The Global Paddling Community

Today, a coalition of organizations submitted an amicus brief to the Constitutional Court of Colombia calling for recognition of the rights of the Anchicayá River, which flows through the vastly biodiverse Colombian Pacific region.

FUSION® Entertainment, the worldwide leader in marine audio engineering, is proud to announce today that its STEREOACTIVE purpose-built floating portable watersports stereo was selected as the Coolest Product of the Show in the paddlesports accessory category at the 2016 Global Paddlesport Trade Show – PADDLE Expo. Kayak Session Magazine presented the award at the convention, which was held at the Nuernberg Messe (Exhibition Center), Nuernberg, Germany, October 7 through the 9, 2016. The PADDLE Expo Coolest Product of the Show is selected by a jury to highlight a product in each of eight categories that is revolutionary in its innovation, performance, design and utility.

Astral is excited to welcome husband and wife team, Dave and Bobbie Larson, as their new sales team that will expand their outdoor performance footwear and best in class PFDs to the Midwest.

Boardworks, the manufacturer of high-performance surfboards, standup paddleboards, paddles, and accessories, swept the 2015 SUP Connect Gear of the Year Awards. Boardworks’ Joy Ride Flow took home Best All-Around SUP with its stable and smooth ride. The stunning, aquamarine yoga-mat inspired pad complements the beautiful bamboo deck, invoking the Zen feel of the yoga lifestyle on the water. The lightweight and user-friendly Sirena scored Best Creative Design thanks to its combination of a curvy, performance hull design with eye-catching graphics that evoke the whirling currents and curling sea spray.

Louisville, KY. Riverthon℠ 2015 will be held in Louisville Kentucky on October 3, 2015. The four Paddlesport race series features four downriver races on the Ohio River: The Louisville 50, a 50 mile adventure race from Westport, KY to West Point, KY; The Mayor’s Cup, a 22 mile race from Westport, KY to Louisville’s Waterfront Park; The SUP-7, A 7 mile Stand up Paddleboard race from Harrods Creek, KY to Waterfront Park; and, The Voyageur Canoe Race, a 7 mile race from Harrods Creek, KY to Waterfront Park. Teams of 11 paddlers race 30’ Voyageur Canoes, furnished by the City of Louisville.

Dagger, Wave Sport, Bomber Gear and Adventure Technology’s Pro Team athletes posted world-qualifying performances at the US Team Trials in Colorado. The 2015 U.S. Freestyle Team Trials were held June 8-9 in Glenwood Springs, Colorado, where kayakers competed for a chance to qualify for the 2015 Freestyle World Championships that will be taking place on the Ottawa River in August. Qualifiers for the 2015 Freestyle World Championship Team included Team Dagger and Team Bomber Gear athlete Adriene Levknecht, who drove straight from the GoPro Games to the Team Trials in order to continue her reign with a first place finish. Paddling for Dagger, Bomber Gear and Team Adventure Technology, Brad McMillan qualified for the C-1 U.S. Team and OC-1 U.S. Team. Team Wave Sport Manager and veteran whitewater expert Bryan Kirk also qualified, along with Adventure Technology paddler Clay Wright. Wave Sport’s Hunter Katich made the U.S. Team as reigning U.S. Junior Men’s Champion. Elaine Campbell from Team Wave Sport, Clay Wright from Team AT and Anna Bruno from Team AT made the U.S. Freestyle Squirt Team.

Confluence Outdoor, the industry’s leading watersports company, will once again have a strong presence at the GoPro Mountain Games with a booth in Gear Town for Dagger, Wave Sport, Boardworks, Badfish, Bomber Gear and Adventure Technology, and athletes from each pro team competing in the river events. Confluence’s whitewater kayak and SUP brands will have some of the best paddlers in the world competing in the Games. Held June 4-7 in Vail, Colorado, the 2015 GoPro Mountain Games has nine kayak, raft and SUP events scheduled. Paddling venues include the churning waters and drops of Gore Creek, class V rapids in the steep and untamed Homestake Creek, and the wild hydraulics of Vail Whitewater Park. Whitewater competitions kick off on Thursday, June 4 with the Steep Creek Championship on Homestake Creek. The playboaters hit the water for three consecutive days, June 4-6, to compete in the Kayak Freestyle events at Vail Whitewater Park. The Raft Cross event takes place on Friday, June 5, where ramming into other boats is both legal and encouraged. The Kayak Freestyle Finals, Down River Kayak Sprint, Down River R2 Raft Sprint, Down River SUP Sprint and S2 SUP Cross are all scheduled for Saturday,...