2025 European Surf Kayak and Wave Ski Championships
From September 5th-9th, the European Surf Kayak and Wave Ski Championships took place in Easky, County Sligo, on Ireland’s wild west coast. Set against a dramatic backdrop of cliffs, castles, and Atlantic swells, the event brought together more than 150 competitors from around the world to test their skills on one of Europe’s most scenic reef breaks. In this report, Lyndon Williams takes us inside the action and atmosphere of an unforgettable week surfing Irish waters.
For many of us as kayakers, our playground and office span the width of the earth, from the heights of the largest mountains in the Himalayas to the deepest and vast Pacific Ocean. We spend our days chasing dreams, waiting for the perfect weather conditions in the hope that everything lines up for those singular moments that complete a lifetime of goals.
A couple of weeks ago, the world’s biggest playground opened its magical gates once more, inviting the best surf kayakers from across the world to compete at one of Europe’s most infamous reef breaks in the west of Ireland, home to endless rugged coastline rich with passionate heritage and history.
The small village of Easky gave a warm welcome to paddlers during the opening ceremony of the European Surf Kayak and Wave Ski Championships, held on the weekend of September 5th to 8th. The event ran from Easky Left, a wave whose size can intimidate even the best. But with a dry-head paddle out from behind the harbour wall and a relatively straightforward take-off zone, it only takes one or two waves for that intimidating feeling to turn into pure joy. Dropping in and riding these huge yet consistent left-hand peelers builds so much confidence for surfing larger waves, but make no mistake, this reef can still put you in uncomfortable positions, forcing difficult decisions at certain tides.
All of this makes for not just a great competition but an event with spectacular viewing. The car park located on the seafront turned into a loud social grandstand packed with vans and motorhomes. Spectators, competitors, and judges all looked on as absolute worldies rolled in. From first light to dusk, there was great surfing to be had most days. Some athletes even showed up a week prior to make the most of the prime training and world-class Guinness lifestyle.
Spectators, competitors, and judges all looked on as absolute worldies rolled in.
On day one of the competition, heats were seeded from the current world rankings. Normally, the top two from each heat would go through; however, due to the high number of entries, only the winner from each round was guaranteed to advance. Over the few competition days, the wave conditions ebbed and flowed with the changing winds, big tides, and frequent rain showers, yet the heats remained well organized and documented with a live stream for the world to watch. Those who did not advance in the first round were reseeded into heats of reps (repechage rounds), giving them a second and final chance, where, once again, only the winner would make the next round.
From here it was business as usual, with the top two flyers making it through, eventually reaching finals day. Chris Hobson, three-time World Champion and owner of Hobson Kayaks, was impressed with the progression of the sport in recent years: “What stood out to me most was the professionalism of the athletes. It’s clear that people are training hard, pushing themselves, and raising the bar for surf kayaking worldwide. It was inspiring to watch the world’s best risk it all in powerful high-tide conditions, throwing down on double-overhead waves with style and commitment.”
« The biggest show in the fastest-growing paddlesports discipline did not disappoint. »
The only way I can begin to describe finals day was Box Office! The biggest show in the fastest-growing paddlesports discipline did not disappoint. Athletes went as big as possible in both high-performance (HP) and international class (IC), as well as on wave skis, hoping to score big points. Each wave is scored out of ten, and the best two waves from each heat are added together for a potential score out of twenty. Scoring is based on the difficulty of turns in critical zones, including speed, power, control, and variation. Big moves or aerials in powerful parts of the wave scored big points, and it was going off. The crowd filled the grandstand, waving national flags and cheering. The higher tide pushed onto the closer rocks, and huge support for all the paddlers created a sensational atmosphere full of pride and excitement.
« World and European Champions were everywhere, with nothing but welcoming vibes in this fast-growing community. »
Once the final four surfers had finished their shootout for the podium, the awards ceremony commenced beneath the beautiful 60-foot Easky Castle, built in 1207 and positioned on the water’s edge. Medals, trophies, and sponsored prizes were handed to the different classes and age categories. I was hugely impressed with the competitiveness of the next generation, with young paddlers competing at the highest level against their heroes and superstars of the kayaking community. World and European Champions were everywhere, with nothing but welcoming vibes in this fast-growing community. More Irish heritage was enjoyed during the evening, and the European Surf Kayak and Wave Ski Championships came to an end. I look forward to the next surf kayaking event!
Words: Lyndon Williams
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