Waveski and Kayak

European Championships of Waveski and Surf Kayak Easkey 5–9 Sep 2025

The European Championships of Waveski and Surf Kayak are coming to Ireland! From the 5th-9th September the legendary surf location of Easky in Co. Sligo will play host to the highest level of European Surf Kayak and Waveski competition. Canoeing Ireland are extremely excited to see paddle sports competition of this level on the island of Ireland, and will be supporting the Paddlesurf Ireland Committee in their hosting of this competition.

The European Championships of Waveski and Surf Kayaking is a bi-annual, world-class competition hosted by Paddlesurf Ireland, a subsidiary of Canoeing Ireland, in 2025. This dynamic event will take place on the scenic North West Coast of Ireland, with Easkey, Co. Sligo as the primary contest location. The event, running from the 5th to the 9th of September 2025, will showcase up to 150 competitors from across the globe engaging in the thrilling sport of paddlesurf – a kayaking discipline that merges the excitement of surfing with specialised kayaks and waveskis designed for tackling ocean waves of all sizes.

The event is sanctioned by the World Waveski Surfing Association (WWSA) and the World Surf Kayak Association (WSKA). Results from this championship will contribute to the WWSA ranking for the 2026 World Waveski Surfing Titles and count towards the athletes’ overall world ranking, adding a critical competitive dimension to the championship.

The European Championships will be an open event offering Open Men’s Waveski, HP and IC; Open Women’s Waveski, HP and IC and Open Adaptive Waveski. Age division results will be extracted from the Open classes.

It will bring 100 elite competitors representing countries across Europe and the globe to compete in a unique display of surfing-meets-kayaking.

Sanctioned by the World Waveski Surfing Association (WWSA) and the World Surf Kayak Association (WSKA), performances at Easkey will directly impact athletes’ global standings, contributing to the 2026 World Waveski Surfing Titles ranking.

Waveski Adventurers World Open Invitational Tullan 10-13 Sep 2025

Following on from the European Championships there is another fantastic paddlesurf event of international significance. The Waveski Adventurers World Open Invitational is an exciting event celebrating inclusivity and empowering women in the sports of waveski and kayaksurf. This event aims to showcase and promote women in the sport, and will feature some of the top women in waveski and kayak surf. Find more details from the Paddlesurf committee below –

‘The World Open Invitational is the second event of its kind and will be hosted by Paddlesurf Ireland in conjunction with Waveski Adventurers.

This exciting event will take place along the scenic North West Coast of Ireland, with Bundoran, Co. Donegal, as the main contest location. Running from September 10th to 13th, 2025, it marks the second edition of the event, following its inaugural gathering in Pantin, Spain, in 2023.

With the main aim of the event to showcase and promote women in the sport this event is truely one-of-a-kind!

Building on its success, the event will expand to feature both waveski and surf kayaking for the women’s competition, along with an exclusive Top Riders Men’s Invitational for waveski.’

Big Dream Little Boat

Many of you know that KO’C has been working on a book about my circumnavigation of the Island of Ireland by kayak. Thankfully Liffey Press were in the final stages of publishing same and are presently tidying up loose ends before going to print for a May launch.

It is his best attempt to ‘put you on board’ after navigating his way along the 1750 km of his circumnavigation of Ireland, He invites us to take to the pages and join him on his coastal odyssey. He has done the trip and awaiting final copy from printers.

Profits from this publication are going to the RNLI Irish Lifeboats and Irish Motor Neuron Disease Association in deference to fellow adventurer and friend Adrian Harkin of Inish Adventures, who is suffering from this terrible condition.

Join me on Tues May7th @ 7pm in Skerries Sailing Club for the launch of my book ‘Big Dream Little Boat’ recounting my Circumnavigation of the Island of Ireland by Kayak. KO’S

I got to Kevin’s book launch on Thurs 7 May and got FIVE books signed by Kevin. One for Me, Tony, Joe, Brendan and Kieran and sent them all by Post ASAP and they are an inch thick. Best to get them away to them all so they could have a peek.

Thursday June 13th at 6pm I’ll be talking about my book “Big Dream Little Boat” in Charlie Byrne’s Bookshop, 21 Middle Street Galway H91 H9PD County Galway!! All welcome.

I went down on Train to Galway and arrived around lunchtime and visited some sites but got to bookshop for 18:00 and maybe had a proper chat with Kevin and the lads. A few of us silver surfers old timers were there Tony, Brendan, Kieran, Joe and the elusive Eamon. Kevin recognised me as having at both launches and was impressed with my dedication. It was a SOFT day.

Big Dream, Little Boat by Kevin O’Sullivan is a compelling account of one man’s journey by kayak around the island of Ireland. Battling time, tide and the weather, Big Dream, Little Boat is a compelling account of one man’s journey by kayak around the island of Ireland. Kevin O’Sullivan, an Aer Lingus pilot based in Skerries in north County Dublin, had set himself a mission – to circumnavigate the entire Irish coast – and to get home safely. The only problem was finding a way to do it. With a demanding job and family commitments he decides to break the journey into manageable three- and four-day chunks, leaving his kayak at stages along the way and resuming the adventure when the opportunity arose.

Travelling mainly in the summer months, his expedition takes three years. Along the way he reflects on the fascinating marine life, colourful Irish history, stunning scenery, and in particular on the remarkable people he met on his journey.

He also recounts the many trials he faced, not least of which was his biggest difficulty – chronic seasickness! Despite an attempt to paddle only in good weather, Kevin still encountered some challenging conditions. Unexpected winds and great swells left him digging deep, using all his skills and experience of years of kayaking to survive. In the great Irish tradition of taking care of travellers on the road, he was supported by oftentimes complete strangers who put him up in their homes, fed him and encouraged him along the way. On a journey of soul-searching and deep contemplation, the kindness of strangers helped to renew his faith in humanity.

Kevin O’Sullivan is a recently retired Aer Lingus captain, having previously worked there as an aircraft engineer for ten years. Kevin and his wife Angela live with two adult children in Skerries, County Dublin. This is his first book. Publisher The Liffey Press