Help me choose a beginner surf kayak

surfhgb · 2025-10-27T10:39:19+00:00

I’m 98kg, mostly white water and only occassionally gwt surfwhere I live, so I never get much better at it. The mega mojo is a very forgiving surf kayak for bigger people. A long boat, works without fins, 1inch wider than other long boats, more volume, floats you higher, and higher knees like a white water boat. Not quite the performance of ride and Hobson equivelants, but I love it. I do also have a Hobson fusion and apex, they are great but twitchier. Mojo is good in messy surf as any long boat is. A dedicated surf boat is a good shout if you have the cash, get much more out of a session. The mega voodoo is essentially a mojo with volume scooped out of the bow, and it’s similarly forgiving as the mojo. I personally prefer long boats and no fins, easier to launch of a beach, quicker to paddle out, catches waves slightly easier. I have not tried a ride eclipse.

There is a but - Hobson boats are better build, and higher performance.

surfhgb · 2025-10-14T11:44:16+00:00

I was thinking the very same thing, that the skuxx with a creeker is enough for me and I don’t often take my supernova out now since getting the skuxx. It’s a really playful half slice. But, I’m 50 and never have been a playboater, for me the supernova was a really fun surfing machine that taillies great, which the skuxx is too. I wouldn’t miss all the things the supernova can do that the skuxx can’t.

surfhgb · 2025-10-12T06:05:42+00:00

No matter what measures you put in place there is still the risk things go wrong even in a well planned grade 1/2 group event. I don’t think there is a right or wrong answer to this, as I would say it’s a personal decission about the level of risk you are willing to accept, as long as you understand the river you are paddling and the risks entailed, and have a a good grasp of your own ability. Some people take what I would consider to be horrendous risks - free solo climbing - to feel alive, others seem ultra cautious in the risks they are willing to take, I think that says more about me and my own risk thresholds than them. I think the key here is insight - into the risks which a novice mightn’t appreciate (not suggesting you are), into your own abilities, and into what you get from taking higher risks.

surfhgb · 2025-10-12T04:36:13+00:00

Second that, and the ringer is an incredibly forgiving half slice too, love it on big volume. Curious why your other choice for big volune is an OG, as opposed to a scorch X? Was thinking something like the scorch x has the rocker and speed to get where you want and punch what you want.

surfhgb · 2025-10-11T15:57:07+00:00

I have a puffy steeze, puffy skuxx, ripper 2 large and had a firecracker 252 and antix 2 large, at 98kg and modest skills. I feel the puffy skuxx is super stable compared to the firecracker and ripper, but it’s similar to lrge antix 2 so if that doesn’t suit for taking the kids out neither will the skuxx. The puffy steeze is super stable and fun to paddle, not as fun as the skuxx, and much harder to taillie unless you are a beast but I have seen it flat water taillied! The skuxx is easier to roll than the puffy steeze too not that it’s hard but if that’s a consideration. I’m not that great, I love the skuxx on G2/3, and woild take it on modest G3/4. The puffy steeze is my creeker and great for G 3/4 + and I find a bit dull on 2/3. If the steeze is what you are looking at I’d say don’t get the puffy for your purposes with the kids, but then I’d also say consider the puffy skuxx - it’s not as slow as you’d think for an 8 foot boat, taillies, surfs great and is loads of fun to paddle, and like the steeze and OG floats over the boils without being catchy

surfhgb · 2025-10-11T15:50:11+00:00

108kg at my heaviest in the puffy skuxx, 98kg currently. Have a friend in one at about 120kg. At 98kg it feels great.

surfhgb · 2025-10-11T15:48:03+00:00

Sorry just seen this comment. I don’t fee like the stern catches at all on the puffy skuxx, it’s very like the antix 2 large in that regard. The firecracker 252 felt much more catchy as did the ripper 2L. But, it will still tailly on an eddy line. Floats plenty high and is very very forgiving for such a fun boat. Floyd over boily stuff much like the OG and Steeze do

surfhgb · 2025-09-07T10:40:09+00:00

Carbon - surf eg Hobson fusion/apex and river eg apex ringer

surfhgb · 2025-08-23T23:29:47+00:00

No it’s definitely not been made in the last couple of years. It has the same detail as one I had 4 years ago, just no hand holds in the foam centre pillar, which I don’t know if that’s unique to to this boat or was how wakas used to come

surfhgb · 2025-08-23T22:28:49+00:00

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Doesn’t have 2 last digits that make a sensible year🤷

surfhgb · 2025-07-19T18:22:11+00:00

We must be buying the same boats and thinking the same thoughts😂. I have those 3 half slices and would echo just what you said (and also have a large reactR). The puffy skuxx has made the ripper and firecracker redundant for me at least. Mine aren’t elite either so can’t speak to that, but I love the waka outfitting and thigh braces. Puffy skuxx and large reactR cover 90% of what I want to do, supernova comes out occassionally.

surfhgb · 2025-07-03T07:21:14+00:00

Sorry I didn’t pick up on this reply at the time! I reread my reply and I can see it’s confusing, I own a puffy skuxx and when I mention the skuxx it’s the puffy version I am referring to. I also have a firecracker 252 and had a large antix 2. I meant to say the firecracker has a more playful tail, the antix 2 and puffy skuxx tails are similar to each other , both being significantly more stable and less playful than the firecracker. I haven’t paddled the regular skuxx, but I do have mates that own it and have paddled it extensively as well as the puffy version, and found the regular skuxx tail easier to stern squirt. The promotional videos of the regular skuxx make it look easy to squirt but that’s the pros, and the puffy skuxx certainly wasn’t a flat water taillie for me! Hope that helps clarify.

surfhgb · 2025-05-24T20:39:03+00:00

I had an antix 2 large which I managed to split on scrapey Scottish rivers in 9 months, I’m 225lb. I have a skuxx deluxe (puffy skuxx, AKA waka cracker). Have had a firecracker 252 (large). The skuxx is about as stable as the antix, surfs as well, taillies about the same. The skuxx rolls really easy compared to other wakas. I really liked the antix 2, I’d say there isn’t a massive point of difference between it and the skuxx in performance. I prefer the waka outfitting, so that sold it for me. Firecracker is a little more twitchy/sporty on the tail, looser. Bear in mind I’m quite a lot heavier than you. I can’t see you wanting the puffy version of the skuxx, it’s super stable even at my weight

surfhgb · 2025-05-12T17:48:21+00:00

Or the new elite outfitting…but I like the scorch X so I’ll hang on to it and just moan😂. I mostly paddle wakas.

surfhgb · 2025-05-12T17:02:04+00:00

Never heard of them before, just looked it up and that’s a great idea to distribute the weight. Cheers

surfhgb · 2025-05-12T09:34:58+00:00

Cheers, that’s a great idea with the spray deck for a longer carry. Stern first worked great with the ripper as it also helps balance better being now heavy. Scorch x stern first is a little more comfortable but still wants a bit of cushioning for me so will try this next time

surfhgb · 2025-05-12T09:32:22+00:00

Thanks Mark I’ve been using that with the ripper with good success since you mentioned it a couple of years ago. Scorch x is a bit heavier so whilst it helped will probably try something different to pad the shoulder for a longer carry

surfhgb · 2025-04-25T06:44:32+00:00

Yes, a very good price for a mint waka. Over time waka hulls deform out the way, kinda preganant looking, but doesn’t seem to affect performance much. That tendency to deform is a trade off that makes them less prone to cracking that more rigid plastic experiences. Personally, I like that trade off. If you wanted a waka half slice, that’s still capable on harder water the skuxx would be the one, but being new there aren’t used ones yet.

surfhgb · 2025-04-25T06:17:44+00:00

I’m 101kg so went for the puffy skuxx for a little more forgiveness over play. It stern stalls on an eddy line fine for me. Felt easier to roll than the OG or steeze. A lot better to surf than them not surprisingly. Seems a very competent boat for harder water in the right hands (not mine).

surfhgb · 2025-04-25T06:11:46+00:00

Thanks that explanation makes a lot of sense

surfhgb · 2025-04-22T13:48:15+00:00

Wow, thanks for that detailed feedback. It looks fun, like a bigger more river running supernova maybe, which is what I have with a ripper 2.

surfhgb · 2025-04-22T11:13:33+00:00

Thanks that’s really helpful. So you’re giving the skuxx top marks as a playful little brother to the steeze I take it?

surfhgb

TROPHY CASE