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The Outdoor Retailer Show (OR) is held once a year to display all the new and updated gear available for 2005. I was invited to attend with my kayak company, Fluid Kayaks from South Africa. Although this is a showcase for all outdoor equipment and clothing companies, the paddle sports had a huge presence. All the major companies were present including: Dagger, Perception, Liquid Logic, Wave Sport, Riot and Pyranha. There were representatives from canoe companies, inflatables, recreational and sea kayaks. Of course along with the boats, comes the accessories, which are great fun to explore. Clothing and gear companies including Patagonia, Extrasport, Kokotat, Mountain Surf, and NRS all had the new 2005 lines to see and try. Paddle companies, spray skirts, river shoes, you name it, the show was huge. There was a large pool about three feet deep for the paddle sports to demonstrate their products. This was also the location for demonstration, contests and the infamous flat-water rodeo. Local Maine paddlers Karen Roy and Dustin Urban competed in this technical but humorous contest. If you got tired of looking at paddle sports, there was a large rock climbing and bouldering wall available for people to try. OR even had an artificial ice climbing wall. I couldn't resist the temptation to win a free ice screw by climbing the ice wall blindfolded without falling, now that was a worthwhile event. There were tents, camping equipment, freeze dried treats, books, boots, and environmental information to explore. The show is designed to allow retailers to place preseason orders, examine new lines and expand their inventory, in other words, it is a working event. But after the show closes down, there was plenty of after-hours entertainment. These included the IR Big Gun show awards, Scott Lindgren’s carnage film clips, and the High Definition version of the One World Video. Overall, the OR show in Salt Lake City is high-energy, fun-filled event. If you ever have the opportunity to attend OR, don't turn it down because you are guaranteed a good experience.
Deb O'Keefe, traveling kayaker/strider and US Freestyle team member.
8/21/2004
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