Of Badgers and Portageurs :: Canoecopia 2013

Badger® WaterColours at Canoecopia 2013
Photo by attendee Stephanie Rochon

Our second year at Canoecopia was another whirlwind of sales and smiles. Mike was happy to see all the familiar faces as well as many new ones too. Without Fiona, who stays home with Makobe (but really hopes to be able to attend next year if Badger is invited back again!), Mike is all alone in the booth for the entirety of the show. Thankfully, both this year and last, popular blogger Preston (from Portageur.ca) attended as well - offering to help out so that Mike was able to catch a break here and there while Preston closed sales and made himself otherwise available to people for questions and conversation (about canoeing and portaging, what else?!).

The calm before the storm -
the booth is ready for Canoecopia 2013.

At first, there was some confusion about our paddle shapes. Mike hadn't had a chance to review the Canoecopia Gazette/Show Guide but realized something was up when people were coming into the booth looking for the bigger bladed paddles. Thankfully Mike had brought some Diggers with him so those really hoping for the larger blade surface, over our more traditional shapes, were satisfied and left with an ash or cherry paddle of their preference. He later realized that the mention of a paddle that was a "tad larger" (in the show guide) had gotten everyone a bit confused but he was able to match up paddles to people's preferences without a problem once he knew what they were.

Mike, as it happens, was really excited for this show as both the Badger-Tripper and the BadgerTail were NEWLY redesigned this year for a more fluid paddling experience.

BadgerTail (top)
Badger-Tripper (bottom)

The BADGER-TRIPPER, a very effective and popular canoe tripping paddle, is based on our "slicy" modified ottertails. A hybrid paddle, we have taken our favourite aspects from the original BadgerPaw and Tripper designs and combined them into one. The result is an extremely fluid, quiet, and aesthetically pleasing paddle. This design is definitely a top choice for trippers - or those who spend most of their day in the canoe.

The BADGERTAIL paddle has a deep and wide blade with a lot of surface area to move large amounts of water but still sits deep enough to be a very effective rudder. Based on a traditional beavertail, the Tail is also great for prying strokes. By redistributing the volume of the blade, we have created a smoother paddling experience. With the bulk of the blade’s volume pulling in the deeper, more still waters - instead of higher up where the water is bubbling and gurgling from your stroke - the paddler's energy is conserved.

Mike was also excited to meet and see everyone again and to talk paddles and paddling. But there was another subject on his mind as well this year as he had brought with him a blue scarf from The Six Degree Project - which aims to get celebrities to wear their scarves in the name of autism awareness. We had already approached Kevin Callan - The Happy Camper (and Hap Wilson!) who (both!) agreed to help bring awareness and attention to autism for the next little while as totally willing participants.

Author and popular outdoor celebrity Kevin Callan wearing
a Six Degree Project Scarf in the name of Autism Awareness
in honour of Makobe & people living with autism every where!
photo credit: Portageur.ca

So this is where Portageur.ca comes in again as he was asked in an *urgent* message pleading with him to photograph Kevin wearing the scarf as he was running around the show. Preston, always a trooper, came thru with a flying spectrum of colours and tracked Kevin down for a shot and included Mike (Kevin's connection to autism is through Makobe) in a great photo. Thanks to Kevin Callan (The Happy Camper) and to our portage loving friend, for helping to bring autism awareness to Canoecopia this year!

A happy portageur and a happy paddler too.
Thanks for being such a great salesman Preston!

On Sunday, Mike was excited again to be able to present our Maple Pancake Pitch to those he shared breakfast with. Last year Mike brought down some Bow Jam with him but this year, the Canoe Trippers' Syrup proved to be really popular with the pancake eating paddlers.

Prepared by Yummies in a Jar located right here in Muskoka, we were more than delighted with the flavour of our specially made "pancake glue".

Our Maple Syrup was a favourite
at breakfast this year!

We only made up a few bottles of this novel, but very delicious Canadian pure maple syrup, however we are definitely going to be getting more soon due to it's deliciousness and popular demand (we got a more than a few private inquiries from family and friends who would like to try it after seeing it posted on Facebook and those who did try it want MORE!).

If you are are wanting to try some yourself, send us an email or drop us a line via our Facebook page.

At the end of the breakfast, full of pancakes, Mike was ready to greet the last day of the show and was soon on his way home. But not before he made lots of new friends and made sure that many of his Badgers had found new paddling families.

Copy of the label on our (imaginative) Maple Pancake Pitch.

Thanks to everyone who helped to make Canoecopia 2013 another great success for Mike and Badger Paddles. We were even honoured by Canoe & Kayak Magazine by being picked for their Best In Show list (we just found out ourselves!). So thanks to you all for helping us become the Badgers we are today. Paws up to everyone! And paddles up to everyone too!

Badger® WaterColours make Canoe & Kayak's Best In Show list!

Special thanks to Preston (Portageur), Stephanie, Kevin Callan, Darren & family, Roch, Scott, David, Seaward Kayaks,  Jerry Vandiver, Jeff Fitch and his very lovely wife, the very happy lady paddlers Donna and Joan, as well as Lou,  and the Kayak Sailors, and the nice lady who let Preston make a sale -  plus many more who helped to make Canoecopia so much fun for Mike again this year. Hope to see you all next year (when I hope to be able to come too)! ~ Fiona

Canoes: The NEW Accessory For Your Paddle!

This past Spring, we attended our first Canoecopia with Rutabaga in Madison, Wisconsin. Thousands and thousands of people attended, and many were there to buy boats. Which usually prompted these purchasers to also buy paddling accessories like paddles, PFD's or maybe even some North Water equipment.

But as it turns out not everyone buys the canoe first! We definitely would have to say our favourite customer quote [ever!] came from Donna, who purchased a couple of "Reverse Splash WaterColours™" from Badger®/Rutabaga at the recent expo.

Interestingly, Donna informed us by email that she had seen one of our unique WaterColours™ paddles at Canoecopia and just had to order a couple for her and her cousin, Joan. In fact, Donna was so excited, her new paddles prompted the purchase of a canoe! (See Donna's quote below.)

Donna and Mike at Canoecopia 2012

"We are so excited about our new paddles. It’s even better to know the folks who are making them. I wasn’t even in the market for a paddle but had to have one once we saw the Badger Paddle display. I even bought a new canoe to go with my new paddle !" ~ Donna G.

Donna and Joan's special ordered "Reverse Splash WaterColours".

Donna went even further to request to have Fiona's signature on the "Reverse Splash" paddles created. These paddles are truly one of a kind! We really dig making special paddles for special people. People like Donna and Joan. Thanks, Donna, for letting us post your awesome quote, and for letting us have some fun creating your paddles!


For more information about our WaterColours™, or personalized paddles, visit our website or contact us: info(at)badgerpaddles.com.

Badger @ Canoecopia: A Behind the Scenes Look (Part 2)

Our Canoecopia back-story in pictures... continued. For a look at Part 1 - see: Badger @ Canoecopia: A Behind the Scenes Look (Part 1).

Along the road to Canoecopia 2012 - about 14 hours by truck - one way.

Getting the booth set up at our first Canoecopia.

Mike did the entire booth set up all by himself.

Nova Craft's Jackson Pollock inspired art canoe.
Photo credit: Preston Ciere of portaguer.ca
To read Preston's Canoecopia report (and we highly recommend
that you do!) see:Canoecopia 2012 (part 1) and
Canoecopia 2102 - Part 2

Jackson Pollock inspired art paddles with Nova Craft Canoe.
(See these paddles in progress here: Badger @ Canoecopia: (Part 1)

The doors are open and the show begins!
Photo credit: Preston Ciere of portaguer.ca
To read Preston's Canoecopia report (and we highly recommend
that you do!) see:Canoecopia 2012 (part 1) and
Canoecopia 2102 - Part 2

Canoecopia attendee Donna shares a smile with our Mike over
a couple of "Reverse Splash WaterColours" Paddles.
(customer supplied photo)

Mike talking "flex" with a few listeners.
Photo credit: Preston Ciere of portaguer.ca
To read Preston's Canoecopia report (and we highly recommend
that you do!) see:Canoecopia 2012 (part 1) and
Canoecopia 2102 - Part 2

Plus, check out Mike's interview with Scott McGregor of Rapid Media TV where they talk about our colourful paddles for kids, cubs, and adults too!

A big Badger thanks to Darren and Stephanie Bush for their wonderful hospitality, and to the rest of the Rutabaga and Canoecopia staff for all their great help and hard work in making this event come to life! Plus thank you all who came out to support Badger® Paddles this year - we really couldn't do any of this without you. Hope to see you all there next year!!!

Badger® Bow Jam - On Toast! (No Special Paddling Skills Required)

According to Discover Canoeing: A Complete Introduction to Open Canoeing by James Weir a "bow jam" is "a stroke that will turn a canoe very sharply. When a paddle blade catches or jams under the canoe it will unbalance the canoe and turn it around. The bow jam harnesses this reaction and turns it into a very powerful paddle stroke."

So in celebration of our first Canoecopia - and just for fun - we did up a few Bow Jams for some of our favourite paddling friends. No - we didn't get out in a canoe for our Bow Jam - the lakes are still frozen here in Muskoka at this time of the year. But we still managed to come up with a number of Bow Jams, just the same.

"HEY! GET YOUR NOSE OUT OF THERE DIGGER!"
Badger Bow Jam: 125 mL jar of Strawberry Rhubarb Jam prepared
in Muskoka, Canada by Yummies In A Jar
Very limited quantities are available - contact us for more information.

Fortunately you don't need any special paddling skills for our Badger® Bow Jam - especially if you are trying it with toast for breakfast!

Thanks to Lynn Murden from Yummies In A Jar
for making such delicious "Bow Jam"!

Prepared in Muskoka by the locally renowed Yummies In A Jar, our Badger® Bow Jam is NOT made from canoe bows, but from delicious strawberries & rhubarb*! Inspired by Fiona's love of word play and thus named after the "bow jam" paddle stroke (a.k.a. running pry), as seen in the video examples below, our "Bow Jam" has been described as follows:

"Badger® Bow Jam: The fast and light flavour of the strawberries are perfectly balanced with the sharp, pivoting flavour of the rhubarb. Our Bow Jam will quickly turn any meal into a tasty treat. A delight to any canoeist’s style and taste buds - naturally it  goes quite well with bannock!"

Picture of actual label on jar. Click on the image to enlarge.

Here is a paddler completing a single handed "bow jam".

Want to learn how to do a single handed "Bow Jam" yourself?

(And this time we don't mean the edible kind!)

 Be sure to pick up a copy of the DVD

Advanced Classic Solo Canoeing with Becky Mason

For those who dig strawberries, sugar, rhubarb and wordplay!

*Ingredients: Fruit (Strawberries and Rhubarb), Sugar, Water, Pectin, and Lemon Juice (no sulphites).

Badger® Bow Jam:
both novel and delicious!

Contact us for more information if you think you would dig trying a Badger® Bow Jam. Remember, you don't have to be a master or advanced paddler to be able to do our Badger® Bow Jam! 

But be forewarned - we only have a very VERY limited supply at this time so don't wait to badger us for your jar if you want some!

Badger @ Canoecopia: A Behind the Scenes Look (Part 1)

This is the first year Badger® Paddles will be attending Canoecopia and we thought it might be interesting (for those who dig a behind-the-scenes look) to share some of the goings on in getting ready for - what is known as -  the World's Largest Paddlesports Exposition. So here is our Canoecopia back-story in pictures... 

Jackson Pollock inspired art paddles - these paddles will be
seen along side of Nova Craft's artistic canoe at Canoecopia.
Fiona loved creating these paddles for Nova Craft.

Little souvenir canoe paddles ready for their final hand sanding.

Badger® Paddles being oiled and varnished Cubs.

Colourful Badger® WaterColours - curing in the shop. 

"If you build it, they will come"
Seen above: Part of the Badger® Booth to be unveiled at Canoecopia 2012
Interesting to note: The canoe shelf was an old canoe that was pulled from
a swamp in Crowe Lake, Ontario several years ago. Rotted through,
after years of being submersed, we decided to re-purposed it for
the booth to display Badger® merchandise.

Mike braves the cold and snow to start loading the booth
into the Badger® Paddles truck.

Just have to load the canoe shelves and the big stuff is done!
Now just some racks and a few miscellaneous items to go.

That's Digger (the Badger mascot), who jumped in the paddle

rack shipping box. Looks like he is looking forward to the trip!

Badger @ Canoecopia: A Behind the Scenes Look (Part 2) coming upon Mike's return!

Badger DIGS Canoecopia 2012

This paddle (set) - close up view - will be unveiled at Canoecopia with
Nova Craft's Jackson Pollock inspired abstract art canoe.

Nova Craft's Jackson Pollock inspired abstract art canoe.

This is a very special season for us at Badger® Paddles. We almost felt like we "got a golden ticket" when we received our invitation to attend Rutabaga's renowned Canoecopia this year. Not only will this be our first official booth at a trade show or event, but this is also our first real official debut in the U.S. and we could not be more excited. It almost feels like it did the time Badger® attended our first ever event at the Swift Canoe & Kayak's Guelph Lake Sale only a few years ago.

Hand painted paddles that will be
available at Canoecopia 2012

But this time, instead of just 6 styles of oiled paddles, Badger® Paddles has grown to include WaterColours™(colourfully tinted solid wood canoe paddles for kids or adults), combination finish paddles (the best of both worlds - a varnished blade with and oiled shaft/grip), Badger® Wood Oil, T-shirts, Badger® toques (hat), and more! Plus, unlike when we first launched, now every adult length  Badger® Paddle includes it's own Badger® Paddle Sock - a sock that will protect and stretch to fit almost any style paddle you have in your collection up to 65" in length - not just your Badger® Paddle.

Combination finished paddles -
varnished blade with oiled shaft/grip.

We are really having as much fun with this event as we can so be sure to stop by the Badger® Paddles booth and say hello to Mike and check out some of the hand painted paddles Fiona has done for this special occasion - including the Jackson Pollack inspired art paddles to be unveiled with Nova Craft's abstract art canoe (see above photos).

So if you want to just talk paddling, or have questions about how our paddles are made, or are interested in purchasing a paddle from it's maker, then Mike will be more then happy to chat with you. Just look for the Badger® Paddles booth. Canoecopia is held annually in Wisconsin, U.S.A. by Rutabaga. This year Canoecopia will be the weekend of March 9 - 11th. For more information and/or tickets, please visit www.canoecopia.com. Or read the 2012 Canoecopia Gazette. Hope to see you there if you can dig it!