Icon · Surf lifesaving spec
Icon Hydrus Elite
ILS-legal racing ski at the class limits, 5.79m long and 48cm wide, in ICON's heat-cured VTEK laminate at 15 or 17.5kg. Sold as the sharp end of the Hydrus range for lifesaving competition rather than as an ocean ski.
- Length
- 5.79 m
- Beam
- 48 cm
- Deck
- 33.5 cm
- Lightest
- 15 kg
Specifications
- Length
- 5.79 m
- Beam
- 48 cm
- Deck height
- 33.5 cm (est.)
- Category
- Surf lifesaving spec
- Usually paddled by
- Confident ocean paddlers
- New price
- GBP 2,550
Layup weights
On-water profile
Our estimate from published descriptions and reviews. Low confidence. Speed is our rating. Both are given at the hull's own design weight.
Stability here means how steady the ski feels sitting still on flat water. Where two craft have overlapping ranges, we can't say which is more stable. Downwind handling is a separate thing, covered in the evidence note below.
Evidence note
Suits: Surf lifesaving racing: beach starts, surf zone and buoy turns.
Paddler weight
The estimated sweet spot is 75–87 kg, with a broader estimated guide of 61–90 kg. This estimate is a guide, not a limit. Seat fit, conditions and paddling style matter. Lighter paddlers can still enjoy a larger hull, especially downwind. A test paddle is the best check.
Estimated from hull dimensions using a formula fitted to makers’ own paddler limits. It does not establish the designer’s intended paddler weight. How this is worked out.
Generations
ICON Sports is a UK paddlesport brand whose Hydrus range is built to the ILS lifesaving specification, 5.79m maximum length, 48cm minimum width, using what ICON calls VTEK: vacuum, heat-cured epoxy over a PVC foam core with carbon reinforcement.
Pros and cons
Pros
- Priced openly, which most makers in this class do not do
- Two published layup weights
- Purpose-built to the ILS specification
Cons
- Class-limited hull: nothing here is optimised for downwind
- 15kg is heavy if you are comparing it to ocean skis
- ICON does not explain how it differs from the GMAX
What paddlers say
No independent owner review located as of August 2026.Reported experience
Gallery
Where to buy
We don't have a dealer listed for Icon yet. All makers and dealers.
ICON lists the Hydrus range at £2,550 in the UK. This index holds Australian and US dollars, so the figure you see is converted from sterling and is not a shelf price.