The participation of numerous top-tier industry brands and market leaders in this emerging multi-category sports trade platform — ISPO SHANGHAI — highlights the robust growth and promising future of the kayaking and water sports market in the Asia-Pacific region.

ISPO SHANGHAI will take place from July 2–4, 2015, at the Shanghai New International Expo Centre. It will be the first cross-category sports industry platform in China’s rapidly growing sports market, with the kayaking and water sports segment showing particularly strong potential in the Asia-Pacific region.

PADDLEexpo is the world’s largest professional trade exhibition dedicated to canoeing and paddleboarding, and a long-term partner of ISPO MUNICH. The collaboration between the two is now being extended to ISPO SHANGHAI. “Our strategic partnership with ISPO SHANGHAI will drive the development of the international canoeing industry. The growing interest in the canoeing market within China’s sports industry makes us very pleased to establish this collaboration. At the same time, we can also provide PADDLEexpo exhibitors with the most important showcase platform in China and the Asia-Pacific region, achieving a win-win situation,” said Horst Fürsattel, Exhibition Director of PADDLEexpo.

PADDLEexpo and ISPO SHANGHAI will invite international leaders in the canoeing and water sports industry from ISPO MUNICH to lay a solid foundation for their business ventures in China. Meanwhile, forums held alongside the exhibition will present the latest analyses of the Asian market landscape and trends, and explore the opportunities and challenges of tapping into new customers in the water sports market across the Asia-Pacific region.

ISPO SHANGHAI has already garnered widespread support from both domestic and international brands as well as industry partners. Sue Rechner, CEO of Confluence Outdoor, a globally leading provider of kayaking and canoeing equipment, expressed great anticipation for the exhibition: “We will strongly support ISPO SHANGHAI’s strategic development in water sports.” Darren Bush, President of Rutabaga Paddlesports, the top multi-channel canoeing retailer in the United States, also voiced strong support for ISPO SHANGHAI. Bush will attend the exhibition in person to introduce Chinese retailers to the opportunities and challenges in the canoeing retail industry, sharing his own success story and offering insights on how to excel in canoeing retail.

In addition to Darren Bush’s compelling presentation, the pioneer of the canoeing movement, Nigel Foster, will also join ISPO SHANGHAI. As one of the most influential figures in the global canoeing industry, Foster will share his experiences as an explorer, kayak designer, and author, as well as his remarkable journeys paddling through China and the Asia-Pacific region.

Paul M, International Business Project Director of ISPO SHANGHAI