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.
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.
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?
“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.
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, Horton 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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Feature photo: Benjamin Kraus/Unsplash
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.
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.
Photo: Tristan Mimet/Unsplash
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.
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.”
Astral Indus PFD. Image: Astral
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.
Evy Leibfarth on the Montgomery course set to host U.S. Olympic Team Trials. Feature Image: Montgomery Whitewater Park
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.
Evy Leibfarth on the Montgomery course set to host U.S. Olympic Team Trials. Feature Image: Montgomery Whitewater Park
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)
It’s not often a sea kayaking video opens with a viewer discretion warning. Then again, it’s rare to encounter a paddling film so brutally raw and with scenes so haunting they’ll keep you up at night. Vancouver-based filmmaker Richard Chen’s Beyond the Salish tells the story of a sea kayak expedition that nearly ended in tragedy—and will certainly provoke plenty of hand-wringing and commentary from audiences at stops on this year’s Paddling Film Festival World Tour.
Chen was introduced to sea kayaking by his friend, fellow 24-year-old Vancouverite William Chong. Chong was looking for a partner in paddling adventures, having previously kayaked solo from Prince Rupert to Klemtu along the Inside Passage of British Columbia’s northern coast. The pair spent last summer practicing their skills along the Vancouver waterfront, in preparation for a seven-day trip from Cougar Creek to Tofino on the west coast of Vancouver Island in late September.
“There’s nothing like learning by doing,” Chen says early in the film. “This journey would be my rite of passage.”
Photo: Courtesy Richard Chen and William Chong
From the outset of the film, it’s evident to viewers—if not the paddlers themselves—that Chen and Chong are in over their heads with the 150-kilometer route, most of which is exposed to the open Pacific Ocean. They were challenged by choppy seas and headwinds as they ventured out of sheltered waters on the second day. Chen remarks there were “points when I couldn’t even see Will” in the growing swells. In the moment, he says to the camera that he’s contemplating calling SOS with his phone.
Chong was equally concerned. “Conditions were getting out of hand,” he recalls. “I was worried if Richard could finish the trip.”
Going from bad to worse
The pair were slow to get started on their third day, and they finally hit the water around noon to find rising seas as the tide changed, forcing them a kilometer offshore to avoid breaking waves and shoals.
“As we navigated past the second reef, a rogue wave blindsided my kayak,” says Chen. “I yanked my sprayskirt, bailed out and screamed for Will.”
“For a brief moment, I thought, ‘Why did I decide to go with Richard?’” admits Chong.
Photo: Courtesy Richard Chen and William Chong
Photo: Courtesy Richard Chen and William Chong
From the water, Chen made an SOS call. Amidst surf and exposed rock, the pair struggled for 10 minutes to pump out Chen’s flooded kayak. Their attempts failed and after abandoning the boat, Chong tried to tow his partner out of harm’s way. This effort was also futile, and Chong says he knew he would be in the water soon, too. For the viewer, the panic in the friends’ terse communication, laced with expletives, is haunting.
“My initial reaction watching the footage was something along the lines of, ‘How did we not see this coming?’”
For Chen, the situation was “desperate.” He reached for Chong’s boat just as a “monster wave hit, snatching my glasses and phone.” Chong capsized and was now in the water, too. “At that moment,” says Chen, “it felt like all hope was gone.”
“My initial reaction watching the footage was something along the lines of, ‘How did we not see this coming?’” admits Chen. “Unlike many people who’ve experienced near-death experiences, our experience was self-inflicted, and criticizing us is perfectly valid. We had no business doing the kayak trip on that route with our experience both as a team as well as individuals. I think what’s important to know is that there are always risks to taking any expedition and it’s important to know where the edge of what you’re comfortable with is, and how far you can push yourself beyond your comfort zone. This is the lesson we’ve learned—is to take manageable risks and know when to pull back.”
Rescue comes by chance
In the point-of-view footage of the disaster, viewers can see an aluminum boat bobbing in and out of the background. Commercial fisherman Rick Williams just happened to be boating by, and he tenuously navigated the choppy waters and pulled Chen and Chong from the sea.
“He found us in distress completely coincidentally,” says Chen. “What I felt when I was pulled out of the water was perhaps the biggest relief of my life. I collapsed onto the deck and I couldn’t muster anything else but a ‘thank you’ out of my mouth.”
Photo: Courtesy Richard Chen and William Chong
“The fact that we came out alive and unscathed is something beyond luck and human comprehension,” adds Chen. “Often filmmakers make the hero’s story a long-winded journey of struggle and failure that in the end leads to success. At the heart of Beyond the Salish is a humbling experience where two young men, optimistic with big dreams, come face to face with the obstacles of a harsh reality.”
Moscow, Idaho — Northwest River Supplies (NRS), the world’s leading supplier of equipment and apparel for water recreation, safety and rescue, proudly announces the launch of its highly anticipated suite of innovative new products, set to revolutionize the outdoor industry and enhance the adventure experience for enthusiasts worldwide.
With a rich history rooted in a passion for rivers and outdoor exploration, NRS continues to push the boundaries of possibility, leading the way with cutting-edge solutions designed to meet the evolving needs of adventurers. The new suite of products showcases NRS’s unwavering commitment to excellence and its dedication to providing customers with the tools they need to embark on unforgettable adventures with confidence. Designed with input from top athletes and outdoor experts, NRS’s new line of paddling gear sets a new standard for comfort, performance and versatility. Each product in the lineup represents the pinnacle of craftsmanship and reliability, meticulously crafted to enhance the paddling experience.
Highlights of the new product suite include:
Life Jackets / Personal Flotation Devices (PFDs)
All new PFDs are specifically designed to fit all genders and body types thanks to the new NRS Orbit Fit System. Orbit fit’s flexible pre-curved shape immediately wraps around and embraces the paddler’s torso for a snug, secure fit without having to over tighten. Full PFD line release coming March 12, 2024.
Ninja, Ninja OS and Ninja Pro — A fan favorite for years, the Ninja is known for being NRS’s lowest-profile jacket. By concentrating all the flotation into a smaller surface area, the Ninja redefines what freedom of movement means while wearing a life jacket. This year, NRS redesigned the Ninja platform to better fit a range of body types and introduced rescue and touring-specific options.
Odyssey — Designed for offshore safety and convenience, the redesigned Odyssey PFD combines an unmatched fit with incredible freedom of movement to enhance the touring and adventure paddler’s experience.
Vector — We combined the superior fit of the Orbit Fit System with extensive Class V rescue-specific details to reimagine the performance of a rescue PFD. Built for guides, Search and Rescue professionals and expedition kayakers, the Vector is the lightest, most comfortable rescue vest available.
Ambient — A modern take on a classic design, the NRS Ambient PFD combines simplicity and comfort with safety and protection. With the convenience of a front-zip entry and the freedom to swim, paddle and splash, you won’t find a more comfortable recreational jacket than the Ambient.
Fishing Rafts
Building on the release of the Slipstream Fishing Rafts in 2022, NRS continues to evolve its lineup of rafts purpose-built for adventure anglers. Engineered for maximum performance and durability, NRS’s latest fishing raft models feature innovative construction materials and advanced design elements, ensuring unmatched stability, maneuverability and safety on the water, and guaranteeing to enhance the adventure angler’s experience. Full Approach and Slipstream release coming March 26.
Approach — Lightweight and easy to transport, the Approach Rafts redefine the limits of where a boat can take you. A combination of smaller tubes and a thick drop stitch insert floor enhances buoyancy, letting the Approach draft in really skinny water. With customizable features and two sizes to choose from, the NRS Approach micro-raft packages open access to headwaters and tighter, more remote waters other boats can’t reach.
Slipstream — The NRS award-winning Slipstream hits the 2024 season with next-level updates, including an increased drop stitch floor volume for superior low water drafting, improved storage and enhanced stability and comfort for standing anglers—all in a lighter package.
Packrafts
Leaning on 50 years of boat-building experience, NRS is introducing a line of packrafts that are more durable and will expand the boundaries of the adventurous spirit. Overlapping, heat-welded seams combine with interior taping, to create an incredibly strong mechanical bond for fail-proof air retention. PVC-free, TPU-coated nylon interior and exterior coating provides additional resistance to abrasion. With three unique designs purpose-built for calm, moving and whitewater, there’s a packraft for all levels of paddlers. Full Packraft release coming April 9.
Stand-Up Paddleboards (SUPs)
Whether living in the city, the burbs or the backwoods, NRS inflatable SUPs make getting outside accessible. In 2024, we’re excited to announce that we’re hand-shaping inflatable paddleboards in Idaho and pushing the evolution of SUP to a new level. New NRS boards boast a combination of two innovative construction methods. Integrated Shaping Technology (IST™) makes it possible to purposefully design boards for specific paddling styles while Z/Blend Core™ uses woven, rather than knit, drop stitch to build stiffer, lighter boards. Plus, all boards are backed with an industry-best warranty. Full SUP release coming May 7.
Clipper SUP — The Clipper SUP Board is a premium touring board featuring a deliberately shaped nose and tail rocker to balance tracking and maneuverability. Whether you’re challenging headwinds on the Great Lakes or crushing river miles to make camp, the Clipper handles touring and overnight adventures with ease.
Clean SUP — The Clean SUP Board turns clean-line dreams into a reality. Featuring a significant continuous tail and nose rocker, the Clean transforms rapids into a paddling playground. Downriver paddlers can choose between two sizes—a shorter playful board or one better designed for multi-day adventures.
Sleeping pad? Check. Seat cushion? Check. Cooler insulation? Check. River float? Check. The Snooze Pad is summer’s best friend. Sleep easy on three different sizes of dual-density foam covered in durable, waterproof TPU-coated nylon. PVC-free and self-inflating for a comfortable night spent under the stars.
Dry Duffels
Home to the legendary Bill’s Bags, NRS is revising its line of dry bags with the new, improved and PVC-free Expedition DriDuffel and High Roll Duffel. The heavy duty UV and wear-resistant Expedition DriDuffel sports RF welded seams that can handle the wear and tear of any outdoor adventure season after season and a TRU® Zip closure that delivers an immersion-ready waterproof seal and a self-repairing toothless “zipper,” making wilderness maintenance a non-issue.
About NRS
100% employee-owned, NRS is the world’s leading supplier of equipment and apparel for water recreation, safety and rescue. Founded in 1972 with a vision to create a better kind of company, NRS is dedicated to promoting the health and well-being of its customers, employees and community.
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 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.”
Feature Image: Riversport OKC
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.
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.
Current Designs has changed hands once again. Founded in the late 1970s by Brian Henry on Vancouver Island, British Columbia, the brand was then acquired by Minnesota’s Wenonah Canoes in 1999. Wenonah expanded the brand from its niche producing coastal touring kayaks to all manner of kayaks, including those suited to recreational pursuits, ocean play and light touring. The Current Designs lineup has long offered both composite and rotomolded plastic designs—and the brand has now been split along this divide, each division being sold to separate companies.
Wenonah’s neighbor, Sanborn Canoe Co., has acquired Current Designs’ composite division. Meanwhile, Kayak Distribution, headquartered in Montreal, Quebec, has taken on the rotomolding division. Wenonah President Bill Kueper did not respond to inquiries to comment.
Current Designs sold to Sanborn Canoe Co. and Kayak Distribution
Sanborn Canoe Co.
Both located in Winona, Minnesota, Sanborn Canoe Co. and Wenonah Canoes have always been friendly with one another. In May 2023, Sanborn was putting on an outdoors festival called BaseCamp and invited Wenonah to join for demo day. Todd Randall, owner of Sanborn Canoe Co., speculates that, for whatever reason, this was what planted the seed in the minds of the folks at Wenonah about approaching Sanborn with a sales proposal.
“If I’m honest, we weren’t in any way thinking about kayaks leading up to that,” says Randall. “But it seemed like such a good opportunity, we couldn’t really pass it up.”
Photo: Courtesy Current Designs
While there was some discussion around Sanborn Canoe Co. taking on the entire Current Designs brand, Randall says based on the smaller size of their company and the fact that rotomolding is “not really their approach,” they decided acquiring just the composite side of the brand would be the best fit.
Conversations continued over the next six months, until the deal finally closed at the end of December.
“It was a process,” Randall admits. “Although pretty early on we both were committed to making it happen. So we had folks from our team going over there for six to eight weeks of training before we brought it over. We spent a lot of time, made a handful of boats alongside their crew to get comfortable with it even before we had finalized everything.”
Once the sale closed, Sanborn Canoe Co. took possession of all the Current Designs composite molds and models from the last 40 years. As of February, they were still working on getting organized.
“The kayak space Wenonah was making the boats in previously was about 35,000 square feet with an additional 10,000 worth of storage,” explains Randall. “Only half of that was dedicated to the composite side of it. Meanwhile our whole shop is 12,000 square feet. So we’re condensing it and we’re not going to be able to make boats at the same scale.”
Instead, they’ll be moving to a direct-to-consumer sales model, with a focus on a segment of the Current Designs composite line of boats. Randall says likely this will be the Danish line—which includes the Prana, Sisu and Karla—as well as the Solstice and a few others.
“But we do have all the boats available if somebody wanted something special they haven’t been able to get for a while,” he continues.
A large portion of Sanborn Canoe Co.’s business was already focused on direct-to-consumer sales. However, the split between wholesale and direct-to-consumer used to be much closer to 50/50, shifting to 30/70 coming out of the pandemic.
Part of that shift was due to shops closing. But a larger part was a result of the opposite—with a high demand for boats during the pandemic, many dealers overbought near the end of the pandemic. With product on their shelves and racks already, dealers bought less from Sanborn Canoe Co. this past year than they typically would, naturally shifting Sanborn’s focus to direct-to-consumer.
“It was somewhat intentional, but also sort of just the natural flow of things over the last three years or so,” Randall explains. “It’ll be tricky because working with dealers is really great. Because if they have a boat present, then you can put a paddler into it and see if it’s right for them. Whereas our business is going to be largely online.”
That said, with direct-to-consumer, consumers will be able to get exactly what they want—from model to colors to finishes. And potentially at a better price.
Randall says they’ll also be retaining the Current Designs name.
“The plan is to keep the brand alive,” he says. “It’s got a really rich history going back decades. We’ve talked to a lot of people who absolutely love their Current Designs boats and so we’re excited to continue that story.”
Kayak Distribution
In September 2023, Marc Pelland, owner of Kayak Distribution, heard through industry contacts that Wenonah was looking to sell their rotomolding division. He phoned up Wenonah to find out if the rumors were true. A little over a week later, the two companies had reached a deal.
“It’s no secret that the industry is struggling these days,” says Pelland. “I think there’s too much capacity and not enough demand. So it’s kind of natural that there would be some consolidation there. So we try to stay in touch with different people and see where there’s opportunities for us.”
With so many brands under their care, and therefore an extensive range of products, Pelland says they’re more hard-pressed to hear about opportunities of value to them.
“But in this case, Current Designs has been around for a while. And it made sense for us for some projects we wanted to have.”
Pelland says originally the thinking behind purchasing Current Designs’ rotomolding division was so they could use the molds to develop a private label brand. However, since making the purchase, they’ve had a great deal of interest from dealers wanting to continue to purchase Current Designs boats. As well, upon closer inspection of the boats, Pelland says there are some molds he doesn’t want to use for a private label and would instead look at producing as a more premium product.
“We’re still evaluating what the best thing to do is,” Pelland says, having just returned from China where the molds are being kept and where he had the opportunity to paddle a Current Designs boat for the first time.
Feature photo: Courtesy Current Designs
Next steps will also include reaching out to Sanborn Canoe Co. to see what opportunities there might be to collaborate. In order to continue using the Current Designs name, Kayak Distribution would need to license it from Sanborn Canoe Co. Pelland also wonders about working with Sanborn to distribute boats in the U.S.
“If not, well we might take some of the best Current Designs models and roll them into our brand,” he continues. “We did the same thing with Seaward—we bought the thermoforming division from Seaward a few years back and now the models are under our brand Boréal Design.”
The selection of those Current Design models would also be driven by the demands of dealers.
“We have a few retailers that really want certain models,” says Pelland. “We have an outfitter in Norway that wants one of the super old Current Design molds because they’ve used it forever and it works for them. I think anybody that’s got things that work for them, we’ll be able to accommodate that. It’s just what will it be called, and those kinds of details.”
For over two decades, the Paddler Co-op has been a cornerstone of the river-running community on the banks of the Madawaska River in Palmer Rapids, Ontario. Now, the future of the beloved cooperative is at stake, and rallying to secure its home permanently.
The Paddler Co-op is a Valuable Slice of Whitewater Paradise
The Paddler Co-op’s idyllic 2.7-acre property is a valuable slice of waterfront real estate. Complete with highway frontage, a campground, an office building, and a garage for equipment storage and classrooms. However, the Co-op does not own the land, which is going up for sale at a value of $700,000, putting the Co-op in a situation where they could lose their beloved base. There is a silver lining though: the property owners have provided the Co-op with the first right of refusal to purchase, with a decision deadline of May 1, 2024.
Although the minimum amount the Co-op needs to raise by June 1 for a downpayment on the property is technically $150,000, according to the Co-op, this would be an unsustainable mortgage. The initiative instead aims to raise $250,000 to secure a more feasible payment, and if they can reach $350,000 they would be able to operate at a cost without impacting their current budget. With the deadlines looming within just a few short months, the Co-op is wasting no time to act.
“We want to guarantee access to the river for future generations,” Ryan O’Connor, the Co-op’s executive director, shares. “This purchase preserves a vital access point for whitewater paddlers. Palmer Rapids is a leading training ground known across Canada, and we don’t want to see that disappear.”
According to O’Connor, the current property owners purchased the land 20 years ago with the intention of leasing it to the not-for-profit paddling organization to set up shop. However, circumstances have led the owners to decide to sell the property.
The Paddler Co-op is one of the largest paddling schools in Ontario, but its impact over the last two decades extends far beyond instruction. For many, the Co-op represents a community where lifelong friendships are forged and a love for the outdoors is nurtured. “Our members have spoken about how life-changing the Co-op has been for them,” adds O’Connor of the cooperative that has welcomed more than 10,000 paddlers of all ages and abilities since 1997.
Feature Image: Paddler Co-op
A Campaign to Not Only Save a Paddling Business but Strengthen Access
As O’Connor mentioned, the Lower Madawaska is a learning ground for many Ontario paddlers, providing their introduction to whitewater kayaking and canoeing. However, all of the access points to the Madawaska in Palmer Rapids are on private land. While these access points are available now, they could become compromised with future exchange of ownership. O’Connor shares that as a not-for-profit, should they own the property, they can create a trust or fund to ensure paddlers can access the Madawaska decades from now, regardless of whether the Co-op still exists as a business.
“We believe in securing a space by paddlers and for paddlers,” O’Connor says. “If we aren’t looking at access now, we risk a day when we don’t have these places.”
The urgency of the campaign is palpable. If the fundraising goal is not met by June 1, the property will be listed for sale. Should the property be sold to someone else, there are no guarantees for the Co-op. Looking at the economics of a sale, O’Connor is certain their cost to maintain a lease would increase substantially. However, there’s a strong sense of optimism. The Co-op contributed $50,000 from its reserve funds to kick off the campaign. To date, it has now garnered more than $120,000, demonstrating the community’s support. For O’Connor and the cooperative, they are on full tilt to reach the goal and make the purchase.
“We are committed and confident, and everyone in our paddling community has told us we are doing the right thing.”
A group of stunt performers known as the Sickos decided landing a jump on skis and snowboards was just too easy. Instead, they set out to build the biggest snow jump they could fathom possible for a sled to stick. Only, their sled of choice was no toboggan but rather an inflatable kayak.
On the slopes of Mount Hood, the Sickos spend a day building up their dream sled jump. As they construct the jump, they take their Star inflatable kayak further and further up the slope to get the ramp dialed.
Fortunately, as they figure out how to launch the self-bailing hull into the troposphere, they have some soft snow to keep them intact.
Their snowy kayak stunt culminates with a run from the top of the slope. They are destined to catch some of the biggest air we’ve seen from an inflatable. But more importantly, will they stick the landing? Watch and see.
