2004 marked the celebration of Kokatat’s 10th Anniversary of women’s specific technical paddling garments. Since March of ’94, Kokatat has included women’s sizing and colors in most all of their creations- from dry suits and tops, to PFDs and Surf Trunks. Currently, with over 30 garments specifically meeting women’s fit and styling needs for technical paddling, Kokatat takes pride in being one of the few paddle sports manufacturers who continue to push the envelope for women.

Kokatat maintains a healthy list of talented women sponsored athletes as well, from world champion whitewater freestyle paddlers to daring expeditioners. These women, in sharing similar experiences and feelings, can relate explicitly to issues that affect women in paddling. Penny Holt, Lead Designer of Kokatat Watersports Wear for over 25 years, and an avid sea kayaker, has witnessed the change; “Watching the industry revolutionize to accommodate women in boat, equipment and gear design has been wonderful. Now women of all ages, sizes and skill levels are out exploring the wonders of the water-many going solo.”

Kokatat proudly sponsors:

  • Borealis Paddling Expedition, May 2005: An all female, 90-day canoeing voyage through Northern Canada. The team: Meg Casey, Nina Emery, Beth Halley, Karen Stanley, and Emily Stirr.
  • Jennifer Hahn: Writer, naturalist and well-seasoned kayak guide. Her recent book, Spirited Waters: Soloing South Through the Inside Passage, won the Barbara Savage Miles from Nowhere Memorial Award for adventure narrative.
  • Shawna Franklin: Open Water Master; Instructor Extraordinaire, Artist. With an Icelandic circumnavigation under her hull, Shawna was the first woman in the United States to gain the BCU 5 Star Sea Award, a test of skills and leadership in advanced sea conditions.
  • Polly Green: All Around Paddling Aficionado; Champion, Expeditioness, Instructor
  • Nikki Kelly: Whitewater Goddess; Extreme Champion, Explorer, and… Worlds Fittest Woman (2nd place, Hong Kong 2003)!
  • Brooke Winger: Freestyle Kayaker; Multi World and National Champion, Uncountable Career Wins
  • Team Survivor, Northwest:

    Team Survivor, a national organization with affiliates around the country provides a broad range of fitness and health education programs to enable women cancer survivors, in any stage of treatment or recovery and at any fitness level, to take an active role in their ongoing physical and emotional healing. Thousands of women cancer survivors have participated in the fitness and health education programs offered by the Team Survivor affiliates. Team Survivor programs are open to ALL women with a past or present diagnosis of cancer. Members range in age from twenty to eighty. Participants are as varied as the activities they enjoy, but they are all bound by the common desire to take an active role in their physical and emotional healing and well-being.