The Slicey Revolution

In 1996, Dagger introduced what would become the greatest selling whitewater boats of all time, the RPM and RPM Max.  Whitewater worshippers around the world could not get enough of the fun that the RPM produced on the river.

Fast forward 20 years later, and we are seeing a resurgence of excitement as kayakers dip their stern into the water and point the nose of their kayak straight in the air, pirouetting down any eddy line that will have them.  This stern squirting and rock splatting are followed by palatable waves of pleasure and smiles the width of the river.  If you have anything to do with whitewater kayaking, you know that slicey boats are back, and in a big way. It is fair to say that they never really left, with several enduring designs that have been around, such as the Dagger Axiom.

So why is this different this time around, what has changed? What makes these boats so different than all the others before now? If you really want to answer this, and what is coming next, your have to look back to the early 2000s as the transition from freestyle to river running began.

Kayaking has shifted gears since the early 2000’s when freestyle kayaking started taking a back seat to creeking.  The evolution of creek runners began, with every manufacturer looking for the perfect design for the Class IV/V water, specifically steep and fast creeks.  Displacement hulls ruled the creeks for a while, with what was considered then, huge amounts of volume.  The idea being that not having the chines and edges of a planning hull, they would run the rocks without tripping up, and the volume would “pop” them back to the surface after the drops.  It was also the beginning of the age of bow rocker and big volume.

Creeking had a moment in the sun, but it too started to wane as people started running rivers, big rivers.  The Class V river became the target, along with higher and higher waterfalls.  Boats needed to evolve to handle the volume of water, deep holes, and the maneuverability required.  They needed to boof well, ride above the holes, and resurface after significant drops.  Bow rocker was increased yet again, and the volume was re-distributed to add more to the bow.  The evolution continued when racing big water became popular. These kayaks were designed to go FAST.  With races like Slickline, Green Race, and North Fork, emphasis shifted to speed and keeping the bow dry, so the kayaks became slightly narrower, longer, and with more rocker in the bow.  I realize I am generalizing all the race kayaks, but there are some resounding similar characteristics across all manufacturers.

All of this was great for those running big water, but it left a big hole in the market for those that did not want to do freestyle all the time or Class V.  There was a market for those that wanted to run their local Class III river and play along the way.  Most places do not have Class V rivers that run year-round, so even the pros started searching for those mid to late summer options to keep things fresh and fun when the snow had melted and rains had left.

This is where Liquid Logics Braaap comes into play.  Arguably, the Braaap is the boat that kicked off the modern clamoring for the slicey boat.  What made the Braaap different then say the Axiom, was the volume and rocker.  The Braaap was built on the chasey of the successful creeker line up, with its displacement hull, large rocker, and big volume.  It was the best of all worlds.  It could run Class IV/V water, but when water levels dropped, it became a squirt and splatting machine on the local Class III rivers.  It became the “if I can only have one boat” boat for a mass number of people.

With the sales of the Braaap, other manufacturers had to take notice, and notice they did.  Every major manufacturer has produced their version of a slicey boat (see picture above).  Again, some already had slicey boats, but even those manufacturers have looked to join the evolution.  Even Dagger brought back a limited edition of the RPM.  What makes one better than the other, well that all depends on where you paddle, your skill level, the quality of the materials, and what you want to do with it.  The best place to get started is at your local kayak shop.  Take one out and see what kind of fun you can have.  

Where is the industry headed next as the world of kayaking changes?  Although there is an argument to be had that SUP is going to move in on those late summer low flows; however, it remains to be seen how motivated people are to endure the learning curve to make it enjoyable.  Will the mainstream kayaker want to spend hours climbing back on the board to learn to SUP a river?  Time will tell.  One thing is for sure, kayaks will evolve, and so will manufacturers. The biggest changes will come in the way of materials in the future, as the kayaks become lighter and more durable.  If there was a guess to be made, I believe there will be an evolution of kayaks in the US that moves more towards two areas, fitness and slalom.  I know they both exist, but not to the extent they will.  Surfskis that are beginner friendly and cheap for inexperience kayakers will take hold in areas where clubs or businesses support the growth.  As for slalom, this will pick up on the success of the slicey boats, with more cost effective solutions (plastic kayaks).  If you travel anywhere in the UK or Europe, you will see slalom poles on rivers everywhere.  When cities, counties, and states realize the benefits of this type of activity, you will see a surge of new boaters. This being said, I believe slalom will evolve as well, and will only resemble what it is today.  It is my opinion that every beginner should learn in a slicey boat, as it demands proper paddling and improves skills faster than any other kayak.  Slalom would be one area to start the younger generations, in my opinion. Of course, freestyle has its place in skill development as well.  That is a subject for another day.