You might have had a hard time getting ahold of company heads and designers at the end of September as most headed across the pond for the 2024 Paddlesports Show in Strasbourg, France, September 27 – 29.
Manufacturers released new products that are either available now or are slated to debut in 2024 at the show in Strasbourg, right now the industry’s largest get-together for companies to show their wares to dealers. Innovative products from Pyranha (a new creek boat named the Reactr and new play boat), NRS (new lifejacket line), Level Six (new Class Six sprayskirt for creeking and a new drysuit without latex or neoprene), P&H sea kayaks, Venture Canoes, and Palm Equipment were all on display, as well as a host of other products for paddlesports.
We contacted Bren Orton to produce a quick video on some of his sponsors’ new equipment unveiled at the event, with the latest from the likes of Pyranha, P&H Designs and Venture Canoes, as well as picked other attendees’ brains about what to keep an eye out for on the water in 2024.
Read on for the recap.
Bren Orton Wrapup Vid: Pyranha and P&H Designs
Turning the most heads was the new Reactr kayak, which will be completed and distributed January 1.
Other News from the Show
The new Level Six sprayskirt debuted with a one-way pressure valve to stop skirt implosions for those running waterfalls and big water. They won the coveted innovation award from the show.
New NRS Lifejacket Line
NRS, which recently announced a partnership with Pyranha in the UK, debuted a new line of PFDs at the French trade show. NRS introduced six new and revised lifejacket models at the Paddle Sports Show, all built with its groundbreaking new Orbit Fit system. Unlike conventional PFD construction, which uses various methods to make flat blocks of foam flotation conform to your body, Orbit Fit uses several thin layers of precision-cut polyethylene foam to create a pre-curved shape for better comfort. This construction technique also results in vests that are remarkably lightweight and flexible.
As part of its effort to make its products more sizing inclusive, NRS has incorporated grading sizing for all new PFDs, in which each of three sizes is uniquely shaped to fit its intended user. Each of these life jackets feature 100% recycled exterior fabrics and PVC-free foam, while the Orbit Fit construction method reduces foam waste by up to 60%. These efforts led to NRS winning the Dealer Buzz award at the Paddle Sports Show for its new Ninja PFD line.
Other News from the Show
Kayak Fishing: On the Kayak Fishing Front the all-new Native Titan X 12.5 took top honors from BIG Adventures’ Team.
Spade/Soul Waterman: In other news Spade Kayaks released a line of drysuits and a partnership helping distribute Soul Kayaks. Spade will start in Austria, demoing and selling the Soul line alongside their own kayaks, while Soul is exploring ways to bring the Spade line into N America to offer more to the dealer network and end users.
Prijon: Internationally, the Prijon Beast is a new offering in bomber plastic from Germany’s Prion, HTP. The Horny Potato from Lettman, also looks amazing for creeking.
Aquabound: Aquabound debuted its Aerial paddle line debuted for the whitewater crowd, with a durable fiberglass and carbon model turning heads at the show.