(2015 ☆ ARCHIVED) Spade Kayaks - Austria

SPADE KAYAKS (Austria) - Nominee for 2015 Industry Professional.

Website: www.spadekayaks.com, Facebook: www.facebook.com/spadekayak

Spade Kayaks have rewritten the rulebook on what a white water kayak should consist of. With an innovative design that challenges many of the concepts that surround creek boat design the 'Ace of Spades' is something new.

The Ace of Spades is the first production boat from Spade Kayaks and is the result of Olli Grau, Matze Brustmann and Jens Klatt. This team, filled with decades of experience paddling rivers worldwide, a boat has been designed that fits everything that a white water river paddler would want.

The design has edges that allow precise paddling, but is round enough for it to be soft when on slides and landing larger drops. The maximum width point is central meaning that whether the boat is flat or on edge, the boat stays perfectly balanced allowing the paddler to stay fully in control when using the rails.

One of the key reasons that Spade Kayaks has been nominated for the Industry Professional Award is that it has gone against the trend of Rotomoulding white water boats and is instead made out of blow moulded, high-density polythene. This creates a robust shell perfect for longevity and safety.

Spade has continued this innovative approach in the outfitting that is ever evolving. Their ergonomic footrest is designed to position the foot in the most comfortable and secure position to further increase the paddler’s ability to control this boat and the thigh braces are aimed to allow continual contact stopping the amount of wasted movement when paddling.

Something which is inspiring about the Ace of Spades is the approach that the boat will continue to evolve with parts, especially in the outfitting, to change as information and new ideas are formed. This lack of fear to try new ideas and desire to worry less about consumer sales allows Spade to focus more on making the best possible kayak. This may help Spade to create a new generation of creek boat.

Review: http://thepaddlermag.com/2015/10/28/ace-of-spades/

This is a 2015 archived nominee. Voting has closed.