Dagger has signed on for sponsorship of “Girls at Play”, a national series of kayaking clinics for women taking place this spring and summer, led by Anna Levesque, a member of Team D, Dagger Kayak's professional team. Designed to bring more women into kayaking in a supportive, relaxed environment, these free two-day clinics offer participants the opportunity to learn the basic skills of kayaking, how to outfit a boat, and how to recognize and correct common technique challenges specific to women. In addition, women can demo the latest Dagger kayaks, along with products from other sponsors such as Nike ACG water apparel, Shred Ready helmets and other gear companies. The “Girls at Play” clinics take place from April through July at 11 locations throughout the United States.
“We jumped at the chance to support the “Girls at Play” tour and bring more women into the sport,” said Robin Culver, Dagger field marketing coordinator and manager of Team D. “We have seen more and more women buying boats and getting into the sport, but women are still the minority. You don't have to be an elite athlete to enjoy kayaking. There are boats and kayaking locations for every skill level.”
Dagger's support for the “Girls at Play” initiative will be complemented by Dagger's own successful consumer outreach program “Paddle with the Pros”, featuring Team D professional athletes, who will visit 34 locations in 2004. This year Paddler Magazine, Kayak Magazine and Nike ACG are supporting Dagger's “Paddle with the Pros” program. The national tour, launched in 2002, will run through July. Beginners and more advanced paddlers alike can try the latest boats from Dagger and build their skills by paddling with experts. At each location, Dagger works with a local kayak dealer to host the event.
Mike Steck, Watermark marketing director, said, “Kayaking is the fastest-growing, human-powered outdoor sport and we are proud to help people get into a kayak for the first time or help current paddling enthusiasts hone in on their skills. We want people to learn why we are so passionate about paddling. Our pro athletes and our retail partners are great ambassadors for the sport.”
