A message from Executive Director Jeff Turner

It is with a great deal of excitement, and a dash of stoke, that we are kicking off the registration for our second annual PTC Colab ’25 this October 16-18 at the US National Whitewater Center in Charlotte, NC. Our board and volunteers have been charging hard these last months to develop a 3-day agenda filled with the topics and key note speakers our membership has been asking for.

Just in case that’s not enough, we enthusiastically partnered with the American Canoe Association to hold the Colab in conjunction with ACA PaddleFest including their 145-year anniversary celebration at USNWC. This partnership is the first time our collective industry, the commerce side of paddlesports, will be together with many of the leaders in paddling safety, instruction, and competition from across North America.

Our theme this year, Bridging the Gap, comes directly from the feedback we have received from our membership, including retailers, brands, sales reps, and industry associates, all who want the opportunity to discuss, debate, and agree on the steps we take forward for our industry. Lots of action for sure!

Stig Larsson, our Board Chair, the rest of our 15 member board of directors, and PTC Staff encourage all to join us in Charlotte this October. As you can see, PTC Colab is focused on the development of our collective and collaborative effort to strengthen the paddlesports industry and fuel further growth in one of the fastest growing segments of the outdoor industry.

We hope to see you in Charlotte!

Jeff Turner
Executive Director