank McGregor and Dean Gardiner defined the men's era, Clarke has been instrumental in elevating the profile and professional standards of women’s ocean racing. >>

Sean Rice

Sean Rice is a legendary figure in ocean racing, widely regarded as one of the most technical and intellectually sharp paddlers in the history of the sport. While his younger brother Kenny is known for raw power, Sean is the "Professor" of surfski, famous for his strategic mastery and his global efforts to coach the next generation. >>

Surf ski? what's the history of...

A surf ski (or surfski, or surf-ski) is a type of kayak in the kayaking family of paddling craft. It is generally the longest of all kayaks and is a performance oriented kayak designed for speed on open water, most commonly the ocean, although it is well suited to all bodies of water and recreational paddling. The most common use of surfskis is in surf lifesaving competitions and downwind paddling. >>

The Doctor (Perth, Western Australia)

Australia's premier ocean paddling event. It is a 27-kilometer downwind sprint from Rottnest Island across the ocean to Sorrento Beach on the mainland. The race is famous for the "Fremantle Doctor," a consistent and powerful sea breeze that creates arguably the best and most highly contested downwind surfing conditions in the world. >>

The Dragon Run (Hong Kong)

Started in 2007, the Dragon Run quickly became a cornerstone of the World Surfski Series. It is a highly technical 24-kilometer race in the South China Sea. Paddlers start at Clearwater Bay, navigate the notoriously messy "reflector chop" off the Ninepins islands, catch downwind runs toward Cape D'Aguilar, and finish at Stanley Beach. The extreme heat and humidity add a brutal physical layer to the race. >>

The Evolution of Canoe Ocean Racing: From Lifesaving to Global Sport

Discover the history and mechanics of Canoe Ocean Racing, a discipline defined by sit-on-top surfskis and the mastery of open-ocean downwind conditions. >>

The Evolution of Surfski Kayaks

This post from Global Surfski, titled "The Evolution of Surfski Kayaks," explores the history and design shifts of surfskis, specifically comparing the "old school" Hawaiian designs to modern high-performance models. >>

The Molokai Challenge (Hawaii, USA)

The History: Often referred to simply as "Molokai" or the Kaiwi Channel Crossing, this is the holy grail of ocean paddling. Founded in 1976, the race covers an exhausting 53 kilometers (32 miles) from the island of Molokai to Oahu. Paddlers must navigate the "Channel of Bones," notorious for its treacherous cross-chop, massive trade-wind swells, and extreme isolation. It is widely considered the unofficial World Championship of long-distance surfski. >>