What better way to lure novice and intermediate paddlers out of their flatwater comfort zones and into the more adventurous niches of river, surf and open water paddling, than to build boats that effortlessly bridge the gap? Case in point, the new S14S, an efficient 14-foot sit-on-top from surf ski veterans, Stellar Kayaks. “People have a head trip about surf skis,” says Stellar sales rep, Vaughn Smith, “they’re skinny, they’re tippy, they’re weird. The S14S is a boat anybody can jump on.” Current Designs also entered the surf ski crossover market this summer with the Ignite. Echoing Thomas, CD says the 16-foot Ignite “is not an elite-level, hyper-sensitive surf ski requiring a lifetime of skills, rather it is a surf ski for all paddlers.” Add to this a new wave of river crossovers and the plethora of transitional kayaks—compact, lightweight craft that tempt recreational paddlers into the higher performing realm of touring kayaks—available in 2014, and there have never been more options to get on the water.
This article originally appeared in the 2015 Paddling Buyer’s Guide.
