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June 20, 2005

EJ: I just finished my second trip down the Grand this
year. Although I was going to be rowing my dory this trip, I took my 4
Fun along also figuring it would be tied to a raft most of the time. What
a good choice that was, it was paddled nearly every day by boaters ranging
in skill level from experts to someone who’d never been in a kayak
before. We all loved it!

The first half of the trip the 4 Fun was demoed primarily
by an experienced paddler that occasionally has trouble with his roll.
To sum it up–NO Swims! He only went over a few times and nailed his roll
every time. He loved the 4 Fun and will be buying one right away. Another
person on the trip had never been on a river before and had never even
sat in a kayak before. A couple of the doctors on the trip thought it
would be fun to offer and let him paddle the kayak just above the largest
rapid of the day (telling him there was nothing coming up) (they did tell
him how to get out when he went over). By the time I caught up to him,
we were entering the rapid. I gave some very quick bracing and paddle
stroke instructions and wow! At the end of the rapid he was still upright
and smiling. He obviously had some natural talent, but this was a true
demonstration of the stability and handling of the 4 Fun. By the end of
the trip he had learned his roll and was doing class sevens on the 1-10
scale. (Another kayaker is born and will be paddling a Jackson without
a doubt.) I was able to get in it from time to time as well, and was very
impressed. I found the 4 Fun to be just as fast as and even more stable
than some of the much larger boats I have taken down the Canyon. The real
defining moment was going into the hole at Crystal. I’ve been in
that hole 3 times before (never on purpose) and been lucky every time
coming out unscathed. This time was a little different; I wanted to see
how the 4 Fun would handle in such a big hole. I went in planning to try
to surf, This was the biggest hole I’ve ever been in. As I slid
in the boat hit the wave and instantly settled and I had total control–WOW
what a boat! What a ride! This boat is all that you claim it to be. Thanks
for designing a boat that works as well for a beginner as well as an expert.

Andy Graham (aka Kayakmedic)

 

 

 

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