About Me
After placing 5th in the world in the 2019 World Surfski League, Austin Kieffer retired from full-time racing and pivoted his focus to his career and the next chapter of his life.
​
Austin previously competed in Whitewater Slalom Kayaking as a member of the US Olympic Development Team building up to the 2008 and 2012 Olympic Games.
​
In 2012, after over a decade of racing Whitewater and finishing his degree at Davidson College, Austin discovered Surfski. A sport most simply described as distance ocean kayaking. Austin found the combination of endurance training and the thrill of technical surfing captivating. He took to it passionately and, just two years later, he had a breakthrough season becoming the 2014 National Champion at the US Surfski Championships.
​
In 2016, Austin turned his attention to the Surfski World League and competed with success at major events across North America, Australia & Asia. Since then, he has placed in the top 5 in many international races around the world and capped off his 2017 season with a podium finish at one of the most prestigious races of the year, the Doctor in Perth, Western Australia. 2019 was an unprecedented season where Austin placed 2nd at the Gorge Downwind Champs and finished the year with a world ranking of 5th in the World Surfski League.
​
​
Contact Me:
