Paddlesport 2006 will be held March 24, 25 & 26, 2006 at the Garden State Exhibit Center in Somerset, NJ. Over 100 exhibitors will gather together under the same roof to present new products and share their passion for paddlesports. Exhibitors will include leading manufacturers of canoes, kayaks, accessories and sportswear; paddling clubs, professional instructors and outfitters. Free seminars, lectures and a movie screening will be given throughout the weekend.
“Paddlesport is a great venue for paddling enthusiasts to find the latest paddlesports products at special show prices before the season starts,” said John Durrua, President, The Jersey Paddler. “This show is more than a one-stop shop. It is an experience where paddlers of all levels can meet with professionals, talk to associations, learn about great places to paddle, and get together to share their own stories.”
The Paddlesport show started 45 years ago when local canoe clubs decided to find a cure for winter cabin fever by gathering local retailers and manufacturers at a local college gymnasium and pool. Over the years, the show grew to where the local clubs could no longer handle the logistics. As a result, the show was turned over to The Jersey Paddler in 1981.
The first Paddlesport under The Jersey Paddler's organization was held at The Ramada Inn in Princeton, NJ, but as the number of attendees and list of exhibitors grew, a bigger venue was needed. Since1998, the Paddlesport exposition has been held at the Garden State Exhibit Center, a 70,000 square foot facility making Paddlesport the largest show on the East Coast.
This year, over 100 exhibitors from the paddling industry will be on hand offering seminars, lectures and movies throughout the weekend. Highlights include the screening of a movie selected from the 2006 National Paddling Film Festival, a slide show by renowned paddlers and photographers Gary and Joanie McGuffin, and the presentation of the “Northern Forest Canoe Trail” by industry legends Rob Center and Kay Henry just to name a few.
