The Paddlesports Trade Coalition Colab, billed as a new type of industry gathering, went off without a hitch Sept. 4–6 at the Riversport OKC whitewater park in Oklahoma City, ushering in a new era of industry get-togethers with panel discussions, educational seminars, on-water demos and more.
With a lineup of speakers and focus groups hosting talks on everything from industry cooperation and digital marketing issues to shipping and distribution concerns and consumer engagement, the event brought together decision-makers from across paddlesports to share lessons from decades in the industry with an eye toward the future. The show drew more than 160 individual attendees as well as more than 30 brands to its product showcase and on-water demo.
“We’re stoked—it exceeded our expectations,” says PTC executive director Jeff Turner. “People are believers in what we’re trying to accomplish. We set out to host an authentic event for paddlesports.”
The key, he says, it’s not intended as a tradeshow. Rather, a get-together where people in the industry can learn from one another. And it’s in the same location as the former Paddlesports Retailer show, which pivoted to become today’s Big Gear Show. “One of the big differences is that it isn’t a tradeshow,” he adds. “It’s not brands trying to sell to retailers. It’s an environment to create dialogue and growth in the paddlesports industry.” And in the wake of the post-pandemic slump, the timing was perfect. “There isn’t a better time to do this sort of thing. We’ve been leaning on Outdoor Retailer for so many years and we can’t be doing that. And we can’t be leaning on such other shows as Surf Expo or iCast. A lot of our members came because they believe in that future. We’re trying to build back the community we lost during the pandemic years.”
Next year’s show will return to the Oklahoma City venue, he says, and will be held in September, with dates to be announced soon. He adds he’d love to keep it there through paddling’s inclusion in the 2028 Olympics, which will also be held at Riversports OKC in Oklahoma City.
And like nailing the right line in a rapid, they seem to be on the right track. “Colab was one of the best industry events I have ever attended,” says board member Lili Colby, co-founder of MTI Adventurewear and now with Mustang Survival. “It wasn’t a trade show. It wasn’t just a conference, symposium, or a meeting. It was a dynamic hybrid of all those things, with fun on-water demo time and the added spice of old-school “around the campfire” good times with industry friends, old and new. I left it feeling optimistic about the future of paddlesports and I can’t wait for next year.”
For information on joining the PTC and next year’s show, visit: https://www.paddlesportstradecoalition.org/home