B O A T i N s i D e r
New school lines, old school fun.
photo: stephanie parK
genetically superior
DAGGER’S axiOM IS A RIVER CRUISER THAT SURFS ON THE SHOULDERS OF GIANTS
PADDLING MEDIA (Rapid included) often can’t stern squirts. Of the boat’s playability, Robertson So who is Dagger targeting with this new river
resist referencing and drawing parallels—some- says his focus was “on surfing and wave moves cruiser? While Robertson insists that he did not set
times rather tenuously—to a watershed design over more vertical end moves in holes.” out with the design intent of replacing the RPM, he
like the Dagger RPM. In the case of the new Axi- To this end, the long, fast planing hull and con- concedes that it is RPM paddlers—past and cur-
om, however, the line is clear. tinuous rocker profile (which should look very fa- rent—that he hopes to attract with the Axiom.
After more than 13 years, Dagger designers miliar to RPM fans) make it easy to catch and surf “We foresee a slightly older generation of pad-
wanted to revive the classic river cruising style even slow, shallow waves. You may find yourself, dler than the usual youth-oriented playboat mar-
embodied by that now legendary boat with some- as we did, running entire rapids backwards just to ket,” says Robertson.
thing equally popular, but unmistakably modern. catch a front surf on every riffle. Add in full-length With four sizes to suit both parents and children,
Borrowing the RPM’s best traits and incorpo- rails that carve eagerly even when modest edging Dagger is also hoping the Axiom gets more fami-
rating them into a modern planing hull package, is applied, and the Axiom is ridiculously fun to surf. lies on the water together.
Dagger designer Mark “Snowy” Robertson says Working a wave in this boat is akin to shredding a The word Axiom describes a universal principle
he has created a “river cruiser” that sits between super-cruisy blue run at your local ski hill—every or self-evident truth. Fitting, since this new boat
the river running Mamba series and the Agent bit as easy and no less enjoyable. draws heavily on the best designs that have pre-
playboat in the Dagger line-up. We did notice the considerable length the Axi- ceded it, and the Axiom’s roots are in an undis-
The result is a boat that paddles like a river run- om has over other river playboats—the medium- puted classic in the lineage of whitewater kayaks.
ner with the fat trimmed off and surfs like a play- sized 8.5 is eight feet, six inches—makes flat —VM
boat with nitrous in the trunk. The Axiom’s bow spins and any moves in the wave pocket more
takes design cues from the Mamba and carries of a challenge. It’s just a fair bit more boat to
Dagger axiom 6.9 / 8.0 / 8.5 / 9.0
enough volume for a dry and roomy ride, but it’s swing around. LENGTH 6’9” 8’ 8’6” 9’
noticeably slimmer than most river runners. The Downriver, the Axiom’s hull speed and carving
WIDTH 22.5” 24.5” 25.5” 28”
greatest volume loss is in the stern, where the low capabilities make for very crisp eddy-hopping.
VOLUME 39 51 63 78 US Gal
profile permits easy back deck moves but is more Robertson says that it “paddles well in bigger wa-
susceptible to the vagaries of river currents than ter situations where turning from the stern and rap-
WEIGHT 25 34.5 42 45 lbs
your average river runner. id acceleration around holes and surface features
PADDLER 65–120 90–150 130–210 180–265 lbs
The tapered stern also lends the Axiom much of is important.” Combined with superior tracking MSRP: $795 US/CDN for 6.9, all other sizes $995
its play potential, willingly slicing into eddylines, and forgiving edges, the Axiom is a solid choice
US/CDN
pour-overs and even green water for effortless for extreme racers. dagger.com
 Rapid spring 2010
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