Slalom Boat Descriptions

My Mini Midas

The thing that I instantly noticed when I got into the the Midas was the slimness and small amount of volume around my hips.  This has made it much easier for me to use my weight transfer more effectively and gain control of my edges.

The slim tail allows me to slice the back end under far more easier and consequently enhances pivot turns.  This has enabled me to carry out one arm upstream gates frequently.  Despite this the boat is still well balanced and tracks well through the water.

The light bow prevents it from burying easily and it almost hovers when tracking thro downstream sections with staggers or also jumping thro stoppers into eddies.

I feel that in my Midas I have the ability to be more radical around the gates and the manoeuverability of it gives me the confidence to paddle direct lines Laura Blakeman

Krypton K1: Designed by Scott Shipley USA. Pierpaulo Ferrazzi ITA spotted its potential in 2000 Picking up an Olympic bronze and European Champs Gold in it. Anthony (Hooch) Brown GBR insisted DD get this design. He describes it as “Very Very Very Fast. Ideal for the 75+kg paddler who paddles open flowing lines. Although slower on the turn than my old boat the Boomerang XL it more than makes up for this with it’s ability to accelerate and hold it’s speed. You have to be on the right line to be fast, but when on it you will be the fastest boat on the river. This boat has made me a more consistent paddler. I can’t wait to get on the Ocoee with it!.” If you think you have the skills this boat will feel like a missile.

Boomerang XL: Originally designed by Ian Wiley IRL and Andraz Vehovar SLO. It was then Built up and modified to suit the 75+kg paddler. Anthony (Hooch) Brown GBR describes it as “ Easy paddling and very responsive for the heavy paddler. It is well balanced on both the flat and white water. This boat was great for me on the tighter courses of small rivers and artificial sites.”

Goldrush: This boat was shaped with the help of Wiley and Vehovar. They wanted a very easy turning boat with a bow that sat up through waves, stoppers and over drops. What they achieved is a boat that skips over most waves with ease and turns with little initiation. If you like paddling the most direct line with the tightest of turns this is the machine for you.

Profile 90: Again well suited for the heavier paddler.  Anthony (Hooch) Brown GBR describes it as “ the most responsive boat on the turn I have ever paddled. It is slower across the flat but ideally suited to paddlers needing maximum freedom on white water.

Retro: Paul Ratcliffe has made this is arguably the most successful design the last two years. It is a very deceptive boat with all the volume contained in the width of the boat rather than the depth. This gives it a  long water line making straight line speed good at a variety of speeds. The width just behind the cockpit means it is very effective at squirting of the tail on any hard turns. This does mean you have to keep the boat moving fast or be very strong to initiate and take speed out of your turns. There is little bow volume, which is great for getting under the poles but also meaning you have to lift or roll the boat over any waves or drops. Basically a boat for the lively paddler who is both precise and powerful.

The boat is available in three basic volumes as follows:

Retro standard: This is the volume Paul paddles, with a standard volume bow and cut down stern. He describes it as “If you are precision paddler, like paddling on the edge and attack the courses then the Retro is for you. I find the boat fast and maneuverable and hard to beat when you're on that fast line.”

Retro ML: For the sum 70kg paddler this boat was originally cut down for Campbell Walsh and has a cut down bow and stern. Campbell describes it as “The perfectly balanced boat for the lighter paddler. A super sliced tail makes upstream gates and pivots effortless. Re-accelerate in one stroke with an awesome C1-style squirt. Still big enough for full control in heavy whitewater, jumping over holes or into eddies with precision and ease. Average straight line speed, but with minimal overturn and superb glide, it runs staggers very direct, and very fast!

Retro XL: Designed for the 75+kg paddler, Tim Morrison helped develop it and built up the bow and cut down the tail. Tim Describes it as “at last I have a boat that allows me to work the inside pole, turns on the tail and doesn’t feel like a squirt boat in big water.”

Ultimo C1: Sydney Olympics Gold and European Championships Gold in 2000. What a pedigree no matter what the water type. In the past C1 one designs have either tracked well or turned well. At last though a design that achieves both in equal measure. Although it tends towards being a fast turning boat if you keep the bow down and the weight forward this boat will track better than most. Then when it comes to initiating a turn just sit up a little and the nose lightens up and whips round. If in doubt ask the fastest man on the river Tony Estanguet. Top British paddler Rob Turner got in it at the start of his winter training in 2000. He feels it offers him “a boat for anyone committed to paddling the most fluid line. But if you have no other option you know you can still whip in a hard turn if needed.”

Hoksi C2: Designed by Father and Coach to the Olympic and European champions in 2000 the Hochoner brothers. These guys dominated the world in 2000. They set new standards in the class developing both a boat and a technique to allow C2’s to cope with the tight moves the C1 boats do so well. It wasn’t long before every crew in the world were changing to this design. It was British crew Smith & Bowman that talked DD into breaking the bank to buy in this design. They then followed up this investment with a 4^th place at the Sydney Olympics. With two of the boats in front of them in the same design. Never before has a single design dominated the medals in a class. If you want to paddle the same direct lines as single boats this is the boat for you.