Taking Your Retail Business to the Next Level

During my time repping, south of the border, I saw a big difference between the retail market in the Western USA and Western Canada.  We were lagging behind a bit up here but I am happy to report that a few of my larger dealers are investing with their dollars in the on line sales world.  I remember, chatting about online sales with long-time retailer (he's been in business for over 30 years),  Mike Garcia owner of Northern Lights Trading Company (Bozeman, MT).  He told me, "Nikki, if you can't beat them, join them".

The convenience of online shopping is known to all of us, you can do it from the comfort of your own home and have items delivered right to your door.  Perfect timing for retailers as we head into the very busy, Christmas shopping season.

Aquabatics in Calgary, AB and Western Canoeing and Kayaking in Abbotsford, BC are two of retailers who have shared with me over the last while their commitment to on line sales.

Both, retailers have invested significant dollars in re-doing their websites to efficiently and easily handle e-commerce from customers across Canada.  The biggest surprise is both retailers, shipping rates.  Aquabatics FREE for orders over $75.00* and Western FREE for orders of $100.00 or more*

*this does not include canoes and kayaks.  Please check out their websites to review their shipping policies.

I have mentioned to both retailers that I am expecting to see an increase in their overall sales with this commitment they have made.  This is only helped by the fact that the Canadian dollars is low and hopefully, Canadian consumers will have more interest in doing their shopping here in Western Canada.  

4th Annual Aquabatics Film Competition

For all you, aspiring film-makers check out the Aquabatics Film Annual Film Competition.

Entries will be received until Wednesday October 15th.  They would appreciate a "teaser" before that date, if possible.  Email them through there website HERE

The 2 categories of films are:  Paddling Porn and Lifestyle and Adventure

The Paddling Porn category is for those films mainly made up of waterfall descents and boating on hairy rivers.

The Lifestyle and Adventure category is for films showcasing trips, comradery, scenery, and the characters from the paddling community or works of comedic genius!

The winners will be announced at Schanks Sports Grill (NW Calgary) on Thursday October 30th at 7PM

Tickets are $5.00 if purchased in advance at the shop or $10.00 at the door.

Kokatat and Werner Paddles are proud to be involved again!  

Update from our Canadian Junior SUP Champion - Eli Fischbuch

Now that winter is here my paddling season is over for this year and I am just spending my time trying to stay in shape for next season!  

Here in in Cochrane, Alberta it gets cold and snowy very fast which means it is basically impossible to go out and paddle.  I do try to go out on the Bow River as long as I can.  Me and another group of paddlers from Aquabatics Junior Development group got out at the very start of the season when there was still some snow and ice around and paddled down the Bow for a little bit and then we saw an iceberg in an eddie and we decided to all jump on it and started doing down the river on it - paddling an iceberg was something different!  

Claire Clarkson and Eli Fischbuch both on the Aquabatics Junior Development SUP team!  photo: Vanessa Fischbuch

A few of us also went out this fall - our last day was on October 12th. This was World Paddle for the Planet Day and we thought we might be able to get some other kids to come out and paddle with us. But it was cold and no one seemed to want to come!

Since I cannot actually practice paddling here I just try to stay in shape over the winter.  I joined a climbing club to get stronger so I climb two days a week.  I also ski a lot.  I am really starting to like backcountry skiing, so you have to tour up the mountain before you ski down.  This should really build on my endurance.  These are the main ways that I try to stay in shape over the winter when I cannot paddle.

Next year I am planning on continuing racing SUP as well as hopefully getting on the river some more here in Alberta.  There are lots of different races that I keep hearing about - there is one on the Hood River I heard about that sounds like fun and I’d like to maybe try that one.  There was also a river race up in Edmonton as well as a surf competition at West Edmonton Mall this summer - if that happens again I’d like to go check that out. There’s alot to do! I just have to hope my parents are keen to drive me!

Update from the Aquabatics Junior Development SUP Team

Read up on the Aquabatics (Calgary) Junior Development SUP Team.  Nikki Rekman Sales is helping support this fearless group of guys.  Aquabatics (Calgary) is owned and operated by Simon Coward, a super great guy who is all about getting youth out on the water.

Here is a team report by Dean Woodgate.  THANKS Dean!!! 

Every Alberta May Long,  Pincher Creek is the place to be. Home to the famous 3 rivers rendezvous. This season the Aquabatics SUP team rallied down & joined over 280 keen kayakers, canoeists & swimmers to sample some of Southern Alberta's finest white water

The Aquabatics SUP Team consists of 5 high school age chargers, who are pushing the sport of paddlle boarding in every way possible.  This is the first year the team has come together to develop skills and explore the rivers around Calgary and Southern Alberta.

Team paddler, Eli Fischbuch photo: Vanessa Fischbuch

Supported on and off the water by the amazing team at Nikki Rekman Sales, the crew are putting their Kokatat and Werner gear through its paces as only teenagers can, and repeatedly it comes up trumps providing only the highest quality, what these two brands have become renowned for.

Over the weekend we ran several stretches of river, developing new skills & technique with a large focus on river running, communication on the water & safety.  Rivers included multiple laps on the Crowsnest ( a favorite of the crew mainly due to all the amazing surf waves at every bend) the team surfed every wave & hydraulic possible in search of the perfect party wave, then the highlight of the weekend, (apart from Saturday nights steak dinner), would have to be our Castle Falls session. Which for most, was the biggest rapid they had ever swam/SUPed…..  This Class III+ rapid was super exciting and onlookers were pretty amazed at the valiant attempts of the team to stand the whole line.. not this time, but time and progression will change that

It wasn't all big smiles & high fives though.... pushing it on the river made for lots of swims, bruises & damaged gear. Over the weekend we managed to bust 2 fin boxes, snap several fins & ding enough boards to keep the Aquabatics repair team busy. 

Keep an eye on these kids....... both on the river and the flatwater.

Thanks again to Nikki Rekman Sales, as always showing the way in supporting grass roots paddlesports programming...legends!

Spread the Word and Let's Go Fishing!!

 

For all you kayak anglers and those paddlers interested in becoming kayak anglers get involved in the Aquabatics (Calgary) Fishin' Derby!

Enter your photos on line for a chance to win some awesome prizes - Kokatat Watersports Wear is one of the sponsors.

There are 3 contests running between today and July 15th!

 

Alberta SUP Update from Team Paddler, Luke Vollmerhaus

S’up paddle boarders! (see what I did there?) 

Bad puns aside, I want to get you off to an early start with some of the awesome stuff coming out of the best paddling shop this summer for all the veteran, recreational and prospective SUPer’s .   

We will have all of the boards from last year from Amundson and Board Works, including the unreal Bad Fish river board series. Some new additions at both ends of the cost spectrum; we’ll be picking up boards from Corran that are a thermoform plastic all-purpose board. We are also getting the SUP Love boards; very fancy high performance boards with a beautiful wood finish.   

Of course Werner Paddles SUP paddles will be well stock along with much more.

If you are interested in getting on the water with us we also have some very cool new programs to compliment our SUP instruction from last year.  We have our season-tested Intro to Flat Water and Advance Flat Water as well as our Intro to River course. The new additions are a full day SUP Start Up rather than just the evening course and hopefully, a SUP River Surfing course, more info on that will be available in the near future. 

Watch for our Junior Development SUP program similar to the JD kayak program too.
 

The whole crew at Aquabatics Calgary is stoked to get you on the water with the best gear possible this season.

For more info on all the new gear please visit  www.aquabatics.com

 

For even more info you can visit the manufacturer’s websites:

www.wernerpaddles.com

www.amundsonsup.com

www.suplove.com

www.boardworkssurfcanada.com

See you on the water!

Luke

***thanks for the update Luke, looking forward to seeing you in May!!!***

Another River SUP Paddler Sings the Stingers Praises

Welcome, Guest blogger, Luke Vollmerhaus.  

Luke works for Aquabatics Calgary a proud Kokatat Watersports Wear and Werner Paddles Dealer.  He is also a member of the Nikki Rekman Sales Team.

 

Smooth. 

For a paddle that might seem like an odd descriptor but for the Werner Paddles Stinger it fits perfectly. 

With each stroke this blade eases into and out of the water without the slightest suggestion of a catch. This enables the paddler to take more confident strokes in the complex balance situations presented by White water SUP boarding. In a sport as progressive as this you don’t want anything holding you back and the Stinger does just the opposite, accelerating your skills better than ever!

Here’s the physics behind the feeling: Your classic wedge shaped blade delivers a powerful forward stroke and is by far the most commonly used style as SUP boarding started on flat water and ocean environments. The down side to this design is that as soon as you get the tip in the water you immediately have a very significant portion of the blade in the water. This can cause something called a ‘catch’ where you suddenly have a large amount of resistance against the blade. If this resistance isn’t perfectly in line with your intended stroke (due to something like say… river currents) then it can pull you off balance and land you in the water. 

Werner has conquered this issue by inverting the wedge shape of the paddle so if you only put a little of the blade in the water you only get a little bit of resistance. The angle of the wedge also makes sculling braces much easier as it doesn’t bury the blade in the water as easily so your paddle stays high and utilizes maximum leverage and surface tension.

I got in a September surf session on Harvie passage in Calgary to test out this hot new blade and it was all it was that Werner promised and more!   

This paddle is a huge step in the progression of white water SUP.

Keep a paddle in the water!

Luke

River SUP with Aquabatics

Dean

If you are interested in learning to Stand Up Paddle (SUP) on rivers head to Aquabatics in Calgary, AB and talk to Blair, Matt, Dean or Mitch and they will give you all the info.

Here are some photos from one of their recent sessions on the Bow River right in Calgary.  Thanks for the exposure in your Kokatat Drysuits and your Werner Paddles guys!!!

Looking forward to seeing you all later this week for your clinic.

Mitch

Blair

Matt