Bryan Hansel from paddlinglight.com has highlighted what should be a wake-up call to the entire outdoor industry.

The results from a long-term survey were recenrtly released by the US Forest Reserve. The survey (which was completed back in 1969, 1991 and finally in 2007) has been looking into who the users of the Boundary Waters Wilderness Canoe Area (BWCAW) are.

The survey result paints an interesting picture into the health of canoe tripping in the BWCAW and I feel could also be anecdotally applied to other major canoeing areas across North America as well.

…we found out that the average user age in 1969 was 26 and in 2007 it was 45. We also found out that first time visitors have dropped from 30% of visitors to 6%. This means that fewer people are being introduced to the BWCAW. I’d guess that also means that the age of the average visitor will continue to rise and current users grow older. As a point of reference, the average age in Minnesota is 36. The study suggests that one way to explain this is: “While it is important to recognize that younger individuals and first time overnight visitors continue to use the BWCAW, trend data suggest that a strong and substantial cohort of aging, repeat visitors to the BWCAW exists.”

One interesting observation from the study is “Just less than half of the visitors in 1969 had visited other wildernesses besides the BWCAW at that time, but this rose to 57% by 1991 and 75% by 2007.” To me that seems to suggest that once people experience how magical wilderness areas are, they want to visit more of them.

What does this mean for the outdoor industry and outdoor camping? It means that current participants are getting older and we are not introducing young people to the outdoors as our parents did to us. If something isn’t done soon I feel an entire generation will miss out.

More info: paddlinglight.com - Original Survey Report

Flickr Photo Credit: Big Sag - http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/2.0/deed.en_CA / CC BY-NC-SA 2.0

I got the latest Adventure Kayak in the mail yesterday and it got me thinking of how the image of sea kayaking in the media has changed over the years. Below are the first six covers from way back in 2002.

These are the six most recent covers (including the latest above). Maybe it’s just me but I think that sea kayaking looks a lot more fun and personal now.

I Want Your Outdoor Job is a new series I have started that finds people in the outdoor industry who are making a living doing exactly what they love to do, and asks them how they did it.

First out of the gate are friends of the site, Fiona Westner-Ramsay and Mike Ramsay, owners of Badger Paddles based out of Huntsville, Ontario.

When not working on their canoe paddles, Fiona and Mike are the primary caregivers for their autistic son, Makobe and actively work on autism awareness in Ontario.

1) How long have you been in business and what got you started?

Fiona: Mike and I met over 10 years ago while working at the Toronto Sportsman Show in the Swift Canoe booth. Mike was working for Swift and I was the guest paddle painting artist. We married a few years later. We always had a dream to work in the outdoor industry and own our own business. With my father (a.k.a. Poppa Badger) being a wood worker and finisher as well as inherited owner of the family business, Badger & Son (he was the grandson), we naturally spent time around his shop learning the ropes, working with wood, mostly fine furniture. My parents were avid canoeists, as are Mike and I, and it was just a natural progression for us to take our passion for working with wood and mix it with our passion for paddling. When my dad retired and shut down his business, everything just fell into place and we decided to carry on the Badger family name for a 4th generation. Sharing a shop with a friend in the beginning and only working on weekends, we started Badger® Paddles in Spring 2009 and have never looked back since.

Mike: We have been in business about 3 years now. It was just always something I wanted to do. I knew it wouldn't be easy but I still wanted to do it. We are at it full time now and I couldn't be happier.

2) What’s the best part of your job?

Fiona: One of the best parts of my job is when you put a coat of finish on a paddle and with each coat; you see the depth and the beauty of the wood truly come to life. It's almost mesmerizing at times especially when you work on a birdseye, quilted, curly or burled wood and the grain looks 3-dimensional. You can get visually lost in it.

I also really like the conversations with the customers and people we interact with in the industry, on Facebook, and Twitter, etc. It's so much fun!

Mike: Test paddling! Being able to make things with my hands that people will actually use and enjoy and is made from local natural resources is fantastic. It’s also a great excuse to fill the shop with tools.

3) What’s the most difficult aspect of the job?

Fiona: We don't really ever get away from our work because we mostly work from home - even when we go paddling we have Badger with us now!

Mike: One of the most difficult aspects is the production planning. Having everything timed right from the kiln to the expected shipping date.

4) What are two tips you can give to somebody looking to start their own paddle making company?

Mike: I would have to say that if you are trying to start any company, make sure you have a business plan but talk to other paddle makers first. They are a great group of people and are always happy to talk trade with a passionate wood worker and fellow paddler. Also, keep your fingers out of the saw.

Fiona: I like what Mike said. Definitely contact other paddle makers and make a connection. We count a number of paddle makers as friends. You also have to decide if you are going to do it all by hand or use machines. And make paddles for friends and family and get their feed back before you go out there with your product. When we walked into one store when we first started - the guy took one look at our paddles and let out a big sigh of relief. He then told us that they get people in trying to sell paddles all the time and when they show up with their goods - they are wonky and not consistent enough to sell in a store.

5) What about your job do you think would most surprise people?

Mike:  I think people would be amazed at how many steps there are in the process and the number of times that a piece of wood is handled before it's a finished paddle, ready for dipping in the water for the first time.

Fiona: I think people would be surprised at how difficult it can be sometimes, when you get a really nicely grained paddle that is light in weight, to hand it over to someone else and not ever get to use it yourself!

Photo Credits: Badger Paddles

Did you know that the city of Glasgow is planning to be the home ofScotland’s first purpose-built paddlesports centre?

Located in the heart of the city, the Pinkston Paddlesports Centre will be located on the banks of the Forth and Clyde Canal.

View Larger Map

The paddlesports centre will include an intermediate standard artificial whitewater course, two permanent and two temporary canoe polo pitches and a five metre deep diving tank.

There will also be a clean water basin for triathlon training, canoe & kayak lessons as well as host for races.

The long term plan is to also use the facilities for lifeguard training, swiftwater rescue training for local fire and rescue services as well as police diver training.

There is no word on opening dates as they are still fundraising for the project but after recently being awarded several large grants, the project is looking for secure.

More info: local.stv.tv and epduk.com

The Eddyline Restaurant and Brewing Company in Buena Vista, Colorado is looking the official photo for their new boater beer can. If you want to get in, post the low resolution photo to their Facebook wall and they will get in touch if they like it.

$200 REWARD!!! We need a perfect picture for our boater beer can! We need a picture of a crashing wave where the water is clear, the tongue leading into the wave is glassy and the top of wave is white and frothy! This needs to be a head on shot where the crashing foam pile takes up the top third of the picture. This pic will be the background of the Can'O'whitewater! In addition to the $200 we will let the winner help with the initial canning run, get two free cases of beer and will be famous to the Eddyline community! We would keep all rights to the picture. Post a low res version here, email us, or drop by and show us.