Henry, Goodman, Lockwood, Dennis, Foster—some sea kayak designers possess such consistency of purpose and personal expression, I know the moment I sit in one of their boats whose hand shaped it. Jesper Kromann-Andersen is such a designer.
Review: Norse Kayaks’ new Ask
Norse Kayaks Ask Specs
Length: 16’8”
Width: 21.3”
Weight: 52 lbs
Paddler Weight Range: 140–240 lbs
MSRP: $3,899 CAD
norsekayaks.com
Design & performance
Inspired by the surging North Atlantic swells and rugged coastline of his native Denmark, Kromann-Andersen designs sea kayaks that excel at transforming rock gardens and surf breaks into playgrounds, yet paddle efficiently with hatches packed for a longer tour.
A proficient paddler and sailor, Kromann-Andersen, 53, has been designing kayaks for most of his adult life. He describes his approach as “dynamic efficiency”—meaning a kayak must respond as a natural extension of paddler input. He’s best known in Scandinavia for creating the popular Arrow kayaks—including the Play, Nuka and Empower—now produced by Zegul. In 2015, he made a splash in North American waters with the first of three “Danish-style” kayaks developed for Current Designs—the Prana, Sisu and Karla.
Enter Norse Kayaks. As the name suggests, Norse is a Norwegian brand that began producing composite sea kayaks in 2013. With designs for touring, expedition and fitness paddling, Norse cofounders Kjetil Sandvik and Torgeir Toppe wanted to add a playful, surf-oriented sea kayak to their lineup. There was no question who should design the new boat.
“We have been fans of Jesper’s designs for a long time,” says Sandvik, “the way his designs are maneuverable without giving up speed is just impressive.”
Kromann-Andersen paddled the fjord-fractured coast of Norway for inspiration, sketching out a compact and low-profile design with responsive handling characteristics.
The result is a pair of nimble performance sea kayaks—named Ask and Embla—designed over the same template in two sizes. At 16’3”, the smaller Embla suits paddlers from 120 to 200 pounds, while the Ask adds a modest amount of depth and five inches of length to accommodate taller and larger paddlers up to 240 pounds. Released in 2023, both models are available through Norse’s North American dealer network.
Full disclosure: I’m a huge fan of the genre of versatile and playful kayaks Kromann-Andersen is so skilled at designing. A sea kayak that is capable and efficient for multiday tours, yet lively and agile for dancing in waves, current and surf? Yes, please!
Norse Ask on the water
I’ve enjoyed all three of Current Designs’ Danish kayaks, so I’m not surprised when I slip into a Norse Ask and feel an immediate affinity. The Ask paddles like a Kromann-Andersen design, but like any work of art, it’s also beguilingly unique.
For starters, the Embla and Ask are designed around a double hard chine hull—meaning it has two distinct edges between the bottom of the kayak and its side.
“The double hard chine provides secure and well-defined secondary stability, making it effortless to hold the kayak on edge,” explains Kromann-Andersen.
Add forward momentum, and the ability to hold a deep edge translates to responsive carved turns. Tilting the hull, you’re not only shortening the waterline, but also engaging one or both edges of the double chine. The chines act like arced keels to carve the boat with noticeably more oomph than a hull with a softer chine. With no initiation from the paddle, I could weave the Ask through linked turns simply by rocking my hips from side to side.
This allowed Kromann-Andersen to optimize the waterline and rocker for speed without sacrificing maneuverability. Good hull speed makes for easier cruising and longer miles when touring. But it’s just as valuable when playing in the surf, where swift acceleration means I can catch faster-moving waves.
Manufacturing techniques play a critical role in bringing any kayak design to life. Norse builds their kayaks at a dedicated factory in Sri Lanka, using vacuum-infused composites, including a standard fiberglass layup and carbon option.
“Norse has the capability to build very pronounced, hard chines,” says Kromann-Andersen, adding the company uses ultra-high-strength Dyneema fibers to reinforce higher wear areas like the chines and keel.
Above the waterline, the Ask and Embla’s low-profile decks catch very little wind. As a result, tracking is well behaved for such a responsive kayak, and engaging a slight edge—or dropping the adjustable skeg—quickly takes care of any weathercocking.
Both kayaks offer a four-hatch layout, including a centrally fitted day hatch and a deck hatch accessing a small grab bag just in front of the cockpit. There’s ample space behind the bulkheads to pack for a multiday tour.
By combining effortless agility with efficient touring speed, the Ask and Embla reward both experienced rough water paddlers and aspiring novices looking for a playful companion in which to unlock more advanced skills. But don’t take my word for it.
“A kayak’s character and performance is something you have to experience and feel,” says Jesper Kromann-Andersen, “it is hard to do it justice in words.”
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This article was first published in Issue 72 of Paddling Magazine. The Norse Ask is a versatile and playful companion on your next adventure. | Feature photo: Kaydi Pyette
