To Our Canoecopia Family...

Our hearts go out to those affected by the cancellation of Canoecopia 2020, as well as everyone else. This is a strange and frightening time we are experiencing around the world. Thankfully, with the internet, we can still function, stay connected, and be safe - so, let's be smart and protect ourselves and each other. This, too, shall end and our shelves will be filled with toilet paper once more. 😊

So, thank you Darren Bush for your sacrifice! We do have a hope and a future. Looking forward, in the hopes of better times, to this spring and summer.

Stay well everyone,

Randy and Brita Isselin
NorthPoint Paddles

Yes, NorthPoint Paddles is Still Alive and Well, and...

Still making paddles and still taking orders. It's just that we have been devoting our time to caring for my parents, Norm and Beth, instead of keeping our blog updated.

Norm and Beth - 2017

My mother, Beth, had a setback this summer with her fight against cancer - the treatment she had been on for the last three years stopped working and the cancer started to grow again. She has been put on a new treatment and so far, so good - it seems to be working!!! She, now, has to be extra careful to not get sick or any infection while on this treatment - it is pretty strong stuff and messes with the immune system. But, even though she has gone through so much, she is doing pretty well. She is such a trooper!

My father, Norm, underwent hip replacement surgery in October - finally able to do so after two years of clearing up some other health issues. The surgery was successful and his recovery was going well. Then, this last week, he also experienced a setback - he ended up in the hospital for 4 days due to a complication. Thankfully, he is home now and regaining his strength.


Life has a way of making unexpected turns and we are grateful for the time we have together - family is very important to us.

In light of my parents' current health issues, we have decided to not participate in Canoecopia 2020. As much as we all will miss being there - it is a highlight for us each year - we need to be home this time around taking care of our family.

We will continue to make our Greenland-style kayak paddles, and continue to sell them and take orders. So, if you have questions or would like to place an order, please feel free to email us at northpointpaddles@gmail.com.

Keep on Paddling!

Brita Isselin
Co-Owner, NorthPoint Paddles

A Big Thank You to Our Canoecopia 2019 Customers

We had a good time this year at Canoecopia and we want to thank all of you who braved the winter weather to come on out to the show. We enjoyed being back in Madison, WI, and reuniting with our Canoecopia booth neighbors (they are so much fun!) - AND loved visiting with our customers. It’s like our home away from home when we are there. We love it!

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On a personal note…it was a little different for us this year at the show. Part of our NorthPoint Paddles family couldn’t make it due to illness. Brita’s parents, Norm and Beth, had to cancel going to Canoecopia at the last minute. They were so bummed they couldn’t make it – they love being there as much as we do – and we love having them there. Thankfully, they are both doing better now.

Before heading back home, we took a detour to the shores of Lake Michigan, taking advantage of the blue sky that day. Even though we are from the west coast, it still blows us away at how absolutely huge Lake Michigan really is – we feel like we are standing on the shores of the Pacific Ocean, not a lake! Well, our detour didn’t disappoint. It was so cool (no pun intended!) to see the piles of snow that was literally in frozen pieces. And it was also fun to watch the pieces of ice floating on the lake surface that would surf on the crest of each wave that came in - making clinking noises as it went. Fun experience!

Our flight home had an interesting twist to it…as we descended for our landing in Seattle, one of the engines on our plane was hit by lightning! Thankfully, no damage to the plane and we landed safely. Whew! Never a dull moment!

We are looking forward to going back to Canoecopia next year. The dates for Canoecopia2020 are March 13-15. Don’t miss it! Hope to see you there next year!

Keep on Paddling!

Randy & Brita Isselin

NorthPoint Paddles

Our Favorite Event Will Soon Be Here…Canoecopia 2019!

We are working away carving & finishing a number of our Greenland kayak paddles – all in preparation for the largest paddlesports show, Canoecopia 2019, to be held March 8-10 in Madison, WI. We are so looking forward to being there for our 7^th year. Last year was our best year yet – selling all but 3 paddles. Wow! It was amazing!

If you want to learn more about paddling with a Greenland kayak paddle or want to check out our paddles in person, stop by our booth (M2) - we would love to chat with you!

Randy & Brita Isselin
Owners of NorthPoint Paddles

We Had an Amazing Time at Canoecopia 2018!

It starts out with months of preparation…handcrafting & finishing paddles to sell, making travel arrangements, ordering supplies, organizing shipments, and so on.
 

And then the day comes…the day when we arrive at our booth at the Alliant Energy Center in Madison, WI to find everything waiting for us…  

…and then several hours later...voila! we are ready. It is what we have worked so hard for; it is what we have been looking forward to ever since last year…

 

it is…

CANOECOPIA TIME!!!

There is nothing like it…over 20,000 people milling through the Exhibition Hall checking out the latest paddlesports & camping equipment, as well as attending workshops, demos, & talks on a whole variety of outdoor topics. It's a great way to beat cabin fever and get geared up for Spring. Being able to participate at Canoecopia is a definite highlight for us.

 
 

And this year was no exception! Once again we were blown away. We made a point of bringing more paddles this year than we brought last year when we sold out and to our delight…we just about sold out again – only 3 paddles left at the end of the show. We sold more paddles than ever before! A BIG THANK YOU to all of our customers! We feel truly blessed.

We are also very grateful to Darren Bush of Rutabaga and to all of the Canoecopia staff – they put on one awesome show! Thank you for all of your hard work!!! It was an amazing time!!!

Already looking forward to Canoecopia 2019!

Keep on Paddling,

Randy, Brita, Norm, & Beth