Review Waka Skuxx and Waka Skuxx Deluxe

The story behind the new boat

Parallel to the development of the Waka Stoke, Kenny Mutton - the mastermind behind the Waka fleet - created the first drawings for the Waka Skuxx. It was to be a shorter riverrunner that was just long enough for serious whitewater. When we talked about the Skuxx, there was always talk of the perfect "Zambezi boat", which would also make paddling smaller rivers more interesting and fun due to its playful characteristics. After some consultation with the Waka team, the decision was made to concentrate on bringing the Waka Stoke first to the market and give the Waka Skuxx and Waka Skuxx Deluxe a little more time. Over the last two years, intensive work and tinkering on the design continued. In mid-February 2025, the time had finally come! During Kenny's current visit to Europe, we not only went skiing, but also grabbed the first kayaks that came out of the rotational mold and tested them.

Key data

Test subjects

Bernie Steidl, 173cm, 73kg
Vali Stern, 177cm, 85kg

Performance on white water

Developing a short riverrunner that is also easy to paddle in more difficult white water is probably one of the biggest challenges a boat designer can face. With a length of 245cm, the Skuxx and Skuxx Deluxe fall exactly into this category. And to be honest, we were skeptical as to whether these two boats would glide properly and be fun to paddle. Fortunately, the first test trip dispelled our prejudices. In both boats you have the familiar "Waka feeling". They are very floaty, skip well and are playful and agile to paddle.

Surfing on waves

You will probably notice the biggest difference between other Halfslice kayaks and the Skuxx and Skuxx Deluxe when surfing. Due to the construction of the lower hull, both boats surf very fast, can be spun effortlessly and really "stick" to the wave. Another point that we like: due to the shorter length, you can also surf shorter and steeper waves without constantly catching. Because let's be honest: more than 95% of waves in the Alps are of this type...

Stern Squirting

Finally, another riverrunner that you can balance on the stern! Thanks to the shorter tail, the Waka Skuxx can also be balanced very well on the tail by lighter paddlers when stern squirting. For this to work similarly well with the Skuxx Deluxe, you need to weigh more than 80 kg.

Differences between Skuxx and Skuxx Deluxe

Although there are hardly any differences between the two kayaks at first glance, you can tell that the Waka Skuxx Deluxe has an additional 10 liters of volume in the stern. This makes the Skuxx Deluxe also interesting for heavier paddlers weighing over 90 kg. The main idea behind this design, however, is that this extra volume gives you more air when surfing and performing downriver freestyle moves (such as kickflips, cobra flips or freewheels). So if you have to choose between the two boats, you should think about where your priorities lie and where you want to use it. For a trip to the Zambezi, I (173cm, 73kg) would definitely take the Skuxx Deluxe. For the majority of the Alpine rivers and to Norway, however, I would put the normal Skuxx on the roof of my car.

Conclusion

We are thrilled and convinced that Waka Kayaks has achieved a great success with the Waka Skuxx and Waka Skuxx Deluxe. The two new designs are a lot of fun and give you unimagined opportunities to let off steam on the world's rivers.

Test now

Would you like to see for yourself and test one of the boats? Then send us an e-mail and pick up your test boat from us. With the current temperatures, the Imster Schlucht or Lofer are already very pleasant places to be :-).