Paddle sports trade show brings wave of products to OKC
River sport and other outdoor enthusiasts gathered Monday at the Oklahoma River’s Boathouse District and Riversport Rapids to try out the industry’s newest offerings.
Hundreds of exhibitors and retailers set up booths to show their products at Paddlesports Retailer Demo Day. The celebration included a joust competition, a fishing kayak race and other events.
“We have vendors from all over the country and retailers who are converging in Oklahoma City, taking advantage of our great river and world-class facilities to show off the latest and greatest river sport products,” said Mike Knopp, executive director of the OKC Boathouse Foundation.
Monday’s activities concluded with live music at the Riversport Adventure Park.
The show continues Tuesday and Wednesday at Cox Convention Center, where buyers from more than 300 stores and more than 125 paddle sports brands are expected to attend.
“This event positions Oklahoma City well as we look to the future and create a new image for what we have to offer as an outdoor sports town,” Knopp said. “To land the premiere event in the outdoor industry for paddle sports is a transformation event for us.”
The Paddlesports Retailer show is related the Outdoor Retailer show, held annually in Salt Lake City. Knopp said he and other city and community leaders hope to attract the event on an annual basis, especially after the new convention center opens.
“We’ve been prominent in the paddle sport world from the Olympic standpoint, and the white water center has put us on another level to start attracting the outdoor community,” Knopp said.
“When you start thinking of places known for their outdoor culture like Boulder, Colorado, or Ashville, North Carolina, to be in the same league as those cities from a retail and vendor perspective is powerful.”
The event is expected to have an economic impact of about $2.5 million to the
Oklahoma City economy, but Knopp said the full benefit could be much bigger.
“Far greater will be changing perceptions over time when the industry comes here,” he said.