Putting the REMIX to the Test!

[Shimmyrocker]

I recently traveled to Austria to compete in the Adidas Sick-Line Extreme Kayak World Championship. Choosing a boat to race in can be quite a decision when every manufacturer makes a competitive boat in the 8'6" class. I was fortunate enough to get my hands on a Remix 59 a month before this event and below is the sequence of events that helped make my decision.

When i first got the boat i was a little nervous about the size. I am 5'8" and 175 lbs and thought the Remix 59 may be a little too small for someone of my size to run down big whitewater. I was wrong. The first river i paddled it on was the Upper Gauley and decided to use it to race in the 3 Wave Sport open boatercross events. One was a mass start race through pillow, then a mass start through all of lost paddle and finally a mass start throught sweets. The boat handled great in big water without ever giving me the feeling like it wanted to back ender. Not even at SWEETS! I was fortunate enough to end up winning all 3 of those Boatercross races and taking the cake at the Wave Sport Open.

Next proving ground for the Remix 59 was the Ohiopyle Falls Race. This was the first test of the Remix Boofing power and i laid down my first boof off of the 18ft falls with bone crushing flatness. It was an immediate sign that i did not have to apply any effort to this boat to get it to boof properly. The race is a sprint format and also went very well. I came out on top of this event as well in first place with Jason Beakes in second and Geoff Calhoun in third. The Remix is now officially FAST.

My last test for the boat was the Boatercross at the US Freestyle Kayak National Championships at the ASCI Whitewater Course in Deep Creek Lake, MD. I knew this would be a true test because a lot of fast guys like Jay Kincaid, EJ, Jared Seiler, Dave Vucilly and more would be racing. After winning the first 2 stacked heats i was feeling pretty good heading into the finals. Unfortunately i had a bad start but managed to get back up to second place. Regardless i was very happy with the way the remix performed on a pushy whitewater course. It tracked its line very well and the hull speed is amazing. I feel like if i was 3 feet from the lip of sunshine on far left i could accelerate right in plenty of time to make the boof. Its kindof like having a throttle attached to your paddle!

After all of these events i was feeling very comfortable in the Remix 59 and can officially say that it was the best boat to take to race in Austria.
When i arrived in Austria we headed straight to the river to take a few laps on the Wellerbruck section of the Otz River. The Wellerbrücke rapids is one of the most difficult white water sections in the world – called the Eiger North Wall of kayaking. The water level was high when we got there, it was actually a bit above the cutoff for the race but the Remix amazed me once again, it sliced right through that section of whitewater like a full sized creek boat. I was officially fired up to race this against 170 other racers from around the world. To make a long story short, the river came up even more and the race had to be cancelled much to our dismay. However, the Remix made its way across the pond and proved itself on the international stage.

From beginner to expert this boat is a nobrainer for anyone. It surfs well, creeks well, riverruns well and the outfitting makes you feel like you are doing it all from your car seat. Its that boat you could buy when you are learning to kayak but will never want to sell because it does it all well. Its like the Leatherman of kayaks.. Thanks for making the boat we are all looking for Liquid Logic. Below are some pictures from the Austria Trip enjoy!

Jesse Shimrock











[/img][/url]
_________________
Go with the flow...

[Woody]

X Shimrock that boof looks killer. That river looks SWEET.... !!! Are you coming to the Green Race? Beer is on me bro.

[Woody]

Paddle the Remix 79 today... X it was fun. It amazing how much a little more speed can change the sensation you get. I skipped over a couple of holes, landed solid boofs all day. Its was also fun to paddle less and keep up with others giving it hard to the take-out. Remix 79 .....wow. Woody