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Outlook on Paddlesports

Pamela S. Dillon Executive Director

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ACA Mission

• Promote canoeing, kayaking, and rafting as safe and enjoyable lifetime recreation, while working to protect and preserve the waterways on which those activities depend.

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ACA Overview

• Est. 1880, National Non-Profit 501c3• Approx. 50,000 members• 270 affiliated clubs/organizations representing

300,000 paddlers

• 4000 certified instructors• Canoe, Kayak, Raft, Swift Water Rescue

• Estimated 100,000 students taught annually

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Paddlesport Surveys

• Outdoor Industry Association’s Outdoor Recreation Participation Study

• The Leisure Trends Group• National Marine Manufacturer’s Assoc.• Consumer Nation (warranty card data)• National Survey on Recreation and

Environment• ACA member/non-member surveys

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Participation Study Terminology*

• A Participant is someone who paddles one-four times per year

• An Enthusiast is someone who paddles five or more times per year

• *OIA Study

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Recreational Boating: Popular and Growing

• NSRE found 76.5 million recreational boaters in 2002

• 48 Million used some form of Paddlecraft; 20.6 million went Canoeing; 20.2 million went Rafting; 7.3 million went Kayaking

• Kayaking is fastest growing segment of entire boating community at 182.5% over last seven years

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ACA Survey Results (2003)

• How long have you been paddling?

• Half the women (48%) have under 5 years experience vs. only one quarter (28%) of the men (members & non-members)

Years Members Non-Members

< 5 19% 49%

6-15 33% 26%

>15 48% 25%

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ACA Survey Results (2003)

• What are the top three reasons you participate in this sport?– The most frequently first mentioned reasons by

members and non-members• Relaxation (22%)

• Adventure (19%)

• Experiencing nature (19%)

• Exercise (13%)

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Top three reasons you participate?

– Adventure more important to men (21%) than women (13%)

– Experiencing nature more important to women (33%) than men (13%)

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We aren’t all in the same Boat

• Flatwater Canoeing• Whitewater Canoeing• Wilderness Tripping• Outrigger Canoeing • Dragon Boating• Canoe Sailing• Poling

• Recreational Kayaking• Sea Kayaking• Whitewater Kayaking• Squirt Boating• Surf Kayaking

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Paddlesport in the 70’sPaddlesport in the 70’sDriven by “Deliverance” and the 1972 OlympicsDriven by “Deliverance” and the 1972 Olympics

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Recreational Canoeing

Whitewater Canoeing

Flatwater Canoeing

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Whitewater Kayaking

Sea Kayaking/ Touring

Recreational Kayaking

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The Squirt KayakThe Squirt Kayak

Mid 1980’sMid 1980’s

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Kayaking Statistics (OIA 2001)

• Participant activity over 10 million participating at more casual frequencies.

• Steady Enthusiast levels - 2.2 million • All three kayaking types experienced

dynamic growth in Participant activity in 2001 - whitewater (50%), recreational/sit-on-top (30.4%), touring/sea (20%)

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Kayak Outfitting

Improvementsfor the 90’s

• Different sizes for different people

• Bigger cockpits for faster exits

• Shock-absorbing bulkhead footbraces

• Better Backbands for more support

• More Adjustable fittings for better control

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Whitewater Manufacturing Goes Big Time!

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Video Segment

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Participant Trends• Whitewater kayaking participation in

2002 showed the largest growth of any of the kayaking formats.

• The percentage of whitewater kayakers who participated at the highest levels of involvement has remained unchanged from 2001 - further confirming that the activity’s growth has been fueled by new Participants who are trying the activity for the first time and at more casual participation frequencies.

0.0

0.2

0.4

0.6

0.8

1.0

1.2

1.4

1.6

1.8

2.0

2001 2002

Participants Enthusiasts

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How to “Grow Boating Enthusiasts”*

1. Need good initial/ introductory experience often when young

*RBFF Market Research

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How to “Grow Boating Enthusiasts”:

1. Need good initial/ introductory experience often when young

2. Need friends/ mentors to give guidance and information

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How to “Grow Boating Enthusiasts”:

1. Need good initial/ introductory experience often when young

2. Need friends/ mentors to give guidance and information

3. Need access to equipment, water, and “guides”

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How to “Grow Boating Enthusiasts”:

1. Need good initial/ introductory experience often when young

2. Needs friend/ mentor to give guidance and information

3. Need access to equipment, information, and “guides”

4. Need ongoing support base including groups, organizations, clubs, publications, updates

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Outreach New Ideas to New Markets

• Address changing boat participation patterns and trends – increased numbers of women participants

– Appeal to Gen Xers/ Youth

• Make activity accessible to masses– Address minority participation

– Address participation by singles, couples, families, and seniors

• Survey, research, respond to changing trends

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National Outreach Needed

• Paddlesport participation is increasing

• Activity is attracting new, young boaters. Promote this!

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• Positive outreach needed to paddlers from agencies. Let’s work together to get paddlers involved, to build bridges to the paddlesport community, and to keep them ACTIVE in recreational boating.

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•Questions?