Pyranha Logo
facebook twitter vimeo

18
Dec

Carving Out Time To Play

Categories:

by

I’m having to come to terms with the fact that I’m no longer young and wild and free. I’m still a kayak bum, but with responsibilities, mortgage, kids, and muscles which disappear if I don’t look after them!

I used to be able to work for a few months until I could afford a flight somewhere with great water, then live cheaply next to a river, hitching shuttles and spending weeks, even months a year paddling. Now I have to sneak in a quick flood run before breakfast, convince my partner it’s training, and sing nursery rhymes to young children while getting ready.

Don’t get me wrong, I love my family and the chaos of family life, but I dream of being carefree. It’s going to be a while before my kids can join me on trips, but the oldest has already been in a kayak a few times at the age of 3 and loves it, so there is hope of sharing the joys of boating in the future.

📷: Chris Evans 🛶: Ian Adey

My wonderful partner suggested that I should organise a trip, albeit a short trip, somewhere with good boating, whilst she is still breastfeeding and can’t leave the kids. (Apparently, she will be cashing in the time with interest in the future). So I asked around some of the better boaters I know, who I would feel safe with, but still push some boundaries, and a plan formed for 3 of us to have a busman’s holiday. Chris (www.tametheelementcoaching.com), Dave (https://river-flair.com), and I would go to Norway and possibly meet up with (young) Alex (@notsolittlechild), who was working there.

Good times on the Brandset, L-R Dave, Ian, Chris

While I get more time in a boat than most, running Kinetic Paddlesports and living next to the River Kent, there’s always a difference between operating in your comfort zone coaching, and stretching it by paddling for yourself.

I was trying to get as much personal boating in as possible anyway, but this plan motivated me to grab any time in a boat, before work, or more likely before my partner has to go to work, and I have my days of childcare. A quick trip up to the Morriston for a day, to test out the new ReactR after a season mainly spent in my Ripper 2. I even started going to circuit classes to make sure I’m strong enough when I do get in a boat, which I never used to have to do. And skipping lunch when working on the lake just to practice some tailies and fall in.

📷: Chris Evans 🛶: Ian Adey

It’s safe to say I was nervous in the final few days before going because I have never had as little time for personal boating. My partner and I work on different days, so we can look after the kids, which leaves no spare time. However, I do have to remember that I have more experience, a deeper understanding of technique, and better river skills than ever before, and my benchmark for a good line is much higher, having critiqued photos and videos and coached others in the precision of paddling for over 20 years.

Sheltering behind the ReactR’s bow rocker, 📷: Chris Evans 🛶: Ian Adey

Boat design has also changed a lot since I was first in Norway. The creekboat of the time was the h2, and I remember doing some great blunts in the then-new S:6 on the Otra. This time round I was in the new ReactR which dwarfs the boats of my previous trips (which I thought were huge at the time) but it’s still easier to turn, adjust your line on and so much faster and predictable over aerated water when it gets steeper.

Dave on the Brandset, 📷: Chris Evans

I’ll admit, I didn’t manage to run everything I hoped to; I’m not as slick or brave as I was when I came back from 2 months in Chile in my early thirties.  But with a few extra decades of paddling under my belt, I was slicker, more confident and more precise than my last trips to Voss and Sjoa during a season of rafting in Southern Norway. 

The view heading into the Lower Myrkdalselva

When I was in my twenties, I ran the upper Myrkdalselva and had a great day. Back then, I looked at the steeper lower section, with all its waterfalls, in awe; it was beyond even my wildest dreams. This trip I hoped I was better and could do a bit more, we paddled the upper then came back the next day with Alex after he had finished work and paddled ‘most’ of the Lower.

Dropping into friends in the eddy below in the Lower Myrkdalselva

The Ula slides, in an alpine valley, was a bit high for a chilled day when we first looked at it, so only Dave was up for the main event, but returning with different expectations a week later and a bit more boating under our belts we had a great day on this unique playground.. Maybe time in a boat or more realistic expectations were the key, or maybe we just needed some time to get our heads into a better space.

Carrying speed down the Ulla Slides

It was a great trip and great to have some back-to-back time on the river, from the low-volume, clear-water slides of the Brandset, to cruising on the Sjoa, it was just what I needed.

Being a dad is great, but hard, and a difficult adjustment to my lifestyle. For the first time, I missed home! Boating is still my happy place; it just takes a bit more effort to arrange, and trips take a different shape, but it’s all still possible and thoroughly enjoyable with fantastic friends and support.

I’m more motivated than ever to sneak in the time for a quick lap, learn a new trick and keep chasing the water as to what form that takes next, we’ll see.

Tags: , , ,

15
Dec

The First Descent of Moawhango Falls

Categories:

by

As far as first descents go, this seemed perfect. A drone photo of a waterfall, taken by Jure Stan half an hour from his house, was shared in the group chat a week earlier. The consensus was positive: “That looks sick!” And with an extra 30 cubic metres of water going down it, this could be epic! The boils should be big and fluffy, and the pool will be filled up!

The photo taken by Jure on the Drone.

Tuesday afternoon, I get off the river and check my phone; it’s Sam, “Let’s think about leaving soon”. We are about to get on the road for a 3-hour drive South to a rafting base in Moawhango. I grab my overnight kit and jump in the pickup, making our way through Taupō and on over the Desert Road.

Driving south along the Desert road.

After a beautiful sunset drive across the volcano field, we arrive at Jure’s house.

After a quick action plan, we get some sleep. Up at 4:30, and in the dark, we get into our kayaking kit and drive down to the river. 

As the sun rises, we begin our walk through some farmland and towards the canyon. 

The first section was going to be committed class 2/3, and from what we could see from the put-in, trees were going to be an issue.

The first move involved a tight ferry between a bush and an almost river-wide tree. With Jure at the helm, he boosted ahead and made the move. Following, I could feel the nerves of commitment sneaking in.

To our delight, the gorge was mostly log-jam-free. Incredible trees towering over the canyon walls let morning sun pierce the mist as it rose from the warm water.

Entry gorge- kayaking towards the waterfall

Each blind corner and another “good to go” signal from our fearless captain, Jure. Eventually, we reached a corner, and the noise of the waterfall was immediate. A thunder of crashing water amplified by the tight canyon hit us like a wall of sound. 

We eddied out on river right and climbed out of our kayaks, excited to find the source of the crescendoing noise. 

To our shock, we found the waterfall less clean than we had hoped. The water on river left was churning in lumps into a large and inaccessible cave, and the water in the centre and right was recirculating hard. Clearly shallow, our throw-and-go option was not in, and there were no available anchor points for any form of abseil. 

Not only did this waterfall turn out to be a must-run, but it was also a must-boof. 

The feeling of standing somewhere that no human had ever stood was pretty indescribable, and the gravity of the situation was dawning on us.

Jure and Sam were up first, we needed to keep our bows up enough to get away from the waterfall but down enough to not take any serious injuries.

Jure boosts towards the drop and pulls hard, significantly harder than we were expecting. He lands dead flat, power-flips upside down, rolls up, and gives us a whoop. “That was insane!”

Jure hunting for pancakes.

Sam follows with a similar line, breaking his paddles on impact.

I step up, with Rhys on the camera at the lip. As I’m moving towards the falls, I can feel my heart pounding, but I know what I have to do. I try to keep my bow down, but miscalculate and end up landing only just off flat. I toss my paddles in the air to avoid them breaking or hitting me, and I stomped as hard as I could. Reaching forward to protect my back, I hit my face on the cockpit rim and winded myself. 

Sitting on the rocks, I listen for Rhys’ whistle and see him air out super hard more centre than the rest of us. He pulls off an incredible stomp and skips out with a very sore back.

With a black eye, some sore backs and a broken paddle. We took some photos and began to find a way out.

The canyon walls below the waterfall were sheer, and the only way out was up a super-steep, chossy bank. We only made it about a quarter of the way up before we decided it was a bad idea. 

Back on the water, we carried on down through the gorge, where Jure revealed to us that a scene from The Lord of the Rings was filmed there. Singing “The Shire” theme, we paddled on until we found a takeout on the left. 

Back up to the vehicles, we shared hugs and dreamt of an ice-cold beverage to revive our battered bodies.

Shot for the mish boys x

Tags: , ,

27
Nov

Kayaking at University – Why it’s worth every penny

Categories:

by

If you’d told me at the start of university that I’d end up spending more time upside down in a kayak than figuring out my degree, I’d probably have laughed… and then spent my evenings feeling vaguely miserable in my room.

I joined the University of Bristol Canoe Club (UOBCC) in my second term of first year, at a point when I wasn’t entirely convinced that uni life was my thing. I’d just moved away from home, felt a bit lost, and was mostly existing rather than living. Then I found kayaking. I’m not going to pretend that discovering the sport was a mystical revelation that magically resolved all the problems in my life, but it was pretty damn close… The society bundled fun, adrenaline, structure, friendship, relaxation, mindfulness, competition and responsibility all into one; which, if you ask me, is as good of a uni starter pack as you’re gonna get!

Whitewater kayaking was the perfect excuse to scream at a river after a week of deadlines and lectures. There’s no room for overthinking when you’re trying not to tip over, which is exactly what makes it so therapeutic. Our Thursday evening pool sessions were my first taste. For an hour and a half I wasn’t stressing about essays or pretending I knew what was going on in my lectures, I was just flipping boats, laughing at other people’s capsizes, and hanging out with a group of people who were equally obsessed with not drowning.

Figure 1: Thursday evening pool session shenanigans at UOBCC

Weekends quickly became my favourite part of term. River trips and peer paddles were the norm, venturing out into areas of the country that had been previously untouched by my painfully suburban feet to tackle rivers I’d never heard of was exciting. I remember my first time taking on the course at Cardiff International Whitewater Centre as a stale fresher (I’d been kayaking for just under a year at this point) in the middle of January.

It was absolutely freezing; there was even ice on the reservoir at the bottom! However, despite many capsizes, rolls, and swims, I could barely feel the cold as I was overcome by the adrenaline of making it past each rapid. That being said, the post-trip Maccies was still very much needed to refuel after a long day of (mainly) swimming.

Now, as a 4th year, weekend trips and peer paddles are still the norm; I still get the same adrenaline rush I did back in my first year, and I’m always happy to enjoy the post-trip Maccies with the same people who have been by my side from the beginning.

Figure 2: Surfing my new Ripper 1 on Ski Jump wave (Upper Tryweryn)

Fair enough, the question of money comes into play. It’s a well-known fact that the so-called “student budget” is tighter than it’s ever been; with the price of a Steam larger increasing by a whole pound in the space of a year, how on earth are students expected to fund the obligatory shenanigans and side-quests associated with university life?? Yes, kayaking can be expensive, but university clubs are great at making it affordable.

At UOBCC everything was provided for you! You could show up with absolutely nothing and still learn how to roll a kayak within your first few pool sessions. That said, by my second year I was hooked enough to buy my own boat (student loan coming in clutch) – a Pyranha Ripper 1, because if you’re going to be obsessed, you might as well go all in. Having your own kayak means more freedom to push yourself, chase rapids and waterfalls (regardless of what TLC say…), and basically justify all the time you spend near water instead of in the library.

It’s not just about the sport, either. I’d been seriously considering dropping out after my first term, but kayaking changed that. Having something to look forward to every week, and a group of people I wanted to spend time with, made a huge difference. The social side of it is just as important as the thrill of whitewater; a few hours on the river is surprisingly good for mental health. Plus, unlike some other sports where you’re chained to rigid training schedules, kayaking is flexible. You decide how much or how little you want to get involved, which makes it easy to fit around lectures, essays or a social life (what’s that??).

Figure 3: Last year’s trip to the Alps!

Then there’s the accidental personal development. Joining the club committee as Treasurer in my third year meant I ended up doing everything from budgeting to planning a trip for 30 people to the French Alps. I learned leadership, problem-solving, and decision-making, all while pretending to be “just a kayaker.” Throw in Whitewater Safety & Rescue, Outdoor First Aid, and a few more random skills, and suddenly three years of uni left me with way more than I’d ever imagined as a silly fresher in first year.

Figure 4: WWSR cohort of 2025

Looking back, kayaking turned out to be the highlight of my uni experience. It gave me new skills, great friends, a sense of belonging, and a sport I’ll happily carry on long after I graduate. So, whether you’re staring at your first term feeling a bit lost, or you’re already well into your university sentence and looking for a new thing to pass the time, get in touch with your uni society and grab a kayak. Take it from me, you’ll end up with a story far better than whatever your seminar notes could ever give you.

Charlie

Tags: , ,

17
Nov

Rio Claro Read and Run

Categories:

by

Thankfully, because of the wonders of the internet, it’s rare to have to run a new river truly blind. Social media is an incredible tool for scouting, level checking and line learning. It does, however, have its limits…

My view down the La Garganta Del Diablo

One of the more famous rivers in Chile is called the Rio Claro. The river is comprised of a number of sections, all of similar style. The huge volcanic walls frame incredibly clean waterfalls and gnarly narrow rapids. Known for its most famous drop, “The Devil’s Throat”, the Claro is a pretty intense undertaking.

La Garganta Del Diablo – The Devil’s Throat

This experience is intensified when nobody in the group has done it before. Have no fear though, the internet is here. Having located some WiFi and downloaded a POV video of the section, we dropped in. A combination of intense read and run intermingled with scoutable drops took us through the first section and down towards the main canyon.

The walls tighten and now YouTube is our only crutch. No scouting from here. Clean rapids lead us down to The Devil’s Throat; a 40+ft waterfall which turns almost a full 180 degrees.

Jamie on an unnamed rapid on 22 Saltos

Nervous but stoked, I went first, keeping my bow up onto the curler. I’m bucked slightly by a rock on the lip and cork towards the right, adjusting my tuck accordingly. I roll up and give the crew a whoop. The boys followed and we all collected ourselves at the bottom, forwards paddling into the spray of the drop.

Behind us lay a narrow gap with a huge boil visible. Upon checking the video we pulled a righty boof stroke up the boil and off of another drop.

Next came the famous slot rapid, a 70ft slot which fires through the deep canyon walls. Like a ridiculous basalt roller coaster I was fired through the slot.  All through safe, we carried on towards the takeout. 

Rowdy little slot in the earth!

Up to this point our POV video had been incredibly useful, however, the next couple of rapids had been left out of the video. Perhaps the kayaker in the video wasn’t happy with the line? Perhaps the GoPro ran out of battery? Either way, we had a problem. YouTube definitely has its limitations.

Very blind and without the video’s help, we commit. “Be purposeful and trust your stroke”, I thought. Committing to the unknown is difficult and requires a level of self trust which I often struggle with. Either way, reaction kicked in and to our delight this was a clean and enjoyable rapid. This style continued for a while, blind and uncertain, the canyon lead us down to our takeout. 

Boofing through Entre Saltos

Local beta had notified us about a siphon filled canyon below the take out. We were conscious not to miss our way out. We took the last few rapids very slowly and carefully, keeping our eye out on river left for a sign of a get out. Starting to be concerned about how far we had travelled out of the gorge, we stopped to try and get a view from the top of a rock shelf. Then from behind us came whoops which were followed by the arrival of a cheerful crew of Kiwis. With relief, we followed them down to the takeout and walked back out to the car.

Jamie and I on the paddle out of the gorge

Some high fives and hugs exchanged, we recounted our YouTube/read and run experience to the Kiwis and then hit the pan-American highway south towards Pucon. Hopefully more treats in store!

Kayak Highlight:

For this trip, I chose to paddle a Medium ReactR. In environments as unique as the Rio Claro, speed and manoeuvrability are key. I love that I can boost up to speed easily and that the kayak performs with agility and reactivity when reading and running. Especially important to me is feeling locked in to my boat, giving me maximum connectivity. The Elite outfitting not only keeps me feeling safe and secure, it is also comfortable on the walk in and walk outs.

Tags: , ,

03
Nov

Whispers arrive upon the waves…

Categories:

by

Last month, we unveiled a new ‘Limited Edition Concept’ at The Paddle Sports Show in Strasbourg. Now it’s time to tell you a little more about it, starting with the name:

So, what is the Wizard?

The old magic is rising again, and the Wizard blends it with new sorcery for unrestrained fun both on waves and in holes. Old and new, entwined like ancient magic reborn.

This kayak is like nothing else within our range; the Wizard is not a new Ozone, nor is it a full slice, and it is not to be confused with the new InaZone (available now) or Storm (launching in early 2026); it is an evolution of classics from the past to re-establish and re-define playboating.

Launching, carving, flat spinning; the Wizard has the speed and looseness of hull to do all that good stuff and more, as well as a volume distribution which enables balanced end-to-end moves, but leaves enough ‘pop’ to boost you into an aerial move whenever the urge hits – it’s magical.

I just thought I’d send you a voice note to say, ‘Hell yeah!’ on the Wizard. I was very lucky to get to have a try of the prototype this week, and it gets a double thumbs up from me. Honestly guys, I think you’re gonna make something real special.

Anonymous Wave-Lover

How many sizes will there be?

One size only. An ‘Extra Medium’ for paddlers up to around 90 kg.

What outfitting will it have?

The Wizard will be available in our new, Elite Pro spec, a lighter and stiffer version of Elite.

Elite Pro goes beyond the fittings to incorporate advanced tailoring of the shell stiffness and weight, elevating the paddler’s connectivity and power transfer while minimising the deck weight. The thickness balance of the hull remains unchanged from that of a ‘standard’ Elite kayak, so that hull performance and durability remain optimal.

In short, every surface where the paddler interacts with the kayak, and in turn the kayak with the water, remains at full stiffness or greater, while the overall weight of the kayak is reduced, so that you can make even more of that control and performance. With Elite Pro, you can throw bigger and more complex moves with less effort and enjoy even more moves per session.

What colours will it come in?

The Wizard will be custom only. We want everyone who gets behind this project to have something truly unique. Each creation as unique as its master.

‘Limited Edition Concept’? What’s that about?

TL;DR: If you want one, it’s now, or never.

The Wizard is a new concept in many ways; not just the kayak itself, but the distribution model too…

As enthusiasts, we’re always seeking to make state-of-the-art kayaks, using all our team’s considerable and wide-ranging experience. We’re renowned for our unrestrained innovation, and if you look through our back-catalogue, you’ll find a number of models where we’ve really flexed every muscle and gone all-out in pursuit of a concept we’ve been passionate about… ProZone, S6F, and Seven-0, to name a few, and those are just the ones which made it to production!

These are all models which slipped under the radar, were misunderstood, or were slept on during their time in production, only becoming fully appreciated after their moulds had been recycled, leaving just a few examples out in the wild for some enthusiasts to discover, seek out, and devour. The same could be said for Wave Sport’s ZG, or Necky’s Orbit Fish; all these models are now cult classics, and we don’t mention the Wizard in the same breath lightly.

With the Wizard, we’re turning this on its head and doing it with clarity and purpose. We’re going into the project with eyes wide open, we’re going full send on the design, and we’re letting you know the next cult classic is coming… we will ONLY make the Wizard for one run, and then it’s gone. This one is for the enthusiasts; we’re not holding back; the time is now or never.

How limited will the Wizard be?

There will be a maximum of 300 Wizards worldwide, with each kayak being individually numbered on a first come, first served basis.

We anticipate demand will translate to 90 in North America, 70 in the UK, 70 in mainland Europe, and 70 in the rest of the world; we’ll surf the wave of demand and adjust the numbers available in each region as necessary but will have a hard stop at 300.

Whether we reach 300 or not, orders will close on the 26th of February 2026. Once production is complete the mould will be reserved for a short time to service any warranties, before being recycled.

Why, and why now?

TL;DR: The world needs some magic, and we’ve got the wand.

The world is a little depressing right now, right? There’s not much we can do about that other than lean into what we know, focus on pouring ourselves into a passion project, and create something for you to pour your passion into paddling and finding your own escape with.

We also understand kayaks are an investment, particularly in times like these, and we want to ensure paddlers can be sure that their Wizard will retain its value.

In the broader sense, we also recognise that not only are the aforementioned cult classics becoming increasingly harder to find due to the effects of plastic ageing, they’re hamstrung by those effects even when they are found… like all great enchantments, their power fades when their time has passed.

The PE technology ourselves and other specialist kayak manufacturers use has moved on significantly, and the level of outfitting comfort and adjustment has gone from ‘medieval torture device’ to ‘luxury recliner’.

There’s also 20 years of hull design lessons to be applied. In essence, this style of kayak has skipped 2 generations; rather than simply emulating the past, it’s time to make a bang-up-to-date version which defines this generation.

How do I get one?

The Wizard is in the final stages of testing and development, with just a narrow window for you to secure yours by placing a deposit.

The forges are lit, join us in creating the next great legend of playboating. There’s magic in the water only the Wizard knows how to unleash.

Tags: , , ,

03
Oct

The Moriston Enduro

Categories:

by

The Moriston Enduro is an annual race held in the Scottish Highlands which involves paddling a 600m section of grade 4, then running back to the top with your boat. There are prizes for the fastest lap, fastest combined 3 and most laps completed in 3 hours.

It has become my favourite paddling event of the year and I was delighted to complete 19 laps and win the prize for most laps this year. I thought I’d pop together a few top tips to share the stoke and help you prepare for next year.

Training

This is essentially a running race with a bit of kayaking. I’d recommend getting out for some undulating runs, building up to 1 hour 30 mins in duration. This helps you build your cardio and also leg strength. Get used to the race lines and focus on consistency rather than speed. Most time is gained on the run, not water.

Nutrition

Treat it as a marathon. Carb load the night before, have a high carb breakfast with some protein a couple of hours before the start. I find a banana 30 minutes before kick off sorts me out. During the event, simple sugars (energy gels, bananas etc.), water and isotonic drinks are key. You want food that you don’t have to chew, is easy to digest and offers high instant energy. Pop it all in a box secured at waist level so you can access it all whilst your boat is on your shoulder.

Kit

Light is right. Grippy running shoes, shorts, a rashy or thin neoprene top. A light paddle, simple buoyancy aid and spraydeck that is quick to get on. There are two trains of thought with boats. Slow and light like the Firecracker. This suits good paddlers that want a light boat for the run. Alternatively my preference is the Ripper 2. It’s fast, accurate and forgiving for the paddle, slower on the run but that’s where your run training makes up. The new InaZone could be one to watch next year, though…

On the water

Slow is smooth and smooth is fast. The time differences on the water are much less than the run so catch your breath, conserve energy and focus on accurate lines rather than speed. Lots of time is lost if you fluff a line and only a small bit gained if you paddle hard.

The Run

Get your deck off before your stop, take a deep breath and now the challenge starts. Go steady up the slab and steps, try not to stop for a breath at the road and just grind it out. The important thing with all endurance events is just to keep moving, even if it’s slow. Padding on your shoulders definitely helps, some folk go for the ‘backrest on the head’ carry technique. Practice carrying on both shoulders to even out the pain.

The event has a great atmosphere, is very supportive and social. Whether you are in it for the experience or are aiming for 20 laps, I hope this post has helped and to see lots of you there next year.

Thanks to Chris Curry Adventure Photography for the brilliant images and to Liam Green for organising a brilliant event.

Tags: , , , , ,

30
Sep

A Legend Reimagined

Categories:

by

The name of our latest whitewater kayak might seem familiar… in fact, if our factory here in Cheshire had halls, it would likely still be echoing in them.

For those who remember the days when one boat literally had to do it all, the InaZone will need no further explanation, but for those who need an introduction…

The all-new InaZone can tackle anything within a river kayaker’s remit; on flatwater, it’s the stable base to hone skills, but in the Grade 2 – 3 realm, it excels. It’s fast, responsive, and forgiving without losing feel, and combines those attributes to ensure you can play hard but still make the lines.

With a flat planing surface and enough rocker for some loose fun on a feature, but plenty of engaged waterline still for zippy speed, the InaZone will offer you more movement from less energy, and its loooong carving rails pair well, whether surfing or snatching eddies.

This kayak is a solid platform for river running; strong speed to punch features, a deck which sheds water like a duck’s back, and a medium-low volume stern for confident agility.

If you want one kayak for every occasion, the InaZone is the key; whether you’re just starting out on whitewater, stepping up to some moderate grade river running, playboating (read: having some good, solid fun on the way downriver or in the surf with your mates), or even instructing.

With the InaZone, 2 sizes fit most, S/M or M/L, and you have the choice of our latest-and-greatest Elite outfitting, or our paired down, fleet-friendly Element outfitting.

Key Features:

Longer Waterline

Enough rocker for some loose fun on a feature, but plenty of engaged waterline still for zippy speed.

Flat Planing Hull with High Seamline

This creates a solid platform which behaves intuitively on whitewater, and is easy to crank over on edge to make use of the…

Long Carving Rails

Use these for grip and control, whether river running or in the surf.

Water Shedding Deck

If the grade gets steeper than the rocker, the deck is stacked with get-out-of-jail-free cards.

Cutting Stern

Offering agility, whether for fun or function, downriver or on a wave.

Element Spec 

  • Available in Glacier Blue and Volcano Red.
  • Increased Floatation – full-length bow foam with U-shaped pod.
  • One-piece runner and padded seat.
  • Drain bung.
  • Basic cleat backrest with platted rope.
  • Moulded-in, padded thigh grips.

Elite Spec

  • Available in Purple Mint and Lava Burst.

Specs and more on our website, now: https://www.pyranha.com/kayaks.php?kayak=InaZone

Tags: , , , ,

17
Sep

Devils Race – The Extreme Kayak World Championship

Categories:

by

Since 2007, Devils Extreme Race has grown from an inspiring local event into a cornerstone of the extreme kayaking world. Over the years, it has hosted crazy Boater X, European Championships and Finals, attracting elite paddlers from across the globe.

From 21–24 August 2025 the legendary Devils Race, on the Vltava River, hosted the Extreme Kayak World Championship. On Friday, the qualification stage was set. Over 120 athletes from 25 countries took to the start ramp. Firing their way down this 20ft slide into the beginning of the 4 minute race, which includes the infamous ‘Window’ rapid. From here, only the fastest racers progress. Further downstream, once completing the qualifying race run, is the section which hold the finals. The Staircase is made up of a series of waves and a few ledge boofs. Final practicing is underway before the Friday night party. 

Saturday is upon us with the finals day of the World Championships beginning with the semi finals and super finals. The juniors, masters, women’s and men’s categories all lay down 1 run in a bid for fastest times. The top 5 athletes from junior, master and women’s survive for finals with top 15 men’s also making way for a box office showdown. Unfortunately, this is where the road ended for team paddlers Flurina Fisher and Lyndon Williams, with Flurina in 9th and Lyndon in 19th.

The finals were unbelievably tight and thrilling to watch. You will find a full list of results here: https://www.devilsextremerace.com/en/vysledky

Not only did the organisers Míra and Pavlina host extreme kayaking’s greatest prize, they did it along side a full-blown river festival packed with live music from acts like Eddy Allen, Klacci z lesa, Lovesong Orchestra, Discoballs, and Move Breakers. Late-night fun including DJs, arm-wrestling contests, raffles, prize ceremonies, and a buzzing expo zone showcasing the latest in kayak gear. Complete with a camping village near the river. The main thing that allows this event to stand separately from others is the Hell Train. At the event is a train station. After you complete you run and first thing in the morning, you simply jump on the train with you kayak and kit and go again. 

The Devils Extreme Kayak World Championship 2025 was a masterclass in adrenaline and hometown cheers. My highlight in the crowd were the Italians, wearing pink wigs and buzzing a chainsaw MTB style. Encouraging epic river racing, camping under the stars, and a celebration of this wonderful community. Whether you were competition-driven or the festival lover, this Czech river spectacle delivered. It’s where champions were crowned and memories were made.

Tags: , ,

29
Aug

Recommended, Free of Charge Upgrade: Elite Connection Kit

Categories:

by

The Elite Connection Upgrade Kit is available free of charge to all owners of an Elite spec Pyranha Kayak via our dealer network, or our UK factory. The upgrade boosts the rigidity and durability of the Elite thigh grip area for further improved performance and energy transmission.

As a development-led company, we are always seeking to improve our products, particularly for performance, durability and safety. We have been asked for some models to be made lighter, but often the developments we wish to make are restricted by process and material limitations.

In response to our drive to improve our products and respond to paddlers’ requests, we recently introduced stiffer thigh-grips, which we have made available to all existing Elite customers as a free upgrade, and we can now announce the last part of the upgrade which mechanically boosts the strength of the cockpit, our Elite Connection Upgrade Kit.

This fitting is a recommended upgrade to enhance the shell’s rigidity for both performance and for safety, strengthening our proprietary paddler safety cage, and is a remarkable improvement. You only need to sit in a kayak with and without this feature to feel the difference in rigidity.

For 2026, all Elite spec models will include the upgraded thigh grips and Elite Connection Upgrade Kit. The latter also enables our future “Elite Pro” specification option, which is soon to be made available via the Pyranha Customiser on select models.

We will offer a factory upgrade for anybody with a 2025 spec Elite kayak through this autumn for all kayaks brought back to us and are also providing training and resources to service-centre-enabled dealers to offer the upgrade as a free of charge service.

Sadly, we have also seen that a few cockpit kiss-offs, the component which creates a connection between the inside and outside of the boat, may cause the outer skin of the kayak under the cockpit rim to be under excess stress during use. This upgrade, with its 3M tape bond, will further strengthen the cockpit rim and repair any further damage to these kiss-offs, as well as providing the aforementioned performance and safety improvements.

Here’s the quick-fire points: 

  • The Pyranha Elite Connection Upgrade Kit can be added to all Pyranha Elite kayaks and will repair any damage to the kiss-offs, as well as providing performance and safety benefits.
  • Kayaks have always been a considerable investment, and as such, we will be providing these free of charge so all paddlers who have invested in an Elite spec Pyranha kayak over the last 24 months can benefit from this upgrade.
  • We are currently shipping upgrade kits out to our dealer network; please contact your local dealer to arrange your upgrade.
  • Our 2026 specification of Elite will have the upgraded thigh grips and Elite Connection Upgrade Kit pre-installed.
  • We have worked extremely hard to improve our boats over the last 6 months of testing. This upgraded connection provides better performance and future reliability than previous solutions.

Tags: ,

14
Aug

Helectron on the Thames Valley Waves

Categories:

by

Photo credit Charlie Bil

The River Thames, a river most famous for flowing through the UK’s capital, splitting the city in half. Upstream are a series of weirs which, at the right flow rate, create some of the best waves in the UK, from the iconic Hurley weir to the elusive wave at Sunbury.

Early in the season, at the start of November, I made the switch to the Helectron, and I’d be safe to say it made the season even more enjoyable. The ‘24/’25 winter season in the Thames had its ups and downs, for example, the bigger features like Boulters and Marsh were in more than usual, but due to the heavy rainfall, Hurley weir had several trees get caught above it, which caused the wave to not be as good and limited the action at lower levels.

Saying that, even though it wasn’t the most ideal season in comparison to previous years, it was still great, as the enjoyment and stoke were high, and for me personally, I had a good time progressing my wave boating. This season, it was nice seeing more people getting out on the water, partly due to the guys at the Thames Valley Freestyle League putting on a wonderful event and getting new people out on the Thames weirs.

This season, I found my personal progression as a boater, as well as my wave freestyle, to be loads of fun. Some highlights would be getting my first pistol flip and then working on my airscrew. The airscrew progress was a goal, an intentional effort from the start of the season, in contrast to the pistol flip, which came about from just playing around during a session with how the looseness of the Helectron’s hull allowed for the set up to come easier, and the release I got during the first attempt inspired the confidence that the trick was possible. After four sessions of practice and some coaching tips from Jacko at the Thames Valley Freestyle League, I got it, and the joy and stoke of it reminded me of when I learned to loop for the first time.

Photo credit Charlie Bil

Throughout the session I was able to get comfortable with and make the most of the features of the boat. The first thing I noticed and got used to was the stern of the kayak; I found it made it easier to slice in for cartwheels and also made it easier to land bigger backstabs on the wave. The hull of the boat, as well as being loose, making spins so much fun, whether playing around with clean spins or back-to-back spins on the shoulder of the wave, is also quick, making surfing and carving around the wave easier.

Another key feature is the bow of the boat – I love its volume, which feels bigger than other designs, which, as someone with big legs, was something I really appreciated. This volume let me have space to adjust the seat position and play around with the trim of the boat. Currently, I’m running 1 position forward; this makes the boat surf super nice. The squared-off front end makes loop initiations go so easy. The Elite outfitting took a little bit of time to get tuned to how I needed it, but this definitely helped make longer sessions go easier with it being so much more comfortable to sit in.

Photo credit Charlie Bil

To conclude, despite difficulties throughout the season, the Helectron made it easy to have a great time on the water, and to have a good time with the people I paddle with. It is also an excellent platform to progress with. I’m looking forward to spending time working on my skills in a hole and on flat water during the off season, and I’m looking forward to getting back on the waves again.

Photo credit Charlie Bil

Tags: , , ,

Older posts «