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Spirit · Surfski · Out of production

Spirit PRS (Performance Racing Ski) / PRS 570

Rotomoulded polyethylene, Australian-made, with factory pop-up rudder. Near-indestructible plastic that flexes under load rather than cracking; wide high-volume tail and high seat/bucket position vs modern carbon skis.

Length
5.67 m
Beam
50 cm
Deck
33.5 cm
Lightest
20.5 kg
Side view unavailable
Top view unavailable
Spirit PRS (Performance Racing Ski) / PRS 570, product shot, PRS on white background
product shot, PRS on white background · spiritpaddle.com.au (Wayback archive)

Specifications

Length
5.67 m
Beam
50 cm
Deck height
33.5 cm (est.)
Category
Surfski
Usually paddled by
Paddlers in chop
New price
A$1,795

Layup weights

Polyethylene20.5 kg

On-water profile

Stability
7–9
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 3 paddler reports and 2 linked sources.

Suits: Dual-purpose ocean/river ski (Avon Descent pedigree); pop-up rudder and thick hull tolerate rocks/shorebreak.

Paddler weight

The estimated sweet spot is 72–83 kg, with a broader estimated guide of 58–87 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

~2008-2018 (WA-made, Osborne Park)

Launched racing at the 2008 Avon Descent. Rotomoulded polyethylene throughout; dims unchanged (5.67m/50cm) across archived 2017-2018 shop pages and 2022-2023 retailer listings.

current (2026)

spiritpaddle.com.au now a parked domain; retailer listings marked 'no longer available'. Brand appears wound down - only secondhand/old stock realistically buyable.

Pros and cons

Pros

  • Very durable rotomoulded hull - shrugs off rocks/shorebreak/rapids
  • Very forgiving to remount
  • Spacious ergonomic bucket suits many sizes
  • Proven Avon Descent pedigree since 2008
  • AU-made, was sold with 5-yr warranty

Cons

  • Heavy (~20-24.5kg) - slower than composite skis of similar width
  • Hull flex bleeds stroke energy on flatwater
  • High seat gives tippier feel than width suggests
  • Brand ceased normal retail - parts/warranty uncertain
  • Overstern rudder less precise than modern understern

What paddlers say

K2N Online Paddle School (2023): more tippy than an Epic V8 Pro of similar width; very forgiving to remount; ~33s/mile slower over 3 miles on flatwater.Reported experience
surfski.info forum (2010): 'The PRS is much quicker and feels more stable than the [older glass] racing ski... at least as quick as my glass spec ski' over a 5km flatwater course.Reported experience
rivermiles/MR340 seller (2016): used PRS 18.6ft/19.6in rotomoulded, kick-up rudder, ~USD 900.Reported experience

Where to buy

The PRS (Performance Racing Ski) / PRS 570 is out of production. You can only buy it second-hand.

Maker closed Spirit is no longer trading. spiritpaddle.com.au is a parked domain that redirects to a lander page. Retailer listings read "no longer available".

Spirit is no longer made, so second-hand is the only option.

New AUD 1,795-1,899 across two AU retailers (2022-2023), both now out of stock. No confirmed current USD channel.

Sources

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