Big Water And Good Times At The Clearwater Kayak Festival

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May 3, 2023

There’s no better way to spend an August weekend than getting tossed around on a warm, big-water play run—a fact Clearwater Kayak Festival goers have been privy to since the event’s beginnings in 2007. But the story behind this remarkable gathering goes well beyond the wild whitewater.

Party wave on Pink Mountain at the Clearwater Kayak Festival — Party wave on Pink Mountain. Photo credit: Graham Gerry/Mountain Cat Images

A Kayak Festival To Celebrate The Clearwater And A Paddler’s Legacy

The Clearwater River in British Columbia is known for its whitewater. The most popular section is an exciting stretch of class III-IV flowing through Wells Gray Provincial Park above the confluence with the North Thompson River. Come the summer months, the Clearwater warms as it passes through the park’s six lakes, before it reaches the lower Clearwater, where kayakers and rafters spend the day bouncing through cross curlers and holes found on rapids like Mosh Pit and The Wall. Meanwhile, freestyle paddlers hold long sessions getting aerial at Pink Mountain Wave.

[ Plan a trip to Wells Gray Provincial Park ]

This eight-kilometer stretch of the Clearwater is a treasure of the province’s paddling scene, and in 2007 a local guide and kayaker named Ben Earle decided it was worth celebrating, starting the first-ever Clearwater Kayak Festival. Unfortunately, a year later Earle tragically passed away during a first descent expedition of the nearby Finn Creek. The prominent paddler left behind a family including his wife Robin, a three-year-old daughter, and seven-week-old son. The Clearwater paddling community was compelled to continue the festival the following year, both in memory of Earle, and to help out his family.

Ben Earle Award presented at Clearwater Kayak Festival — Ben Earle’s children Rio and Finn presenting the award named in his honor. Photo credit: Graham Gerry/Mountain Cat Images

Ben’s children Rio and Finn are now teenagers and remain close to the festival 15 years later. And the gathering itself has never forgotten its roots. Each year the Clearwater Kayak Festival makes a charitable donation in Earle’s name to First Descents—the non-profit started by kayaker Brad Ludden to provide outdoor experiences to young adults affected by cancer.

“He’s still giving back to the outdoor community he loved so much,” shares co-organizer Mat Kasunich who was a close friend of Earle’s. “That’s the reason I keep doing it. I live five hours away, but it’s such a special event to be a part of.”

In 2023 the Clearwater Kayak Festival will continue as the longest-running whitewater festival in Western Canada, and for good reason.

What to Expect At The 2023 Clearwater Kayak Festival

Paddlers congregate at the Clearwater Ski Hill each year to participate in the kayak festival. The 2022 event saw some rowdy water levels, and paddlers can expect more of the good times the Clearwater is known for in 2023.

Kayakers participate in events over the course of three days, including the Adrian Kiernan Boater Cross and a freestyle competition often held at Pink Mountain, though the chosen site is water level dependent. In addition, whitewater standup paddlers have the opportunity to take part in some race action themselves. When each of the three days concludes, music and evening festivities await back at Clearwater Ski Hill.

[ Find more boater gatherings in the Paddling Events calendar ]

Outside of recreational competition, there are also beginner clinics and plenty of opportunities to paddle the lower stretch of the Clearwater in an effort to share what the river is all about with progressing paddlers.

Crowdsurfing at the Clearwater Ski Hill — Post-river festivities at Clearwater Ski Hill. Photo Credit: Graham Gerry/Mountain Cat Images

To top it all off, one paddler is honored with the Ben Earle Award. The award is meant for the paddler who most embodies the festival’s spirit set forth by Earle. In 2022, young Linden Gillman was presented with the award for kayaking at the highest water levels he’d ever seen on the river, and not letting a big swim get in the way of his stoke for the Clearwater—a positive sign the big water run can look forward to another generation of celebration to come.

The Clearwater Kayak Festival kicks off on August 4, 2023 at the Clearwater Ski Hill and runs through August 6. See a schedule of the weekend’s events below. You can also find more information about exploring the river and surrounding region at wellsgray.ca.

2023 Clearwater Kayak Festival Schedule:

Friday, August 4
Early bird registration, chili, and beer at Clearwater Ski Hill Lodge

Saturday August 5
The Adrian Kiernan Boatercross
Advanced SUP Downriver Race
Beginner SUP Downriver Race
Backcountry Bowls Food Truck onsite
Race Awards
Raffle
Ben Earle Award
Musical Acts: Tim Johnson, Soul Tide, Richard Maggs Band

Sunday August 6
Freestyle Competition
Beginner Kayak and SUP lessons

Team Set To Embark On Mississippi Speed Record Attempt

By

Canice Leung

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May 2, 2023

Paddler Scott Miller has a score to settle with the Mississippi River speed record.

This May, Miller and his three teammates Paul Cox, Judson Steinback and Wally Werderich, will attempt to break the record for “rowing the length” of the mighty river, journeying 2,296 miles from the headwaters in Lake Itasca, Minnesota, to the Gulf of Mexico.

“It’s sort of like a Lord of the Rings or Huck Finn-type odyssey, to get to experience that thrill of adventure,” said Miller in an interview.

A Score To Settle With The Mississippi Speed Record

The endeavor, dubbed Mississippi Speed Record (MSR), is years in the making. The pandemic scuttled Miller’s plans in 2020 with teammate KJ Millhone. Then, in the spring of 2021, Miller and Millhone formed rival teams and launched just weeks apart. Millhone’s team paddled the river in 17 days, 19 hours, and 46 minutes, breaking a record that had stood for 18 years.

Two weeks later, Miller’s team was on the final stretch through Louisiana when a tropical depression brought big wind and waves and sank their canoe.

“I knew pretty quickly I wanted to try again,” Miller shared. “There’s so much we learned from the last attempt that will give us a chance to be even better this time.”

“We have the benefit of the experience but also the burden,” said Mike “Moose” Dougherty, who will reprise his role as support team leader. “Sometimes it’s better not to know what’s coming.”

What It Takes To Paddle The Length Of The Mississippi

The fourth-longest river system in the world will take them from the remote and wild headwaters of Minnesota, past towering bluffs in Iowa and rolling hills in Illinois, to the mile-wide stretches in the South.

The risks are many, especially at night: The northern headwaters are the most physically demanding and technical, full of winding turns, rocks, rapids, strainers and portages.

[ Watch: Grey Beard: The Man, The Myth, The Mississippi ]

When the river opens up near Minneapolis, the team will encounter locks, dams and potential boat traffic delays.

“Vast is the best way to describe the lower river,” Paul Cox said of the final 1,000 miles.

They hope to paddle 200-mile days through this section, navigating fast water, floodplains and massive ocean-going vessels. These barges carry grain, gravel, gasoline and even rocket ship parts — as seen on one training run when the team passed United Launch Alliance’s RocketShip, which transports rocket components from its Alabama facility.

Canoe near steamboat on Mississippi River. — Image: Mississippi Speed Record

Going Fast And Far Together

The team will abide by a strict schedule while on-board the canoe 24/7.

“When you stretch a race out to this long, it becomes as much about teamwork, logistics, planning and strategy as it does about pure paddling ability, athletics and being in shape,” said Miller.

Miller and his teammates are well versed in what it takes to stage a successful campaign. Each has a resume of long-distance paddling and endurance race accomplishments, including finishing some of the most grueling events like the Great Alabama 650.

For 16 hours of the day, three will paddle while the fourth gets four hours of rest, rotating every four hours. For the remaining eight hours at night, two will paddle while the other two sleep in four-hour shifts.

Without a sleep schedule, “your brain just stops functioning,” said Cox. “It’s a race against the clock, but at the same time you’re trying to stave off as much physical suffering and decline as you can.

Their 23-foot Wenonah Minnesota 4 canoe has been heavily modified, featuring a canopy in the middle for sleeping, a foot-controlled rudder, navigation and running lights, GPS trackers, spray skirts, a bilge pump and, most crucially, cut-outs in the middle two seats to deploy WAG bags.

“It’s almost more pleasant to go in the boat because you can cover yourself and have privacy,” said Miller. “On shore, you’re in a big hurry.”

No Small Roles In A Record Attempt

A support team will follow by boat and on land, resupplying the canoe every 12 hours and communicating with ships, locks and dams.

“It’s overwhelming and humbling that they want to volunteer their time to come out and drive up and down the river in literally Nowheresville,” said Cox.

“Everybody’s got a role to play, everybody’s just as important, and at the end you’ve got great stories to share hopefully for a lifetime,” Cox added. “You create bonds that are pretty unique because you see each other in the good, the bad, the dirty and nasty.”

[ Find Wenonah Canoes fit for an expedition in the Paddling Buyer’s Guide ]

Though there will be suffering, stink and sleep deprivation, Miller and Cox say they look forward to experiencing the river end-to-end.

“It’s so iconic,” said Cox. “I don’t think we can contemplate how important it is to everything, the economy, history. It is special to be paddling something that you have learned about from [when you were] a kid.”

MSR is partnering with 1 Mississippi, a program created to restore and protect the river ecosystem through conservation, cleanups and sustainable agriculture.

The team plans to launch May 7 but will be watching the river closely, waiting for ice-out and ideal water levels.

For all their planning, Miller says success will remain a luck of the draw: “If you have really bad weather or bad water levels, or if you get delayed at a lock for a really long time, that could be the end right there.”

“Mother Nature will decide,” said Cox.

To stay updated, track the team’s progress on their website mississippispeedrecord.com or Garmin page.

ISLE Launches New Inflatable Hardboards SUP & Kayak Category

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Isle Press Release

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May 2, 2023

San Diego, CA (May 2nd, 2023) — ISLE, the original surf and SUP manufacturer out of San Diego, California, is excited to announce the creation of an entirely new inflatable watercraft category dubbed Inflatable Hardboards. The new category will debut under the PRO series collection, which will be offered in two models and five sizes of their iconic, bestselling Pioneer and Explorer models.

Niphean inflatable paddleboard being used on lake.

Best Inflatable Paddleboards For 2026

The PRO series, a breath of fresh air in the SUP and kayak categories, now offers consumers the best of both worlds: the performance of a rigid board with the convenience of an inflatable package. Inflatable Harboards utilize InfinityFiber, a patented, ISLE-exclusive material innovation that makes Inflatable Hardboards 200-300% more rigid than typical inflatables.

The PRO models also incorporate PowerFuse technology, a mechanically fused rail structure in the outer board circumference that decreases potential air leakage, improves maneuverability, and prolongs the board’s lifespan. The solution eliminates common pain points within the inflatable watercraft categories by drastically improving stability, glide, performance and durability.

Two women paddling sitting down on a SUP. — Photo: Courtesy of ISLE

This unique construction eliminates the commonly experienced ‘taco’ effect of inflatable boards once on the water. By increasing the stability and rigidity, users will notice greater efficiency in paddle strokes, increased glide and speed, and less ‘wobble’ when paddling in choppy water. By drastically improving these performance areas, users will appreciate spending more time on the water with friends and family without fatigue.

Jimmy Blakeney, VP of product, mentioned, “One of the most common questions we get from customers is ‘Should I get a hardboard or an inflatable?’ Our team has worked tirelessly to develop a product that offers the stability and performance of a traditional hardboard with the convenience and portability of inflatable watercraft. The PRO series delivers the best of both worlds, and we’re excited to see how this innovation transforms the industry in the years ahead.”

In line with ISLE’s innovative design considerations, the PRO Series encompasses intuitive, user-centric features across the PRO models and accessories. All boards will feature ISLE’s patent-pending ISLE-Link Ecosystem, a nose-to-tail connection system allowing users to customize their paddle setup to their preference. Easily attach accessories like ergonomically designed kayak seats and footrests to transition from SUP to kayak in mere minutes on the water, or strap down layers, dry packs, and paddle accessories to a preferred location with the gear management system that replaces typical bungee tie-downs.

Other features include a ‘click-and-go’ fin system for easy installation and removal, a two-part folding fin box for more compact storage, a camera mount on the front of the board, and a premium wheelie backpack for effortless transport.

All PRO models, offered in various lengths and widths for preferred stability, performance, speed, and distances on the water, will be sold in bundle options on ISLE’s website, allowing customers to create customized packages for their specific paddling style and needs.

The Pro Series will be available to purchase directly at ISLE today. To learn more, you can visit: islesurfandsup.com.

Pro Series Specifications:

Explorer Pro Series – offered in two models

MSRP: $995, $1095
Length: 12′, 14′
Weight: 23 lbs, 27 lbs
Capacity: 325 lbs, 375 lbs

Pioneer Pro Series – offered in three models

MSRP: $895, $995, $1095
Length: 9′ 6″, 10′ 6″, 11′ 6″
Weight: 20 lbs, 23 lbs, 26 lbs
Capacity: 195 lbs, 325 lbs, 450 lbs

Woman paddling sitting down on a SUP. — Photo: Courtesy of ISLE

About Isle

ISLE believes life is better in balance, and that creating balance can be as simple as taking your first paddle strokes or catching your first wave. Established in San Diego, California, ISLE is the original surf and SUP company manufacturing products and accessories to keep you balanced, equipped and inspired for adventures on the water.

Since its inception in 2004, the brand has expanded its watersports offerings to include variations of hardtop and inflatable paddleboards, surfboards, hybrid kayaks, paddles, bags, and accessories. Learn more at: https://www.islesurfandsup.com/

What’s New At Outdoor Retailer 2023

By

Paddling Magazine Staff

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April 28, 2023

Outdoorretailer-SLC — OR returns to Salt Lake City

Outdoor Retailer’s (OR) summer event is set to take place June 19-21, 2023 after making its return to Salt Lake City at the winter event this past January. As the summer show dates get closer, more news has been trickling out about what the event will hold.

Most recently, the reimagined floor plan was released. OR says this layout was designed to encourage attendees to explore and have an improved shopping experience. The show floor organizes brands by activity, falling under the following categories:

Camp & Hike
Climb
Lifestyle
Overland & Travel
Retail Services
Run & Cycle
Sourcing
Stewardship
Venture Out
Water

Booth space is still available for brands who wish to attend. To date there are 1,197 retail stores and importer/distributors who are registered for OR Summer.

Outdoor Retailer is being held at the Salt Palace Convention Center in Salt Lake City, Utah. For everything OR, you can check out their newly redesigned website here.

The Portage Store Announces New Venture Outside Algonquin Park

By

Paddling Magazine Staff

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April 27, 2023

After 47 years serving paddlers on Canoe Lake in the famed Algonquin Provincial Park, the owners of The Portage Store, Sven and Donna Milgin, were hit with unexpected news. In January of 2023, Ontario Parks announced the Miglins would no longer operate the lease of the Canoe Lake Store concession—the buildings which the outfitting services and restaurant known as The Portage Store ran out of. The next 10-year lease of the buildings would instead be awarded to a larger local business, Algonquin Outfitters.

It was a decision that could have completely shuttered the Miglin’s decades-long service. Instead, it was the first stage of a new venture outside the Park boundary as The Portage Outpost.

The Portage Store’s Journey To The Portage Outpost

The awarding of the lease to Algonquin Outfitters stirred up conversation among the Park’s paddling community, mainly in regards to the consolidation of services available within Algonquin’s boundaries. But, more directly, it was a staggering blow to the Miglins, as the lease on Canoe Lake was the sole location of their business. After Ontario Parks made the announcement, The Portage Store was unsure if they would have a future in outfitting at all.

Algonquin Outfitters Continues Expansion Within Canada’s Most Famous Provincial Park

In an interview with Cottage Life, Sven Miglin shared, “I’ve got 47 years worth of history. My kids were partners in the company and now they’re looking for jobs. It’s pretty stressful.”

In the months since, the story of The Portage Store has taken a new turn.

“Initially, the sentimental aspect and the logistical one were overwhelming simultaneously,” says Vincent Ouimet, co-owner and manager. “The Portage Store was our identity.”

Twenty years ago, Ouimet met and would marry Liana Miglin, Sven and Donna’s daughter. Ouimet joined the family and eventually the family business. 13 years ago, he and Liana became largely responsible for operating the store on Canoe Lake and raised their family around the Park.

When the news of the lease hit, Ouimet explains it was an emotional process to walk through, as they faced the loss of of not only their livelihood and attachments, but also their staff—some of whom worked with them for as long as 40 years. While grieving the loss of the site they had operated for nearly half a century, they had to take on the task of breaking down shop and moving 100 canoes. Not to mention figure out what would come next.

An Outfitter’s Search For A New Home

“One of the first things that got us moving forward was realizing ‘Okay, we are all healthy,'” says Ouimet. “Then we started to dissect what really makes us happy at a fundamental level. The answer was engaging with our customers, talking canoe routes with people, and going on outings ourselves.”

With this answer in mind, the family business began searching for new locations outside the Park—one that would check as many boxes as possible when it came to fitting their needs and would allow them to run an operation that would have some semblance of what made The Portage Store special.

“The Portage Store was unique and quirky. Those kinds of places are hard to come by,” Ouimet says. On the flip side, he continues, this was an opportunity to reshuffle the deck and consider new prospects.

The Miglins would find their new location on Highway 60, at a spot referred to as the last stop before Algonquin’s West Gate. With the new site comes a new identity, and so, they are now The Portage Outpost.

Ouimet explains the new location outside the Park will have its own benefits and changes to how they approach their business. They will have a lower cost of operation, which will, in turn, provide value savings to their customers. And they will deliver canoes to access points around the Park for the first time. When it comes to the outfitting side of their business, Ouimet believes the new location will better focus their services.

On a personal level, Ouimet shares he and Liana are excited at the prospect of having a fresh canvas. “We pride ourselves on finding creative ways to serve our customers. When you are in the same place for as long as we were at The Portage Store, it becomes more about maintaining.

“Now it’s flowing naturally. It brings Liana and I back to a time 13 years ago where we have the potential to do this or that. The excitement that comes with a new location. We are bringing a hammer, nails and a bucket of paint.” Both figuratively and literally, Ouimet adds.

Algonquin Park, where The Portage Outpost serves as an outfitter. — Algonquin Park. Photo: Dylan Mcleod / Unsplash

Paddlers Can Expect Some New And Old At The Portage Outpost

The new location will host The Portage Outpost’s guided trips and outfitting services as well as a small retail store with gear you may have forgotten at home. Portage Store regulars will also find some comforts of the old place at the new Portage Outpost, including a piece of machinery Ouimet says they couldn’t part with.

“We kept our espresso machine, because we love espresso. Is there a sound business model to have an espresso bar here?” Ouimet chuckles. “Perhaps not, but it’s a great way to keep people happy.”

Online bookings for backcountry rentals are now open on The Portage Outpost website. Ouimet expects to have outfitting packages online in the coming weeks, and they’ll be offering daily guided tours this summer. Of course, you can always stop by The Portage Outpost to talk routes over a steaming cup of espresso.

You can learn more at The Portage Outpost.

Branches’ Ed Vater Reflects On 20 Years In The Business

By

Jeff Moag

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April 25, 2023

For two decades, Ed Vater was the general manager and under-the-radar owner of Branches LLC, the Wisconsin-based manufacturer of Bending Branches and Aqua Bound paddles. Vater joined Branches in 2002, brought it back from the edge of bankruptcy, and quietly purchased the company in 2015.

In April 2022 he sold the business to three members of the company’s leadership team he personally recruited and mentored. We caught up with Vater just after his first post-retirement paddling trip—“Whole trees were getting torn out and floating downriver… We spent a day drinking coffee and telling lies, and when we were able to get on the water it was just ripping”—to get his take on paddlesports after the boom, manufacturing in North America and passing the reins.

Branches’ Ed Vater reflects on 20 years in the business

PB: You could have sold Branches to anyone, but you kept it in the family, so to speak.

EV: I think it’s obvious I could have gotten more by selling it to some outside party, and I would have never lived with myself if some big outfit bought it and hooched it all up and everybody lost their jobs.

Paddlesports is too small an industry for companies to be run inactively. You need somebody with their heart in it. If you’re making pharmaceuticals at 30 percent pre-tax profit, you can be really sloppy and keep it going. But prior to the Pandemic, the average manufacturing company was making three or four percent pretax. If you hooch that up, you’re done.

Ed Vater poses with the new ownership group of Branches LLC — Passing the torch: Vater with the new Branches ownership team, from left Cory Novinska, Brian Boyea, Vater, and Jason Eccles. | Photo: Courtesy Branches

PB: Would you say that’s the secret sauce at Branches?

EV: I sure think so, but it’s no secret. It’s just whether you actually do it or not. And to me, it starts with the people. There’s kind of a magic to hiring the right people where they’re professionally competent but also enthused about the sport. They can’t just be a lifestyle person. They’ve got to be somebody who can run a business, and who would walk through fire to make it work.

PB: Well it’s working. I read in the release announcing your retirement that Branches is the world’s largest paddle company.

EV: That’s true.

PB: Isn’t there a whole city in China where they make nothing but paddles?

EV: You have to define what market you play in. The low-end paddle that Dick’s Sporting Goods sells is the same paddle that West Marine sells and the same paddle people sell on Amazon. Those guys certainly win on units, but if you look at market share data for any of the specialty retailers—the REIs, the L.L. Beans, any of the 1,200 independents, the Rutabagas—Branches is the dominant player. We’re just not going to make something at $23 and sell it at Walmart.

PB: How have you, as a U.S. domestic manufacturer, managed to reach that scale despite higher costs for labor, materials, overhead and all the rest?

EV: You just have to be differentiated and have something you stand for. And it is going to cost more. I really like Graham [Mackereth] at Pyranha, and if you look at his products, he’s not going to be able to do what Pelican can do. He can never be that cheap, so he’s got to be there on performance, quality features, service integrity, brand strength.

“You can’t spend half an hour talking to somebody about a paddle and then sell it for $23.” — Ed Vater

The biggest challenge for paddling—has been and will continue to be—is the size of the overall market, and whether it’s big enough for quality players to carve out a space. If Branches had to do half its business in $23 paddles, it would no longer exist because the per-unit margin on that stuff is so microscopic. If it just sits on a rack and sells itself, fine. But you can’t spend half an hour talking to somebody about a paddle and then sell it for $23. Now if you carry Branches or Werner and you’re selling a paddle for $350, you can definitely spend the time to get somebody into the perfect product.

Lots of butts in boats. For now. | Photo: Nancie Battaglia

The Paddlesports Industry Just Experienced Unprecedented Growth. Now What?

PB: Paddling saw a huge influx of new users in the past couple of years. Does that change the calculus?

EV: A million new paddlers bought gear during the Pandemic. Some of them are the most casual of users and there’s no chance of turning them serious. But what percentage are like you and me when we first got exposed and said, “Well, this is fun. We’re going to keep paddling, and we better upgrade our gear.”

Because so many of those people are being dealt with through e-commerce, the retailers know who they are more than ever before. So the question is what kind of outreach as an industry can we do to try to engage those people into being a little bit more hardcore.

I see this short-term challenge: All the brands are so busy dealing with the demand and the supply chain issues and the labor market, and they don’t have the time to think about how to capture and engage these new customers.

PB: So the challenge is also the opportunity?

EV: Yes, and I see that as a challenge especially for folks sourcing largely in Asia. We’ve seen where the Pandemic demand is outrunning supply by a whole bunch and they’re encountering huge delays. By the time the product is finally showing up, the demand is waning. Picture yourself being one of those companies, and all of a sudden another 20 container loads show up. You’ve finally got a lot of inventory right when you don’t need as much inventory.

PB: There’s a risk of overshooting?

EV: It seems inevitable to me. So I think domestic players are a lot stronger because they haven’t had to deal with that. You’re dealing with the increased costs of production here, but during the Pandemic, you were able to score because you weren’t waiting for containers. And after the Pandemic, you’re not going to have millions and millions of dollars of product sitting around and struggling with cash flow.

PB: Final thoughts?

You don’t know the value of an industry until you leave it. I decided to go work at Canoecopia next spring as a volunteer, just to see those really good friends I see maybe twice a year at Canoecopia, the Big Gear Show or overseas in Europe. I didn’t realize how emotional it would be to get out. And then you realize just what a nice industry we have with so many tremendous people in it.

two people look at paddleboards in a paddle shop

How Accessories Can Add Up To Big Profits For Retailers

Paddling Business cover mockup This article was first published in the 2023 issue of Paddling Business. Inside you’ll find the year’s hottest gear for canoeing, kayaking, whitewater and paddleboarding. Plus: Industry leaders on the post-pandemic landscape, 50 years of paddlesports, the rise and fall of ACK and more. READ IT NOW »

Ed Vater, released back into his natural habitat. | Feature photo: Courtesy Branches

1,000-Year-Old Native American Canoe Found In Lake (Video)

Videos

By

Paddling Magazine Staff

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April 25, 2023

Local news station ABC 11 shared the recent undertaking of a team of archaeologists, indigenous community leaders, and volunteers to pull a 1,000-year-old Native American Canoe found in Lake Waccamaw in North Carolina.

According to the news report, a group of teens found the ancient Native American canoe when swimming in the lake outside of Wilmington. Archaeologists collaborated with area members of the Waccamaw Siouan tribe in the process of pulling the canoe from the lake.

[ Watch: Ancestral Craft—The Building Of A Dugout Canoe ]

In an interview, Waccamaw Siouan Chief Michael Jacobs, shared, “That canoe at 28 feet long would have carried many a brave. We feel like in our heart, it’s a history that we’re still exploring and understanding because this is the first time we’ve had access.”

Dugout canoes have been used around the world for thousands of years. They are a significant part of culture to the Native American tribes of the Southeastern United States.

The dugout canoe found in Lake Waccamaw will be taken to a lab in Greenville, NC for further study and preservation.

What’s New At The Big Gear Show

By

Press Release: The Big Gear Show

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April 24, 2023

View of convention centre in Denver — Photo: Scott Dressel-Martin // VisitDenver

The Big Gear Show announced a new sponsor and partnership this month, ahead of its third annual show this summer. Taking place June 8-11 at the Colorado Convention Centre in Denver, the show will provide the opportunity for a wide range of outdoor brands to meet with specialty shop owners and buyers, as well as consumers.

Read more about the latest updates below.

Colorado Public Radio Named Official Radio Sponsor For (e)revolution And The Big Gear Show

April 3, 2023 — Lost Paddle Events announced today that Colorado Public Radio (CPR) is the official radio sponsor for both The Big Gear Show and (e)revolution. With coverage throughout Colorado on its news and music stations, CPR enhances the public outreach efforts in promoting the two events statewide.

“With both shows opening to the public, it was essential that we develop media partnerships that help us effectively reach our desired attendee audience. As a widely recognized and respected media outlet, Colorado Public Radio is the perfect choice for our marketing efforts,” said Dave Petri, marketing and communications director for both shows.

“CPR stations reach areas where 90 percent of Coloradans live, and a majority of its 600,000 weekly listeners and 776,000 monthly website visitors include the demographics we are targeting for both shows,” added Petri.

Both (e)revolution and the Big Gear Show will arrive in Denver for the first time this June, and will share the Colorado Convention Centre location. Separating the two shows in the exhibit hall will be a professionally designed demonstration area with an indoor track to test e-bikes, a climbing wall, and other gear testing and demonstration opportunities.

“We’re excited to be the radio sponsor for the Big Gear Show and (e)revolution, two shows that appeal to so many outdoor enthusiasts in Colorado,” Jodi Gersh, senior vice-president of audience and platforms for Colorado Public Radio, said. “Media sponsorships like this one are an important part of our audience development strategies.”

About (e)revolution
(e)revolution is the world’s first B2B2C e-bike expo focused solely on the needs of e-bike brands, dealers, suppliers and consumers. A four-day event that provides brands and suppliers opportunities to engage directly with e-bike retailers and cyclists, providing education, demonstrations, and industry networking and social events. The show takes place in Denver, Colorado at the Colorado Convention Center in June 2023.

About Colorado Public Radio
Colorado Public Radio is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization delivering meaningful news, music, and cultural experiences to everyone in Colorado using the power of the human voice in all its forms. Roughly 95 percent of CPR’s funds come from the private support of listeners, businesses and foundations. For more information, visit www.cpr.org.

● CPR News delivers in-depth, insightful and impartial news and information from around the world, across the nation and throughout Colorado, examining its relevance to our state and connecting it to our community.
● CPR Classical takes listeners on an in-depth exploration of thoughtfully curated music—with an emphasis on Colorado’s classical community—providing context to a broad range of meaningful and compelling works from past to present.
● Indie 102.3 takes listeners inside the world of new and independent music—exposing them to up-and-coming artists and highlighting Colorado’s local music scene.
● Denverite is an online news source dedicated to Denver’s curious and concerned.
● KRCC is a public radio station in Colorado Springs, Colorado, serving Southern Colorado. KRCC is operated by Colorado Public Radio in partnership with Colorado College.

The Big Gear Show Announces Partnership with Locally

April 5, 2023 — The Big Gear Show announced today that it is partnering with Locally to develop retailer education for the June 2023 show. Founded by retailers, Locally is the industry expert in driving close-to-home shopping for specialty retailers and offers over a decade of knowledge on the intersection between online and in-store retail sales.

“The Big Gear Show, like Locally, serves at the intersection of brands, retailers and consumers. We are thrilled to partner this year and present industry-leading solutions for online-to-offline and near-me shopping,” said Mike Massey, Locally cofounder and CEO.

The Big Gear Show retailer education program takes place on June 8 and 9, during the B2B Trade Show days. Sessions will include topics on hybrid retail, marketing, and current retail trends and insights.

“Locally is the nation’s leading platform for empowering specialty shops with the same tools used by the biggest e-tailers on Earth. We’re proud to work with Mike and the Locally team to bring this expertise to support the outdoor specialty channels.”

About Locally
Locally creates an integrated shopping experience for consumers by bridging online and offline retail. With tech implemented by over 1,000 major brands, Locally is the industry leader in online-to-offline shopping solutions. Locally’s tools are powered by real-time inventory from over 21,000 retailers worldwide and are utilized by millions of shoppers every month.

About The Big Gear Show

The Big Gear Show is redefining what an outdoor industry trade show should be. By embracing a wide range of outdoor recreation activities, this new B2B2C experiential model prioritizes meeting the needs of specialty retailers and their customers. The Big Gear Show features the gear that gets people outdoors, amplifying the stories of innovation and access for a new outdoor consumer base. Now in its
third year, the event will not only gather professionals from the top outdoor recreation specialty retailers, brands, and media, but will also be the first of its kind to invite consumers to attend.

The Big Gear Show takes place June 8-11, 2023, at the Colorado Convention Center, with the retailer trade show taking place on days 1 and 2 (June 8-9), followed by the first-ever outdoor industry consumer festival on days 3 and 4 (June 10-11).

Exhibit space is still available for exhibitors for all show days and for retailers who want to exhibit during the consumer festival. Trade show badge registration is open, with consumer ticket sales beginning in April 2023.

For more information, contact Dave Petri:

Lost Paddle Events
336-429-6860
Dave@lostpaddle.com

About Lost Paddle Events

Lost Paddle Events is the leader in retailer and consumer-focused trade shows. Led by a team of industry trade show experts across multiple outdoor recreation categories, Lost Paddle Events produces outdoor-focused events across a range of outdoor recreation categories. Its events include the premiere multi-category trade show—The Big Gear Show—the first of its kind e-bike trade show— (e)revolution—and consumer-centric sports shows, including the Saltwater Fishing Expo, Chicagoland Fishing Travel & Outdoor Expo, and World Fishing & Outdoor Expo.

New Coalition Forms to Launch Paddle BC Tourism Initiative

Paddling Business

By

Paddling Magazine Staff

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April 21, 2023

two people canoe on Island Lake near Fernie, BC — Spectacular canoeing awaits on Island Lake near Fernie. | Feature photo: Courtesy Paddle BC

Humans have been building and using small watercraft to travel in British Columbia since time immemorial. Coastal First Nations fashioned canoes from western red cedar and plied the waters of the Salish Sea. Other indigenous peoples used birch bark and willow trees in the crafting of their boats that they then used to travel inland waterways. Today, a new initiative seeks to share the rich history of paddling in the province as well as inspire and inform residents and visitors alike about the modern-day adventures that can be had here.

a group of paddlesports leaders pose for a photo at the meeting that birthed their new trade coalition

Building The Coalition: Arkansas Summit Births New National Trade Association

New Paddlesports Trade Coalition Announces Membership Drive

Paddle BC is a collaboration between paddling associations and cross-sector organizations, such as Fishing BC, in the province of British Columbia and it has two main goals. The first is to promote British Columbia as a world-class paddling destination that offers some of the most varied and fun waterways on the planet. With over 25,000 kilometres of ocean coastline to explore, innumerable rivers and tributaries, and more than 20,000 lakes of all sizes in an area larger than France and Germany combined, British Columbia is the perfect paddling destination.

The second goal of Paddle BC is to endorse the safety of the sport with the help of local experts by guiding paddlers towards the people, businesses, associations, clubs, events, accommodations, services, and agencies that will ensure a paddling experience in the province is memorable and safe. Also offered are trip ideas, recommended waterways, and articles to help reinforce BC as a paddler’s paradise.

Paddle BC is the brainchild of Andrea Ryman who is the marketing director of Destination Castlegar, the co-owner of Endless Adventure rafting and kayaking company, and a stand up paddleboard instructor. Destination British Columbia is a proud supporter of the initiative as it incorporates the expertise of multiple people and partners including the BC River Outfitters Association, Tourism Kamloops, Cariboo Chilcotin Coast, Tourism Fernie, Fishing BC, Tourism Squamish, Indigenous Tourism BC, and Tourism Golden.

Paddlers set out on a guided trip down the South Thompson River led by Moccasin Trails — Set out on a guided trip down the South Thompson River led by local Knowledge keepers from Moccasin Trails. | Photo: Courtesy Paddle BC

A group of rafters take in the stunning scenery on a float trip from Canyon Raft Company near Fernie — Take in the stunning scenery near Fernie on a float trip from Canyon Raft Company. | Photo: Courtesy Paddle BC

anglers in inflatable kayaks fish on Canim Lake in British Columbia's Cariboo region — Anglers will find some of BC’s best freshwater fly fishing and ice fishing at Canim Lake in the Cariboo region. | Photo: Courtesy Paddle BC

“I love to paddle everything, from lakes and rivers to the ocean, and when I travel my paddleboard always goes with me,” says Ryman “Having worked in tourism for the last 15 years, I noticed that fishing and biking have led the charge in BC for adventure tourism. With the wealth of waterways running though the province, creating Paddle BC seemed like the next step to highlight British Columbia’s adventure playground.”

Visitors to the Paddle BC website (paddlebc.ca) can search for information by three main categories: region, waterway, and experience. The latter is broken down into five subcategories that include paddleboarding, kayaking, rafting, canoeing, and kayak fishing. The waterways listed include lakes, rivers and the Pacific Ocean, and the six regions of the province are the Kootenay Rockies, Thompson Okanagan, Cariboo Chilcotin Coast, Northern BC, Vancouver Island, and the Vancouver, Coast and Mountains region.

family goes whitewater kayaking on the Slocan River — Slocan River kayaking with Endless Adventure offers fun for the whole family. | Photo: Courtesy Paddle BC

two people paddleboard past a rocky outcropping while touring Howe Sound — Paddleboarders float through beautiful Howe Sound on a tour with Norm Hann Expeditions. | Photo: Courtesy Paddle BC

Spectacular canoeing awaits on Island Lake near Fernie. | Feature photo: Courtesy Paddle BC

Classic Paddling Films: The Uncalculated Risk (Video)

By

Paddling Magazine Staff

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April 18, 2023

The 1970s were a decade known for some fine filmmaking. The Godfather, Jaws, and the canoe tripping classic, Deliverance. In this era, even a safety video was delivered in an Oscar-caliber production, which brings us to The Uncalculated Risk.

As paddlesports grew in popularity in the 1970s, so did the occurrence of accidents. The American Red Cross picked up on the trend and produced a series of videos to educate prospective paddlers on the dangers they’ll encounter in the sport and how to avoid them. Perhaps their magnum opus, The Uncalculated Risk. Released in 1977, the short film has made the rounds in instruction over the years. It’s also available on YouTube, thanks to Moulton Avery of the National Center for Cold Water Safety.

male kayaker stands on river shore wearing rescue PFD and holding paddle and throw bag

River Safety & Rescue Gear: Your Head-To-Toe Guide

The Uncalculated Risk isn’t without needs to address in order to get with the times, and it would be exciting to see an updated version today. But it’s fascinating to watch The Uncalculated Risk, nearly 50 years later, and see the relevance of the safety messages still trying to reach paddlers today. Lessons including wearing a PFD, dressing appropriately, and practicing fundamental skills. And, above all else, the call to recognize, “Moving water has an awesome force.”