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Knysna Racing · Surfski

Knysna Racing Genius RS

Wide (52.5cm), high-volume, forgiving entry hull with a lengthened cockpit for taller paddlers and a 120kg maximum paddler weight. Rounded, very stable cross-section marketed as a 'get in and paddle' ski for people new to ocean paddling.

Length
5.8 m
Beam
52.5 cm
Deck
35 cm
Lightest
12.5 kg
Source image flipped
Source image flipped
Knysna Racing Genius RS, studio side profile (red/white)
studio side profile (red/white) · oceanpaddler.com

Specifications

Length
5.8 m
Beam
52.5 cm
Deck height
35 cm (est.)
Category
Surfski
Usually paddled by
Paddlers in chop
New price
A$2,650

Layup weights

Glass Polyvac17 kg
Glass Epoxy Vacuum13.5 kg
Carbon Epoxy Vacuum12.5 kg

On-water profile

Stability
8–10
Dimension estimateLow confidence
Speed
5

Modelled from published beam, length and deck height. Low confidence. Speed is our rating. Both are given at the hull's own design weight.

These ratings are Surfski Index estimates, worked out from published dimensions, traced hull shapes where we have them, and reviews. They are not supplied by the maker or timed on the water. How a ski feels depends on your weight, skill, set-up and the conditions, so use them to shortlist skis and paddle one before you buy. How we rate.

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

This band is estimated from published dimensions. Qualitative context includes 2 paddler reports and 3 linked sources.

Suits: Flat-water fitness paddling and learning ocean/downwind conditions; a stable step up from a pure beginner ski for developing paddlers, including taller ones

Paddler weight

The estimated sweet spot is 103–120 kg, with a broader estimated guide of 84–120 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.

The upper limit is the maker’s; the lighter end follows the proportions of makers’ own ranges. How this is worked out.

Generations

2017-present

Entry-to-intermediate ski with an extra ~100mm of cockpit length for taller paddlers. Still sold new by dealers (Oceanpaddler AU, kayaks.co.za) though no longer listed on Knysna's current surf-skis page

Pros and cons

Pros

  • Very stable, easy for beginners/improvers
  • Extra cockpit length suits tall paddlers
  • High 120kg paddler capacity; multiple layups

Cons

  • Slow relative to narrower race skis
  • Heavy in Glass Polyvac layup (~17kg)
  • Dropped from brand's current lineup page

What paddlers say

Oceanpaddler product copy: an 'ultimate entry-level surf ski' and a 'get in and paddle' craft for those wanting to join ocean paddling without worrying about keeping it upright (oceanpaddler.com).Reported experience
surfski.info forum threads compare the Genius RS against stable rivals such as the Fenn Bluefin 2 as a beginner/intermediate option (surfski.info forum thread 20429).Reported experience

Where to buy

Knysna Racing Kayaks ↗

Dealers:

Australian Paddle Sports · AU ↗Charger Surf Craft · AU ↗

AUD prices from Oceanpaddler (Australian dealer, 2026): Glass Polyvac 2,650 / Glass Epoxy Vacuum 3,250 / Carbon Epoxy Vacuum 4,000. aud_new shown is the base Glass Polyvac layup. South African retail ~R18,950 at kayaks.co.za.

Sources

BetaRatings are estimatesRatings are estimates. How we get the numbers. Prices checked October 2026, may be out of date.