growing paddlers
In its infancy, there were concerns the paddleboard would take butts out of boats and dollars away from boat manu- facturers. Instead, it’s getting far more people on the water and could be the new gateway watercraft. “SUP has the potential to introduce people to paddles-
ports and get them hooked on the experience of being on the water,” agrees Graham Mackereth, owner and lead de- signer at kayak manufacturer Pyranha Mouldings. “I have no doubt that some of this year’s new paddleboard purchas- ers will be in the market for a kayak or canoe in the future.” SUP paddlers are seen as incremental consumers, con-
firms Sue Rechner, CEO of Confluence, parent company to brands including Dagger, Wave Sport and Mad River Canoes. “We’ve not seen any substantial changes to prod- uct sales trends in the last several years as a result of the popularity of SUP,” she reports. Because SUP is a growing sport, innovation is branch-
ing in all directions. This year, Riviera released an ultra-rectangular board that has more in common with a yoga mat than a surfboard. SIC Maui, serving a dif- ferent market, released a series of updated high-end race boards. Sea Eagle’s wave-piercing SUP, aptly named the NeedleNose, can easily be converted into a sculling rig. Inflatable boards have blown up because they store easily, are lightweight and can go anywhere. Then there are the accessories. From PFD belts and hydration packs to water shoes and floating sunglasses, there’s no end in sight.
state of the union
Outside of SUP and kayak fishing, the paddlesports mar- ket is experiencing steady sales, but not explosive growth. “Despite some regional weather challenges, the overall
market saw growth this season,” confirms Rechner, add- ing that a warm and dry September helped retailers to clear out stock. In 2012, paddlesports sold $432 million and 2013 sales should be equal, if not three to five percent up, says Leisure Trends, a market research group. “The market hasn’t changed much since last year—flat
is still the new up,” jokes Darren Bush, owner of Wiscon- sin-based paddleshop Rutabaga and host of Canoecopia. He’s seen a slow upswing for the past three years, follow- ing the 2008 recession.
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PHOTO: COURTESY HOBIE
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