EZ by Wave Sport Company line: For world championships, getting down the river right side up, or conquering your first surf.
Two years ago the Wave Sport EZ
appeared in our 2001 freestyle kayak test and was a favourite of accomplished river run- ners, rodeo stars and newbie paddlers in a time when all other boats were long and slicey hole boats. The EZ went on to count- less rodeo wins in the hands of Team pad- dlers as well as novice freestyle stars. Now left behind by the aerial freestyle crowd for the Transformer, the EZ is one of the few freestyle boats that really works as a re- branded river play machine.
The shape is available in EZ, Big EZ and Super EZ and leads the pack for just sliding in, tugging on a couple of straps and feeling at home. The EZs accelerate to a realistic speed given today's standards. The similar balance and shape bow-to-stern offers smooth end-to-end performance. Stern squirts, almost forgotten in the aerial boat era, and bow stalls are very easily controlled. Seven feet seems to be the ideal length to
maintain vertical stability and hull speed and be short enough for play in small features. The EZs are stable on eddy lines and crossing waves and current. They boof and run small drops with ease, spin, recover easily, roll easier than most, are easy to get on edge and main- tain that edge without much effort.
Bottom Line: There are better trick boats, better river boats, better squirt boats and better creek boats but no boat that does all things all as well. Pro: All round performance. FAT 2.0 outfitting. New price.
Con: In every size (M, L, XL) except small.
I:3 by Pyranha Company Line: Serious, no nonsense river running playboat with exceptional internal comfort and control.
The I:3 is an evolution of Pyranha’s popular freestyle S series and river running Ina Zones that leans happily toward the river running side of life. Take a few strokes out into the current and you’re remind- ed why we ever paddled long boats. The I:3 instills confidence—it is rock solid in current, accelerates, and carves a real eddy turn. It was great to paddle something that required way fewer correction strokes than power strokes. It has much less of a modern planing hull and more of a continuous rocker profile. The bow has enough rocker to keep it up above the surface for punching through eddy lines or mak- ing those really heavy-feeling ferries easy. Sharp edges let you dig just a little and go with precision while the long-feeling stern screams for eddy line stern squirts and controlled pivot turns. The I:3’s stern locks you onto waves for long, controlled front surfs while you learn or relearn the joy of edges to rocket back and forth. The I:3 borrows the S series spin characteristics and slows them down so beginners and intermediate playboaters can keep up with the rotation, grab water to help pull them around and most importantly stay in control.
Bottom Line: The I:3 excels for cruising when speed and confidence are more important than the sheer number of ends. Pro: Long-boat feel. Speed—holds a line and carves an eddy turn. New seat and solid backband rig. Con: Outfitting finicky to set up: interchangeable thigh hooks, peel-and-stick foam hip pads and a fixed bulkhead.
2003 Early Summer 33
Paddler Jeff Jackson. Photo Rapid Stock Images.
Paddler Ian Pineau. Photo Rapid Stock Images.
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52