features over 250 vendors and exhibitors, and speakers give seminars about paddling skills and destinations. “People come from all over the world to Canoecopia,” says Darren. “This year we had paddlers fly in from Iceland. ... It’s like a paddling smorgasbord.” Even at a huge event like Canoecopia, it’s all about community. Many people have been coming to this event for two or three decades. Darren shares an example of a father and son that meet every year at Canoecopia; the father is from Oregon and his son lives on the east coast, so they meet for the weekend and spend time with each other and people who love to paddle. Darren has his own fleet of a dozen or so canoes and half a dozen kayaks, and compares it to the different types of shoes used for activities. “Like shoes, different boats have different applications. Paddling the boundary
waters, you want a light and fast boat. On a small, rocky river, you want a boat that is shorter and more maneuverable.” His fleet varies from an Algonquin native-built birchbark canoe (on display at Rutabaga) to an ultralight Kevlar tripper that weighs just 33 pounds. Customers can test boats on the pond behind the store, getting expert advice before purchasing. “My goal for people coming to the store is for them to get to the point where their skills are developed and they don’t have to think about it. They’ll enjoy their boats more because they’ll have the skills to handle anything they may encounter in their paddling.” Darren has paddled all over the world, but finds the best places to paddle are right in his neighborhood, like Lake Wingra (close to his house and Arboretum)—a unique experience of paddling in the city but surrounded
Life is better on the water. The Midwest’s largest selection of kayaks, canoes, stand-up paddleboards, outdoor gear, and much, much more.
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by trees. He also enjoys the Wisconsin River, Baraboo River, Dells area (especially in October), and the rivers of Driftless area. When asked why people paddle, Darren says that paddling is a tool—people use it for many reasons, some solitary, some social. While stamina and endurance are needed for racing, Darren considers his paddling more like kinetic mediation. “I’m not a go-fast guy anymore, unless I have to be. I figure the last one off the water wins.” Sea kayaking is sort of like aquatic backpacking, is great for people looking for a low-impact exercise with less strain on their bodies. “Old backpackers love sea kayaks. Same gear, new scenery.”