The Canoe on Tour Project

With the support of boot Düsseldorf as a partner, the Canoe on Tour team brings around 30 boats from leading canoe manufacturers to the various tour stops for free testing. During the tour, these are launched about 1500 times so that people can try out the fun of paddling. The tour is an innovative step by the industry to promote canoeing as well as the World of Paddling event stage at boot Düsseldorf each January, bringing people to discover canoes, kayaks or inflatable boats and, above all, the recreational potential of activities on the water.

The idea behind the tour
Organizer Lars Thierling explains the idea behind the tour: "Once you put people in a canoe, kayak or even a motorboat, their eyes light up and they do not want to get out of the boat again, at all, whether its children, men or women. This enthusiasm spurs us daily anew to bring the tourists out of their deck chairs and onto the water at some of the most beautiful camping sites in Germany". With a briefing by canoeing experts, our canoe on tour team takes away almost everyone's fear of getting started. Almost everyone is simply enthusiastic about the experience once they return from their short trip.

Something for everybody
And it is not only newcomers who are addressed by Canoe on Tour. There are always a number of new boat models among the project fleet and experienced canoeists and paddlers are welcome to put them to a thorough test. It is an opportunity well-frequented by paddlers who are looking for new material as it is a convenient way of getting to know different products in real life conditions. After all, high-quality canoes, SUP-Boards, inflatable boats and fishing kayaks are an investment you make for several years. On top, there are also options to test motorized boating and snorkelling on the tour: boot Düsseldorf exhibitor Torqeedo provides a range of flexible electric outboard engines that convert your canoe into a motorboat in no time.

Project activities in winter and online
The Canoe on Tour team is also very active over the winter months: At boot Düsseldorf, one of the project's partners, Canoe on Tour is present on the stage of the boot Holiday World in Hall 14 withe presentations of fotos and videos about the tour: canoeing in combination with touring in a caravan, canoe and kayak rental and beautiful canoeing destinations in Germany. In addition, the indoor creek in the boot World of Paddling is available to try canoeing at the trade fair. During the summer tour the Canoe on Tour team keeps an online diary with many colourful pictures, stories and experiences.

Inspiring people for watersports
In recent years, the project has already brought around 10,000 people onto the water. Project manager Lars Thierling comments: "The basic idea is relatively simple - we want to inspire as many people as possible to enjoy the fascination of watersports who have had no or only sporadic contact to date. We do this by addressing people where they are most relaxed and have the time to get involved in new, exciting activities - on vacation".

Prominent partners
In addition to boot Düsseldorf, the Canoe on Tour project is also supported by the Caravan Salon and Tour Natur (both also Messe Düsseldorf events), a number of renowned companies from the watersports industry and the German Canoe Association. Some partners such as Gatz Kanus, Secumar, Aqualung and Scubapro have been exhibitors at boot Düsseldorf for many years and are available to advise newcomers right at the most important international watersports trade fair on how to get started in canoeing or watersports in general. And, of course, all the latest products are on exhibition at boot Düsseldorf each January.