“We go out on days that a typical ocean surfer would say forget it! I’m not going out today. It’s too windy and rough!’”
unique.
Aaron’s willingness to listen to me ramble about new design ideas. It is a testament to Blu Wave’s commit- ment to innovate and explore well beyond the water. It’s great to see a Canadian company finding success in an industry that was once thought to be the exclusive domain of Hawaiians and Californians!” Pilon confirms that the company’s primary focus is the Canadian market. He certainly doesn’t rule out expand- ing into other markets down the road, but there are no immediate plans to take the plunge. “U.S. expansion is something we certainly think about. It’s a possibility in the future. The sport has grown exponentially in recent years. In fact, it is definitely the fastest growing water sport in the world. So for the time being, we are going to focus on our home market where we have a pretty cool story to tell. Our customers seem to really like that we are a Canadian company.” “We are really focused on design and moving the sport forward,” Pilon mentions. “We have a true quality focus as well. We aren’t the most expensive board out there, but what we offer for a medium-to- high-end price point, you get quality, great customer service and a company that actively supports the sport.” Stand-up paddleboarding has become one of those great accessible sports that almost anyone can enjoy on almost any body of water. So grab a Blu Wave board and hit the beach — and take it at whatever speed you chose!
“The SUP core demographic tends to be a bit older than that of the snowboarding and extreme sport people. I would say generally 30 to 60 years old rather than 15 to 25. You see a lot of athletes that have come into SUP racing that have been competitive athletes in other dis- ciplines, whether it be triathlon, or other paddling dis- ciplines like canoe and kayaking. Some of the top SUP racers in Canada are former Olympic athletes in these other sports. Many have found SUP racing as their second career as an athlete.” Perhaps the best summation of the SUP experience and Blu Wave’s role in the sport comes from Simon Whitfield, Canadian Olympic Triathlon Gold Medalist. “There’s nothing like open space out on the ocean paddling, it’s cycling without the cars, mountain biking where the ground moves. Beyond paddling the SUP community is special. It’s inclusive. We share a joy for being out on the water, dancing on a board, out exploring… There’s nothing quite like sharing your passion for paddling with like-minded individ- uals who love to explore. During my sporting career I loved to innovate by asking questions ‘is there another way to do this?’ and looking for creative answers. When I discovered paddling I was drawn to people who thought the same way. Blu Wave thinks differently, whether it’s the hatch cargo compartment on the Catalina EXP touring board, their paddle surf board shapes or
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SPOTLIGHT ON BUSINESS MAGAZINE • APRIL 2018
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