When the 9R was released this spring, extreme racers flocked to the design to go big, go fast, and win races. The second I saw it, I knew I needed it, and when I sat in my friend’s, I immediately felt at home in the boat. I borrowed it for a run down my local river, and after running the first rapid, I knew this boat was special. I got mine shipped from Asheville a couple weeks ago, and since then I have spent a lot of seat time in it, and this boat and I have a special relationship. I plan to do some racing in it, but after some time in it, I realized that it was so much more than a race specific design. This boat does everything well, from racing to Class III, to running massive Class V. The boat carves and transfers from edge to edge like no other boat out there. It flies off of boofs like a space ship taking off into the stratosphere, it planes up out of a drop and keeps your hair dry, and best of all, it is incredibly fun to paddle. Honestly, I think it’s the most fun creek boat design out there. And you don’t need to be a Class V shit runner or an extreme racer vying for the podium to enjoy the boat.
I have had quite a few intermediate paddlers ask me if the 9R would be too much boat for them, and the answer is no. The 9R, while being a design that favours an aggressive paddling form, is perfect for having fun on the backyard Class II or III. The 9R is great for the weekend warrior who is looking to make their backyard run a playground of water boofs, slalom moves, eddy hopping and charging fast. If that’s what you want to do, the 9R is the perfect boat for you, regardless of what class you paddle. Move the seat all the way forward for a stable ride that still allows the boat to do everything it was designed to do.
The way the boat effortlessly makes everything on the river fun will leave intermediate and expert paddlers alike with a huge smile on their face the entire time they are on the water. Hop in one as soon as you can, you won’t regret it.
Ian Janoska