THE PADDLE SPORT SHOWS TALKS AND CONFERENCES 2025
The talks and conferences are back at the Paddle Sports Show, and once again this year we are offering a rich and varied program, with topics at the heart of the paddle sports industry’s concerns. All conferences are broadcast live on the exhibition’s YouTube channel @PaddlerGuideTV.
Day 1 – Tuesday, September 30
1:00 pm
Increasing Female Participation in Paddle Sports
Guest: Nouria Newman
From the International Olympic Committee to national federations, major sports organizations are working to increase female participation in sport. Canoeing and paddle sports are among the most affected, as they are sometimes seen as activities that are difficult to access.
What are the barriers to participation? How can the industry address them? What are the true strengths of these sports that could actually serve as levers to attract more women? We will explore these questions with one of the sport’s best ambassadors, Nouria Newman, who will share her experience and help lead this discussion with various industry stakeholders.
Round table guests: Nouria Newman (Fra), Anna Bruno (Usa), Kara Weld (Usa), Naina Adhikari (India), Jutta Kaiser (Ger).
3:30 pm
AI Serving Paddle Sports – How can AI develop your business?
It’s already all around us, and it will be even more present in the future. How can AI develop your business? What role can AI play in the development of paddle sports?
Presentation: Marc Trautmann — Consultant and trainer in AI, Marc Trautmann is known for his educational approach to making artificial intelligence accessible to everyone. He has led numerous conferences, including a webinar at the University of Strasbourg on the theme: “Everyone Can Have the Chance to Understand Artificial Intelligence.”
Day 2 – Wednesday, October 1
11:30 am
Paddle Sports Equipment and Techniques Supporting Civil Security
Floods, tsunamis, river surges — the effects of climate change bring more frequent and intense disasters every year. To face these challenges, civil security teams often turn to paddle sports techniques and equipment, using them and sometimes adapting them to help rescue victims. The industry listens to their needs in order to respond more effectively. What are the most widely used pieces of equipment? Are rescue techniques evolving? What will tomorrow’s needs be?
This round table will also serve as an initial exchange with the aim of launching in 2026 the first European Symposium on River Rescue Techniques Derived from Paddle Sports.
Round table guests: Fire Captain Pierre Riss, Julien Collet (SDIS Strasbourg), industry representatives producing and distributing safety equipment: Palm, NRS, Atic, Aquadesign, Sandiline and more.
2:00 pm
How Tourism Contributes to the Development of Paddle Sports
Every year, millions of tourists explore Europe’s rivers and coastlines in canoes and kayaks. Yet, club-based and structured participation in paddle sports struggles to grow, and national federations face difficulties expanding their membership. Could we imagine a stronger connection between commercial operators and federations, which sometimes struggle to communicate but share many common interests: river and sea preservation, outreach to potential participants, media exposure, and more?
Round table guests: Jean-Luc Rigaut (Former Mayor of Annecy and Vice-President of FFCK, in charge of tourism relations and development), Jean Pinard (Tourism progress consultant and former Director of the Occitanie Regional Tourism Committee), Damien Garaud Directeur marketing/communicat et RTM, Jean Yves Lapeyrere, President de l’EC-OE (Europen Conferation of Outdoor Employers), Yohann Heurttevent President, National Professional Federation of Canoe and Kayak Rental Companies
4:00 pm
Paddle Sports and Disability: Adaptations and Innovations to Make the Sport More Accessible
Paddle sports are among the most adaptable activities for people with disabilities. This was once again evident at last year’s Paralympic Games, where outstanding athletes took part in extraordinary races, often thanks to adapted equipment. But people with disabilities are not necessarily athletes — recreational activities are just as open to them. Today, several manufacturers and industry players are offering equipment and accessories that make paddle sports more accessible.
We will discuss these innovations, as well as safety and regulatory considerations related to disability and participation.
Round table guests: David Bernardeau (National Technical Advisor, FFCK), Thorsten Toedtmann & Christina Schwarting (founder of IPAS for VIPs) Aude Vermont (Constellaction – Paddle pour Tous), Pascale Mahé (Sinaani – Au Delà du Paddle), Jean Christophe Gonneaud (International Canoe Federation).
Day 3 – Thursday, October 2
10:00 am
RISE Commission: Where Do We Stand?
Some of the leading Paddle Sports manufacturers started a working group along with the EC-OE (European confederation of the Outdoor Employers) aiming to find solutions to Reduce the Impact of the Outdoor Sector on Environment (RISE commission). Three years after the first meeting at the Paddle Sports Show in Lyon, the RISE Commission continues to meet regularly and make progress on environmental issues, notably on a project to organize the recycling end-of-life paddle sports equipment. An update on the commission’s work and actions with Bob Timms (PGL) and the full commission will be presenting the first results.
