December 2025
In 2026, the Paddlesports Trade Coalition will focus on the work members use most to strengthen the industry. PTC will prioritize the Industry Gold Standard Best Practices, expand member education through high value webinars and resources, and deliver clearer data and insights to help members make better decisions and grow participation.
2026 Priority One: Industry Gold Standard Best Practices and the New Education and Information Hub
PTC’s top priority for 2026 is to build out the Industry Gold Standard Best Practices as a practical education and information hub on the new PTC website and member community platform, now nearing launch. This hub will organize the Best Practices work into clear, accessible guidance and tools members can use to improve collaboration across the supply chain, strengthen trust, increase participation and retention, and support a healthier, more profitable paddlesports industry.
2026 Priority Two: Webinar Engagement and an Expanded Education Plan
Over the past year, the PTC created a consistent schedule of webinars to deliver education, conversation, and connection across brands, retailers and outfitters, representatives, and partners. The response has been strong, reinforcing the value of member focused programming that tackles real issues with practical takeaways.
In 2026, PTC will expand this programming with more sessions tied directly to Best Practices implementation, business operations and collaboration, participation initiatives, and timely industry issues. The goal is a year round cadence of education and dialogue that helps members stay aligned, informed, and equipped.
2026 Priority Three: More Statistics and Insights in the Member Hub
PTC is working to bring more actionable statistics into the member hub to support smarter planning and decision making. This includes participation indicators, sales trends, search trends, and safety related insights. These data sets will be curated and organized to help members understand what is changing, what is working, and where opportunities are emerging.
Positive Industry Tailwinds: Participation Is Strong
Recent participation reporting from the Outdoor Industry Association points to a strong and growing base for paddlesports. The latest figures show paddlesports participation at an all time high, with nearly 30 million Americans going paddling in 2024. The report also highlights continued growth since 2019, broadening participation across disciplines, and encouraging signals such as a narrowing gender gap and strong engagement among frequent paddlers. These are meaningful indicators for long term category health and they reinforce the importance of coordinated participation initiatives and shared best practices.
Participation Initiatives: Go Paddle Day and Beyond
PTC will continue to invest in participation growth initiatives in 2026. Building on the successful launch of the first Go Paddle Day, PTC has set Go Paddle Day 2026 for June 20, 2026 and will share additional opportunities for member activation, local events, and coordinated promotion in the months ahead.
Colab: A Successful Connector in Partnership with ACA
PTC will continue to convene the industry through connection points that support relationships and collaboration. In 2025, the second annual PTC Colab was delivered in partnership with ACA PaddleFest at the U.S. National Whitewater Center. Colab welcomed more than 150 attendees and generated overwhelmingly positive feedback, reinforcing the value of bringing the industry together for meaningful conversations, learning, and connection.
Leadership Transition: Proactive Cost Savings to Increase Impact
PTC also announced that Executive Director Jeff Turner has resigned. The Board is grateful for Jeff’s leadership and contributions during a formative stage of the organization.
To strengthen long-term sustainability, the Board has made the proactive decision to pause the Executive Director role. This reduces fixed overhead and allows more resources to be directed into member-facing programs, tools, and initiatives. Executive Director responsibilities will be assumed by volunteer Board members and supported through an expanded committee structure to distribute leadership capacity across the organization.
To preserve continuity and retain institutional knowledge, PTC is also forming a Board Advisory Committee co chaired by Stig Larsson and Jeff Turner. This committee is designed to keep experienced industry leaders engaged and contributing as PTC builds its next phase.
Looking Back and Moving Forward
PTC was formed in 2023 to strengthen the paddlesports trade through collaboration, shared best practices, and a clearer collective voice. Entering 2026, PTC is focused on delivering tangible value through the Best Practices hub, stronger education programming, better data and insights, and industry wide participation initiatives, all while operating efficiently and sustainably.
Media Contact
PTC Communications
info@paddlesportstradecoalition.org