Though the Professional Paddlesports Association (PPA) and the Trade Association of Paddlesports (TAPS) spent the past year discussing plans for unifying the two organizations into a single entity to service the Paddlesports industry, the merger will not happen. The TAPS Board of Directors met December 6 and 7 in a board retreat with the proposed unification as the first priority of discussions, but voted unanimously to drop those plans. Nonetheless, the group encouraged the two organizations to collaborate in Paddlesports promotion and regulatory issues.

In March, PPA and TAPS created the Paddlesports Industry Unification Workgroup (PIUW) to develop a common vision for a unified Paddlesports industry. The primary objective established by the PIUW was to expand Paddlesports participation. The TAPS board decision reflected its thinking that “expanded participation is best accomplished through strategic partnerships and expansion of TAPS' existing programs.”

In a letter sent out to the industry, TAPS re-iterated its continued advocacy for the industry. The letter read, “The TAPS Board is committed to establishing industry-wide programs in the key areas of promotion and regulatory advocacy. It may not seem so because we recently dropped out of the TAPS/PPA unification process, the PIUW. We decided to withdraw from the PIUW partly because we felt that the process was flawed. The working presumption was that only by unifying TAPS and PPA could Paddlesports be grown. We don’t think so.

“The reality is that Paddlesports is mostly grown by the hard working entrepreneurs, businesspeople, and paddling enthusiasts who dedicate much of their lives to the sport. Trade associations can help, but first we need a marketing concept that makes sense and is affordable to our members. The organizational structure to support the idea should come afterward. We frankly don’t care what Trade Association administers a good concept for industry promotion. But we do care about creating an organization without a good concept.

“So if TAPS’ withdrawal from the PIUW concerns you, and you feel strongly that you want to contribute to developing an industry-wide marketing effort, and you will put some money, time, or ideas into the mix, let’s talk. We intend to develop some marketing alternatives to present to the industry-concepts with price tags attached so that members will know what they will be getting for their money. We can then all see which alternatives sink, and which ones will paddle well. We look forward to hearing from you.”