It was an interesting opportunity to join key Pyranha design, marketing and sales staff to discuss their latest release, the Firecracker! This model has been a long time in development and you might have seen the initial concept at the Lyon Paddlesports show last year. Since then, a flurry of spy shots, both on and off the water, have infiltrated social media but a vast number of questions remained unanswered until now.
I collected our first shop Firecracker in advance of the official release, allowing the kayak staff time to inspect, study, and ultimately come to our own conclusions about its design and intended use.
Discussions around an 8ft boat with Firecracker charactersitcs actually started at the same time as the Ripper Mk1. The decision came down to whether the 8 or 9ft concept would progress to market. The rest is history, Pyranha’s original half slice surely being worthy of the term game changing. The MK2 update has been equally well received and brought a useful evolution, highlighting the fun factor that some felt was lacking in the initial design.
Andy Butler, one of Pyranha’s key designers, felt now was the right time to explore the 8ft concept. You could argue this helps to support the brand’s home market, our shallower rivers deserving a shorter half slice for optimal enjoyment. What evolved through various prototypes is a kayak with a split personality. At 64cm it’s perhaps the widest kayak Pyranha has ever made, featuring softer rails and sidewalls than the latest Ripper. On one hand, this creates a confidence inspiring stable platform for beginner and intermediate paddlers. This is not a model less skilled paddlers need to be wary of. On the flip side, the more advanced are making use of the down river freeride capabilities. Tallies, splats, cobra flips and hammers are all within the capabilities of the Firecracker. The hull is planing as you would expect, utilising the rear scallop that has been so successful in creating a loose and fast hull on the Ozone. The bow rocker is massive and combined with masses of volume for downriver confidence. The stern is a different story, much flatter and holding a tiny proportion of the overall litreage. You’ll understand why the initiation of a stern stall is absolutely effortless.
Sizing is an area that needs to be addressed. Whitewater kayaks are generally segmented by the traditional system of small, medium, large etc. While this is useful in principle, Pyranha believe it can be restrictive. In homage to the system used in history with their Inazone, I:3, I:4, S:8 and more, the Firecracker will now return to a numerical system, being produced in 232, 242, 252. While these can be seen to roughly equate to S, M and L you shouldn’t be concerned to move up sizes for a more confidence inspiring feel, or drop for increased your play potential.
Of course, every boat is a compromise of performance traits and by improving one design characteristic you will always hinder another. With Pyranha’s river play options being so extensive, running from their playful Ozone to the extremely capable Ripper 2, you’ll be certain to find a kayak that strikes the right balance to suit your aspirations. While the Ripper is perhaps a better single boat quiver, the Firecracker is a perfect quiver filler if you already own a creek boat. It’s different enough to avoid tough decisions around boat selection on the morning of a paddle, yet more than capable enough to run UK class 3-4 with confidence. So what will it add to your kayaking? You’ll be playing your way down that lower grade run with the biggest smile, using as much of the vertical as the horizontal axis. Surf every wave, splat every rock. Make whitewater kayaking fun when levels are low and just enjoy the river with your friends. Look to develop skills and finesse your kayaking at every opportunity. It’s guaranteed to pay dividends when you jump back in the creek boat as the levels and gradient increase.
One interesting Firecracker feature which will be regularly mentioned is the deck mounted screws, most notably at the bow. The extent of the rocker in this model necessitates the use of screws to secure the bow pillar. This is not something of concern and allows the deck to remain clean, without the need for a pillar recess. It is a design that is tried and tested through the Rip-R Evo, yet only being seen by most whitewater kayakers now with the Firecracker release.
All the staff in store are excited by the release of Pyranha’s new model. We can sense the anticipation within the community and have a diary of demo requests longer than any kayak in recent history. We’d love to hear your feedback on the boat and thus please get in touch for more information, to demo, or reserve the size and colour of your choice.
George
