Cancer is so wide-reaching that most of you reading this know someone who has fought this terrible disease. It’s usually not an easy fight, but ultimately it’s the only choice; fighting for your life through radiation, chemo, surgeries, and a host of other toxic chemicals. These processes are what tear people down, make them feel like shells of their former selves, and bring a wide range of other awful side effects.
If you’re a whitewater kayaker, chances are you know Dave Fusilli, or at least know of him. However, you may not know his better half, Gina. They say behind every good man is a great woman, and there is no better example of that than Dave and Gina. Over their last 6-and-a-half years together, Gina has allowed a constant stream of homeless kayakers through their house in White Salmon WA, and been supportive of Dave’s personal kayaking ambitions. Gina is a kayaker, mountain biker, skier, nurse… and she is now a cancer survivor.
Gina was diagnosed with breast cancer in August 2019 and immediately went into the twilight zone of treatments; seemingly endless appointments, injections, radiation, hair loss, fatigue… the list goes on. While she is not yet in the clear, the worst of it is over, and she’s slowly starting to build herself back up to the person she was before the treatments. However, it’s more than a physical obstacle; the worry of its return and the financial burden still linger. Gina was unable to work during much of the treatment, and even though she has “premium” insurance, she has shelled out thousands of dollars for the medical care she had no choice but to pursue. While this financial burden is indicative of the broken healthcare system of the US, none of it matters as long as she lives a long and healthy life.
Pyranha is a family, and Dave has been part of our family for a LONG time, so Gina’s diagnosis hit us all hard and we have tried to show our support and send positive thoughts along the way. However, now that she is over the first hurdle, we would like to help make a real difference by raising some money to help cover her medical expenses.
Check out the video above where Team Pyranha member Jared Nosal talks us through the format, and then head to the ‘Fundraiser for Gina’ Page to find out how you can get involved in the raffle, help us raise some money to go towards Gina’s medical expenses, and get yourself in with the chance to win a 9R II Medium in solid Fuchsia with custom anodised handles and security points.
By now, you will likely have heard that we took the difficult decision to discontinue one of our most iconic designs, the Burn, in August of last year.
We’ll be the first to admit the Burn is a design which splits opinion; throughout its lifespan, there have seemingly been as many paddlers who love it as there are paddlers who hate it, and both with apparently equal passion!
The reason behind this division may be the fact that we stuck to our ‘By Enthusiasts, For Enthusiasts’ ethos, didn’t hold back on the planing hull design, and gave it some unusually sharp rails in comparison to the big, round, displacement hulls which were the trend in creek boats at the time. This requires the Burn to be paddled differently, using those rails to carve, rather than the turning force coming primarily from paddle strokes… it feels great if you get it right, but not everyone adapted well to the paddling style.
The Burn design isn’t something that came completely out of the blue, though; it shares much of its DNA with predecessors like the h2 and h:3, as well as having gone on to influence designs such as the Everest, Ammo, and Karnali itself…
The original Burn (2006)
Here’s what Pyranha old boy, Ben White had to say about the development of the original Burn:
“The h:3 was such a successful boat that it was a hard decision to start designing a successor. The Burn had to be something different, yet still have the Pyranha DNA.
We began with a clean slate and started by speaking with people – a LOT of people! Team paddlers, customers at demo events, dealers, and the guys in the factory who build the boats. This gave us a far better understanding about what we needed to do.
All the grab handles were new for the Burn; we worked closely with Wild Country and DMM to make them as strong and as robust as possible. There was a lot of destructive testing; always fun to see how much force you can put on a grab handle before it breaks!
The Burn was also the first boat to use Connect 30 outfitting. A ground up new design, re-thinking every part of the outfitting. The most successful was the removal of the full-length front foam and replacing it with the roto-moulded pillar which doubled as a step to exit the boat in a vertical pin. Also, a handy grip for when you’re carrying the kayak!
Above: a composite prototype of the original Burn.
The hull shape itself went through several iterations during development. I can remember at one stage the plug had a different design on each side, and Graham and myself had an unconclusive ‘creative discussion’ about which one we should go for. The design got put on hold for a couple of weeks before revisiting it and not using either! What came from this was faster hull speed and greater manoeuvrability with a secondary stability point beyond anything that came before. All the things that the Burn was known for.
The Burn was accidentally leaked the day the first shell came out of the mould. Too excited to wait, I took the first boat out of the mould to the Dart where someone caught a picture and the rumours of the new Pyranha boat started. Previously, and I do not know how we got away with it, the Burn was tested out in the open across North Wales and Scotland in both a composite and plastic version without anyone noticing!”
The original Burn in action!
Burn MKII (2010)
The Burn MKII carried through some concepts explored on the 2007 Everest, such as rocker which steepened towards the very tip of the bow, improved deck styling, and a touch more volume. With our sights set on the future, which was to include a displacement hull creeker that would eventually be named the Shiva, we also leant in to the sharp edged, planing hull design on the Burn MKII, extending the rails all the way to the stern for harder, sharper turns.
Another old boy, Matt Bostock shared a couple of great memories of the early days of the Burn MKII with us:
“Prototype testing on the Mighty T.
We went on a comparison test mission to the Tryweryn with Burn MKII Proto 1 and a Burn Mk1 to compare how they felt on the water. Our plan was to repeat the same moves dozens of times through the day in both boats, comparing notes and then making small changes to the prototype hull and repeating the process. We took small strips of balsa wood and a hot glue gun so that we could add and move rails to any section of the hull during the day. We spent the whole day working on it, getting the boat to carve predictably in and out of eddies and work on small waves.
Paul Smith in the Burn MKII on Tanigawa Gorge, Japan
Delivery to team paddlers.
One of the first deliveries of Burn MKII Medium was to several team paddlers at the Adventure Paddlers’ Weekend on the Dart. I remember this weekend as so many of the team drove down so they could get their Burns and head out together to play. Most arrived on the Friday night, and being professional athletes, only had a “couple” of drinks. Saturday morning, we had a crowd of spectators as around 6 team members all unbagged and outfitted new boats on the grass. We had a great day on the upper Dart and the Erme. This day lives in a few peoples’ memories for several reasons, but mostly we had a great day paddling as friends on some good water. It was the best beginning to the Burn MKII’s life we could hope for and generated great interest in the soon to be launched Burn MKII Large.”
Burn III (2013)
In 2013, we completely redesigned the Burn for its third generation; Designer, Robert Peerson looks back on the Burn III development:
“Working on the Burn III felt daunting; like writing the third film in a successful movie trilogy. Some might like this aspect or that from the first two generations, but you can only bring so many of those through to the third generation without just producing the same boat again.
Our feedback on the Burn series was that everyone missed the hard rails of the original Burn but liked that MKII Burn was a bit easier to paddle in harder white water. This is a fine line to walk, but after tweaking the rail and the rocker profile, our team was pleased with the final Burn III Medium prototype, which was super fun and predictable to paddle.
A funny (although not so funny at the time!) story about the development of the Burn was the mishap with the sizing. We started, as we usually do, designing and test paddling the Medium sized version. I remember we’d shipped the first production model over for the big reveal at Outdoor Retailer, and the entire team surrounding it as it was pulled off the truck, sitting in it, and reviewing the hull. We all instantly knew the boat was not a true Medium; more like a Small/Medium with much lower knees than the prototypes we had paddled. Not wanting to scrap this final tool, we were left with sorting the rest of the line-up based on this Medium size. This is why we ended up with L, XL, and S sizes, with the sizing of each being a little off the norm for those sizes in other models.
I personally liked the idea of the Burn series with its hard rail design, comfortable ergonomics, and the one boat you could take anywhere in any conditions, but I’m also having a lot of fun paddling our newer designs like the 9R.”
The Burn III also followed in the footsteps of the original Burn, being the first model to use a new generation of grab handle; the drop-forged aluminium grab handles produced by DMM which we use across our range today.
B.Two (2013)
Over the years, the Burn has become a staple of clubs, centres, and coaches, being a highly versatile platform, which supports paddler development and enables clear skills demonstrations, without being overly ‘aggressive’. Upon the release of the Burn III, the Burn MKII was re-branded as the B.Two and made available at a lower price point for the benefit of these paddler groups, and is a model we still produce in batches today for clubs and centres.
The Burn may no longer be a part of our range, but it is certainly not forgotten, and we’re sure it won’t be for years to come. However, time moves on, and we must keep moving forwards…
(*Before you read further… most of the photography in this article has nothing to do with the article. I just added some of my favourite photos from the last decade of paddling!)
That was the question at the front of my mind as the countrywide lockdown was announced in March last year. I was about to head to the Alps to ski, then had a pretty busy spring season ahead. Some coach education courses, working with my long term paddlers, and a couple of weeks coaching and guiding in Europe. All gone in one press conference.
Walking down to the Rio Queros, somewhere in Peru. You can watch the 20-minute long expedition film here on Vimeo. (Photo: Dan Wilkinson).
I had a lovely few weeks at first, riding my bike, exploring the local area, and spending time as a family with my wife and our new baby. But as the lockdown continued, my thoughts turned to a project that fellow team paddler, Paul Smith and I had discussed at length, but that I hadn’t previously considered as a possibility given the time commitment required to bring it to fruition.
So, during the UK lockdown, we focused fully on a single project. Authoring a book for coaches of all Adventure Sports disciplines, that draws together academic research, real-world experience, and current coaching practice in one volume…
Airport Taxi, Western Nepal Style! Read Chris Evans write up of this trip here on the Peak UK blog. (Photo: Pete Catterall)
I’m just going to re-wind a little here.
The idea and concept has been discussed a lot. When I run coach education courses I am often asked what resources I would recommend that support the practical delivery that candidates have just experienced. When chatting with fellow coaches we find ourselves agreeing on the same approaches to difficult situations, but not recording what those approaches are. I often thought it would be worth making a record of these to be able to share how we are building relationships with our participants, dealing with fear, or running reviews at the end of a course. I never did, though.
Dealing with fear… I ‘slept’ (in a bivvy bag!) under this box in a proper flea pit of a hostel before heading to a high water Apurimac. (Photo: James Bruton)
In addition to that, I personally had recently felt as though I was missing a deeper level of understanding as a coach, so undertook a Masters degree in Performance Coaching (focusing on how I can increase my performance as a coach). During my studies, I found myself getting both angry and frustrated. Angry that there were concepts of coaching that I had no idea existed (at this point I had been a Level 5 coach for 5 years, had a degree in Outdoor Leadership, and worked as a coach educator) and also frustrated that I had to decipher what the academic papers ‘looked like’ in the real world of coaching. Kayaking (as with all adventure sports) is a dynamic sport, with participants of all different motivations and desires. Through my studies, my coaching developed, but the feeling that I had been short-changed by not being exposed to all this before didn’t leave me.
There is something about the simplicity of a multi-day trip to reduce the frustrations of normal life to a fraction of the size they seem… Thuli Bheri, Nepal. (Photo: Pete Catterall)
About halfway through my studies, I was on a personal trip to Nepal. Anyone who has paddled anywhere in the Himalaya will recognise the endless bus and jeep rides, as well as the seemingly interminable ‘waiting’ time that is an integral part of trips to slightly further-flung destinations. I was with some good friends, who also work full time as paddlesport coaches, and so we thrashed out our idea of a ‘chapter list’ of some concepts that we would want to see included in a coaching book.
David Bain (raft), Luke Kemp (kayak) and associated others during the Pyranha supported River Clean as part of the Kendal Mountain Festival in 2019. Look after your local runs!
That chapter list sat on a hard drive for a couple of years. As it became apparent that our lockdown wasn’t going to be over in three weeks, Paul (who I had sent it to when I returned from Nepal, and who had also gone through the same process himself and assimilated the two lists) dug it out and we started writing in earnest. 83 days later we had a full draft, and the chapter list had been fleshed out to 5 main areas, and over 360 pages of a book.
Here it is… 110,000 words over 360 pages! (Image Copyright: Adventure Sports Media House)
It’s definitely fair to say that I prefer being in my kayak, rather than behind a computer screen. That being said, I am really pleased and proud to have been involved with creating a resource that has received glowing reviews from a lot of people who I really respect, and that we managed to actually turn our dusty notes into a real-life book (if you could see my school reports, you’d find my teachers would be even more impressed!).
If you like what you see, you can order yourself a copy (UK & International) here. Use the code ‘pyranha’ at check out, and you’ll get 10% off the price too!
With 2020 being the year that it is, Kendal Mountain Festival did an incredible job of adapting to change and putting together an awesome event. Being a completely virtual festival meant that anyone, from anywhere around the world could get involved! With an impressive variety of films, talks, presentations and even music, there really was something to get everyone’s juices flowing! Although the event was technically ‘Live’ at the time, everything is available to watch until December 31st- perfect for filling that weird time between Xmas and New Year! Or maybe a ticket to a talk, or a full event pass could be the perfect Christmas pressie for that outdoorsy friend or family member that you never know what to buy for!
As well as all the awesome films and presentations, there were also some very cool activities taking place outside the recording studio. Earlier on in the festival, we had our pro mountain bikers (including my very awesome pal, Monet Adams) doing their bit for the ‘Trash Free Trails’ campaign, by collecting rubbish whilst out enjoying the local trails. The festival then finished off with the annual ‘Paddle Pickup’. Obviously, things had to be a bit different this time around, so instead of a mass gathering on the River Kent, the aim was to encourage paddlers all over the country (and the world!) to get involved on their own local river!
A small number of paddlers involved with KMF (including myself) took to the River Kent, armed with our litter grabbers! Within only a mile-long stretch of the river, we found enough rubbish along the river banks and in the river itself, to fill a 6-person raft, a canoe, and our kayaks!
As well as loads of drinks bottles, cans, and plastic bags, we also found a surprising amount of shoes, clothes, and old toys, plus a total of 51 golf balls!
Although it couldn’t be the big Paddle Pickup event it normally is, the message was still clear. We have a responsibility to look after our amazing outdoors and give back to the environments that have given us so much. We gain an amazing amount from being outside, so let’s make protecting it a priority.
Wherever you are, whatever you’re in to, please please please start doing your bit. If we can all do just do one small thing, we can make a huge change. Maybe once a month, whether you’re on the river, on your bike or even out walking the dog, fill a bag with litter to throw away and recycle. Sometimes it can be overwhelming thinking about how to make a difference when the overall problem is dauntingly massive, but together we can do awesome things!
Thank you to all those doing their bit in their local area, as well as everyone that was involved in the Palm and Pyranha Paddle Pickup. Also, a big thank you to the guys at Kendal Mountain Festival for putting on an awesome event and for supporting such great causes!
It was amazing to be involved in the Paddle Pick Up! I’ve often wondered what I can do to look after the places I go to paddle, as I’ve regularly seen litter on the bank and in the river, but the scale of the challenge can seem pretty daunting. I realise now that just doing a little bit and picking up just one thing and taking it away for proper disposal or recycling can make a real difference. I’m going to make it my mission from now on to have a little bag with me any time I am on the river or out exploring on foot and to pick up at least one thing. Whilst it might not feel like it makes much of a difference at the time, if all of us do a little something on the rivers and trails that we regularly go to it will really add up and we can have a positive impact on these places.
Chris Brain, Pyranha and Palm Team Paddler
Make sure to post your Paddle Pickup photos and use these hashtags:
#PaddlePickup #KendalLitterPick20 #TrashOff
Although we would have LOVED to all be together this year on the River Kent paddle pick up, it’s been so wonderful to see all the participation from around the UK, and indeed the globe, for this year’s Kendal Litter Pick. Cleaning up our natural world is one of the simplest and most rewarding things we can do to give back to the places we play, and often time leads to a feeling of empowerment for people to further stand up against the destruction of our playgrounds. Huge thank you to everyone who gave a few minutes or a few hours of their time on Saturday to leave our trails, streets, beaches, canals, and rivers a better place!
Cal Major, Palm Team Paddler
You can check out my interview at the Kendal Mountain Festival, as well as the Palm & Pyranha Paddlesports session, on the links below:
Many of you reading this will need no convincing as to the importance of Outdoor Education, and to those people, we’d ask that you head straight to signing this petition: https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/330559 and consider sharing it amongst your networks.
For those who have come to paddlesports via a different path (or indeed, anyone reading this who hasn’t had any involvement in paddlesports or the outdoors so far in their life) and may not appreciate how friendships, careers, and physical and mental wellbeing for so many have been built on the foundations laid by Outdoor Education, allow us to share some perspectives with you:
“Outdoor Education is fundamentally embedded in the curriculum at Bolton School, with pupils taking part in outdoor adventurous residentials in almost every year group from junior school up to sixth form. Pupils attend our residential centre, Patterdale Hall, to develop character traits such as intellectual curiosity, determination, self-discipline, and leadership skills to name but a few, but in doing so they may also develop a passion for adventure and adventure sports, such as climbing or kayaking, where once back in school they can develop these skills and take part in trips here in the UK or overseas, such as our whitewater kayaking trips to the Alps, sea kayaking expeditions in Norway, and sport climbing adventures in Spain.”
Steven Bradley, Head of Outdoor Learning, Bolton School
“Through my own school career, I was lucky enough to visit Snowdonia a number of times for outdoor and adventurous activities. It was on those trips that I found my love of the outdoors and wild places. As I spent more time in them and gained qualifications that let me take others in them, I started to see the frayed edges. The litter accumulating on busy summits, the rivers threatened by dams, and the changing use of landscapes in our national parks. To truly protect somewhere, we must first experience it and value it. That starts with children, and it starts with outdoor education.”
Tom Laws, Trash Free Trails & Save Our Rivers
“Despite attending several training camps, I was never any good at football. I tried cricket, rugby, swimming, and tennis, and none of those stuck either; most of my weekends were spent exploring the forest with my friends, and when I realised there were sports like canoeing, kayaking, and orienteering to be done in those environments, I knew right away what I’d been missing! I owe that discovery to the school teachers who arranged outdoor residential trips so we could travel further afield and discover the beautiful outdoor environments the UK and the world have to offer. Outdoor recreation is my exercise, it’s how I socialise with friends and make new ones, and it’s what my career is built upon – I genuinely don’t know what I’d do without it.”
“Learning through an outdoor experience allows children with social and emotional barriers to classroom tasks to grow in confidence and achieve in an environment where they can succeed.”
When I close my eyes and think back on the time I spent in The Box this summer, I can’t help but smile. I can still feel the butterflies and fire rooted within as I commit to the first big rapid of the trip. I can hear the water pick up as it forces its way naturally through the boulders evaporating into the air as it crests over the surface. I can feel the warmth of the sunshine on my face as I take a ‘Leap of Faith.’ This is a trip I’ll never forget.
I spent the previous weekend paddling the Honeymoon and Day stretches of the Clark’s Fork of the Yellowstone River and particularly liked its unforgiving, rugged, and voluminous character. Continuing downstream, the river cuts through the third deepest canyon in the lower forty-eight known as The Box. The committing and undercut nature of the river and its features adds a consequential quality to the run, you don’t want to miss an eddy above one of the mandatory portages.
Our crew – Ford, Quinton, Ben, and I make our way into the first canyon, the first portage is coming up. It’s a mile long, but the only portage without a required climb over fairly large boulders. Back on the river, we enjoy a few miles of calm river while Quinton catches trouts!
As we enter the second canyon, the walls grow, forming a formidable marble-like hallway. We make our way through a few miles of long boulder gardens and sweet boofs until we arrive at our second portage, ‘Ankle Breaker.’ This rapid was a sight to behold, a huge broken-up, steep boulder garden linked together by waterfalls plummeting into sieves. Hands down the toughest portage!
We run into friends, Frank and Travis at camp that night and decide to join forces! The next morning, we set off into the heart of the canyon. The first rapid we scout is ‘Balls to the Wall’. The current builds as the river steepens and all the flow parallels a massive canyon wall. Ideally, you want to be close to the wall, but not too close, as you fly into a narrow slot at the bottom backed up by a huge hole sending you into a moving eddy flowing into the next rapid.
This is where it really turned on for me. Once I committed to this rapid, I was so fired up and ready to paddle – I hit myself in the face with my paddle, bruised and bloody nose for the win!
My plan going into the trip was to have as much fun as safely as possible with my friends, taking on one rapid at a time and not making my mind up based on what I heard, but how I felt when I looked at each of the significant rapids for the first time.
I was grateful we had some extra water on our descent, padding out many of the larger moves and filling in some of the sieves.
It’s hard to choose a favorite, but for me, it was probably ‘Dillworth.’ The rapid begins with a lead in directing its flow into a house-sized pour-over, landing to the right of center is preferred to avoid a sieve, then continue boofing and charging your way downstream. Flying off that boof was a highlight of my trip for sure!
Like any grand adventure, our group had some unexpected things happen, several paddles were broken, lost, and dropped. When we arrived at the last portage, ‘Last Sunshine,’ we were one paddle short and had no breakdowns left. We are above one of the two mandatory rapids of the run. Quinton offered to ferry across the river, scale a cliff with his kayak, and then rappel back down to river level below the portage. Then he decided to hand paddle the rest of the way to the takeout. Thankful he was so willing to billy goat and absolutely crushed it!
We rolled into the takeout STOKED! The canyon blew my mind by the hour, but what truly amazed me is how we all complimented each other so well out there and lifted one another up. I didn’t know everyone in our group, but by the end of the trip, I felt I’d made some awesome new friends and look forward to paddling with these guys again.
This run only goes for maybe two weeks at optimal flows in July. Next year, I’d like to do a two-day and one-day descent in the same week, hopefully, less sore coming out of the first trip!
We’re all motivated and inspired by different things, but what makes it so special is that whatever the reason, on this weekend and in this moment, we’re linked together and unified by this one thing – this remote place, a shared passion, and pushing ourselves in this way. That’s a special bond.
Life gets messy. Things don’t always work out the way we’d hoped, we experience fear and unknowns, but the river puts things in perspective. It shows me in a very clear and undiluted form who I am. I want to be vulnerable in life, I want to be in places and situations that scare me and push me closer to the things I love. When I’m on the river, I’m vulnerable. I’m surrounded by beauty, moment by moment the experience exposes my humanness and I feel alive. The time I spend on the river gives me time to learn about something that’s much greater than me.
We all have different reasons for doing this. While paddling The Box may or may not be your journey, I think we can agree we can all benefit by stepping outside of what’s familiar and comfortable just a bit. For me, a trip like this gives me a little peek of doing so. How you choose to give life to your dreams and spend your future, is entirely up to you.
#shegoes
Photo credit: Quinton Barnett, Ben Litz, and Travis Winn
I should first say that while I have a lot of love for the Ozone, it is not the best choice for this style of water and I can only recommend using a bigger kayak such as the Ripper, Machno, or 9R II on this style of river.
The Wellerbrücke is fast, steep, and chock-full of places you don’t want to end up. If I’m honest, there’s not very much to taking the Ozone down the Wellerbrücke that makes sense!
Ultimately it was a culmination of all of the time spent on this river, wanting to get out of my comfort zone on it again, and to finally hit some of the tricks that I haven’t quite been able to pull around in the bigger kayaks I normally use.
The first few rapids have some holes on them and I had to make sure I landed my tricks cleanly to keep my speed and stay out of trouble.
A few times, tricks worked straight away.
Other times, it took a few attempts…
A few times, I just focused on getting down upright.
The river picks up pace the entire way down, and the entry rapid to the Wellerbridge marked the rowdiest rapid to run in the Ozone. I had to work hard to hit the line on this one and I was stoked to hit the final move and be in the eddy.
I had seen this rock a few times on previous laps and I thought it would be a great place for a Tomahwak; like a cobra flip, but sideways and using the rock. The water dropped and revealed a rock in the landing, though fortunately, it looked like I would have enough speed to clear it… possibly, maybe, sort of.
I wussed out of the trick twice for fear of landing upside down on the rock, breaking something, and far worse not being able to kayak for a few weeks.
I knew it would be a tight landing, but I felt like I could do it. I switched the annoying part of the brain that is full of “what ifs” and hesitations and sent it.
Happily, it worked perfectly, I landed the trick, and only just tapped the rock with the tail of my kayak.
The bridge rapid went surprisingly well, and I dropped into the race course. My goal here was to go top to bottom as clean as possible and then freewheel into Champions Killer.
That worked great the first time, the second time I did it I got stuck in Champions Killer, but threw some cartwheels and surfed, the third time, let’s just say it had been a long day…
You know that quote from the climber about why he wanted to climb the mountain and he said, “…because it’s there”? Same deal here. The Wellerbrücke is just down the road, and I have an Ozone. With that being said, I am back in my Large Ripper and saving my Ozone for chiller sections of river in the sun.
October this year (2020) will mark 3 years since the first Ripper left the mould; we guess it’s true what they say about time flying when you’re having fun!
To mark the occasion, we decided to catch up with Bren Orton to find out what impact it’s had on his paddling:
Hey Bren,
Great to catch up with you. First up, tell us how long you’ve been using the Ripper…
Right from the first prototype to production, and ever since!
📷: Adrian Mattern
What were your first impressions?
It was love at first sight. Enough rocker to climb up over big holes, a sporty tail for fun on prime eddy lines, and a planning hull for when you find an inviting river wave. I had high expectations of the Ripper, and it has exceeded all of them.
Where have you paddled it so far?
Honestly, almost everywhere. From the Little White to the Tryweryn and everything in-between, including a multi-day descent down the Kynchi River in India. Admittedly, a Machno would have been more practical, but for that style of river the Ripper is just magic!
📷: Dane Jackson
Do you use one particular size, or switch between them? Why?
I have used all of them and I switch in-between them based on what sort of river I am on. My go-to is the Large for the style and power of rivers I like to use it on; the extra width in the knees and overall volume helps me to have clean lines down the rapids, and yet I can still get it vertical pretty easily. I remember first trying the Ripper Large and being shocked I could still whip it up to vert every time I wanted to. For reference, I am 72kg, relatively strong, and sort of okay at kayaking…
📷: John Haines
How does it fit into your quiver? What sort of percentage/range of your paddling do you use it for?
Starting out, it was the kayak I reached for on easier sections, but as I spent more time in the Ripper, I figured out how to get the most out of the design and develop my own style with the kayak. I now feel really comfortable taking it out on bigger and pushier water. Honestly, the Ripper is now my everyday kayak. The Machno or 9R II only come out on really big days!
📷: Adrian Mattern
Is there anywhere you paddled it and wished you were in a creeker/playboat?
There are days where I want more of a challenge or to be able to work the nose around more, and that’s when I get into the Ozone; great fun, and good training for using the Ripper on harder water!
How do you feel about the Ripper’s 9ft length? Too long, too short, or just right?
Big fan. Any time I give up freestyle potential, I want it made up for with speed. The Ripper is SO fast and nimble down the river.
📷: Dane Jackson
Where are you going to be using the Ripper in the next year?
Almost everywhere. It is my favourite kayak of all time; it has challenged me to become a better kayaker; it has allowed me to combine freestyle and river running and to blend the different techniques together.
What’s you favourite move to throw in it?
Kickflip. The Ripper is so bloody good for kickflips!
📷: Kalob Grady
Any top tips for paddlers looking to get the most out of the Ripper?
Just get in one. It is in my humble opinion the best kayak to enjoy the river with.
How do your impressions of the boat measure up to your initial impressions?
I knew it was going to be good, but the Ripper is better than good; it’s special. There is no other kayak that allows me to enjoy such a wide variety of rivers.
Thanks Bren!
Thanks, see you on the river!
You can see Bren tearing things up in his Ripper highlight reel, below:
Easier to use than a SUP, better than bodyboarding, and more exciting than a lilo; you need a SurfJet 2.0! It’s a family fun kayak; a surf machine; a swimming platform; an all-round gateway to adventure.
Whether you’re spending some time on the coast and want to explore rockpools and ride the surf, or you’re unwinding inland and are looking for adventures on lakes and rivers, we guarantee the SurfJet 2.0 will put a smile on your face.
Not All Sit-on-Tops are Created Equal
Don’t sell your adventures short by buying a cheaply produced emulation of a tired, old design; get into the sport at the cutting edge and set yourself up for years of adventures to come, with the ability to make the most of every second of them.
The SurfJet 2.0 builds upon the respected foundations of the original SurfJet and has the momentum and experience of Pyranha’s 50+ years of performance kayak design and manufacture behind it. Founded in 1971 and independently owned and operated to this day, Pyranha are truly ‘By Enthusiasts, For Enthusiasts’, and the SurfJet 2.0 has been designed and built from start to finish in-house in Cheshire, England. We love kayaking, and we want you to as well!
Rather than taking the commonly-opted, easy-route of a flat-hulled sit-on-top, which is deceptively stable on flat water, but becomes difficult to balance and control on a wave, the SurfJet 2.0 has a semi-planing hull, allowing it to live up to its name in the surf, but also roll with the waves and keep you stable and happy when you just want to relax.
Our attention to detail goes deeper than the design; the SurfJet 2.0 is made from industry leading, ‘MZ3’ High Density Polyethylene, specifically developed for kayak production by Pyranha alongside our suppliers and tried and tested to the extreme in our market-leading range of whitewater kayaks. MZ3’s UV resistance additives and colour pigments are compounded into its structure, to further boost its longevity and keep it looking good for longer too.
Here’s All the Great Things About the SurfJet 2.0 That You Need to Know:
8’9” / 267 cm long for easier transport, storage, and fun.
Carry-friendly weight and the option to add a stern-mounted portage wheel.
Designed and manufactured by Pyranha in Cheshire, England.
MZ3 construction: Pyranha’s proprietary, whitewater grade Super Linear HDPE.
UV Resistance rated to 1100 kLy (Equivalent to 12 years of exposure in the UK).
Made with up to 25% recycled plastic content.
Stackable design sized to stand vertically in the average storage unit.
Highly durable, moulded-in side and end handles.
Angled rear storage area for quick drainage and easy re-mounting from the stern.
Cockpit recess for bottle storage or optional pod hatch.
Finished with a matt texture on top and bottom for slip resistance.
A harmonious blend of surf performance and stability, thanks to a semi-planing hull.
Raised bow and tri-keel at the stern for a dry ride and directional control on a wave or when paddling across choppy water.
Drain bung to release internal pressure in hot weather or when travelling across significant changes in altitude.
Moulded-in child’s seat at the bow, facing the paddler so you can see their smiles!
Moulded foot and heel rests for maximum durability and to allow different sized paddlers to jump on and off without fuss.
Four, large cockpit drainage vents.
Moulded-in threaded insert for securing an action camera mount.
The SurfJet 2.0 Has a Range of Options to Suit Your Unique Adventures:
In the heart of historic downtown Golden Colorado, right on the banks of the Clear Creek Whitewater Park sits a local, full-service fly fishing shop and whitewater kayak store, run by longtime whitewater couple, Bart and Patty Pinkham. Golden River Sports was first opened in 2004 by the Hartcourt Family, and was eventually purchased by the Pinkhams in 2007. Having met at Clear Creek Whitewater Park and eventually marrying, it only seemed fitting that they cement their legacy in the local whitewater scene by taking ownership of the outfitter. Originally operating out of only half of the store they currently own, they expanded and opened “Golden River Sports Too” in the winter of 2011, giving them additional space to run their operation. Now, the original half of the shop serves as the fly fishing side, and the newer addition houses all of their whitewater products.
The storefront of Golden River Sports. Originally operating out of one half of their current compound, ‘Golden River Sports Too’ now serves as their whitewater shop.
When they began their journey into the world of whitewater kayak sales, Golden started off selling Riot Kayaks and WaveSport, eventually transitioning into selling strictly Pyranha and Dagger products. Bart contributed the majority of their success to the releases of our newer boat designs such as the Burn, Machno, 9R, and Ripper. When these designs first came out, his store was flooded with eager paddlers trying to get their hands on them. The Burn series has been flying out of the shop for years until the Machno was released, and now the new go-to boat for the locals has been the Ripper. If you want to purchase from Golden and they do not have exactly what you are looking for, they are able to place a custom order with Pyranha to have exactly what you need shipped to their shop.
The Pyranha corner of Golden River Sports.
Golden River Sports is a unique, down to earth operation that also serves as a full-service fly fishing shop. Offering locally made brands such as Ross Reels and Scott flyrods, they like to keep their roots in Colorado. A full guide service, fly tying lessons and demos all winter long in-house, and every piece of fishing gear you can think of is displayed beautifully behind the doors. Bart and Patty offer free fly tying clinics for experienced vets or rookies with no experience, half-day guided trips if you’re short on time, full day 8 hour guided trips taking you to the places you want to go, and also offer private lake fishing trips for those trying to escape the crowds and fish on private, tranquil lakes with schools of fish to catch. If you’re interested in learning more about the fishing services they offer, visit their website at www.goldenriversports.net for more information.
The fly reel showcase, consisting of local Colorado brands such as Ross Reels.
The whitewater scene on the front range in and around Golden is top-notch. Having the local whitewater park on Clear Creek within a stone’s throw away from their shop allows them to rent tubes to people who want to send it down the course, demo their kayaks to potential customers so they get the feel for exactly what they are buying, and also serves as a nice, post-work surfing session for Bart and Patty when they can find the time. Multiple sections of Clear Creek are close to town, ranging anywhere from class 3 runs to full-on, class 5 creeking. Paddlers often run the full 8 miles of Clear Creek right into town through the whitewater park. 10-mile creek is also nearby and offers a more class 4 style river for those not looking to dive into class 5 or to change up the day. Golden is also only a short drive away from Buena Vista and Steamboat Springs, where plenty of other whitewater rivers tumble down the steep mountains.
River surfer carving one of the last features of the Clear Creek Whitewater Park in the heart of downtown Golden, Colorado.
Bart and Patty Pinkham serve as a staple in the local whitewater scene in Golden and on the front range of the Rocky Mountains, catering to both the whitewater community and the world of fly fishing. Free fly tying demos, guided fishing trips, tube rentals, kayak demos, consignment deals and their racks filled with every piece of gear you would possibly need to get out on the water and stay warm and dry, Golden River Sports has what you are looking for. With two passionate and enthusiastic kayakers at the helm of this shop, they not only help you find the products that suit your needs but pass along quality information along the way. Whether it is a guide taking you fly fishing on private lakes for 8 hours a day, or simply talking kayak design with you to help you make an informed decision, there is no shortage of hospitality behind their doors. This place is truly a full-service river sports store, catering specifically to whitewater kayaking and fly fishing.
Bart Pinkham, one of the owners of Golden River Sports.
