Stand-up paddling on the Dalälven River
A September 2010 visit to Kajaktiv in Dala-Floda gave the I Love Outdoor team a chance to try stand-up paddling and learn the basics on the river.
We met James from Kajaktiv during our visit to SOD and received an invitation to visit. On a cold day in mid-September 2010, part of the I Love Outdoor team headed to Dala-Floda to see upcoming products, enjoy dinner and try SUP, or stand-up paddling.
We arrived early in the afternoon for an introduction to the range and future additions. After coffee and a conversation about outdoor life and industry trends, we pulled on drysuits and headed out onto the Dalälven River.
James took us on an hour-long trip along the river, giving us a chance to try different boards and learn the basics. It proved just as enjoyable and rewarding as we had hoped. For anyone who had not tried it, we found it a genuinely fun way to exercise.
Pleasantly tired and a little shaky in the legs after the paddle, we returned to a warm sauna, cold drinks and an excellent dinner with James and his family.
Stand-up paddling was still relatively new in Sweden and had yet to become firmly established. Kajaktiv, however, had a promising plan and vision, knowledgeable staff and a growing community of enthusiasts around the country. We felt they could help establish SUP as both exercise and another enjoyable way to explore Swedish waters.
The editorial team liked the concept and believed it would reach a broad audience in the years ahead.
