Participation in kayaking boomed during the pandemic. Paddlers of every age and ability looked no further than the bow of their kayaks for a way to reduce stress, stay fit and stave off boredom. Here's a profile of just who's involved in adaptive paddling and what types of equipment they use to hit the water.
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Courtesy of Angle Oar LLC
Given the limited ability of organized groups to paddle together during the pandemic, it's no surprise that one of the changes we've noted in the Adaptive Kayaking InfoGraphic above is that there was huge growth in the percentage of individual paddlers investing in adaptive equipment, such as our Versa Paddle and Gamut Paddle Holder. Thirty-six percent of our customer base were individuals in 2019. In 2020, that percentage skyrocketed to 68 percent. The individuals tended to fall into these categories:
experienced paddlers with rotator cuff injuries or recent shoulder surgeries
older adults with arthritis or joint stiffness
parents and grandparents purchasing an adaptive paddle for a child/grandchild with a physical or cognitive disability, including Cerebral Palsy, congenital amputee, Autism
recreational therapy- or school-based programs purchasing equipment for an individual involved in their organization
adult paddlers with one limb or paralysis
people who had participated in a formal adaptive paddling program and now wanted to invest in their own equipment
Adaptive paddling, also referred to as universal paddling, strives to enable people of all abilities to participate in paddle sport activities as safely, comfortably, and with the same performance potential as all others.