Rapid Media's Dan Caldwell recently wrote an outstanding review for the Jitsu. Read it below:
"It’s not always easy for companies to garner award-winning status with each new product release. Some of the biggest brands in the world have had a few products I bet they’d like to forget about—Crystal Pepsi, Apple’s Maps App, and McDonald’s Arch Deluxe. The important thing is to learn from the past and move forward, and that’s exactly what Dagger has done with the Jitsu.
The first thing that stands out about the Jitsu is its all-new contour ergo Outfitting. Cool graphics on the fabric aside, the most attractive feature of the entire system is the rotomolded seat with leg-lifter. This framework stiffens the kayak’s hull, making the boat bouncier on waves. It’s easy-to-use ratcheting leg-lifter holds your legs and knees up where they should be, aggressively braced for throwing your entire body into big aerial moves. Drop in foot blocks and foam shims on the hip pads and you’ll become one with the Jitsu in under 10 minutes.
The Jitsu is noticeably more in harmony with today’s freestyle moves than its predecessor, the Agent. The medium 5.9 Jitsu is a little over two inches shorter, an inch wider and has seven more gallons of overall volume than the medium 6.2 Agent. The outcome is a boat that is easier to throw around. And, thanks to the added width and volume, the Jitsu floats higher in the water, remaining stable enough to actually run rapids.
No doubt the single most famous, most respected, and most competitive creek race on the planet, the annual Green Race remains a fabulous and homespun little affair held each fall on the steepest section of western North Carolina's Green River Narrows.
We’d like to congratulate Dagger paddler Pat Keller for taking 1st place overall, and 3rd place in the short boat at this past weekend’s 18th annual Green Race. He posted a time of 4:14, edging out Dane Jackson by 6 seconds. It’s nice to see that out of the top 10 places, 4 of them were Green Boat riders.
It’s hard not to smile seeing Dagger sitting pretty at the top to end the season this year. Pat and the team worked incredibly hard for it, and we look forward to seeing what they have in store for 2014.
Active Nature is an organization that offers world class instruction in Stand Up Paddle Boarding, Kayaking, and fitness. Their mission is to provide adventure, community, and a healthy lifestyle in nature.
You can view a slideshow of their year in review here, and watch the founder of Active Nature, Jason Beakes, explain their mission statement below. Enjoy.
Episode 11 of the Wizard's Eye series from Dagger paddler Tyler Bradt has just gone live. In this episode, the end of the Pacific crossing comes in sight as the expedition continues from the Society Islands, traversing another 2,000 miles into the Pacific. With cyclone season quickly approaching, it is necessary to find a safe place to store the Wizard's Eye for the season. This is the story of the end of Leg One.
James "Pringle" Bebbington gives us a glimpse into his rigorous training regimen and offers some valuable kayaking insight. It doesn't hurt that this video is gorgeous, either. Enjoy.
2013 was a huge year, and Canoe & Kayak Magazine ranked their top 10 stories from January to December. The list includes Rafa Ortiz walking away from attempting Niagra Falls, Aleksander Doba setting off on his second Trans-Atlantic voyage, a breakdown of the successful year for Dagger paddler Pat Keller, and the remembrance of another Dagger paddler, Shannon Christy.
To view the full list of headlining stories from Canoe & Kayak, click here.
Tyler Bradt's Wizard's Eye Series Now on Outside TV!
Posted: 01.22.2014
You can now catch Tyler Bradt and his crew every Wednesday morning on Outside TV in their Wizard's Eye series.
This group values the journey of adventure. They show this by traveling the globe while filming their experiences with eclectic cultures, beautiful sights and, of course, performing some of the most adrenaline pumping exploits caught on film.
Click here to view the first episode on the Outside TV website, and here to go straight to their vimeo page.
Mountain Mind Collective's Dipper Creek Video Now Live!
Posted: 02.20.2014
Check out Team Dagger's Brendan Wells and Mountain Mind Collective's new video "Dipper Creek". You'll see some great whitewater paddling located in the Squamish Valley in British Columbia. Paddlers include Brendan Wells, Ben Marr, and some other fantastic talent. Check it out.
