Billing its unusual creations as the best whitewater rafts ever built, Creature Craft is pushing the limits of what’s possible in inflatables. The boats celebrated a successful descent of the Stikine last year, and creature craft paddlers regularly test themselves against class V+ rivers around the world.
The duelling oar-rig has an admirable safety record. Thanks to its shape and design, the only stable position is right-side up. “All weight is on the bottom side so it’s like an old-style clown pop-up. The bigger the water, the faster it flips up,” says Creature Craft owner and founder Darren Vancil. Thigh straps keep the paddlers in the boat at all times, and feature an easy-release system. “The boat can withstand way more than your body and keep you safe—you’re not getting out unless you want to.”
A former high school teacher, Vancil designed the first creature craft in the fall of 1997, and launched it 18 months later. Inspiration came after his raft flipped during Colorado’s Gore Canyon Race, which resulted in a bad swim and dislocated shoulder. “I decided then, while I was underwater, there’s got to be a better way.” Soon after, Vancil was drawing up designs for a safer raft that could contend with the biggest water.
One of the biggest advantages to paddling the creature craft is that it buys you time. “You have time to follow through on plan B or C, if the first plan isn’t working,” Vancil explains. While paddling the Stikine last September, one boat became trapped in the middle hole at Site Zed rapid…
This article originally appeared in Rapid, Early Summer 2013. Download our free iPad/iPhone/iPod Touch App or Android App or read the rest here.
