Liquidlogic has been coming out with a ton of great new designs in the last few years. Some designs have been more popular than others, but for the most part they have all been well received by whitewater kayakers. Their newest release is the Liquidlogic Alpha.
The Alpha is Liquidlogic’s new 9-foot fast creek boat. The Alpha is comparable to the Jackson Nirvana, Pyranha 9R II, and Dagger Phantom. The 9-foot fast whitewater kayaks have been all the rage in recent years. Pretty much every major whitewater kayak manufacturer has come up with their own kayak that fits into the niche. Don’t be surprised if you see the Liquidlogic Alpha flying down the narrows during the Green River Race this fall. The boat’s October 15th, 2019 release date means that whitewater kayakers will have access to this new speedy creek boat well before the Green Race.
In this review we will talk about some of features of the Liquidlogic Alpha.
Liquidlogic Alpha Whitewater Kayak Overview
So by now you probably know that the Alpha is Liquidlogic’s newest sub 9-foot creek racing whitewater kayak. This kayak, like many other Liquidlogic boats, was designed by the legend Pat Keller. The Alpha incorporates some of the features that were used in the Delta V and other Liquidlogic kayaks. Here are some of the biggest features that have been incorporated into the design of the Liquidlogic Alpha.
Liquidlogic Alpha Rocker Profile
The Liquidlogic Alpha is all about speed and predictability on the water. The rocker profile plays a big role in making this happen. The bow rocker of the Liquidlogic Alpha is extremely aggressive. This helps the kayak skip along the surface of the water and prevents the kayak from plugging in after drops and ledges. As the rocker progresses toward the back of the boat it begins to flatten out. This flatter section of the rocker profile allows the Alpha to hold speed better than boats with a more round rocker profile.
Liquidlogic Alpha Planing Hull
The Liquidlogic Alpha utilizes a planing hull design. This is done, again, to promote speed and agility in the boat. Planing hulls are ideal for speed because they push the boat out of the water and reduce the amount of resistance caused by current or just the water in general. Every kayak in the creek racer category of whitewater kayak incorporates a planing hull into the design and the Liquidlogic Alpha is no different.
Another advantage to the planing hull on the Liquidlogic Alpha is agility. The planing hull of the Liquidlogic Alpha allows the kayak to turn on a dime. The edges of the planing hull make for sort of a Braaap or Party Braaap feel on the water. You are able to carve across waves and really have confidence in knowing you will get your line every time.
Liquidlogic Alpha Length
The length of the Liquidlogic Alpha is what really separates it from the Delta V. The Alpha is going to come in at 8 feet 11 inches long. This qualifies it for the sub 9-foot race category in all major whitewater kayaking races. The idea is to try to get as much length as possible without going over that 9-foot cutoff. The stern is actually cut off to ensure that the Alpha meets the length guidelines. The extra length of the Alpha makes it extremely fast. Again the Alpha is going to be comparable to the Jackson Nirvana, the Pyranha 9R, and the Dagger Phantom.
Liquidlogic Alpha Stern Kick Rocker Design
You will notice that the stern of the Liquidlogic Alpha is squared off. This is to ensure that the boat meets the guidelines for the sub 9-foot category for the major whitewater kayaking races. If you look at the rocker of the stern you will notice that it has sort of a funky shape. The design is called stern kick rocker.
This shape allows the boat to be nimble at lower speeds but use the extra length for speed at higher speeds. Pyranha’s 9R uses this design feature to the extreme. The Liquidlogic Alpha is much more subtle with this interesting rocker profile but still uses the concept. It will be interesting to see what paddlers have to say about the handling of the Liquidlogic Alpha once it is released to the public in October 2020.
Liquidlogic Alpha Whitewater Kayak Sizes
A lot of whitewater kayakers are wondering if the Liquidlogic Alpha will come in multiple sizes. Some newer kayaks are initially released in only one size. Luckily for those interested in the Alpha, it will be available in two different sizes.
The two sizes will be the Liquidlogic Alpha 75 and the Liquidlogic Alpha 90. These numbers reflect the volume of each size. The exact specifications for the different sizes of the Liquidlogic Alpha have yet to be released. When the specs are announced we will update you!
My Experience With The Liquidlogic Alpha Whitewater Kayak
Unfortunately I have yet to have an opportunity to paddle the Liquidlogic Alpha. I look forward to seeing the Alpha in stores this fall so I can take one out for a demo. On second thought, maybe I should just go ahead and preorder the Alpha.
As soon as I take the Liquidlogic Alpha out for a spin, I will update this post with my thoughts and experiences.
Comment below and share your thoughts on the Liquidlogic Alpha whitewater kayak.