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18
Nov

Rondu Round 2 in the ReactR

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By this point, most people will probably have heard something about the infamous Rondu Gorge on the Indus River in Gilgit-Baltistan, the northern part of Pakistan, bordering China.

The Indus is renowned as one of the most challenging rivers you can do in a kayak; every lap from any paddler has created wild stories of big lines they’ve seen, random things that have happened, or big surfs at some point during a decent.

This wasn’t my first time on the Indus; Bren and I had the chance to hop on a spontaneous trip with friends back in 2017. It was super fun, and we got to paddle the Rondu Gorge. Still, it had a mix of weird water levels, sickness, a freshly thrown-together group that hadn’t paddled together before, rockfalls due to road blasts, and many other issues- it never felt like I had “checked off” the Rondu Gorge. It was always a strong case of “unfinished business.”

I have been trying to put together a trip back to the Indus for around two years now, yet every winter, there was another reason why it would be a lot better to push the trip back another season and another season; eventually, I was over it. This year, I told myself I’d return to the Indus no matter what; worst case, I’d go for a solo lap. Luckily, it never came to that since Eirik Hansen and I got talking after a shared lap together on the Myrkdalselva in Norway this summer. He also mentioned a strong interest in returning to Rondu, having encountered challenges similar to mine on his prior trip.

The idea was there! Next up was Eirik, who sent a four-line long email to our contact in Pakistan, Ali from Golden Peaks, who has been taking kayakers into Rondu with exceptional service since 2016 and, by now, has it figured out. Logistics recently changed significantly in the Indus Valley; having a fully built highway compared to a narrow, bouncy dirt road changes things, and you can now make the drive from Gilgit to Skardu in 4 hours, instead of 18.

After Ali got back to us with an extended travel itinerary and more, all that was needed was to spread the word amongst friends who might be interested in joining, buy some flights to Pakistan, and see who else was up for it.

With that tactic at hand, we quickly ended up with an amazing group of great friends who all had regularly paddled together and had similar aspirations as to why we would want to return to the Rondu Gorge.

Before going to Pakistan, I thought quite a bit about which boat to take; in my head, I had already made up my mind. I am so stoked about everything the ReactR does on the water; I trust this kayak more than any other when it comes to stability, predictability, and keeping my bow dry over things; the way it engages with the water is unique.

Shouldn’t I be looking for a boat with maximum volume for such a powerful and steep river like the Indus? I personally don’t think so, and never have. Having spent so much time in half-slice designs before, I can fully appreciate their benefits over traditional, full-sized creekers in how they interact with the water.

Saying that, every half-slice kayak has its limitations and doesn’t perform at peak potential levels in certain types of whitewater – and this is where the ReactR slots in for me.

When the river gets big and pushy, of course you want to float over as many things as possible to be stylish and conserve energy.

At the same time, you don’t want a kayak that is so big and bulky that it can get grabbed and thrown around or spun out by every wave hitting you from the side; there are quite a few at times.

Coming into this type of whitewater in the ReactR, which is so floaty, stable over boils, and moving through currents, it was just incredible to be the pilot of this kayak; that’s honestly the closest I can describe the feeling of paddling this boat.

Being able to use the breaking top of waves as a launch pad to pull yourself over, generate air time, throw in a little whip, land on an edge to move towards the next feature, throw a quick hip flick to get yourself around a hole, move around to the next wave, and line up the feature downstream – the ReactR moves very much in a Flow State type of way. I am someone who can appreciate this highly, simply loving kayaking for what it is in this design! A very unique, creative, and, most importantly, super fun way to interact with whitewater!

Often, I challenged myself on this trip, asking myself before the rapids which ideal kayak I’d be in right now for different specific features and lines to take. The ReactR always came out on top. Whether big ferries, consequential boofs over gnarly holes, or just a beautiful wave train with potential for flips, whips, and surfs, I was always in my favourite kayak for every moment on the Indus.

Undoubtedly, this helped inspire me to go and run big lines out on this Rondu lap.

After arriving at the takeout seven days after putting it on, I can now happily tell myself that “business is finished” on the Rondu. I’m sure I will return to this incredible section of river again, but this trip was the one where I pushed myself the hardest, and I was just so thankful to be in a kayak which allowed me to do exactly that.

Thank you, Pyranha, for coming up with such an incredible kayak! Everyone who has not tried one yet, I can only highly encourage you to test the boat and feel the difference for yourself!

Cheers, and see you on a river,

Adrian

All Pictures © David Sodomka: https://www.davidsodomka.com

Pakistan: The Indus River – full edit here:

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16
Nov

GuiGui-Prod x Pyranha Helectron: Less Time Reacting, More Time Acting

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Pyranha Kayaks is delighted to have partnered with GuiGui-Prod to do maximum, plastic-based justice to their next-generation freestyle design, the Helectron.

In GuiGui-Prod’s words, “It has been way too long since GuiGui-Prod unveiled a new freestyle machine. We are beyond stoked to be able to say the wait is finally over, and believe us, it has been worth it.” For us here at Pyranha, the wait has been even longer… It’s been over a decade, in fact, since the Jed was released, and yet, the wait has still been more than worth it.

This absolute weapon of a freestyle kayak takes your breath away, even before you paddle it. The Helectron looks sharp, sleek, sexy, and sporty. It practically begs you to get it on the water, whether that’s a man-made course, a natural river, a tidal surf spot, or even just a flatwater session.

The Helectron’s development aimed to retain the tried, tested, and perfected features of GuiGui’s previous design, the Helixir, while improving upon the features which still had potential to be improved – a difficult brief, hence the wait!

Finally, after five prototypes, almost a year and a half of relentless development, and testing which took place on waves and in holes across Europe, the Helectron is here to put a fresh spark of energy in your freestyle game.

So what’s new? Let’s give you a quick walkthrough:

1. The first thing you will notice about the Helectron is that the shape of the bow has changed from a round to a more squared design. This change makes it easier for you to maintain control when plugging in powerful holes. The squared bow also helps the boat pop out of the rotation of McNasties and Phoenixes straighter, ensuring you land those tricks within scoring angles. The new distribution of the volume on the bow combined with this squared design means you won’t need to be David McClure to be able to go both clean and huge on your loop tricks.

2. The second thing about the Helectron which stands out is the sexy stern. A lot of volume has been added to the tip of the back end, making the kayak a lot more reactive on tricks like the Lunar Orbit and the Tricky Woo – expect judges to start having to give a lot more air bonuses on these! The idea for giving extra pop to Lunars and Trickies is to allow you to drive the bow deep and turn these tricks into big, aerial trophy moves by jumping out of them with huge loops. Even though the Helectron appears to be less slicey than the Helixir, you’ll be surprised to see how easy it is to go clean on your warm-up, flat-water cartwheels. It slices through water like a white-hot knife through warm butter!

3. When you look at the hull of the Helectron, two elements will stand out compared to the Helixir series; the Helectron has a sick hull with a primary edge inspired by the epic, high-performance wave design of the Helixir 2013, and a secondary edge which will only come into play when leaning hard over your edges looking for big, inverted wave moves, surfing steep green waves, and slaying wave combos.

The simplicity and minimalism of the hull design mean the boat is looser than ever and can grind even the smaller green waves.

4. Stern Boosters – this is what we’ve called the new features under the stern of the kayak. The idea behind these boosters is to keep the kayak’s bow down when surfing forward while keeping the speed and making big bounces and Ollies easy. The boosters also help the rails maintain the kayak’s trajectory when tracing a diagonal from the foam pile to the shoulder of the wave, ensuring maximum speed and control at the moment of take-off.

The Helectron is the next natural step in GuiGui-Prod’s hero journey to design and manufacture the best freestyle kayaking weapons on Earth. It will help you get more proactive in your freestyle kayaking and spend less time reacting, and more time acting.

This is Elite

The GuiGui-Prod x Pyranha Kayaks Helectron comes with Pyranha’s new Elite outfitting system, which has been redesigned from the hull up to give you optimal control of the Helectron throughout dynamic moves and hit combo after combo with less fatigue.

The Elite Outfitting System allows you to:

–          Fine-tune your seat position on the fly for optimal balance.

–          Quickly and reliably lock in your backrest with the next-generation cleat setup.

–          Get a grip with our 3-way adjustable hooker thigh grips.

–          Enjoy long rides in the comfy-cosy padded seat and matching, extra-wide backrest.

–          Comfortably shoulder the kayak and run back up for another ride thanks to the cockpit rim pads.

Pyranha Kayaks – By Enthusiasts, For Enthusiasts

Pyranha is unique in its position as an independent manufacturer, with a team of enthusiasts handling everything from start to finish, and five decades of laser-focussed plastic compound and rotomoulding technology development and experience. We specifically and exclusively aim solely to produce market-leading canoes and kayaks – we might mess around in boats, but we don’t mess around when we’re making them.

GuiGui-Prod – Builders of State-of-the-Art Freestyle Kayaks

Guillaume “GuiGui” Respaud started off building custom composite slalom boats for a renowned French brand and crafting his own passion-project freestyle designs in whatever spare time he could find in between. Soon, he’d built a workshop behind his house in Southern France, and his designs had become widely renowned for their innovation and sturdy construction, and Guillaume’s passion project went full-time as “GuiGui-Prod”!

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13
Nov

Midnight Sun Festival: Uniting Paddlers in Iceland’s Wild Terrain

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Iceland, you don’t just go to see it. You don’t just go to look at and take pictures of its waterfalls, landscapes, and surrounding rugged coastlines. You go to Iceland to breathe the fresh air, even if you are left breath taken. You go to feel the continuous wind on your face and float with the freezing yet beautifully deep-blue glacial icebergs. You go to learn from the steaming terrain of the lava fields and experience the erupting spray from waterfalls falling from the heavens. This isn’t just the land of fire and ice, this is a connection to a savage and rugged wilderness like no other.

For whitewater kayakers, Iceland, enriched in history, is a famous dreamland filled with enormous park-and-huck waterfalls and deep crumbling canyons. For adventurers, the whole country is full of undiscovered opportunities, from vast glaciers to multiple oceans. But take it from me: a trip here will be no walk in the park!

We landed in Reykjavik and collected our kayaks. Myself, Oli Cooper, and Andy Kettlewell immediately rallied north to make the most of the water levels and get some paddling in for a few days before meeting the rest of the team. Harry Sheerer, Piers Oliphant, and John Haines would all be flying in a few days later. Tired after a full day of travelling, our first paddle strokes in Iceland were on the lip of Reykjafoss. This famous waterfall, with a natural hot pool at the top, has a 10ft boof onto a ledge where it falls away another 30ft. Paddling this really set the standards for the trip and what was to come.

Making Viking Rafting our home for a couple of nights and meeting Canadian paddlers Andrew Oxley and Yann Gelinas, we quickly got into the Austari Jokulsa (East glacial river), a stunning canyon and the perfect way to get dialled into my ReactR.

Up next was a dream of mine, Aldjayerfoss. This waterfall, standing at 66ft, is big, powerful, and has a mega cool lead-in. Controlling the mind is the most important aspect of running this insanely unique waterfall. Calm, collected, focused, and ready, I snapped on my spray deck and trusted my line and every planned stroke. At the bottom, I couldn’t have been more stoked; even with a broken nose from a kiss with my paddle, the landing felt pretty soft. I nailed my plan, and what was even better, the boys nailed the media! What you don’t see on cameras, however, is the swarm of flies; when the adrenaline wears off, they sure get irritating.

Leaving Andrew and Yann, we headed south to collect John and visited some erupted volcanos and mental lava fields before hitting our next highlight. The Markarfljotsgljufur canyon. To get to the put-on is an adventure by itself; you drive along a rough 4×4 road, the road stops, and you keep driving. Eventually, over a mountain pass, into what feels like the remotest place on the planet with 4G. There are two ways into this magnificent crack in the earth: you either paddle a 60ft waterfall with a deadly cave on the right, or you take the route we did. Abseiling in below it, battered by spray, rocks falling as the ropes dragged across them. Saying I was nervous would be one way to word it. Paddling the 8km through here was exceptional. Water falling from either side, high levels left us with some bigger rapids, but mostly class-fun whitewater.

Following the South coast to the East, we continued with more kayaking, glacier and touristy stops, and all-round good times with the lads on the road. However, a lack of warmth, travelling, and camping life was slowly getting to me; tiredness was hitting pretty hard mid-way into the trip, but with the right crew, motivation is always possible. One of the next highlights for me was the Fossa. Team Wales and the Quebec boys reunited again, and everything was being thrown down. The Fossa, not needing much introduction, is probably one of the most well-known waterfall runs in the country; multiple clean pool drops and epic scenery bring out a special feel. Reindeer running past, cobra flips, and crystal clear water. Need I say more?

In the East, we found a beautiful cascading series of falls, running directly from a snow-capped mountaintop to a fjord in what felt like a few miles. In the middle of this stunning cascade was a 25-foot drop into a shallow pool with a manky runoff. It looked so good to go with the most amazing backdrop. Setting safety and camera positioning, one by one, we all paddled it, later finding out no one seemed to know anything about it, so potentially, and by accident, bagging ourselves a first descent.

We ended our tour of Iceland at Viking Rafting and the weekend of the midnight sun festival. Every Icelandic paddler came out and got involved. This event is so different to anything I’ve taken part in before. The never-ending daylight meant being on the river at midnight seemed normal, although getting back to camp at 3 am was a little confusing. The following morning is race day, and everyone, fully sleep-deprived, gets kitted up and takes to the ramp. The evening full of joy with prize giving and dancing left us even more tired the following day, ready for the long journey home.

Words by Lyndon Williams, Photos by John Haines.

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29
Oct

Izzi Fryer of UoB Canoe Reviews the Ripper 2 Small

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Hey everyone, my name’s Izzi and I’m a 21-year-old university student.  I’m entering my third year of paddling, and since I started as a complete beginner, I’ve conquered grade 3+ rivers and am becoming increasingly comfortable on grade 4 features. Last year, I made the informed decision to upgrade my kayak. Having previously paddled safer, more forgiving kayaks such as the Dagger GT and Wavesport Diesel, the Ripper 2 seemed like the perfect boat to support my kayaking progression.

The Ripper 2 in action on the Durance slalom course in the Alps

The first thing to note is she is speeeeeeeeeedy. It’s hard to believe that such a heavy boat can be so agile on the water but, truly, this thing is FAST. The substantial rocker and sharp edges allow it to glide across the water and cut into eddies with ease, making life a lot easier as I’m often finding eddy size is inversely proportional to river grade!

On the topic of the high-volume front, the small Ripper 2 punches through big wave trains with no issues. A recent trip I was on with the University of Bristol Canoe Club to the Alps proved just that. The Alpine rivers were wide, big, and bouncy. A standout river was the Drac. It was a perfect mix of long, bouncy wave trains and hole minefields which required a bit of extra concentration to navigate. The boat carved round these easily and looked comfortable on the big rapids. That being said, there were a few river-wide holes that proved an issue… is what I would’ve said if I wasn’t in a Ripper! With the help of a boof, she charged through and kept my hair (relatively) dry.

In true half-slice nature, it would be rude not to mention the Ripper 2’s slicy tail. Its low-volume back always adds a bit of extra spice to any river trip. When I first started paddling the Ripper 2, I often found the tail catching on eddylines and testing my bracing skills! That is one thing I would emphasise about this boat: It kicks out bad habits! The possibility of the tail catching or the fact it’s a tad more unstable than your average creeker means you have to focus more on your paddling technique. But that’s not a bad thing! Although it takes a bit of getting used to, I have become a better paddler because of its unforgiving nature.

Another thing I love about this boat is how playful it is. Its planing hull makes it a dream to surf and the slicy tail makes tailying so easy! Its ability to power through big and difficult water whilst adding an element of fun to each paddle is what makes this boat so unique. I would definitely recommend the Ripper 2 to anyone who’s just getting into paddling as it’s so versatile! Not to say that experienced paddlers wouldn’t enjoy this too; I’ve seen this thing send some pretty gnarly stuff without problem!

As a smaller paddler, I appreciate a half slice that can correctly outfit me without too many alterations, because there are not many on the market. Overall, the Ripper 2 is a great boat for a uni student like me, who can only really have one boat at a time.

Best,
Izzi

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15
Jul

Season Starter in Valsesia

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You only get one chance to start your season, and this year, the flows were calling for a trip to Val Sesia in Italy. I’ve been to this valley a couple of times in past seasons, and 2023 provided some amazing days on the river, from cruising laps on the Egua to paddling numerous laps on the Landwasser waterfall. Although I had already experienced high and low flows, there was always one section left to be done: The Sorba, better known for the infamous Devil’s Slide.

In 2023, we tried to paddle the two lead-up waterfalls and then decide on the slide once we were there, but we were quickly turned around when there was way more water than what was needed, leaving us hiking our boats back up the steep cliff face. Which brings us to this season.

📷: John Haines

John and I left our home in Ötztal because of the cold weather and snow to head over to Val Sesia, hoping for warmer weather and better flows. However, we were met with the same snow-capped mountains and cold weather. That did not stop us from putting on our gear and heading to the river. After all, I had my new ReactR to try. As the levels were fairly low, we decided to go down the Lower Sermenza for a warm-up before deciding what to do for the rest of the day. After getting off a fun lap, we decided to head up to the Devil’s Slide and check it out.

The flows looked good, so we geared up a little bit upstream from the first waterfall and headed down to see what we could get. We paddled roughly 20 minutes down some fun smaller rapids before approaching the start of the waterfalls.

The first waterfall is a 5-meter drop with a slightly tricky lead-in. You have to slide down a narrow chute while keeping your bow straight so that you can line up the main part of the drop, which makes a sharp 90-degree turn. You have to make sure your bow gets up and above the pile made by the wall, turn your boat, and keep it balanced all at the same time—a lot to figure out in a short amount of time! Fortunately, we all had a good line down it, so it was now on to the second drop.

📷: John Haines

The second waterfall is definitely the easiest of the three; a beautiful 4-meter drop with a clean lead-in. As long as you land facing right, you will skip away and into the pool above the Devil’s Slide. After everyone successfully made it to the bottom of the first two drops, we got out and started to make a plan about the best way to run the slide.

📷: John Haines

What makes the slide difficult is that roughly three-quarters of the way down, there is a hole with a pocket on the left side. After clearing the hole, it falls down to the right into a wall where Paul managed to get himself pinned last year. Luckily, he used his intuition to free himself and carry on down the slide to the pool at the bottom. After some discussion, the safety plan was made. We would run it in pairs while the others set safety above the pocket and grabbed the camera to film.

Alec and Bren went first. Alec had a super clean line through, and Bren got a little caught up in the pocket but saved it and finished the slide backwards. Now, it was time for Paul and me to get ready. One last look and a quick warm-up of the shoulders, and I was ready for it. A slide that I had been wanting to paddle for the last 3 years was right in front of me. The first reconnect sent me up in the air and slightly sideways, but I managed to hold on to it. I cleared the hole and dropped into the last part to see it through to the pool at the bottom. I was stoked! Now it was Paul’s turn for redemption, and he got it with one of the cleanest lines I have seen down it!

📷: Marco Guidi

With all four of us at the bottom, we could all share the excitement that we had successfully paddled all three drops of the section. We then waited for the rest of the crew to walk around the slide and meet us at the bottom. Once we were all together, we continued our way down the river to the take-out, enjoying every little move we could find and concluding that this was a great way to start the season!

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15
Jul

Navigating Fear and Gaining Confidence as a Smaller Paddler

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It is completely normal to encounter fear when pushing yourself outside of your comfort zone. In a sport like kayaking, there are many unpredictable aspects and, let’s face it, a lot of risk, too. I had always been scared to push myself outside of my comfort zone, and often quit when I felt intimidated. When I took up kayaking, I was adamant that I would not let fear hold me back, but this promise to myself became more challenging than anticipated.

Photo taken in Galway during Galway Fest. Tim McCarthy is the paddler on the left.

I spent many a sleepless night pretending to be excited about how much rain was falling and how thrilled I was to see our local spot in flood when, deep down, I was scared. I often spent longer than I should in eddies psyching myself up to run a rapid, one I had done many times before, one I was more than capable of running, and one I knew better than most on the river, but for some reason, I couldn’t bring myself to do it.

I longed for the thrill of running steeper whitewater and more technical rapids, but something was always holding me back.

This photo was taken on our second Cork City navigation during our 24-hour Paddle, which raised over €10,000 for charity. 

I used to complain about how slow my boats were, how my legs were going numb or how my elbows kept hitting the cockpit. “A good tradesman never blames his tools!” is the response I would continue to get. I often felt like I was fighting a losing battle. I felt like no matter how carefully I put in my paddle strokes, I would lose control and get pushed off my line, end up capsizing or end up side-surfing a hole. These experiences, unfortunately, knocked my confidence and allowed fear to take over. I knew that something was not right; I could not explain it, but I knew I did not feel content in my boat.

In hindsight, the boat I was paddling was not suitable for me; it did not complement my paddling style. It was too slow, difficult to manoeuvre and change edges, and difficult to plant my paddle without hitting my elbows off the cockpit. I reflected on the promise I made to myself when I commenced my journey and decided I would not give up, so I began searching for my dream boat, one for a small paddler who likes to push the limits.

This photo was taken during Galway Fest, and the photographer was Charlotte from Cha Fitz Photography

Choosing the right boat as a smaller paddler was proving quite difficult. I spoke to lots of small paddlers within the community, and unfortunately, I was not alone. It was a struggle to find a boat that I thoroughly enjoyed paddling while being comfortable and confident. The boats I was used to paddling often felt like I was paddling in a bathtub, with no control, resulting in added fear.

I had the honour of chatting with Chris Wing, who encouraged me to try a Ripper. I was hesitant to paddle a half-slice when I had been paddling a creek boat, but as soon as I put that boat on moving water, my outlook on small boats immediately changed.

Chris Wing and I at the ICF Freestyle World Cups in Columbus.

The Ripper is a fast, manoeuvrable boat that is incredibly responsive and suits my style of paddling. Thanks to the control I now had, it helped grow my confidence when running bigger features. I sold my other two creek boats to exclusively paddle my half slice, and my journey of chasing whitewater continued.

I spent the next week nonstop in Co. Kerry, chasing the rain and pushing my paddling. I attempted lines I had always feared of running, and I finally started to believe in myself again. Finding a boat that I felt in control of, being small but in between sizes, was draining, but it was most certainly worth it in the end.

This photo was taken by Mark Hoare. The rapid is Second Gorge on the River Flesk, Co.Kerry

Chris recommended the Ripper to me, given my background as a freestyle kayaker, knowing I just wanted to play with the river. One of the main aspects that drew me to whitewater kayaking was being able to have fun in the features. My Ripper has allowed me to stern squirt on every eddyline, catch even the smallest of waves, boof with ease and overall, just makes running the river more enjoyable.

Finding a boat as a smaller paddler can be tough. My advice is to try as many boats as possible and keep an open mind. If you have not already, I highly recommend trying the small Scorch and the Ripper, as they are perfect for the smaller paddler.

Part 2 of the above photo, also taken by Mark Hoare. Second Gorge on the River Flesk, Co.Kerry

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10
Jun

Nascar Racing with Plastic Kayaks: Finn Blackburn’s Road to Team USA.

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Sometimes you have to dream big. So, Finnigan Blackburn decided he would go after a spot on Team USA. That seemed kinda like a place to start before OBJ started running in the summer. Of course, he had never run a slalom course, or actually been in a slalom boat, or run gates. But when you grow up in kayak town Salida, Colorado, those are just minor details. Finn began every day training in the river by himself, day after day, all winter long. He lifted at 5:30 am, went to school all day, and paddled into the winter darkness. He and his brothers would take a break to surf ice chunks to spice things up.

Then Finnigan hooked up with Team Colorado Whitewater and travelled to Montgomery, Alabama, for the US Open race. He borrowed the boat and duct-taped it between each run. He borrowed the skirt, the paddle, the PFD, and the helmet. He began to learn how a man-made course felt, and how the gates worked. He didn’t win. He rolled and he swam. The new kid just kept showing up. He didn’t finish last, but he was nowhere near first in his 20-year-old sinking boat. 

So, he came home, rinse and repeat. Back at the weights. Back in the river. Alone. Rocky Balboa Style.

Three weeks later, back in Montgomery, Alabama, still checking the trash cans at the boat house to see if someone was throwing away a gear upgrade. Still sewing up the skirt with fishing line and more silicone–more duct tape. Team USA trials started, and Finn again wasn’t at the top of the slalom racers. He gained a few slots. Still rolling, still getting worked–just on national TV this time.

Then came Kayak Cross. Nascar racing with plastic kayaks in the pristine land of slalom gates. Finnigan’s time trial wasn’t bad, but it wasn’t the best. However, a plastic boat, Finnigan knew. Grit, Finnigan knew. He was the youngest of four, growing up in the mountains raising steer. So, when it came time to drop head to head with three other paddlers, Finnigan came out of nowhere. 

The semi-finals were aggressive, with banging paddles, boats and a definitive elbow or two (or three). Three times Finnigan fought to the front of the pack, one time with the contender riding his tail. Then, when they hit the big drop, the others tilted, and Finnigan just boofed it, skipping the waves, slightly out of control but in full send mode.

Somehow, he battled out of that heat and landed a spot in the finals. That is when it all shifted. Once he pulled away, the race was over, and he finished seconds ahead of the others. The nobody kid smoked the field, swiping the junior national title and direct referral to the world championships in Slovakia–valid.

For now, Finnigan is training daily in the Salida Whitewater Park in his red Pyranha Ripper and old borrowed slalom boat. His next obstacle is raising enough money for his trip to Slovakia to represent the USA in the world championships. He has a GoFundMe page if you are interested in supporting his growing dream. After this, Finnigan will have to decide if he wants to pursue an Olympic dream.

“Earning a place of the Jr National Team was not my goal when I went to the Olympic Trails in Montgomery. First of all, most of my gear was borrowed and slightly broken, secondly, I had never even seen a man-made course, much less paddled one, thirdly I had never been coached, and everyone else there had years of professional coaching, lastly and most importantly- I had never been in a Kayak Cross race.  I just decided to send it and go for it anyway and give it everything I had.  

Well, I certainly learned a lot, and when I got to the semifinals, I really couldn’t believe it. There I was sitting up on the ramp, about to race with legends. I was totally blown away. I just dropped and fought and paddled with all the grit I had, and then I was out in front. No more fighting at each gate, just me paddling and skipping across the waves. The rhythm was beautiful; it felt like flying.

Winning a spot on the Jr National Team is important to me because I feel like, for once, my pure love of the river and kayaking has taken me somewhere. Just doing what I love has opened up a whole new world of possibilities.  

Training has been relentless these last few weeks. Two different coaches have come to Salida to help me learn better technique, but each day, I feel like I have improved so much. The next three weeks, I will be paddling the Grand Canyon with my brother. My focus on the Grand will be fitness. I plan to do sprint workouts each day on the flat water sections and send it big on all the rapids. I can’t wait!

Once I get off the Grand, I will be heading to Europe for some formal coaching and training on the course in Slovakia. I am excited to meet and work with the kayak cross coaches. I am also stoked to meet other kids my age who are crazy about the river and share my passion. I hope that they will push me to achieve beyond anything I could have dreamed!”

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07
May

Your ReactR and Elite Outfitting Questions Answered

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Damn! We don’t think we’ve ever seen such an immediately overwhelming response to a new release… thank you so much for all the love and interest in the ReactR and the Elite Outfitting System it features!

We’ve noticed a few common questions about both, and you’ll find the answers to many of those in our deep dives, and the ReactR and Elite Outfitting walkthrough videos, which you can find below:

Embrace the new era of whitewater kayaking. The most progressive creek boat to hit the rapids since the 9R, the ReactR is here: Read ‘ReactR: A New Era of Whitewater Kayaking’

We didn’t just go back to the drawing board with our outfitting redesign; we built it again, from the hull up: Read ‘This Outfitting is Elite’

About to jump on the river and want the answers to the most frequently asked questions right now? Here you go:

Does the ReactR feature new outfitting?

Yes, the ReactR comes with our new Elite outfitting system, which has been redesigned from the hull up. This is a complete overhaul, reducing the overall boat weight (it’s a bigger boat than the Scorch, but lighter), markedly improving both comfort and connection to the boat, and adding to the ease and range of adjustment, all without compromising on safety, durability, or cost.

How reliable are the backrest cleats?

We’ve done extensive development and testing to ensure our new backrest system retains all the pros of a cleat system, adds more to the list, and negates the downfalls seen in other cleat-based systems. Our system uses high-strength Dyneema cord and high-quality aluminium racing cleats, both of which have excellent longevity and work together reliably. We’re excited for you to discover and enjoy the benefits of this setup!

Does Elite outfitting include hookers?

Yes, and what’s more, these ones have 3-way adjustment for leg angle, amount of grip, and the usual forward/backward adjustment.

How has the seat adjustment changed?

Seat height is still adjusted by adding shims under the seat pad, but the forwards/backwards adjustment is now done by removing a single wingnut, quickly sliding the seat to where you want it, and then replacing it.

What’s the knee-padding situation?

The ReactR thigh grips have oversized pads which adjust with them and cover your knee.

Will the Elite outfitting system be coming to any other current models?

The only model we plan to fit Elite outfitting to other than the ReactR at the moment would be the GuiGui x Pyranha freestyle boat which is still in development.

Can I fit Elite outfitting to my current Pyranha boat?

No, the Elite outfitting is not backwards compatible due to the necessary cockpit rim features and method of hull stiffener attachment.

Has the cockpit rim shape changed?

The outside shape of the ReactR’s cockpit rim is similar to the Firecracker’s, which we worked on in partnership with leading spraydeck manufacturers, but the inside has several changes related to the fitment of the new Elite outfitting system, and in particular, a deepening and padding of the area of the cockpit rim that rests on your shoulders/against your hip during carrying.

When can we expect to see the Medium/Large/Small ReactR?

The Medium and Large are in production now, with the Small next in line to be cut. Availability thereafter will depend on geographic location, but they’re on the way!

How does the ReactR compare to the Scorch?

The ReactR is more dynamic and manoeuvrable, particularly with the looseness of the ends of the boat with the ability to do a “low angle pivot turn”. The additional width profile also allows paddlers to skip further, and faster, than ever before.

How does it compare to 9R/9R II?

The ReactR is faster through steep rapids, much more manoeuvrable (and at a wider range of speeds),  and has way more creeking capability. It also skips out of features faster, with the paddler having more control.

How much rocker does the ReactR have?

It’s hard to compare this to other boats, as the radical new hull design (our “Pivot Hull Philosophy”) doesn’t just seek to keep the boat high by adding a bunch of rocker at the bow, or to get the stern out the way with aggressive kick rocker, but the ReactR certainly rides dry and clears the lip of drops cleanly!

What length is the ReactR?

The Large is just under 9ft (274cm, to be precise), and the Medium just a touch shorter than that at 273cm.

Is the ReactR suitable for beginner/intermediate paddlers?

Absolutely! The same features that help the pros step up their game will help beginners and intermediates do the same. While the ReactR opens up the possibilities for developing new moves, it also makes the familiar ones easier to access. Its manoeuvrability is also a neat Get Out of Jail Free card if you realise you’ve picked the wrong line!

How does the sizing compare to other Pyranha boats?

We noticed the trend of paddlers sizing up in both creek boats and half slices, and so we took this into account when designing the ReactR, meaning each size is a little more generous, but still works well across the advisory weight ranges.

What are the weight ranges?

Medium: 70 to 95kg, Large: approx. 85 to 125kg (TBC), Small: TBC

How easy is it to access the stern, and how much gear can you get back there?

We’ve changed the connection between the backrest and seat so that it can be completely unclipped, and with the lower back edge of the Elite seat, it’s easy to get a two-piece split paddle and/or the typical size of dry bag for other gear back there.

How capable is it as a creek boat or half slice?

The ReactR is not a half (or any fraction) slice; it is a full-fat creek boat, just with agility and an overall design unlike any that has come before.

Happy paddling!
Pyranha

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03
May

Pyranha Firecracker Review by 4Corners Riversports Athlete, Jack Juntunen

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Short & Sweet. The Pyranha Firecracker is a blast on the water. It can shred slicing on Class III, plug spicy holes on Class IV, and launch huge kickflips off any wave. I’ve paddled it on the legendary Futaleufu and Upper Palguin in Chile, and the slicey section of the Soča in Slovenia.

For reference, I am 5’9 ~130lbs and I’m paddling the Firecracker 232. I have paddled a Ripper 1 S and Ripper 2 S extensively, and have a slalom and racing background.

Creeking & Slicing

Photo by Max Zuberbulher

The stern on this boat is designed with fun in mind. On flatwater, I get it in a stern stall with a singular double pump. On small seams and boily water, it can easily stern squirt in circles with minimal paddler input, the stern is short enough that it doesn’t stern tap as frequently as boats like the Ripper 1 or 2 in shallow creeks. One well-timed back sweep on a seam instantly gets the bow up.

While creeking, the bow of this boat stays nice and dry. It has more rocker than an Antix 2.0 but is stubbier than a Ripper and can loop relatively easily out of a hole. The wave deflectors shed water off the deck quite effectively, and landing a boof off a short (~4’) drop like the double drop on the Upper Palguin really lets its light and nimble benefits come to fruition.

Big Water

POV from Jack Juntunen

This boat is short, yet it holds hull speed through boils remarkably well, and with one powerful stroke you can easily kickflip. Paddling it through the formidable Inferno Canyon was the ultimate test, and required a different style of paddling by punching right through the holes bigger than you might expect. The Firecracker’s speed and stability allow you to really focus on stroke timing to absolutely launch it off waves.

Outfitting

Photo by Jack Juntunen

The Firecracker has the Pyranha Stout 2 Outfitting. The molded yet wide seat, combined with an ergonomic ratchet backband and well-placed, adjustable thigh hooks, makes the boat comfortable and take drops well.

Thanks to 4Corners Riversports for sharing this post with us!

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18
Apr

This Outfitting is Elite

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Moving on from what we strongly felt was a solid outfitting system that didn’t compromise on safety, weight, cost, or durability was hard, but we heard your feedback, and we’re excited that we’ve managed to hit a number of your key requests, whilst still avoiding compromise on those crucial points.

We didn’t just go back to the drawing board with our outfitting redesign; we built it again, from the hull up. Featured in the ReactR, the new Elite outfitting system provides the widest range of paddlers yet with ultimate comfort and control.

Solid, Speedy Seat Position Adjustment

You can now adjust the ergonomic seat forwards and backwards in a matter of seconds, without tools, to find the perfect centre of gravity to suit your unique style and loadout.

3-Way Adjustable Hooker Thigh Grips

The adjustable thigh grips are a game-changing feature, with three-way adjustment that accommodates a range of leg angles and allows for your choice of grip, as well as the usual forward/backward adjustment. Choose the position, angle, and hold for your legs to experience our most responsive, precision fit yet, and enjoy the comfort of the oversized pads that extend over your knees and move with the thigh grips.

Rapid, Reliable Backrest Adjustment

The backrest adjustment features high-grade aluminium racing cleats with an internal pulley to redirect the direction of pull towards the paddler, so your back forms a concave rather than convex arch when tightening for a better fit. This also makes it easier to lock off the cleats, as your arms aren’t at full stretch or fighting the curve of the cockpit rim when doing so.

The system gives a 2:1 mechanical advantage for ease of getting a snug fit and uses a thick Dyneema cord for reliable durability and a secure fit in the cleats. If the worst does happen, you can easily replace the backrest cord in the field, wherever your adventures have taken you.

As well as being wider, which gives you better contact and control, with no gap in comfort between it and the hip pads, the backrest is shallower, which means you can get better placement in the small of your back, with a greater range of adjustment up and down using the height adjustment strap and backrest bungees.

Extreme Comfort

Hip pads with flexible adjustment options in both position and fit, as well as simple, solid seat height adjustment using foam shims, mean you can fully customize your seat. The backrest is also wider and won’t pinch, and along with the seat liner, features entirely new padding that is more comfortable than you ever thought possible!

Easy Access Stern Storage

A lower rise at the back of the seat, and a height adjustment strap that completely detaches, mean that you can also easily access the back of the kayak for storing rescue equipment, camera gear, or overnight kit.

Ergonomic Cockpit Design

Along with the familiar essentials such as an adjustable bulkhead footrest, airbag lash points, quick-access throwline attachment point, and bottle holder, the intuitive cockpit design contributes to a system that maximises your control, enabling you to get the most from this progressive hull design.

No More Sore Shoulders

You’ll be pleased to hear we also made carrying WAY more comfortable by adding more depth to the internal edge of the cockpit rim and adding pads that rest on your shoulder and hip, whichever side you carry your boat—so get ready to go explore those hike-in/hike-out runs!

An Eye on Sustainability

Last but by no means least, reimagining our outfitting offered the perfect opportunity to review its lifecycle, and we’ve paid careful attention to ensuring Elite outfitting can easily be disassembled and recycled at the end of its life.

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