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29
Oct

Izzi Fryer of UoB Canoe Reviews the Ripper 2 Small

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