PADDLER 8
Aqua Marina Hyper 12 ’ 6 ” x 32 ” x 6 ” iSUP www . aquamarina . com By Anne Egan & Peter Tranter
PADDLER 8
REVIEWS
Aqua Marina Hyper 12 ’ 6 ” x 32 ” x 6 ” iSUP www . aquamarina . com By Anne Egan & Peter Tranter
I was delighted to try another Aqua Marina board ; the Hyper has a very different look and feel to the Aqua Marina Fusion I reviewed a few months ago . I liked them both but enjoyed paddling the Hyper more for the reasons outlined below .
The new colours are bolder than in previous years , which gives the boards a more serious-looking edge and uses a double chamber inflatable system , providing an inner and outer chamber . Should the outer chamber be pierced , the inner chamber will still allow flotation – a very cool concept . The overall build quality of the Hyper is excellent .
Tracking and speed are the qualities of the Hyper . I felt very comfortable from a balanced point of view , even when standing still to breathe in the beauty and quietness as I enjoyed time on the river on this September evening . The only moment of concern was surrounded and slightly cornered by a mother swan and her equally sized gaggle of five cygnets , who wanted to understand what I was doing in their ‘ neighbourhood ’.
Before the swan encounter , I enjoyed the peace and quiet of the empty marina . The weather was perfect , with little wind ; unlike the last test , there wasn ’ t a beautiful sunset to enjoy , but the conditions were perfect to try out this lovely board .
The board does not come with a paddle , so I had the absolute joy of using my Black Project Tempo X , which is perfectly sized for my height , weight and small hands and makes paddling feel effortless .
I found this board easy to paddle in a straight line and could gather speed and change direction with little effort . New for 2023 , the Hyper models are now equipped with rectangular hydrodynamic rail edges and a FORE KEEL™ design for improved water stroke and straight-line tracking . It gives the board more bite and hold to the rear than in other inflatables .
Beginners will appreciate how easy it is to balance on the board , while experienced paddlers will enjoy its responsiveness and agility . It can easily handle the light chop and small waves made by river cruisers , which will make it suitable for coastal adventures . The 12 ’ 6 ” length also provides excellent glide , allowing the rider to travel more efficiently .
The deck pad is comfortable and provides excellent traction , ensuring a secure footing , even in wet conditions . I wore Keen water shoes for the test , and even with those , I still felt very connected to the board . . This size and dimension combination make the Hyper versatile enough for various water activities , from leisurely paddling to yoga sessions .