What boats are winning in C1 & C2 slalom ?

Al Greve · Post by **Al Greve** » Wed Aug 22, 2007 11:21 pm

What boats are winning in the C1 & C2 slalom events both at junior and senior levels?

How has the Galasport Ninja done up against the Vajda Martikan 07 and Lizard 350?

TomAnon · Post by **TomAnon** » Thu Aug 23, 2007 12:42 am

The Vajda Lizard and Galasport Makao are pretty much the boats to have. They are the best all around performers. Both are true 350 boats. The Martikan'07 is like the website says, designed for Michal Martikan. If you look at some of the Euro club races, some people have success with it. However, it looks real unforgiving and narrow. The Makao and Lizard are much broader just forward of the cockpit which help quite a bit with stability. From what I have seen the Jr. Makao is paddler by Jrs more than the Lizard. I do not know why. I have looked at both of them real close, and from my view the Jr. Lizard looks like a cut down Lizard. On the other hand the Jr Makao looks like it was built up to be a Jr sized C1 and is real sharp looking C1. Could be just the boats I was looking over. There are boats from Caiman, Double Dutch, ZigZag... I have no experience with them. They are pretty rare in North America.

And for C2, I understand the Galasport ProFacto and 007/ Vucko are a little bigger than the Vajda. The Vajda Magma/Volcano are super nice to. It would be hard to find the difference between them all in winning. Some others probably have strong feelings on the two manufacturers. The Vucko is nice. I have heard that the Hochshoerners dad designs the C2s for Vajda. Truth is, he designs them for his sons and even for specific courses.

So, like it has been said look over paddling styles and the physique of the paddlers to see who you match, then try what they paddle.

Hope this helps. Looking for a Jr boat for your daughter? She would have a blast with it!

Tom

NateOC · Post by **NateOC** » Thu Aug 23, 2007 3:56 pm

I like the Lizard a lot. I don't have the '07 Lizard 350, but I have an '06 that was cut down 10 cm by Vajda, so I think it's essentially the same as the new one. The boat is very easy to paddle, turns really nicely, but goes in a straight line too. Very fast.

I can't really compare it to the Makao though. Never paddled one of those. The Martikan...I've never even seen one of those. Not sure how many (if any) there are on this continent. Pretty unusual, but I think the Lizard would be a better boat for a broader range of people as it looks like it would be MUCH more forgiving than the Martikan.

Nate

Al Greve · Post by **Al Greve** » Thu Aug 23, 2007 9:56 pm

Yes Tom I,m looking at my options for my younger daughter Emily. I've already orderd a Lizard 350 small that has a extra small stern and in a racing pro layup for Aliesha. I'm sorry to say its going to have a couple of Red Maple Leafs painted in its graphics..... no I'm not!!

You may see her down at Charlotte NC next spring, she'll still be a cadet next season but is excited about this new form of paddling. She's still paddling her cut down Zoom which is 8'. She gets her Lizard in a few weeks.

But yes.... Emily is the one that I'm thinking about now.

knu2xs · Post by **knu2xs** » Wed Aug 29, 2007 4:32 am

I'm currently paddling the Galasport Makao and absolutely loving it. For a smaller paddler, the Makao Jr would be a good bet. The Vajda Lizards are a little bigger boat for a smaller paddler. If Tad Dennis can fit into one, they can't be that small.