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
Specifications
- Length
- 5.67 m
- Beam
- 50 cm
- Deck height
- 33.5 cm (est.)
- Category
- Surfski
- Skill level
- intermediate
- New price
- A$1,795
Layup weights
On-water profile
Both scores are rated at the hull's own design weight. How these are derived.
Suits: Dual-purpose ocean/river ski (Avon Descent pedigree); pop-up rudder and thick hull tolerate rocks/shorebreak.
Paddler weight
This hull is built around a paddler of about 81 kg. It stays workable from 71 kg to 86 kg, and sits at its best between 75 kg and 83 kg.
Derived from published hull dimensions and calibrated against manufacturer paddler limits, not taken from a marketing range. The method, in full.
Generations
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.
spiritpaddle.com.au now a parked domain; retailer listings marked 'no longer available'. Brand appears wound down - only secondhand/old stock realistically buyable.
What works, and what it costs you
What works
- 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
Trade-offs
- 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
Gallery
Where to buy
The PRS (Performance Racing Ski) / PRS 570 is out of production. It turns up on the second-hand market; there is no new-boat channel for it.
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".
Nobody sells Spirit new. The second-hand market is the only channel.
New AUD 1,795-1,899 across two AU retailers (2022-2023), both now out of stock. No confirmed current USD channel.
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