Nottingham Paddlefest 2009

[orton1966]

2009 was set to be a very bad year for Paddle-sport shows in the UK. The outdoor show has been unable to secure any of the major trade exhibitors and Brookbanks canoe-expo event is skipping a year.

With the prospect of no major paddle-sport showcase looming large, a decision was made in the past week to step in and run a large showcase type event.

Adverts, web-pages and further information will follow in the next few days but the basics are as follows:
· The event will take place over the last weekend in March
· The location will be the National Watersports Centre Nottingham
· All major manufacturers, importers and distributors will be invited
· There will be multiple retailers present all weekend
· Subject to water conditions demo’s on the course, lake and river will be inclusive of entry fee.
· Film-shows and talks will be included

Because no suitable exhibition hall exists close to this site the indoor parts of the show will take place in a specially commissioned 2500 m/sq temporary structure, this is no mere marquee, it has proper flooring, rigid walls, heating, lighting and power. To both exhibitors and visitors the experience will be the same as being in any other exhibition hall; only ours will be meters from the (then) newly refurbished white water course

[Slime]

Interesting concept Pete, I support the idea of an English Paddle Sports Show.

Same weekend as the Outdoor Show though - is that deliberate?

Do you mind telling us who is running and sponsoring it?

Good luck,

Pete Knowles.

[orton1966]

The timing of the weekend is partly deliberate, partly circumstance. The outdoor show has been unable to secure many of the key paddlesport exhibitors, the size of the market dictates that companies can only justify doing a limited number of these big style shows. By running the event on the same weekend, hopefully with all our sports leading companies exhibiting, this prevents confusion in the paddling public because paddlers will realise prior to that weekend that paddlefest will be 2009’s leading paddlesports show. Additionally we could not go earlier because of work underway on site.

No one company is sponsoring or running the event. The companies most involved are Valley Sea Kayaks and Desperate Measures purely because we are both Nottingham based and originally had the idea. We have employed Liz, one of the key people behind last year’s canoe-expo to coordinate the running of this new event. Despite Desperate Measures and Valley’s involvement the show is open to what many would regard as our competitors, invitations having already been made to Brookbank (who have been very helpful with show advice) and P&H/Pyranha. The show is being run as an entity in its own right with all exhibitors on an equal footing, Valley and DM will pay for their space like all other exhibitors.

More information will come out over the next few days but the response from potential exhibitors has been excellent, with many making provisional bookings. We are very excited about what this event can offer, if successful the aim is that it will become an annual happening

[rob.b.666]

Sounds like a great idea !

We need to give the event our full support, especially if it's likely to be the only show of any size in England next year.

Are there any famous folk who are into the sport...........or could you get hold of some of the Olympic team members, to get the event some TV/Media coverage ?

If it's the one chance we get to showcase paddlesport, lets make sure we make it a good one !

All the best.

Rob

[orlandinio]

sounds exciting.......is there a party ?

[lizard]

We're hoping to have some sort of shindigg but details are yet to be discussed :)

[Lowri Davies]

Interesting concept Pete, I support the idea of an English Paddle Sports Show.

Same weekend as the Outdoor Show though - is that deliberate?

Do you mind telling us who is running and sponsoring it?

Good luck,

Pete Knowles.

Where is the date?

[c.blyth]

Is it open to everyone or can the 'younger' paddling community come for a play aswell?
(it is my b'day dat weekend.- Ill be 14)?
Sounds good

[peakfreak]

Excellent idea!

I shall make a special effort to come along and support it.
I guess all the usual aspects of a show like this will be happening Demo boats, workshops, gizzits, competitions etc?

As rob.b.666 has asked, will there be any famous chaps or chapesses be there?
Is the BCU having any input aswell?

And of course there HAS to be the statutory party :-)

[lizard]

Where is the date?

Its the 28th and 29th of March 2009.

In answer to Rob666, cblyth and Peakfreak

It will be open to everyone,
We are still working on the finer details like who will be speaking and showing films.
Also still working on what workshops clinics and sessions that we can provide, - all suggestions welcome!

Ill keep you informed here until the website is ready for public scrutiny!

Cheers

Liz

[rob.b.666]

Might sound obvious (and feel free to shoot me down in flames) but, We need to take this show beyond being an event aimed at existing paddlers.

If we're to get the sport/recreation recognised, or attract new blood, in the same way as the likes of Surfing/Sakteboarding or BMX, we need to get the message out to the wider public.

Having some celeb-type there would assist in attaining coverage beyond the Nottingham Herald or whatever. Could be an idea to see if the BBC's sports guy (Mike something or other) would come down and have a go on the course - he's usually tasked with going out and trying different sports as part of his weekend BBC news slot.

Eurosport are running a feature on the NEC bike show regularly at the moment - perhaps they could do something similar with this ? It is one of the sports they cover, on occasion, so you never know ?!

[lizard]

I totally agree Rob,
the organisers and myself really want this event to show off our sport and will be contacting some 'celeb types' and national press to cover it.

So thanks for the suggestions, help is always appreciated.

Cheers

Liz

[garya]

Will there there be any competions and fun events or workshops running on the course. maybe Some pro or team boaters putting on a demo event would be entertaining too.

I would be nice if it was possible get some rafts or orca's doing single runs on the course for those members of the public or family members who would like to experiance the course but who are not out and out paddlers.


Gary

[orton1966]

A plan is already in place to have some rafting availale for non paddlers

[mtouss]

Hi

I have a quite a few members in our club who are interested in the exhibition. Is there a mailing list that I can sign upto to get more info when availiable.

Mark Toussaint
Vice Chairman Ibstock Canoe Club

[lizard]

If you send your contact email to:



info@paddlefest.co.uk



I will send you info as it is available, in the process of creating a news letter sign up on the website but Ill add you when its done.



Cheers



Liz

[mtouss]

Thanks Liz

We can put a link on the club website if you want us to.

[rob.b.666]

Have you got an image of the logo you can send or post on here, so I can put an image link onto our site ?

Cheers.

Rob

[lizard]

Yes, whats your email address?

[rob.b.666]

Added clicky to profile below.

Ta.

[lizard]

Ive made the logos downloadable from the website
hope that helps

Liz

[rob.b.666]

What, like this ?

[rob.b.666]

Links added !

[Strad]

This sounds like a great idea, best of luck to the organisers and hope it goes well. As the next stradlet is due to arrive that weekend I have a hunch I'm not likely to get there :(. But I'd love to see something like this do well and bring something akin to the good old ICE at Crystal Palace.

[stuartsmith]

Don't forget:

Paddle 09 - the Scottish Canoe Association's show. 24-25th October, Bells Sports Centre, Perth.
In 2008 there were 1,600 unique visitors over the weekend in addition to all the exhibitors, organisers etc.

At Paddle 08, as well as nearly all the manufacturers and retailers, there were 17 different talks and workshops from: Dave Manby, Andy Kirkpatrick, Brian Wilson, Liz Bell, Ron Cameron, Nathan Eades, Barney Wainwright, Justine Curgenven, Douglas Wilcox, Jed Yarnold etc.

Ed Smith will be speaking this year and we're just booking the rest of the speakers - any particular recommendations gratefully received.

[Robson]

The organisers and myself really want this event to show off our sport and will be contacting some 'celeb types' and national press to cover it.

Ahh, so thats why I had a missed call Liz!

[c.blyth]

I know this is a longshot but could there be a youth workshop?
This could attract younger paddlers to come

[lizard]

Great news, we can offer you all free entry to the show, that includes access to the films and talks and the retail areas, however we do have to charge for water use so there is a small fee of £5 for any water activities like demoing boats, taster sessions and any wet workshops.

Click here for more information!

Thanks

Liz

[Twix]

Great, any idea which wet sessions are which day?

[lizard]

We are hoping to be able to run everything on both days.
Some things can't but I will be sorting out the timetable once we have a few more confirmations and will let you know.

cheers

Liz