Badger Sightings in Europe

Have you ever sighted a Badger®?!

They're not only in Canada - they can be found in places as far away as Australia (yes.. it doesn't get much further away then that!), the United States of America and even Europe too.

So how do you increase your chances of a Badger® sighting in Europe?

The best place to start is in Austria, specifically the Carinthian Canoe Base sett. Not only will you spot a Badger® (who would love to be taken home and adopted by a paddler like you!) but you will also lay your eyes on some of the most beautiful canoes you will ever see (if you are lucky enough to catch one in your view - because they are "Swift" Canoes after all! *pun intended*).

CCB display Swift Canoes and Badger® Paddles at the
Austria Boat Show in Tull this past March.
Photo credit: CCB-Swift Europe

Interesting displays and bright lights really show the beauty
of the Swift Canoes. We're really digging the CCB booth space!
Photo credit: CCB-Swift Europe

Daniela from CCB stands by the uniquely designed paddle
rack/display - each paddle was attached by rope to a river
rock - we (at Badger® Paddles) love incorporating raw
elements with our solid wood paddles - it's a natural combination!
Photo credit: CCB-Swift Europe

Here is a better angle of the paddle racks with the attached
river rock - we have very creative paddling friends over seas!
Photo credit: CCB-Swift Europe

This Badger sighting is from a Sliver owner in the U.K.
Picture taken at Coombe Haven by Marcus G.

So what do you do when you see a Badger®?
Well, you pick it up and take it for a dip, of course! After all, our paddles really do dig the water. Contact CCB-Swift Europe for more information, to arrange a "viewing", or to see how to go about getting your paws on a Canadian made Badger® Paddle and/or Swift Canoe. Dig this: Wolfgang and Daniela are really nice folks who go to a lot of trouble to bring quality handcrafted traditional Canadian canoes and paddles over seas. They are truly passionate about paddling and quality gear and would love to chat with you about paddling, "open canoes", and any other traditional gear.

So what do people who own their own Badger® have to say about our paddles?
They really dig 'em! One Sliver owner even went as far as to compare his Badger® Paddle to Angelina Jolie! But don't take our word for it. Read our customer testimonials here: Badger® Customer Testimonials. Remember, if you do decide to adopt a Badger®, just make sure you get out on the water with it as much as possible to keep you - and your paddle - happy! :o)

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 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!

Badger in America with Swift & Mountainman!

Finally we Canadian Badgers are going to see our American Badger Cousins.


Thanks to Swift Canoe & Kayak, for the first time Badger Paddles are going to available in the USA in the state of New York!


Thru the Mountainman Outdoor Supply Company for one weekend only!*


Mountainman is New York's largest Canoe & Kayak dealer and they are going on the road to the Adirondack Sports & Fitness Summer Expo at the Saratoga Springs City Center... and, they are taking Swift with them.

And... Swift is taking Badger!

This is an event you don't want to miss with great pre-season deals on boats and a chance to check out the BadgerPaws and Slivers as well as a few Cub WaterColours.  Not to mention - the very new and very versatile Badger Paddle Sock will also be available!  It'll fit just about any canoe paddle - from a thin solo blade to a bent shaft style so try one on (your paddle) and see what you think!  (Will work for 2 pc kayak paddles too - just buy 2 and cinch them together.)

Make sure to look for Swift and Bill (see photo on right) at the show.  You can even tell him "Badger says Hi!" or "Fiona sent me".  Let us know what he does!


The Adirondack Sports & Fitness Summer Expo takes place April 24th and 25th (Saturday and Sunday).  If you are going to be in the area - be sure to stop in and enjoy this fantastic show!  We just know you will "dig" it!

*If there is enough interest for Badger at this show there is a better chance you will be seeing Badger available thru Mountainman in the future so don't wait to adopt a Badger into your paddling home!!!