Watch the review ⬇️
The Pyranha Storm has been out for less than two months, and it is already making waves among beginners and expert paddlers alike. The rocker profile and hull design give it all-around river running and epic play capabilities, and it is a must-try for all whitewater kayak enthusiasts.
Will Underwood, 4Corners Online Sale and Fulfillment Manager, recently took the new Storm for a rip, and he has a few thoughts. In our latest YouTube video, he provided an overview of the Pyranha Storm, explained what makes it unique, and why he loves it.
Pyranha Storm Specs
| Sizes | S | M | L |
|---|---|---|---|
| Length | TBC | 237 cm / 7' 9" | 246 cm / 8' 1" |
| Width | TBC | 66 cm / 26" | 67 cm / 26" |
| External Cockpit Length | TBC | 90.5 cm / 35.5" | 91.5 cm / 36" |
| TBC | TBC | 52 cm / 20.5" | 52 cm / 20.5" |
| Volume | TBC | 268 L / 71 (US) gal | 302 L / 80 (US) gal |
| Weight | TBC | 19.5 kg / 43 lb | 21 kg / 46 lb |
| Optimum Paddler Weight | TBC | 60–95 kg / 130–210 lb | tbc |
Boat Features
The Pyranha Storm is in the small half-slice category, similar to boats like the Skuxx or the Antix 3.0. However, the Storm has a few unique features that set it apart from other boats in the half-slice category. Let's take a closer look.
Width
The Storm's width and volume distribution make it unique. The new Pyranha Storm is not an exceptionally wide boat, but the distribution makes it unique. Both the Medium and Large Storms are 26 inches wide, but the Storm maintains its width throughout the boat. This width gives the boat great stability, and "makes the stern really poppy." The wide, but skinny stern is easy to load and engage and "do fun stuff with."
Hull Design and Edges
The Storm borrows a lot of its hull and edge design from the Reactr. The aggressive, sharp edges allow the boat to carve easily. But despite those edges, this boat "handles boils and hard eddy lines really, really well. It doesn't grab unless you want to engage those edges."
Rocker Profile
The Storm is a lot flatter than other half-slices. While there is still good rocker, there is a long flat section in the middle of the hull. This unique rocker profile extends the boat's water line and, according to Will, "lets the boat be a lot faster than you would think a boat of this length would be."
The negative rocker in the stern also adds to the boat's uniqueness. It curves down towards the water rather than up. This makes the stern less grabby and the boat "likes to skip forward and not just up."
Outfitting and Comfort
The Storm features the Elite Outfitting, Pyranha's latest outfitting model. It uses a cleat and paracord system that is "super secure and stable." Between the outfitting and the design, the boat is already known for being comfortable. The high knees and bow space mean you "could sit in this boat all day, easily."
Capabilities
The unique features of the Pyranha Storm, including the width, hull design, and rocker profile, give it certain capabilities.
Surfing
The Storm is a surfing machine. The boat is quick on a wave and carves with ease, meaning you can "get to where you want to on a wave." It's also loose and spins well, or as Will put it, "I love this thing on a wave."
River Running
The big planing hull in the Pyranha Storm offers a stable surface to drive off while running rapids, and "skips feel really good in it." The width of the tail helps the boat carry speed through rapids and bigger features. And although it is a small half slice, the negative stern rocker helps keep the tail from grabbing.
Down River Freestyle
Squirts, kick flips, and getting air are easy in the Storm. The short tail makes stern squirt initiation easy, and the width "makes it super stable once you get it up." Likewise, the shortness makes rotating the boat easy. In other words, "kick flips are very doable."
Why the Storm
With its unique features and long list of capabilities, the Pyranha Storm "could appeal to a lot of people." For anyone looking to spice up their local run or in low-water seasons, this boat is an excellent addition to the quiver. The length of the boat means that even in shallow eddies, it can get vertical, and it's nimble enough to run tight low-water lines.
Likewise, paddlers trying to level up their downriver freestyle game will excel in the Pyranha Storm. According to Will, "this is a great boat to learn those tricks in."
Final Thoughts
Pyranha has created something special in the Storm. While it belongs to the half-slice category, it is unique in a lot of ways. From the width distribution and sharp edges to the negative stern rocker and big planing hull, the Pyranha Storm can truly do it all.
As Will put it, "This boat is really unique, it's really fun, and you should try it out!"
