Temperatures reaching the high 30’s, melting snow, and later sunsets are subtle indicators spring is on the way. But for thousands of paddlesports enthusiasts the real sign winter has ended is Rutabaga’s Canoecopia event. Held in March for more than 20 years, Canoecopia has reached the status of a national holiday weekend for midwestern paddlers. This year’s three-day event fell on March 10-12.

Maybe it was the warm weather that greeted visitors or a collective case of cabin fever, whatever the reason, Canoecopia’s organizers reported record attendance and sales.

Returning sponsors Teva and Hooked on the Outdoors were joined by Sierra magazine and Shimano in supporting the event. The exhibitor list included six canoe manufacturers, 11 kayak brands, six more in specialty boats, nine paddle manufacturers, 19 clothing and footwear brands, and dozens more companies offering paddling accessories and camping gear. Exhibitors filled the 100,000 square foot Alliant Energy Center’s main room and lined the outer halls.

Peter Devin, Outdoor Group Director for VNU Expos, attended the event for the first time. “I thought it was terrific. The opportunity for our industry to connect with real live customers is awesome. That’s both from Rutabaga’s standpoint as well as the manufacturers,” he said.

Ross Prather, editor of Canoe & Kayak, came from Kirkland, Wash. to spend time with paddlers. “Everyone walking these aisles represent our readers. Talking to the end users gives me great input for the editorial direction. They have strong opinions that are important for me to hear,” Prather said.

Repeat visitors noticed several changes that improved the experience. The floor plan of the convention hall was revised to incorporate a new wide center aisle that greatly improved traffic flow, especially during the busiest times. Pool demonstrations were also added for the first time. The Clarion Hotel, attached to the convention center, agreed to six 30-minute pool sessions on Saturday and Sunday. Demonstrations included sea kayak rescues, kayak fishing techniques, and rolling instruction.

The installation of a new inventory control software system resulted in much shorter checkout lines. Posted signs announcing “The line may look long but it goes really, really fast” proved to be very accurate.

Everyone from exhibitors who have been part of Canoecopia since the beginning to first time entrepreneurs found an eager audience armed with questions and ready to hear about new products. “There’s a real value in having the manufacturer’s have face to face conversations with their customers who are sitting in their boats or talking about a paddle, helmet or PFD. It was a terrific exchange of commerce and education,” Devin said.

Paul Burton, founder of StoSak, a first time exhibitor marketing bags to transport and store kayaks rarely had a moment to himself. After pitching the features and benefits of his products, Burton often heard suggestions for improvements and new products to add to his line. “It’s amazing to see the number of people here. The biggest benefit is getting feedback from people that are buying my product,” he said. The positive reaction confirmed his belief that StoSak would serve an unmet need. Returning home to Hood River, Oregon, Burton will look into adding cinching straps to the bags based on the comments he received.

Rack manufacturers drew large crowds and lots of attention. Paddlers frequently stood three deep watching Thule’s Hullivator boat-loading system put through the motions. Thule also introduced a line of tow behind adventure trailers at the show.

Yakima’s booth was busy with customers filling their Canoecopia provided canvas shopping bags with rack accessories. Yakima’s new Integrated Gear Management System was on display. Marketed as a way to organize gear stored in garages, the unit was the source of a few debates. Located in the center of rack booths, Rutabaga’s subsidiary Rackhaus, used cars provided by a local auto dealer to show a range of racking systems and accessory options. Rackhaus services were offered to people purchasing canoes and kayaks at the show. Across the convention floor, Shimano displayed a line of kayak fishing poles, tackle, and boat outfitting accessories. Walleyes, bass, and muskies surviving under the ice on midwestern waterways will have something new to worry about when these rigs hit the water.

In keeping with Canoecopia tradition, nonprofit organizations like the Aldo Leopold Nature Center, River Alliance of Wisconsin, and Gathering Waters Conservancy were also on hand to promote their causes, raise funds, and answer questions. Hundreds of visitors took a break from product research and purchases to attend the destination and skills presentations. Over the three-day event, a list of experienced speakers from across North America offered more than 100 presentations in six conference rooms. The transitions between hourly presentations often created human traffic jams that took a few minutes to clear.

Devin went to three different presentations to get a flavor for the content and the audiences. Commenting on the make-up of the visitors, Devin said, “Getting more than 20,000 people together to talk about outdoor activities is great for our industry. I wish I had seen more youth and ethnicities. That’s an opportunity for us to bring more people into the outdoors.”

Late Sunday afternoon, a parade of cars from Nebraska, Minnesota, Iowa, Ohio, Michigan, Illinois, and Indiana left for the trip home. A good sampling of cars had new boats on top. From Prather’s point of view, Canoecopia 2006 was worth a weekend away from home. “There’s a whole different level this year-more people, better layout, and more companies. There’s an energy here,” he said. First time visitor Peter Devin was also impressed, “Kudos to Rutabaga and the industry for supporting a fabulous event for the customer, the industry and all the manufacturers involved.”