Reno Builds Jackpot for Paddlers
Posted on Thursday, October 23 2003
Reno Builds Jackpot for Paddlers
Though the Truckee River flows right through Reno, most people who visit the casino-laden city lift their arms for slot machines, not paddles. And while paddlers know of the Truckee as a sweet paddling river at its headwaters near Lake Tahoe, few think of Reno itself as a paddling destination. That may change with the new Truckee River Park, a whitewater park built on the river in the middle of the city. The $1.5 million facility, completed in November, is Nevada’s first and is expected to attract kayakers, rafters, canoeists and tubers, as well as river festivals and competitive events. "The building of this whitewater park represents a giant step forward for outdoor recreation and economic vitality in our state,” says Lt. Gov. Lorraine Hunt, chair of the Nevada Commission on Tourism (NCOT). "It will raise Washoe County’s profile as a choice and desirable outdoor recreation and mountain adventure destination and bring even more energy to the riverfront."
The 1,475-foot-long whitewater park includes rodeo features and a permanent kayak slalom racing course, pedestrian bridges to city streets, and pathways. Worn concrete walls were replaced along the kayak course with flat-topped boulders. The boat playground is only the first of many improvements envisioned for the 24-mile stretch of the Truckee in the Reno area. Though the park will be paid off by a statewide voter-approved bond issue, hoteliers Don Carano, president and CEO of the Eldorado Hotel-Casino, and Phil Satre, chairman of the board for Harrah’s Entertainment, and the city each loaned $500,000 so construction could begin in August.
Confluence Makes History…Channel
Posted on Thursday, October 23 2003
Confluence Makes History…Channel
Confluence Watersports will be the focus of an upcoming episode of the History Channel series “Hands-On History.” The show will profile the history and manufacturing process of kayaks and is scheduled to air at 5-5:30 p.m on Saturday, Nov. 15. The episode, filmed in Trinity, N.C., at Confluence’s headquarters, will lead viewers through the history of kayak construction to today's technologically advance methods. The show will also highlight the Confluence’s operation, including canoe assembly and composite construction. The show's host, Ron Hazelton of "Good Morning America,” helped make a roto-molded Wilderness Systems Pungo 140, from the prepping of the mold through the final assembly line. After completing the Pungo 140, Confluence staff took Hazelton out to Oak Hollow Lake for on water instruction, kayak history, and an explanation of the different types of kayaks. Hazelton also took his licks on the Mayo River in a Wave Sport Super EZ.
TAPS Symposium Rallies Interest
Posted on Thursday, October 23 2003
TAPS Symposium Rallies Interest
Nearly 1,500 paddlesport enthusiasts attended the Trade Association of Paddlesports’ (TAPS) 20th Annual West Coast Sea Kayak Symposium held Sept.19-21, in Port Townsend, Wash., with registered attendees from as far away as Sweden. Despite what many manufacturers and retailers perceive as a sluggish paddlesports economy, TAPS Executive Director Chris Mitchell says the show proves the high potential for an industry-wide turn-around. Clear blue skies and warm temperatures encouraged participants to crowd the beach, trying their skills at the newest kayaks, canoes and recreational boats. For Mitchell, the highlight of the event was the consistent growth in consumer interest. “Our organization is focused on marketing to new and non-paddlers, and on retaining them as customers,” he says. “This event is the barometer for consumer interest, which is still growing, despite the negative business climate.”
Show exhibits included Jon Bowermaster's presentation of his expeditions to the South Pacific and Vietnam, knot tying instruction, and planning an international expedition. With a roster of 64 exhibitors displaying the latest in sea kayaks and paddling gear, Mitchell says that every year TAPS turns many manufacturers away. He believes that part of the cause for weakening sales in paddlesports is due to overproduction, and success or failure of the vast array of niche marketers will pan out in the next few years, leaving the market open to core merchandise and proven technology. “It all comes down to marketing, and the industry will recover because the customer is increasingly enthusiastic about paddling,” he says.
--Alison McMillen
First Annual Whitewater Symposium a Success
Posted on Thursday, October 23 2003
First Annual Whitewater Symposium a Success
Next year’s event slated for NOC in October
Drawing key players from all aspects of the whitewater industry, including instructors, manufacturers, retailers, outfitters, media, club members and association heads, the first annual Whitewater Symposium, held at Charlemont, Mass.’s Zoar Outdoor Center Oct. 3-5, was billed a success. Its purpose, as defined by organizer Bruce Lessels, was to advance the sport by bringing together industry experts and giving them the opportunity to exchange ideas about trends in equipment, instruction and technique, both in on-water and classroom settings. “It offered on-water technical instruction, dryland seminars and roundtable discussions with some of the people who are changing the sport of kayaking,” says Lessels. “I think everyone got a lot out of it.”
With presenters including Charlie Walbridge, Scott Shipley, Joe Pulliam, Phil and Mary DeRiemer, Wayne Dickert, Gordon Black, Kent Ford, Ken Whiting, Eric Jackson, Risa Shimoda, Anna Levesque, Sam Drevo, Eugene Buchanan and Scott Lindgren, the event began Thursday evening with a State of the Whitewater Industry panel discussion moderated by Ford. As well as such on-water offerings as how to teach draw strokes, freestyle strokes and rescue scenarios, other presentations included seminars on Whitewater Parks, Boat Designs for Teaching, the Image of Whitewater in the Media, Standardizing Instruction, Creating Market Growth, How to be a River Steward and Teaching Women’s Clinics, among others.
“Who Are the Boaters?” presented by Watermark’s Joe Pulliam compiled data from the Outdoor Industry Association (OIA), Leisure Trends, National Marine Manufacturers Association (NMMA) and private Watermark sources. Results show that kayaking—in all its forms--was the fastest-growing human-powered activity from 2001-2003, increasing to a total population of 10.2 million. Breaking it down into whitewater, the survey shows participants (those who go at least one time per year) increased from 1.2 million in 2001 to 1.8 million in 2002, while enthusiast growth (those going five or more times a year) remained the same at 200,000.
Sales numbers, however, show a declining market. According to NMMA, the number of whitewater kayaks sold (in the first six months of each year, excluding second-hand sales) has decreased by 50 percent since 2001, dropping from 12,502 to 8,558 in 2002 and to 6,216 in 2003. The general consensus was that the industry has to go after the youth market, river running is reemerging and everyone needs to start working toward the common goal of growth. “People aren’t abandoning the playboat scene, but it’s not the driving force,” says Pulliam, adding that he feels the industry is more inclined to share information now than it was 10 years ago. “We need to be less focused on who’s getting the customer and more on are we getting them at all.” Adds co-organizer Karen Lessels: “We need to become more market driven and less manufacturer driven.”
--Next year’s whitewater symposium will held mid-October, 2004, at the Nantahala Outdoor Center in Bryson City, N.C. Contact organizer Wayne Dickert at (828) 488-2175 or visit www.wwsymposium.com.
¡Que Bueno! WaterMark
Posted on Thursday, October 23 2003
¡Que Bueno! WaterMark
Other than as an interesting stop-off to sea kayaking sojourns in Baja, Tijuana, Mexico, doesn’t have much to do with paddlesports. But WaterMark is trying to change that. Earlier this year, WaterMark—parent company of nine paddlesports brands—earned an ISO 14001 certification at its facility in Tijuana. Having an ISO (International Standards Organization) certification means that WaterMark has been recognized by a network of 147 countries that set standards for business, governments and consumers. The ISO 14001 certification recognizes that WaterMark minimizes harmful effects on the environment caused by its activities, and continually improves its environmental performance. “As long-time believers in environmentally friendly workplace practices, WaterMark has always maintained an aggressive stance on meeting or exceeding environmental manufacturing standards,” says WaterMark CEO Jim Clark.