The first Paddlesports Retailer trade show launched last week in Madison, Wis. The sold-out and well-attended, paddlesports-specific show certainly delivered with four days of paddling’s biggest brands displaying their latest and greatest for dealers and specialty retailers, not to mention inquisitive media hoping for a sneak peek of what to expect in the year to come. Here’s the highlights of what caught our editors’ attention as we cruised the Alliant Center hall as well as the adjacent park lake, which hosted an open-water demo on Aug 29. (Next year, the show moves to Oklahoma City.)
CURRENT DESIGNS KARLA / BENDING BRANCHES TANGO
MUSTANG SURVIVAL KHIMERA
ASTRAL BREWER 2.0 / TR1 MERGE
PYRANHA RIPPER / OCTANE
KOKATAT NAIAD / PROTEUS
CATARACT OARS DESO
DAGGER PHANTOM
NRS GUIDE SERIES
SWIFT KEEYWAYDIN
YAKIMA SKYRISE
-- Want more new paddling gear previews for the year ahead? Check out a few of the new paddling accessories that debuted at this summer’s Outdoor Retailer show, as well as notable new kayak fishing products at the 2017 ICast and OR Summer Market trade shows; For more in-depth reviews, see our recent slate of Field Tested gear profiles, as well as our recent review of 5 do-it-call tripping canoes, including the mentioned 17-foot Swift Keewaydin.
-- Read more about the new Paddlesports Retailer show, and the announcement at this year’s show to move the event to Oklahoma City.