Local retailers await new kayak course

With construction of the Truckee River Whitewater Park and Kayak Slalom Racing Course finally under way some local kayaking retailers are cautiously optimistic about the impact the course will have on their business.

Two shop owners that supply and sell kayaking equipment, Mike Washburn, manager of Reno Mountain Sports and Bob Krause, owner of Kayak Etc., say the course will definitely benefit their business and the community.

But they don't expect it to create enough demand to draw new stores to the area.

Washburn said he hopes sales increase by 50 percent at his store when the course is in full operation as early as 2004.

On the other hand,Washburn isn't counting on those sales to carry the business, which is largely based on ski equipment sales during the winter months.

He sees kayak sales as an alternative source of revenue to get by during the summer.

Washburn had inquired about the possibility of setting up a small kayaking- only outlet in downtown Reno, but admits he is skeptical it could survive by selling only kayaking equipment.

"It just not going to boom enough to carry itself, that's just my personal opinion," Washburn said.

One problem, said Washburn, is that most kayak manufacturers are in the eastern United States, which adds high shipping and storage costs to the price of equipment here.

He also thinks that kayaking is dependent on tourists.

Teenagers and young adults are a potential market, but the sport may be too expensive for them.

Washburn said that it costs roughly $1,500 for one person to be outfitted with kayak equipment, clothes and accessories.

"That's not a really feasible thing for them to do right now,"Washburn said.

Krause, whose business Kayaks, Etc.

relies solely on the sport, says there are other more affordable options.

He said a new kayak is about $1,000, for instance, but a good used one can go for about $300 to $400.

Krause himself has purchased plenty of used boats and refurbished them for resale.

"I have used equipment that I can sell for pretty cheap," Krause said.

Krause believes the business won't see an explosion of growth either.

Instead, as an avid kayaker he is more concerned with making the sport more widely known and offering his expertise in the area.

Krause gives kayaking instruction and also runs a kayaking club.

"I have a passion for the sport and passions are often not very profitable," Krause said.

He doesn't foresee much retail competition except from large outfitters or department stores such as K-Mart that sell kayaking equipment but don't specialize in it.

He says those companies, though, often don't know what customers need and sometimes outfits them with the wrong equipment.

Krause just hopes the course will make people more aware of kayaking.

"It's going to open doors for a lot of people," Krause said.