Outdoor Retailer will honor Andy Knapp, a renowned outdoor adventurer and former head buyer of hardgoods at Midwest Mountaineering, at a Paddle Out held during the Outdoor Retailer Summer Market Open Air Demo at 3 p.m. on Monday July 20, 2009. After a six-year fight against kidney cancer, Andy Knapp (61) passed away at his Minneapolis home on June 22, 2009.
Outdoor Retailer attendees, exhibitors and media are invited to join together with specials guests, including Midwest Mountaineering Owner Rod Johnson, in remembering and honoring the life of Andy Knapp.
“OR benefited from Andy's wisdom over many years; he was on our retail advisory board and we had many insightful conversations about the industry and the show,” said Kenji Haroutunian, Outdoor Retailer show director. “In many ways Andy helped shape the show for the future and a tribute to his life as an adventurer and leader in the outdoor recreation business is completely appropriate, and the least we could do.”
According to recent tributes, Knapp logged more than 156,000 human-powered miles on his bicycle, kayaks, canoes and feet. This adventurer bicycled in 34 states and 12 countries, hiked and climbed throughout North America, and paddled extensively in the wilderness waters of the upper Great Lakes area, Baja, Alaska, Florida and beyond.
Knapp worked for more than 34 years in the outdoor equipment industry as a retail buyer and had been the Midwest Mountaineering buyer of camping, canoeing and kayaking products for many years.
Knapp is survived by his wife Denise Dohrmann and their daughter Kaitlyn Knapp.
Boats for the Andy Knapp Paddle Out will be provided by Open Air Demo exhibitors.
More information about Andy Knapp and his life can be found through reading his personal blog (www.andytknapp.blogspot.com) and his recent obituary in the Minnesota Star Tribune.
