The Penguin Competition is the longest board of the Penguin family. It stands for flawless performance and high speeds when paddling. The extra-long design and high stiffness ensure sporting success.
Attention: This review refers to the Penguin Competition from 2020. Since recently, there is also the 2021 variant, which has some differences in the board and accessories. Under the heading "Innovations 2021" we provide you with a short list of the changes to the new model. Detailed information on the individual points can be found in the highlighted parts in the individual sections! As soon as we have tested the new 2021 version ourselves, the test report will of course be completely revised.
The Penguin Competition is a great race board that meets all criteria advanced paddlers are looking or in a racing paddleboard. Except for a paddle, all accessories are included in the large accessory set. With its extra-long, pointed design, this board reaches high speeds and is a great choice for races and longer tours.
Table of Contents
Short on Time? Here’s the Most Important:
With its extreme length, great stiffness and innovative ultra-lightweight construction, the Penguin Competition offers a modern design. For exciting races, high speeds and eventful tours, this board is exactly the right choice.
The upward-curved, pointed nose and straight rails guarantee good straight-line stability, while the pointed tail ensures agile turning behavior. With a width of 30 inches, this board is especially suitable for advanced paddlers. The large backpack with integrated wheels and other paddle accessories complete the paddle boarding experience.
Innovations 2021 Model:
- New design
- Action-Cam mount (“Mount”) with additional D-ring
- Shoulder strap (attaches to 2 side D-rings)
- Improved carrying comfort of the backpack
- Fin with pin (conversion to click fin)
The Penguin Competition Review in Detail
In the following article you will learn everything about the Penguin Competition. I will introduce you to the competition-ready racing board and the included accessories in detail.
I have answered some common questions that came up during my research right at the end of the article.
I’m happy to answer any other questions you may have, just post them below in the comments.
Product Specifications
| Board Type | Inflatable |
| Brand | Penguin |
| Skill | Advanced |
| Price Category | High-priced |
| Area of Application | Touring / Race |
| Max. Paddler Weight | 90-100 kg (200-220 lbs) |
| Length | 427 cm (14′) |
| Width | 76 cm (30″) |
| Thickness | 15 cm (6″) |
| Volume | 265 Liter |
| Weight | 12.17 kg (27 lbs) | 2021: 11.5 kg (25 lbs) |
| Accessories | backpack trolley, switchable double stroke air pump with pressure indicator, coiled leash, single fin (US box system), repair kit incl. valve key, 2021: shoulder strap + fin pin |
Construction
The elongated construction of the Penguin Competition is immediately noticeable. With 14 ft in length, this board is over a meter longer than a conventional allrounder. Accordingly, the Penguin Competition shows very professional performance.
The pointed nose curves slightly upwards and thus literally glides over the water. The straight rails provide a high tracking and a perfect straight line.
This makes it easy to reach high speeds when paddling. However, due to the pin tail design and only one centrally mounted fin, turns are also particularly easy to execute.
The width of only 30 inches also supports the fast ride on the water. Beginners, however, might have a hard time keeping their balance on this board. For them, allrounder boards with greater tipping stability are much better suited.
Compared to other racing boards, however, the Penguin Competition offers a very high level of stability due to its large volume and extreme stiffness. Also, the thickness of 6 inches, which is now standard for inflatable paddle boards, makes the board very stable.
Load Capacity
For the Penguin Competition, the manufacturer indicates a load capacity of 243 lbs. Since you also want to carry extensive equipment on longer paddle tours, the paddler should only have an average body weight. With drinks, food and wet clothing, a few extra lbs quickly add up.
Areas of Application and Driving Characteristics
The Penguin Competition is primarily designed for speed. With its slim design, it is suitable for racing, for long tours and for extensive training sessions. As a racing board, the Penguin also scores in competitions. Advanced paddlers can look forward to a professional riding experience with this board.
For beginners, however, the Penguin Competition is less suitable, for the entry into the paddle world you are better advised with an allround board. Also for trips in white water or big waves you need a board that fits these special requirements.
Weight
The Penguin Competition impresses with its modern ultra-lightweight construction thanks to innovative “Fusion Carbon Hybrid” technology. At only 12.17 kg (27 lbs), it is still relatively light in relation to its extreme length.
2021 Board: Due to the revised material structure, the Penguin Competition in the 2021 version weighs only 11.5 kg (25 lbs)
The Penguin Competition is a great race board that meets all criteria advanced paddlers are looking or in a racing paddleboard. Except for a paddle, all accessories are included in the large accessory set. With its extra-long, pointed design, this board reaches high speeds and is a great choice for races and longer tours.
Material
A big plus point of the Penguin Competition is the high-quality material and the outstanding workmanship. Of course, the quality also has its price, but the investment is definitely worth it.
Thanks to the innovative ultra-lightweight construction and the new “Fusion Carbon Hybrid” technology, the Penguin Competition board has extreme stiffness. The board was constructed using the single layer dropstitch method. Additional longitudinal struts on the top and bottom make the board even more stable.
The two superimposed rails with a carbon reinforcement in between and another reinforcement also support the stability of the board. The outer rail not only looks visually beautiful with its chic print, it also protects the board from abrasion caused by obstacles in the water or by paddle strokes.
Athletes will enjoy the durable, robust quality for a long time. The Penguin Competition can be inflated with a pressure of 15 PSI. The diamond-milled, large-area deck pad provides non-slip footing even when wet.
The Penguin Competition comes with a removable central fin that conforms to the US box system. With a few tools and little time it can be attached during the assembly of the board.
Matching this fin system, there are many fins on the market, so that you can still make an individual fine tuning later on the board. Especially in the pro area, this is of great importance.
2021 Board: The new version comes with a small fin pin that converts the single fin into a comfortable click fin in seconds.
Design and Workmanship
The trendy color design with different shades of blue makes the Penguin Competition a great eye-catcher on the water. Black and white contrast stripes on the nose and orange accents on the tail create a sporty look.
Chic lettering with the Penguin logo provide a fantastic look on the top and bottom as well as on the rails. The black carry handle and white fin round out the design.
Design 2021: The design of the 2021 model has been completely revised. Penguin now relies on a combination of 2 turquoise tones and a yellow tone, which is used in the tail area. The eye-catcher of the topside, besides the sporty stripe pattern on the nose, is above all the redesigned deckpad. The footprint is now adorned by 2 lateral waves and the "P" has been significantly enlarged and moved to the rear. The yellow tail adds further accents. The sides are designed in a lighter shade and provide information about all details of the board and the manufacturer. The turquoise tread is also yellow at the rear. The central stringer (reinforcement strip) stands out in color and is, in addition to the Penguin lettering, also a visual highlight. Overall, a very sporty and yet harmonious design.
Other Features
- Deckpad: The top of the Competition is covered with an EVA deckpad. The EVA deckpad is a special coating that ensures a secure stand on the board even when wet. In this case, it is a standing surface with a diamond embossing. This provides a particularly good grip on the board.
- Luggage Net: An extra-large luggage net is stretched between six D-rings at the bow. Here, extensive equipment or a large drybag can be easily accommodated.
- Free D-ring: The included leash is best attached to the single D-ring at the stern. Directly in front of it is the valve for inflation.
- Central Carrying Strap: The board can be easily carried from land to water on the chic carrying handle with logo lettering. If you do fall off the board during training, you can easily grab the board by this handle. However, you won’t find any other handles or loops on the Penguin Competition.
For the Penguin Competition 2021, the following features are brand new additions:
- Action Cam Mount: a GoPro or other compatible action cam can be attached to the matching mount on the nose. So in the future you can capture your adventures in the form of pictures and videos.
- A Total of 3 Additional D-rings: The board now has 2 smaller, side D-rings for attaching the included carrying strap. Another copy is located on the action cam mount, on which you can tie the board, for example, during a break.
- Fin Pin: With this small pin you can change the single fin in no time into a click fin.
The Penguin Competition is a great race board that meets all criteria advanced paddlers are looking or in a racing paddleboard. Except for a paddle, all accessories are included in the large accessory set. With its extra-long, pointed design, this board reaches high speeds and is a great choice for races and longer tours.
Accessories
The Penguin Competition also scores with its high quality accessories. The following components are included in the set:
- Penguin Competition Backpack: The absolute highlight in this paddle boarding set is the large backpack, which can also be pulled like a trolley on the wheels on the bottom. This makes it easy to transport the Penguin Competition over longer distances. If the road is too bumpy to roll, the backpack can of course also be carried conventionally on the back.
Padded shoulder straps with an additional strap on the chest and hips as well as the padded back ensure maximum comfort.
The rolled up board and the rest of the equipment fit into this bag, and there is also a small luggage net on the outside. Also visually convincing the backpack, just like the board, with trendy blue tones and orange contrasts.
- Penguin Competition Double Action air pump: The double action pump offers the advantage that it pumps air into the board both when pushing down and when pulling up.
Especially in the first two thirds of the inflation time you save time and valuable power for the competition. The integrated barometer allows you to check the air pressure at any time.
- Penguin Competition Leash: In the Pro area, a leash is indispensable. It can be attached to the ankle or calf and, thanks to the modern coil leash shape, only expands when falling into the water.
- Penguin Competition removable fin: The removable central fin in the US-Box system is quickly mounted. To match this system, many other fins are available on the market, with which you can give the board the final touch.
- Penguin Competition Repair Kit: This practical kit should not be missing on any tour. Small damages can be easily repaired with it. The Penguin Competition kit does not include a paddle boarding paddle.
This is not a big problem, because this board is aimed at advanced athletes who certainly already have their own paddle. Otherwise, the purchase of a high-quality paddle will of course incur additional costs.
2021 Newly added or revised accessories:
- Penguin Competition paddle board Backpack Trolley: The carrying comfort of the already very good paddle board backpack has been revised again in the 2021. The back section and the wide, adjustable carrying straps as well as the hip belt are now even more comfortably padded.
- Penguin Competition Shoulder Strap: With this well-padded, adjustable shoulder strap (incl. 4 plastic D-rings) you can easily hang the board over your shoulder. All you have to do is attach the plastic hook fasteners to the two side D-rings on the board.
- Penguin Competition Fin Pin: With the 2021 model, you can use an innovative fin pin to turn the single fin into a click fin and attach it to the US box in seconds, so you are ready to go much faster.
FAQ – Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Penguin Competition also suitable for beginners?
The Penguin Competition is an advanced board and is not suitable for beginners. Learn more about the Penguin Competition.
How long does it take to inflate the Penguin Competition?
The Penguin Competition can be inflated within 5-7 minutes with the included pump. Learn more about the Penguin Competition.
Is it possible to ride the Penguin Competition in waves?
The Penguin Competition is designed for high speeds, you can only ride it in waves to a very limited extent. Learn more about the Penguin Competition.
Conclusion
The Penguin Competition is a professional, competition-ready board that meets sporting demands. Except for a paddle, all accessories are included in the large accessory set.
With its extra-long, pointed design, this board reaches high speeds and is therefore suitable for races, competitions and longer tours. The Penguin Competition is also popular for training. The board is not quite cheap, but with the high quality, the price can be described as very fair.
Addition 2021 Model: The high-quality material construction (Fusion technology + carbon rails + stringers) has been proven for years and is also used in the 2021 model. The newly added features and the revised accessories (action cam mount, shoulder strap, fin pin, improved backpack trolley) are very well thought out and increase the quality of the new complete set again significantly.
The Penguin Competition is a great race board that meets all criteria advanced paddlers are looking or in a racing paddleboard. Except for a paddle, all accessories are included in the large accessory set. With its extra-long, pointed design, this board reaches high speeds and is a great choice for races and longer tours.
