The NEW Dagger Jitsu!

This last year Dagger have been developing their new Playboat the Jitsu.

The project’s aim was to put Dagger back on top at the forefront of freestyle with a high performance, incredibly precise, super loose and fast playboat that would go big, feel great and stay true to Dagger’s roots.

Snowy Dagger’s designer exceeded all my expectations…A kayak I’m proud to have been involved in creating.

This time last year I got to try the first prototype just before Kanumesse at Plattling, it looked really promising but had a lot of work still needed.

Myself along with Rush Sturges, Ben Marr, Andrew Holcombe and Chris Gragtsmans were all involved in giving Snowy  our ideas. Then we tested the prototypes ruthlessly and gave our feedback from our experiences on waves and holes all over the world.

I ended up using it in the World Cup series just gone and even with a broken collar bone I still came 7th…so I’m really looking forward to fighting to retain my title at next years Worlds when I’m fit again, trained up and in a boat I feel I can really excel in.

So what do I like about it? Its slicy and precise, so you have loads of control over what the boat does, and you can predict how it will react. It initiates very easily and with much greater control than most of the current playboats. It’s fast and loose, actually one of the fastest boatsI’ve ever paddled, which means you can get it higher in the air and surf much greener waves than you could in other boats. The release off a wave is awesome, and with the volume pocket in the centre it pops really big in a hole too. Pretty much it’s turned out to be a dream playboat for me, it feels incredible to paddle and I’m really enthused by how it’s turned out.

Here’s the video from paddle expo with me and Snowy going over the boat and it’s features along with some actual footage of it in action:

What makes it so great?

• A super fast hull, with a great release edge and flared side walls to shoot down the wave and launch.

 

• Sharp precise edges for release, perfect control, precision and predictability.
• Contrary to the belief of round dull edges meaning forgiveness a sharp edge on the boat means you can predict exactly how and when the boat will react to certain movements and situations, you just need to spend a few hours paddling it to learn the hull and then your off.

 

• Centralised volume with slicy ends for big pop, smooth initiation and balanced cartwheel based moves in a hole. Being relatively narrow also means it’s much easier to get over the edge to drive it where you want.

 

• It weighs just 14kg. Less weight means more air and less stress on your body. It also has the hull stiffener welded in which means no slippage from the outfitting and an super stiff hull. This means whatever energy you put into a move comes out = more air and faster rotations.

 

• New Contour Ergo outfitting makes it a 2minute job to get the boat setup perfectly with no glue or tools necessary.
• Raise the seat with the included foam that just slides under the liner.
• Quickly unclip the hip pads insert the required amount of foam shims and clip back in.
• Get in ratchet the back band up and you’re ready to go!

 

• You can move the seat one handed whilst still sat in it!

 

• Raise your legs up to hold yourself into the boat with the new innovation from Dagger the ratchet leg lifter. Simple and incredibly effective.

 

The 5.9, the mid size will be available shortly with the small and large size coming out a little later. So go have a try when they come in, I think you guys are going to love them.

Pringle

For more info see http://dagger.com/jitsu/