{"id":16756,"date":"2026-03-04T15:37:07","date_gmt":"2026-03-04T14:37:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/thepaddlesportshow.com\/?p=16756"},"modified":"2026-03-04T15:37:09","modified_gmt":"2026-03-04T14:37:09","slug":"lettmann-the-dude-2026-product-of-the-year-whitewater","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/thepaddlesportshow.com\/de\/lettmann-the-dude-2026-product-of-the-year-whitewater\/","title":{"rendered":"LETTMANN: The Dude \u2013 2026 Product of the Year (Whitewater)"},"content":{"rendered":"
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“Super safe, mega dynamic, the creek boat that will take you down any whitewater.”<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Among the highlights of last year\u2019s Paddle Sports Show was the 2026 Product of the Year Awards<\/a>, organized in partnership with KS Publishing and the Paddler\u2019s Guide. Each year, the contest spotlights the best new paddlesports gear for the upcoming season. This year, Lettmann took home the prize in whitewater for the Dude, their latest creek boat. We asked the team a few questions on their award-winning design and the process behind building such a weapon.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Photography: Ben Jung<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Hey! Congrats on winning 2026 Product of the Year for the Dude at the Paddle Sports Show. So, what’s the hype about?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

You want to rock? Skip like the devil and still turn in a controlled manner? Are you looking for a loyal friend that you can fully rely on in every difficulty range? Here you are!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n“All in all, this makes the Dude even easier to boof, and direction changes are also child’s play.”<\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

The Dude skips you out of every backwash and lands butter-softly after steps and drops. The ingenious lower hull, with its innovative edges, makes it possible; it gives the Dude high stability in any water position, yet it is easier to edge than other kayaks of similar width. This makes the Dude super safe and mega dynamic. We have given the bow of the Dude the perfect rocker. This means that it runs extremely dry through heavy whitewater, and you can easily lift it onto waves, rollers, and curls. Thanks to its width and cleverly placed volume, its tail offers enough reserves, even for massive steps and drops, yet the gently rounded edges are easy to sink. All in all, this makes the Dude even easier to boof, and direction changes are also child’s play. The Dude is not even remotely sensitive to side water.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What a description! How much time and effort went into bringing this product to life?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

It took us over one year to make the Dude one of the best creek boats out there.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Photography: Greig McColm<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Does it build on ideas or designs from previous products you have created?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

No, we designed it from scratch to fit all the ideas we had into the boat without any preloads from previous kayaks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Was there a moment during development when you realized this product was special?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Yes, when we had the 4th out of five test boats, we could feel how easy the boat is to paddle and how forgiving the kayak is. The last test boat was then built to incorporate all the little details a kayak needs today.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What feature or innovation are you most proud of in this product?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Dude is the most forgiving creek boat out there. This helps the beginner to paddle a class higher and the professional to paddle the hardest whitewater safely and easily.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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