Prior to 1988

The earliest surf kayak contests occurred in the 1960’s in Great Britain and on the U.S. east and west coasts. Countries in the British Isles (England, Ireland, Wales, Scotland and Jersey) competed among themselves in British Canoe Union (BCU) events. Meanwhile, in the United States, there were a few contests held around the country each year for surf kayakers. Oregon held regular events beginning in 1980. The Santa Cruz Kayak Surf Festival, organized by Adventure Sports, Unlimited, of Santa Cruz, was the largest of the U.S. events. The Santa Cruz Kayak Surf Festival has been held in March of each year since 1985 at Steamer Lane, a world-renowned point break.

1988

A U.S. team traveled to Ireland to participate in the British Canoe Union Home Open Competition. U.S. representatives were selected at the Santa Cruz Kayak Surf Festival. Competing in plastic Perception Dancers and Sabers designed for whitewater slalom racing, the U.S. team won the kayak portion of the event.
Here the team poses with Prince Charles. From left to right of the United States Team, Jim Kinninger, Donna Casey, Jim Walker, Prince Charles Wayne Horodovich, and Dan Crandall.

Photo: U.S. Team in Tharso.

1990

The Santa Cruz Kayak Surf Festival hosted international competitors from countries in the BCU.

Ken Sprague in a Dancer by Perception Kayaks. This was one of the first riverboats that were used to surf the Lane. At that time this was the most user friendly river kayak that had the best chance to out maneuver the Room of Doom, a rock cave in the cliffs.

Photo: Ken Sprague in a Dancer. © 1990 - Bud Clark

1991

“Sabre” in 1991, in the 1st formal Worlds Championships held in Thurso, Scotland surfed by Wayne Horodovich of the United States. The Sabre was a roto molded plastic boat by Perception Kayaks that stole the show. Malcome Pearsey of Mega Kayaks in England modeled his Jester kayak after it..

1993

Santa Cruz and Adventure Sports hosted their first official World Championships. For the first time, Central America entered the fray when Costa Rica brought a team. Teams from England, Ireland, Wales, Scotland, Jersey and Canada also competed. The U.S. won the team event. England came in second, paddling a new fiberglass surf kayak design from English kayak manufacturer Mega. As the sport gained popularity, more kayaks were designed specifically for ocean surfing.

Photo: Mike Johnson designed "Fry" style wave ski. © 1993 - Paul Bousquet

1995

Costa Rica hosted the world championships. The warm waters and sunshine of Boca Barranca were a hit with competitors from the British Isles, Brazil and the U.S. The U.S. fielded both an East Coast and a West Coast team for the first time, an indication of the growth of the sport. England won the 1995 world team crown.

Photo: U.S. Team and International committee at Costa Rica

1997

Thurso, Scotland was once again the host for the world championships. Brazil, Spain and France sent representatives to the event, along with US, Costa Rica and BCU teams. Fiberglass surf kayak designs from WoldSki, Mike Johnson Boats, and Necky Boats gave Mega stiff competition. For the first time, High Performance events were added as an Exhibition class along with the classic International events. The International boat classes require that boats be 3 meters long, with a convex hull and no fins. High Performance boats can be any size or shape of enclosed kayak, and may use fins similar to surf board fins to increase maneuverability on the waves. England retained the world team title.

1999

Rio de Janeiro, Brazil was the site for the world surf kayak championships. The event was one of a series of three international surf events – kayaks, waveskis, and surfboards – held over a three-month period on the beach in Rio. Teams competed from England, Jersey, Scotland, Wales, Costa Rica, Spain, Argentina, U.S. East and U.S. West. High Performance events were officially added to both team and individual competitions. The US West team claimed the world title.

2001

Santa Cruz hosted the 2001 World Kayak Surfing Championships, March 13-18. Teams from England, Scotland, Ireland, Jersey, and US East and West, along with individuals from Northern Ireland, Germany, Wales, Spain, Argentina, Brazil, and Costa Rica competed. Individual International Classic and High Performance events were held for men, women, juniors and masters, as well as the team competitions. The tiny island of Jersey claimed the team title in a tightly contested race over US West.

2003

The northwestern coast of Ireland was the setting for the 2003 World Surf Kayaking Championships, held September 12-21at Easky reef break in the shadow of the 15th century Rosslee castle ruin. Host teams Ireland and Northern Ireland welcomed teams from England, Scotland, Jersey, Wales, US East and West, and the "Rest of the World" team made up of partial teams from Spain, Austria, Costa Rica and Brazil. Men, women, masters and juniors battled through High Performance and International Classic events in a variety of new boat designs. The Republic of Ireland claimed the team crown for the home country, having narrowly escaped second place England.

2005

The US West Team was victorious in the 2005 World Championships in Costa Rica, October 22nd-31st. The World Championships exhibited a whole new growth in design and athleticism. Aerials and new moves out of the river scene where everywhere. This with a new West Coast Surf Kayaking Committee promises greater energy for promoting kayak surfing on the west coast. The next World Championships is in 2007 and the nation is preparing to provide a selection series of competitions to select the next teams for the US of A. The Santa Cruz Kayak Surf Festival will be hot in the action.

At Esterillos Oeste Beach in Jaco, Costa Rica hosted the 2005 Pura Vida Campeonato Mundial de Kayak Surf. Costa Rica and the World Surf Kayak Association hosted teams from Basque Country, England, Jersey, Ireland, Northern Ireland, Scotland, U.S. East, U.S. West and a "Rest of the World" Team with participants from Brazil, Japan, Costa Rica and Argentina. A Grand Master's team event debuted. The U.S. West reclaimed the world team title.

2006

The first World Cup of Surf Kayaking was held in Portugal in October, featuring individual men and women who qualified through five events held during 2006 in Brazil, Santa Cruz, Spain, Ireland and North Carolina. Santa Cruz's Dave Johnston took the Men's cup and Sacramento's Kate Smith the Women's cup.

2007

Basque Country, Spain hosted the 2007 World Championships in Bakio-Mundaka, October 19-28. The largest team event ever drew 9 full teams: Basque Country, US West & East, England, Jersey, Scotland, Wales, Ireland, N. Ireland. Individuals from 17 countries competed, including Sweden, Australia, Japan, Canada, France, Portugal, Costa Rica and Brazil. The contest travelled between Bakio and the famous Mundaka break. The Basques claimed the team trophy by a healthy margin.

2008

The 2008 World Cup of Surf Kayaking was held at Ile D'Oleron, France in September. Edu Exteberria of Basque Country claimed the men's cup. England’s Tamsin Green and Sam Davenport took home the women's and junior's trophy, respectively.

2009

The 2009 Santa Cruz Kayak Surf Festival hosted the US West Team Trials for the 2009 World Surf Kayak Championships held in Santa Cruz, Portugal July 23-August 2. The event drew 157 kayakers representing 15 countries. Only seven members were able to represent US West in Portugal, but placed 7th out of 12 teams. England squeezed out Basque Country to claim first place, with Northern Ireland taking third.

2010

The 24th annual Santa Cruz Kayak Surf Festival of March 26th-28th had every world champion in all it categories in attendance. Locals one the events of Wave Ski, Fletcher Burton, and High Performance Surf Kayak, Galen Licht over the reigning world champions. Points from this event will help to select US West team members to compete in 2011 world championships to be held at Cape Hatteras on the US East coast.

2011

Santa Cruz PaddleFest celebrated its 25th Anniversary with a new name, new SUP flatwater race, a huge party and a huge storm that closed down Sunday events for the first time ever. About 150 paddlers from Australia, Costa Rica, England, Ireland, Scotland, Italy, Brazil and the US joined the celebration. The 2011 World Championships were hosted by the US East Team at the Outer Banks NC in October. Basque Country (Spain) retained first place in the Worlds, England captured second and US West third. Locals capturing an Individual World Title included Dave Johnston, Masters Short Boat, and Buck Johnson, Grand Masters Long Boat.