support unicef Support American Whitewater!

[please login to make this ad block disappear]

Keith Backlund, Paddle Engineer, Dies at Age 60

Keith Backlund, Paddle Engineer, Dies at Age 60


Keith Backlund's legacy will live on with every
paddle of his that still graces the water.

His apprentices credit him with being "a catalyst for excellence" that helped them develop the focus and craftsmanship they needed to produce outstanding work.

A master woodworker who constructed magnificent canoe and kayak paddles, Keith Backlund died on the evening of October 25 at the age of 60. Born in the Pocono Mountains of Eastern Pennsylvania, he grew up making many of the things he needed.

His interest in whitewater paddling early in life lead him to concentrate on wood paddle making and later enabled him to master this trade. Backlund's paddles were said to be some of the finest ever produced, and his knowledge of woodworking was of the highest degree.

His first love was building custom paddles, which later lead him to start two mainstream paddle companies, Woodlight and Viking. His apprentices, including Phil Coleman, Jim Snyder, and Jess Whittemore, all paddling legends themselves, credit him with being "a catalyst for excellence" that helped them develop the focus and craftsmanship they needed to produce outstanding work.

Keith Backlund was able to inspire others with his work, and helped set a high standard in the paddling world. His work is greatly appreciated and his legacy continues with every paddle of his that still graces the water.
Paddling Life News on Playak is © and presented by:

Login to post here

danejackson added a video. 15 hours 23 minutes ago

#STAKEOUT JOY #2022

ChristopherStec added a video. yesterday

Team USA Media Summit 2024 - Mental Health Panel

With a heightened focus on what it means for an athlete to truly be at their best, hear from the the USOPC Psychological Services Team, and some of...

carmenbaum added a video. yesterday

Swift Saranac Kayaks

Welcome to of the Saranac kayak series lineup! In this video, Bill goes over each model in the Saranac series and explains the design, sizing, and...

ChristopherStec added a video. yesterday

Team USA Media Summit 2024 - Outdoor Water Panel

Watch Blake Haxton and Evy Leibfarth as they join rowing and surfing Olympians and Paralympians in a discussion about outdoor water sports!...

aztronsports added a video. 2 days ago

Join our GIVEAWAY to celebrate Earth Day with us!

Support sustainability with our PLANET TEE- a cozy defense against the ocean breeze. Crafted with high-stretch, breathable cotton fabric, this TEE...

EJ added a video. 2 days ago

Eric Jackson Shares some Beginner/Intermediate...

This is a long video, but I wanted to share some of what it looks like to take a clinic here at the Jackson Ranch in Rock Island, TN. This clinic is...

MaurusStrobel added a video. 2 days ago

In March 2024 Sam Garthwaite and his team...

In March 2024 Sam Garthwaite and his team managed succesfully to do the first SUP descent of the Falls of Bruar. "The Falls of Bruar have a rich...

aztronsports added a video. 3 days ago

"Challenging my METEORLITE in extreme...

⁠ -@kinga_storm⁠

Surfrider Foundation
See the AUP for our Acceptable Use Policy and a Privacy Statement. Verein Playak is responsible for all editorial content on this site (including all graphics). No part of this site may be duplicated in any way without explicit permission from Verein Playak. Verein Playak takes great care to only publish original content, but since part of the content is user generated, we cannot always guarantee this 100%. If you notice any copyright violations, please let the editors know through the contact form and they will take appropriate action immediately. As a news and information platform, we republish small text snippets and thumbnail images, but always link to original content on other sites, and thus aim to adhere to a 'Fair Use' policy. If you believe we violate this policy in any particular case, please contact us directly and we'll take appropriate action immediately.