Sponsored by Mountainman Outdoor Supply Company, the state’s largest canoe and kayak dealer, the weekend featured over 75 of the leading manufacturers of canoes, kayaks and accessories, with the festival also including clinics, on-site test paddling, speakers, instruction, live music, food and more. fun for the whole family with over 1,000 canoes and kayaks on sale.
“It was a zoo,” says organizer John Nemjo. “We sold just under 300 boats and our attendance was just under 2500. “A lot of it was because the weather was great, but everything was well attended, from clinics to lessons.”
The event offered a lot more than boat sales. New this year at Paddlefest is the 1st Annual Adirondacks Paddlers Photo Contest, the Reel Paddling Film Festival, free clinics on paddling technique, Stand-Up-Paddleboards, how to choose the right boats and gear, and more. It also hosted a special Kid’s Kayak Clinic with classes sponsored by Swift Canoe and Kayak, the American Canoe Association and the Northern Forest Canoe Trail.
Visitors were able to test paddle all weekend for $20, with their fee applied to a canoe, kayak, or SUP board purchase. But for MountainMan, it boiled down to sales. “We definitely sold a lot of boats,” says Nemjo.
For more information on Adirondack Paddlefest 2012 visit
www.adirondackpaddlefest.com or call (315) 369–6672.
