Paddle Sports grow larger

Outdoor Industry Foundation (OIF) is a non-profit foundation established  by Outdoor Industry Association to encourage active outdoor recreation.  OIF's charter is to increase participation in outdoor recreation and to support healthier active lifestyles.

Key Findings  

* Participation 17.8 million Americans ages 6 and older participated in
   - kayaking, canoeing, and rafting in 2008.

* 9.9 million Americans participated in canoeing in 2008.

* 7.8 million Americans participated in kayaking and 4.7 million in rafting.

* Paddling participants made 174 million outings in 2008,
    averaging 10 days per participant.

Kayaking

Kayaking has enjoyed steady growth since 2006,
climbing to 2.8 percent of Americans ages 6 and older in 2008.

* Recreational kayaking is the most popular type of kayaking followed
 -  by sea / tour kayaking and whitewater kayaking.

* 47 percent of kayakers get out 1 to 3 times per year.

Canoeing

Canoeing is the most popular type of paddling.
3.6 percent of Americans age 6 and older participated in canoeing in 2008.

* Canoeing participants make an average of 7 outings per year.
   Despite the activities greater popularity,
   canoers make fewer annual outings than kayakers
    - 77.4 million compared to 69.5 million.

For more information go to
http://www.outdoorindustryfoundation.org/
http://www.outdoorfoundation.org/research.participation.2009.html

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