Sanborn Canoe Co. Announces Acquisition Of Grey Duck Outdoor
Winona, MN – Sanborn Canoe announces the acquisition of Twin Cities-based Grey Duck Outdoor. With the acquisition, the Sanborn family of brands now includes Sanborn Canoe Co., Merrimack Canoes, Current Designs and Grey Duck Outdoor.
Grey Duck Outdoor founder and owner, Rob Bossen, says, “We’re thrilled to be a part of the Sanborn family and look forward to continued growth with the Grey Duck brand over the coming years. The additional resources of the Sanborn team will enable Grey Duck to reach its long-term goals in ways that wouldn’t have been possible before.”
Sanborn Canoe Vice President Peter Boysen says, “We’re really excited to add Grey Duck into the growing family of Sanborn brands. We’re passionate about getting out on the water in ways that are both functional and inspiring, and Grey Duck SUPs and canoes fit that mission perfectly.”
About Grey Duck Outdoor
Grey Duck is a Minneapolis, Minnesota, based canoe and paddleboard manufacturer, focused on building products that allow each of us to live our adventure. They believe in reconnecting with nature, time with family and friends, and exploring often. Learn more at greyduckoutdoor.com.
About Sanborn Canoe Co.
Sanborn Canoe Co. is a leading manufacturer of handcrafted canoes, paddles and outdoor gear, based in Winona, Minnesota. With a commitment to quality craftsmanship and a passion for outdoor adventure, Sanborn Canoe Co. strives to provide customers with premium products that enhance their outdoor experiences. Learn more at sanborncanoe.com.
15 Of The Most Beautiful Places To Paddle In The World
The question we faced in curating this article was simple: how to list the most beautiful places to paddle in the world without playing favorites?
To create a more objective tally, we focused on both beauty and diversity. In just about every example, our 15 greatest destinations have a variety of types of scenery and paddling opportunities for canoeists, kayakers and rafters—as well as options for a wide range of skill levels. There’s always room for improvement, but we feel like the results come close to the ultimate paddler’s bucket list.
1 Ontario
Call us biased, but we believe Rapid Media’s home province easily ranks among the most beautiful places to paddle in the world. From the vast horizons of the Great Lakes to wilderness rivers and immense networks of freshwater lakes, there’s something for every paddler in Ontario.
Lake Superior is a world-class destination for sea kayaking, with Pukaskwa National Park and surroundings boasting over 200 kilometers of wilderness coastline. Similarly, Georgian Bay is a sea kayaker’s dream with 30,000 islands to explore. History comes alive on canoe tripping rivers like the Missinaibi and French. The powerful Ottawa River has been a training ground for the world’s best whitewater paddlers—with exciting opportunities for whitewater rafting, too. Finally, Killarney, Quetico, Algonquin, Wabakimi and more feature incredible lake-to-lake canoe and portage routes that it would take a lifetime to explore. Have we said enough?
2 Newfoundland and Labrador
“The Rock” is truly a world apart, rich in cultural heritage and blessed with a unique geography that’s perfect for paddling. Located in eastern Canada, the island of Newfoundland is known for its rugged coastline and maritime traditions, which are best experienced in a sea kayak. Newfoundland’s rugged and remote southwest coast is one of the planet’s finest sea kayak destinations for expert paddlers, while incredible sea caves near the provincial capital of St. John’s make great day paddling for novices and families on guided trips.
Newfoundland canoeing is underappreciated yet equally spectacular, with several free-flowing waterways, including the Main River, offering options for multiday trips in the lush boreal forests and sparse taiga of the island’s interior. Meanwhile, mainland Labrador is a true frontier for long-distance wilderness paddlers.
3 Yukon
Canada’s Yukon Territory offers a wide range of superlative adventures for all types of paddlers. For starters, the Yukon’s namesake river is one of North America’s longest, with a captivating gold rush history revealed in the legacies of Jack London and Robert Service. You don’t need to be an expert to paddle the Yukon River, and guided trips are available for families and novices alike. Some of the river’s headwater lakes make for good kayaking, too.
Countless wild rivers spill off the northern Rockies in the Yukon, including the spectacular Snake and Bonnet Plume rivers, which are bucket list destinations for whitewater canoe trippers. Meanwhile, the Firth and Wind rivers can be navigated by canoe or raft alike, and each offer unique northern landscapes of tundra and mountains. The Yukon is a place where time stands still, and it’s still possible to experience the lands and waters of your dreams.
4 Alaska
Just across the border from the Yukon Territory, Alaska features similar attractions and geography—with the addition of coastal fjords and glaciers. In Alaska you’ll find the world’s best wilderness whitewater rafting on the the Tatshenshini and Alsek rivers; incredible canoeing on Wild and Scenic rivers like the Noatak and Kobuk; whitewater creeking around the city of Anchorage and beyond; and incredible sea kayaking amidst the islands and glaciers of Prince William Sound, at the north end of the Inside Passage.
5 Montana
If you’ve watched A River Runs Through It you’ve got a good sense of just how spectacular Montana rivers can be. In particular, the Wild and Scenic Missouri River takes canoeists into the landscape of Lewis and Clark, with austere white rock landforms set between the Great Plains and the foothills. Meanwhile, the Yellowstone, Gallatin, Flathead and Madison rivers all offer outstanding whitewater rafting. Brennan’s Wave on the Clark Fork River offers fantastic freestyle kayaking in the heart of Missoula, one of America’s greatest outdoor cities.
6 Four Corners States
All the Four Corners states of Arizona, Colorado, Utah and New Mexico offer a range of experiences for paddlers. The magnificent Colorado River lives up to its reputation as a bucket list destination for whitewater rafting and kayaking. The Green River in Utah offers exposure to similar geology and arid landscapes, yet includes flatwater sections suitable for sea kayakers and canoeists. Meanwhile, you’ll find plenty of shoreline to explore on Lake Mead. Colorado is known for its expert-only class V Front Range rivers, and Arizona is home to numerous lakes and rivers for recreational paddling.
7 Minnesota
There’s a lot of beautiful paddling in Minnesota. For starters, the Boundary Waters Canoe Area is the most popular canoe tripping destination in the world—for good reason. This 1.1-million-acre wilderness contains thousands of miles of canoe routes and connects to Ontario’s Quetico Provincial Park.
Minnesota also marks the headwaters of the Mississippi River, and the Twin Cities of Minneapolis and St. Paul offer some of America’s best urban canoeing and kayaking, living up to the state’s moniker as the Land of 10,000 Lakes. Northeastern Minnesota pushes up against Lake Superior, and communities like Duluth and Grand Marais provide access to world-class sea kayaking on an inland sea.
8 Maine
Legendary American nature writer Henry David Thoreau celebrated canoeing in Maine’s North Woods. Not much has changed along the canoe routes of the Allagash and Penobscot rivers in the century and a half since Thoreau traced these waters with Indigenous guides. Maine beckons with pristine forests, tall hills, vast lakes and Wild and Scenic rivers—some of which fall along the epic 740-mile-long Northern Forest Canoe Trail.
The coastline of Acadia National Park tempts expedition sea kayakers with deep bays, countless islands and rugged bedrock coastline to explore. From easy day trips to wilderness sojourns, Maine easily serves up some of the most beautiful paddling in America.
9 Mexico
Mexico is a place of stark contrasts for paddlers: aquamarine rivers tumble through moist, dense jungles, serving up some of the finest whitewater on the planet; meanwhile, stark desert landscapes, rocky, treeless mountains, and spectacular beaches line the warm azure waters of the Sea of Cortez. It’s hard to imagine better destinations for winter whitewater and sea kayaking to ignite your sense of wonder and keep you sharp in the offseason.
Mexico whitewater kayaking and canoeing is best for expert boaters. Most vacations are based out of small, friendly communities where an adventurous spirit is beneficial for visitors—though some guided packages are available. There’s a huge range of Baja sea kayak trips, including family-friendly and beginner guided tours to more advanced expeditions, including open water crossings and exposed coastlines.
10 Patagonia
Located at the southern tip of South America, the mountain wilderness of Chile and Argentina feature equal parts world-class whitewater and jaw-dropping coastal fjords. As you can imagine, Patagonia is one of the most beautiful places to go paddling—especially when combined with rich and friendly South American culture.
Big rivers like the Futaleufu are renowned proving grounds for the world’s best whitewater paddlers. However, you don’t have to be an expert to go on a Patagonia whitewater rafting trip. Similarly, there are guided sea kayak trips where you can experience the fjords and glaciers of Chile’s Pacific coast up close.
11 Antarctica
The paddling options in Antarctica are limited, yet it still ranks as one of the world’s most beautiful places to paddle for its icebergs, mountains and wildlife-covered shores. Most Antarctica kayak trips are based from adventure cruise ships, where guides and naturalists will take you out on the Southern Ocean for close encounters with otherworldly seascapes. Short, all-inclusive tours make these experiences of a lifetime available to novice kayakers.
12 Scotland
With a mind-blowing coastline of islands and tide-washed channels on the North Sea, Scotland is a proven ground for expert sea kayakers. Places like the Isle of Skye and the Hebrides are world-renowned for outstanding scenery and challenging paddling conditions, with plenty of routes for day trips and overnight expeditions. The Scottish Highlands make for great canoeing, too, with tall peaks and harsh landscapes setting the backdrop for excellent paddling on rivers and lakes.
13 New Zealand
New Zealand routinely tops the list of most beautiful adventure destinations in the world, so it makes sense the country would also feature fantastic paddling. Abel Tasman National Park, located at the north end of the South Island, showcases New Zealand’s best kayaking, with expansive beaches, incredible coastlines and impressive biodiversity—even blue penguins. The area’s well-developed ecotourism industry includes guided tour operators, outfitters and water taxis to allow paddlers of all levels the opportunity to customize their own kayak trips, ranging from hours to days on the water.
What’s more, there are a multitude of whitewater rafting and kayaking options available on both the North and South Islands. Crystal clear, wild waterways like the Tongariro and Wairoa rivers cascade from New Zealand’s mountainous interior. Indigenous people coordinate much of New Zealand’s tourism and conservation, and efforts of the Maori community led to the Whanganui River being granted legal “personhood” in 2017.
14 Sweden
Scandinavia includes some of the world’s most beautiful places to paddle, with Sweden offering a huge variety. For starters, the Swedish backcountry offers multitudes of canoe routes amidst a classic landscape of lakes, rivers and boreal forest. The country also boasts plenty of coastline, and the Baltic Sea near Stockholm provides thousands of islands to explore by sea kayak. Come summer, the whole country basks beneath the midnight sun. Great public access to wilderness areas makes it easy to plan the paddling trip of a lifetime in Sweden.
15 Portugal
Of Mediterranean paddling destinations, Portugal offers the greatest diversity of trips by kayak or canoe. The historic Douro and Mondego rivers flow peacefully through sweeping pastoral landscapes, complete with ancient vineyards and historic farms. Combined with a pleasant climate and friendly people, there’s no better place to paddle into Old World culture.
Feature photo: Benjamin Kraus/Unsplash
Astral Unveils High-Float Indus Line Of PFDs (Video)
How does Astral evolve on the success of the long-running GreenJacket? By pouring over a decade of development into a freestyle-inspired high-float PFD built for the rigors of big volume rivers. Meet the all-new Indus line of life jackets.
“People are running rivers at higher flows than ever before. As a brand that makes gear to promote calm confidence in extreme places, it’s obvious that more buoyancy was needed in case of a swim. The obstacle has been how to do it in a manner that doesn’t interfere with your body’s natural biomechanics,” explains Philip Curry, founder and CEO of Astral, on the launch of the new Indus.
“The answer is our signature Foam Tectonics architecture that allows the various foam panels to work independently of each other.”
The Indus features 22 pounds of buoyancy built into a design prioritizing full mobility and performance. This is a 33 percent increase from the GreenJacket. The reason? Float higher and increase the chance of survival on a high volume river. It’s a PFD geared toward whitewater athletes, guides and swiftwater professionals. In short, river users who place a high value on a crafted blend of buoyancy and the mobility of a low-profile life jacket.
The Indus also features many of the elements Astral is known to include for serious river running, such as reinforced shoulder straps and a quick-release belt. GreenJacket fans will notice the Indus does not have a clamshell pocket. This was a move to slim down the profile of the jacket.
We had a chance to get a sneak peek at the Astral Indus PFD at Canoecopia 2024. You can also learn more about the Indus by visiting Astral.
U.S. Whitewater Olympic Trials Streaming On Peacock
American whitewater slalom and kayak cross athletes seeking a berth to compete in this summer’s Paris Games will take center stage on April 13, when the Olympic Trials stream on Peacock.
The whitewater trials are part of NBC’s Making Team USA Presented by Nissan, a campaign to air over 200 hours, including 35 of prime time coverage on NBC, showcasing the road for U.S. athletes to qualify for the 2024 Summer Olympic Games.
“All the drama we love about the Olympics begins with Making Team USA, when our nation’s best athletes vie to make the most competitive team in the world. In some events, it’s harder to qualify for the U.S. team than it is to win a medal at the Olympics themselves,” shares Molly Solomon, Executive Producer & President of NBC Olympics Production.
Catch The U.S. Whitewater Team Trials
The U.S. canoe and kayak whitewater team trials will take place in two stages. The first leg will kick off this weekend at the recently opened whitewater park in Montgomery, Alabama on April 13 and 14, with live coverage streaming on Peacock starting at 10:00 am ET each day.
The second part of the trials unfold later this month at Riversport Rapids in Oklahoma City on April 26 and 27. Live coverage will air on Peacock also starting at 10:00 am ET each day.
This year, canoe slalom will share the whitewater course with kayak cross, the fresh event making its Olympic debut in Paris. The promise of kayak cross is an exciting, head-to-head race in creek boats, engaging to both spectators and whitewater enthusiasts.
Team USA has a rich history in slalom, but haven’t won an Olympic medal since Rebecca Giddens took silver in the women’s kayak in 2004.
This year, attention will be on phenom Evy Leibfarth, a strong contender on the women’s side, but first she will have to put on a display in Montgomery and Oklahoma City to claim her place at the Paris starting gate. So whether you are at home or hanging at the takeout, pull up the Peacock app and tune in for Olympic whitewater action.
Dates and Coverage for the 2024 U.S. Canoe Slalom Team Trials (Eastern Time)
Saturday, April 13: Canoe Slalom Canoe Slalom Runs Peacock 10 a.m.-12 p.m.; 1-3 p.m.
Sunday, April 14: Canoe Slalom Canoe Slalom Runs Peacock 10 a.m.-12 p.m.; 1-3 p.m.
Friday, April 26: Canoe Slalom Canoe Slalom Runs Peacock 10 a.m.-2:30 p.m.
Saturday, April 27: Canoe Slalom Canoe Slalom Runs Peacock 10 a.m.-2:30 p.m.; Kayak Cross Finals Peacock 5:30-8 p.m.
The Paddlesports Trade Coalition Officially Announces Industry Gathering
Save the date: the Paddlesports Trade Coalition (PTC) has officially announced its first annual industry event. The PTC Colab takes place September 3 to 6, 2024 at Riversport OKC in Oklahoma City and will bring together decision-makers from across the paddlesports industry.
The Inaugural PTC Colab
The itinerary of the four-day event at Riversport is still being finalized, but according to the PTC, certain elements can be expected. The first full day of the Colab, September 4, will include the PTC’s imperative element: an annual general meeting for the organization and its members to take the state of and guide the direction of the organization. Along with the general meeting, the first day is expected to have focus groups and an evening social gathering.
“I’d love to have people leave this annual general meeting seeing that we need a strong voice. That we need a member base to activate and engage,” shares Stig Larsson, CEO of Level Six and chairman of the PTC board of directors. “The goal is for this to be a member-driven organization, not 11 board members deciding what’s best for the organization. We want 1,000 members guiding the voice of the Trade Coalition.”
The second stage of the PTC Colab builds on Larsson’s message. Days two and three of the Colab will largely host workshops, focus groups, and guest speakers curated for the industry audience. Along with these, the Colab will also include an element of new product showcases and the opportunity to demo products on the Riversport whitewater and flatwater facilities.
“We want people to walk away from the event inspired to engage with this market as a whole.”
There is still discussion as to whether non-PTC members will be able to participate in the Colab and in what scope. Overall, though, the PTC’s hope is to grow its member base — which currently numbers 106 representatives of brands, retailers, sales reps and others — and have Colab attendees leave fired up about the paddling industry.
“Our goal this year is to give everyone a good, solid event with lots of education and opportunity,” says PTC executive director Jeff Turner. “We want to get the industry together and make sure everyone leaves saying, ‘We want to do that again.'”
“We want people to walk away from the event inspired to engage with this market as a whole,” Larsson adds. In addition to serving as chairman of the PTC board, Larsson is also leading the subcommittee planning the event.
The paddling industry nonprofit has decided to manage the Colab in-house, rather than bringing in a third party to run the event. According to Larsson, running the Colab through the PTC provides them the ability to keep the focus where they would like it directed—toward education and engagement for the industry rather than going down the path of a traditional tradeshow. And Larsson believes the PTC will do a much better job of curating the Colab experience for education and gathering.
Along with Riversport, the PTC is working closely with Oklahoma City’s tourism board—which is continuing to prioritize expanding its role with the paddlesport community—to support logistics surrounding accommodations and flights, among other components of putting on the event.
Evolving Leadership Within the PTC
The PTC Colab is just one piece of the puzzle for the organization seeking to unify the paddlesports industry. Among other functions, the makeup of the PTC leadership continues to evolve.
Jeff Turner, who took on the role of interim executive director of the PTC when it first formed, recently resigned from his 13-year role as the sales director of Kokatat, and has now accepted the post of full-time executive director of the PTC.
The faces of the PTC board of directors have changed as well since the board election took place just two months ago. Jim MacAllister, director of U.S. sales at Northwest River Supplies, stepped down from the board alongside the announcement of his resignation from NRS to accept a position outside the paddling industry. Based on PTC bylaws, the vacant brand member seat has been filled by Phil Walczynski, owner of Colorado-based company Down River Equipment.
Associate board member Kelley Woolsey has also stepped down from his elected seat, with his vacancy filled by Cristin Plaice, director of marketing and business development and co-owner of Rapid Media (Paddling Magazine’s parent company).
“Paddling has been a source of so much happiness in my life,” shares Plaice who is excited for the opportunity to further serve the industry. “I am committed to leveraging my marketing and media experience to support the association in expanding North America’s paddlesports industries, getting more people on the water, and increasing the bottom line for our members.”
With the inaugural PTC Colab less than six months away, the organization has a full plate of plans to make, including the finalized schedule of events and details surrounding the logistics of putting on the event. For further details, visit paddlesportstradecoalition.org and continue to follow Paddling Magazine for updates.