Why Wave Sport Diesel Kayaks Give the Ultimate River Running Experience

Finding the ideal river runner kayak is hard for two reasons:

1. There are hundreds of good watersports brands to choose from.
2. River running is a sport within a sport, which makes it tricky to find that ‘just-right’ design.

That’s why we’re going to give you all the facts and specs to show you exactly why our favourite range of kayaks for river running — the Wave Sport Diesel selection — is the best choice for the ultimate river running experience.
We stock thousands of items from brands based across the world, so we’re not biased when it comes to quality kayaking gear. Have a read and see why Wave Sport Diesel kayaks are ideal if you’re into (or want to get into) whitewater river running.

 

Why Wave Sport?

 

At NorthShore Watersports, we’ve always valued Wave Sport kayaks. They’re strong, affordable and reliable, but more than that, they’re expertly-designed by lifelong paddling enthusiasts who know exactly what type of kayak you need for river running, because they needed it too. Tried, tested, enhanced, and tried again; Wave Sport kayaks go through all kinds of intense evaluations by the team itself before you sit inside — a comforting thought considering it’s the only barrier between you and the rocky river.
With a brand motto like: “paddling is about the journey, not the destination”, you can tell the people at Wave Sport really care about the sport, which we reckon puts a tick in the box for their kayaks.  

Quick-fire reasons to river run

But out of all the paddling branches, why is river running popular?

River running is one of the forms of whitewater kayaking (the others are playboating and creek boating) and is mainly popular because it’s ideally suited for both beginner and professional paddlers. By this, we mean it’s not as dependent on technical skill (like playboating), nor as reliant on advanced whitewater knowledge and experience, (like creek boating). It’s a happy medium of leisurely paddling and extreme rapids with plenty of opportunity for development, improvement and excitement.

River running:

• Gives you a mix of intense and gentle water conditions, so you have time to enjoy the water and develop your skills.
• Features safe and sturdy boats that let you explore the wilderness and venture down more rivers and waterways.
• Includes a range of drops and sharp turns that really work your muscles, stamina and overall fitness.
• Boosts your technical development at a more comfortable pace than creek boating.
• Takes you down slow-moving, beautiful rivers to alleviate stress and anxiety.
• Provides you with that same ‘whitewater thrill’, as you get in any other type of whitewater kayaking.

 

 

Why Wave Sport Diesel kayaks are the best river runners

Like creek boats, river runner kayaks are built for downriver water. But unlike creek boats, the river runner design focuses on:

• Stability in slow and rapid moving water
• Catching those eddies
• And surfing the odd wave

Typically, river runner kayaks give a balance of straight-line speed and comfortable control during cruising sections of the river, which is why they’re ideal for new whitewater paddlers who want to learn the ropes and up their confidence in their own time.

Wave Sport kayaks designed for river running fall under the Diesel range. There’s a decent number of these available and we’re going to focus on the specs that make them ideal for river running.

 

Colour
Wave Sport Diesel kayaks come in a range of bold colour tones, including: orange changing into yellow, purple morphing into black, and blue fading into white. This not only looks attractive (which is always nice) but it also makes them stand out on the river, making you easy to spot if you’re in trouble.

Length

You’ll find that river runner kayaks are often longer than other boats, which is because you need straight-line stability for the gentler parts of the river. Wave Sport kayaks in the Diesel range have this completely covered. Not only do Diesel boats give you a choice of lengths (223cm, 259cm and 244cm) to suit your height, but these three measurements boost speed and efficiency. This means you can navigate turns and drops easily, as well as pick up pace during calmer river sections.

 

Planing hull

These Wave Sport kayaks offer exceptional agility thanks to their planing hull and continuous rocker combination.
Kayaks with planing hull designs are built to ride on the water, rather than push through it. Which is why Diesels are excellent at rising above the surface and gliding across waves. Put some speed into it, and the planing hull of a Wave Sport Diesel kayak will let you spin on waves with little effort — perfect for manoeuvring around narrow, twisting rivers and adding a few tricks into your trip.

 

 

Continuous rocker

The Diesel range of Wave Sport kayaks features continuous rockers, which are when the bottom of the kayak curves completely from bow to stern. This adds to these boats’ amazing river running ability in three ways:

 

1. It provides a smooth journey and a high degree of manoeuvrability for trickier parts of the water.
2. You can slice through water with very little friction, which gives you both stability and speed.  
3. Boofing is made easy. Boofing is a big part of river running that involves keeping your bow above the surface when you go over drops or holes, and a continuous rocker means you can carry out this sleek stunt, no worries.

 

 

Peaked deck

Wave Sport Diesels have undergone a few changes over the years, and deck design is one of them. Now, Diesel kayaks feature a peaked deck that fits in with river running perfectly. Peaked decks increase your ability to resurface, which is crucial during river rapids where you might find lots of eddies, holes and drops when you’re least expecting them.

 

Volume

Kayak volume basically dictates stability and speed — which is why it’s an important benefit to have in the Wave Sport Diesel arsenal. These river runner kayaks offer volumes of either 60, 70 or 80 gallons, which is typically more than playboat or freestyle kayaks (roughly 35-60 gallons) and about the same as a creek boat.
This is important to your river running experience, as the greater volume in the Diesel range gives you a higher floating level. This means you have more balance and increased speed, which lets you ride the rapids with absolute ease and confidence.

Extra features

 

On top of everything we’ve just looked at, Wave Sport kayaks in the Diesel range offer superb safety features suited to river running. There are: secure grab points, bulkhead foot brace systems, and adjustable backbands and thigh braces to make you feel safe, secure and comfortable during long whitewater sessions full of twists and drops.
Hopefully, you’ve been persuaded to consider Wave Sport kayaks when you’re buying your next, or first, river runner. We have a few left in stock here, including Wave Sport Diesel Blackout and Wave Sport Diesel 60, or you can check out our huge range of other quality kayak brands.