SURF

Competitions give you the chance to get out into the break for a heat of various time depending on the conditions, usually between 12 and 20 mins while judges assess your rides. You’re judged on the speed, power and flow of your wave, finishing your ride with a flashy exit move off the wave. 

There are two different classes of surf kayak. International class (IC) is for long, flat-bottomed boats with the speed and grace of a longboard surfboard. High-performance class (HP) is the cutting edge  short, flat-bottomed boats with tri or quad-fins, slashing the face and exploding into incredible aerials. Increasingly competitions now run age and gender categories, along side the traditional open classes. 

You can take to the break in plenty of kayaks – especially modern flat-bottomed playboats. Often paddlers enjoy the surf as an alternative to white water when the rivers are running dry.

Surf-specific boats change the game, though. They give you a lot more speed and more aggressive turns and carves than river boats. They let you surf bigger waves, stay deeper into the pocket and ride much faster along the face.

It’s best to get started on a RNLI lifeguard patrolled beach. There are a handful of surf etiquette guidelines that everyone in the line-up should know, so paddlers, surfers, waveskiers, SUP’s, bodyboarders and everyone else can share the break safely. If you’re not sure, ask for the specifics.

Surf etiquette guidelines

There are also a lot of canoe clubs that run surf sessions and will help you to get started. Just check out our Club Finder and tick the box for Surf to narrow your search.

Most of our best breaks are in the south, because they pick up better waves. Popular locations are Pembrokeshire’s coastline, numerous spots round the Gower and a couple of breaks closer to Cardiff. There are also breaks around Aberystwyth, the Lleyn peninsula and Anglesey. Most competitions tend to run in South Wales because the surf’s that bit more reliable. But the Welsh surf committee is hoping to run some events in the North.

You can get started in a general purpose white water playboat, or a longer river-running boat – high volume creek boats are too bulbous to be much fun. All you need is what you’d normally use to paddle in, and an idea of surf etiquette to keep you safe, and to protect others in the water.

Once you get into it, you’ll start to look at carbon surf boats with sharp rails, a flat hull and fins on the bottom. Surfers tend to use slightly shorter paddles as well.

Beach and Surf Guides

Welsh Surf Kayak Committee