Jack Patel

Surf Ski Paddler / Australian Sprint Kayaker / Ocean Downwind Paddler / Surfer

Jack Patel

born

2008

Nationality

Australian

Disciplines

Surf Ski, Ocean Ski, Sprint Kayaker, Board Paddling

Strengths

Surf Ski, Flatwater Kayak

SKILLS & INTERESTS

Beyond my dedication to surf ski, ocean downwind, sprint kayak, and board paddling, I am an active volunteer on surf lifesaving patrols. Outside of competing, I am a keen surfer who gets out in the water at every opportunity, and I love spending my spare time camping and 4WDing with mates. At school, I am also learning to become a gym coach, which gives me some awesome insights back into my own training and everyday life.

Surf Club

Maroochydore SLSC

testimonial

I have always loved the feel of a BOS ski. The way it punches through the surf is second to none keeping stable without sacrificing any speed. I have tried heaps of brands over the years and nothing quite compares to a BOS ski. I have paddled my BOS ski from the day I started to learn to paddle which is a little over two years now.

Last season was my best one on it. I won the U17 single ski at Queensland Senior State and State Endurance as well as taking bronze in both the single ski and the ski relay at Aussies, and finished 4th overall in the World Ocean Series.

A memorable race for me was the individual ski event at the last Aussies. I got an okay start but ended up having to slot in a couple of ski lengths back to get around the can cleanly. On the way in, I backed myself to find the runners and managed to turn them into a wave.

Reece and Sharon have looked after me since before I was on the team. Reece is easy to talk to and always happy to help if the ski needs work. I love that it is a family business rather than just a brand, and that is a big part of why I wanted to be on a BOS. That, and the fact they build the fastest skis out there.

Achievements

Representative honours

2026 Australian U18 Team, Sprint Kayak, Asia Pacific Championships, New
Zealand
2026 Australian U18 Team, Ocean Racing, International Team, Spain

Surf Lifesaving, Ski (2025/26 season)

1st U17 Single Ski, Queensland Senior State Championships
1st U17 Ski Relay, Queensland Senior State Championships
1st U17 Single Ski, Queensland State Endurance Championships
1st U17 Single Ski, Interbranch Trials
3rd U17 Single Ski, Australian Championships
3rd U17 Ski Relay, Australian Championships
4th overall, World Ocean Series ranking

Ocean Downwind (2025/26 season)

1st Age and 1st Spec Ski, Moreton Bay
1st Overall, Zhik Hervey Bay Ocean Classic
1st Overall, Zhik State Ocean Championships
1st Age and 3rd Spec Ski, Nordic Kayaks Beach to Beach
2nd Overall Spec Ski, Nordic Kayaks Beach to Beach
2nd Age and 2nd Spec Ski, Zhik 14 Beaches
4th, U18, National Ocean Downwind Championships, Tasmania

Sprint Kayak (2025/26 season)

2nd K4 500m, Asia Pacific Championships, New Zealand
4th K1 1000m, Asia Pacific Championships, New Zealand
1st K2 1000m, Australian Sprint Championships
2nd K4 500m, Australian Sprint Championships
3rd K1 1000m, Australian Sprint Championships
1st K2 200m, 2nd K1 200m and 2nd K4 500m, Paddle Queensland
State Championships

Personal Profile

I am 17 and I paddle out of Maroochydore Surf Life Saving Club on the Sunshine Coast.

I started out at the Torquay Surf Lifesaving Club in the under 13s. By the time I moved into the under 14s and 15s, I became much more competitive and started taking the sport seriously. Ahead of the Under 15 Aussies, I made the move to Maroochydore Surf Lifesaving Club and haven’t looked back since. Swimming was never my strong suit, so I initially focused on the craft side to improve my ironman events. However, as my ski paddling progressed, my
focus shifted purely to craft.

The single ski is my main event in the surf, alongside board. Away from the beach I race ocean downwind and flatwater kayak. Most people pick one and stick with it. I like that they feed into each other. Sprint kayak gives me power and a cleaner catch, the longer flatwater racing builds the engine, and downwind teaches you to read water, which is the part you cannot train on a flat course. It also means I am racing most of the year instead of one season.

A normal training week is 10 to 12 sessions across ski, kayak, board, swim, gym and running. Outside of that I surf whenever I can, I work, and I get away camping and beach 4WDing when there is time.

I am going into U19s this year, so I am looking forward to the challenge of taking on the big boys.