About myself

5'10", 185lbs, size 10 feet(US). Been paddling for about a year or so, and would consider myself to be an intermediate paddler. I haven't been throwing any loops yet, but I can spin and blunt and cartwheel, sometimes even when I mean to do it.

About the test environment

I've paddled the boat on class I-IV water, mostly at the Charlotte WW park.

Review

The boat is pretty darn fast for a short boat, and it handles itself really well on a wave. It will carve splendidly, but spins fairly effortlessly. In a retentive feature, one could spin indefinitely without flushing. It cartwheels pretty well, but there's a little more volume in the bow than ideal, so it pops a lot. The stern is fairly squirty, but you get used to it and learn to expect it to pull when you're in swirly water. The seat, backband, and thigh hooks are an absolute dream, but you pretty much have to customize the feet with foam or a footbag; I never did get mine dialed all the way in for comfort, but felt plenty in control. High sidewalls make it a little harder to roll, but not too bad if you've got good form.

Conclusion

Good boat, I'll miss it when it's gone.