Nordic Kayaks · Surfski
Nordic Kayaks Squall 580
Medium-volume 49cm fitness hull with a pronounced side cutout at the catch, so effective paddling width feels narrower than the beam suggests. The 5.80m long-cockpit hull carries more waterline than the 540, trading a little agility for glide, and Nordic's own dimensions give it a 41cm seat and a 165-200cm+ fit.
- Length
- 5.8 m
- Beam
- 49 cm
- Deck
- 33.5 cm
- Lightest
- 8.5 kg
Specifications
- Length
- 5.8 m
- Beam
- 49 cm
- Deck height
- 33.5 cm (est.)
- Category
- Surfski
- Skill level
- intermediate
- New price
- A$6,695
Layup weights
On-water profile
Both scores are rated at the hull's own design weight. How these are derived.
Suits: Fitness paddling, flatwater to moderate ocean chop, downwind runs for taller or heavier paddlers
Paddler weight
This hull is built around a paddler of about 93 kg. It stays workable from 82 kg to 99 kg, and sits at its best between 87 kg and 95 kg.
Derived from published hull dimensions and calibrated against manufacturer paddler limits, not taken from a marketing range. The method, in full.
Generations
Long-cockpit (580) variant of the Squall fitness platform, for paddlers roughly 165-200cm and over 65kg; the 540 is the short-cockpit sibling on the same 49cm beam.
What works, and what it costs you
What works
- More glide than the 540 without giving up the Squall stability profile
- Side cutout gives a clean, narrow-feeling catch at 49cm beam
- Long cockpit genuinely fits taller paddlers
- Same light ProLine layup range as the race boats
Trade-offs
- Carbon-only pricing is steep for an intermediate ski
- Less manoeuvrable than the 540 in tight, steep runs
- Less stable than wide beginner skis like the Exrcize or Flow
- Thin second-hand market in Australia
What paddlers say
Nordic Kayaks copy: 'The Squall 580 has the long cockpit and fits paddlers from 165cm to approx. 200cm and more', on a hull they describe as 'a stable fitness ski, fast and fun with great responsiveness in waves' (nordickayaks.com).Reported experience
Gallery
Where to buy
No mapped dealer for Nordic Kayaks yet. Every maker and market we cover.
AUD is the top CarbonX layup from Pro Kayaks (AU dealer, 2026); CarbonLite A$6,095 and Carbon Composite A$5,095. Direct EUR from nordickayaks.com runs EUR3,595 (CarbonComp) to EUR4,595 (Carbon X). No official USD price.
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