Paddling Education

Our mission here at Aqua Bound is to inspire meaningful outdoor experiences by offering premium products worth bragging about. To do that well we maintain a constant underlying mindset of innovation.

Kayaking, paddleboarding, canoeing, packrafting—these paddlesports are amazing ways to enjoy nature, get some exercise and have fun with others. But how do they affect the environment, both positively and negatively?

Although kayaking is statistically an extremely safe sport, some kayaking mistakes can be serious. Here we look at seven that can lead to tragedy and how to protect yourself by keeping safety top-of-mind.

Amanda Selsky is the author and illustrator of a new high-quality coloring book that celebrates women in whitewater paddling. Raft guides, whitewater kayakers, recreational paddlers and moms who row—all are represented in this fun and inspirational book!

We’re super stoked about our new Aerial whitewater kayak paddle family and how it’s being received in the whitewater world. We pulled together a few review videos we found on YouTube to help you make your paddle decision too.

Get Outdoors Pedal & Paddle is a Greensboro, North Carolina paddlesports shop dedicated to education and conservation efforts, serving their customers and offering a variety of kayak trip opportunities. They’ve become one of the largest outdoor retailers in the Southeast.

Next Adventure is a Portland, Oregon-based full-service outdoor retailer with a 20-year history and a national presence. Their robust paddlesports department serves customers from beginner to elite paddlers of all kinds.

Aqua Bound is one of the founding members of the Paddlesports Trade Coalition, an organization initiated in 2023 and dedicated to becoming the “voice and soul of paddlesports” for the US and Canada.

Alexander “Jalle” Stjernberg is a member of Aqua Bound’s Ambassador team and is uniquely qualified to talk to us about common kayaking injuries and how to prevent them.

When we took on the challenge of developing a brand new high-end whitewater kayak paddle in 2023, one of the experts we called on for input was Jonny Ortiz.

Aqua Bound’s Aerial Carbon whitewater kayak paddle is announced as winner of Best Paddle in Paddling Magazine’s 2024 Industry Awards

Aqua Bound Ambassador and whitewater expert Ken Whiting shows us three kayaking skills every whitewater paddler must master.

Discover why the whitewater kayaking world is buzzing about Aqua Bound's latest release—the Aerial family of whitewater paddles.

Aqua Bound Ambassador Marcel Bieg is the director of River House Outdoor Center in Eugene, Oregon. A lifelong paddler himself, Marcel discusses the paddle programming they offer as well as the myriad of benefits he sees for kids who paddle.

There are so many reasons we choose to kayak, canoe, paddleboard or packraft. Here are some of the main reasons we love to paddle. Which are YOUR reasons to love it?

Aqua Bound Ambassador Ken Whiting covers the essentials of how to choose the best life jacket for you, no matter what type of paddling you do:

Paddling on rivers—whether with a kayak, canoe, packraft or paddle board—requires a knowledge of how rivers flow and a solid foundation of paddling skills. The faster the river and bigger the rapids, the more knowledge and skills you need.

The Red Deer River starts its journey in the Rocky Mountains. It winds across the province, north of Calgary, where it drops through class II to class IV rapids, and eventually widens and calms north of Drumheller in the Badlands.

Most people hesitate to try whitewater kayaking because what they usually think of are the daredevils throwing themselves off waterfalls and other equally risky situations!

Paddle TV’s Ken Whiting has been using Aqua Bound kayak paddles for 25 years. Here he shares his thoughts on the updates we’ve made to our best-selling Sting Ray and Manta Ray paddles.

Alpacka Raft makes several different types of packrafts. How do you know which one is right for you? Aqua Bound Ambassador Caj Koskinen takes us through a few packrafts from their fleet to help you decide.