Standing on shopping paddle.

No wind, no waves, no engine - but mobile on the water: The biggest water sports fair in the world, the boot, presented in Dusseldorf own theme for World Canoeing - and the trend standing paddling.

 

Dusseldorf - The launch of the weekend water sports fair "boot 2009" in Düsseldorf, was more cautious than the previous year. But the crowd was focused on the halls for diving and surfing, as well as the new theme for World canoes. "Perhaps the crisis is also an opportunity. The otherwise have flown to Mallorca, paddle now on domestic waters," said Thomas Konietzko, Vice-President of the German Youth Kanuverbandes (DKV). Sitting is not required more in paddling standing celebrating its premiere at the fair.

Who on lakes or rivers is on the future people might meet the far more likely to remember gondoliers of Venice. On a kind of surfboard standing moves of athletes with shock paddle through the water.

  Until now operate only a few hundred Germans, the "Stand Up Paddling (SUP). "SEA is the Nordic Walking in the wind surfing are" hoping Andrew Rosen, employees of one of the three companies, the SEA in Germany. The Hawaii-developed sport with the paddle board, there is no draft in America, Australia and England are already special contests.

The first time more than three-meter boards, which can also Surfing may, at the Düsseldorf exhibition presents. Enthusiastic told Gaute Kristiansen from everyday test. In his Norwegian home runs of the athletes in jeans on the river for shopping. "Only the cell phone should be at the top of the bag take," he warned.

Fast Kanupolos

A little wet, it will also be in the paddling pool of water world, where anyone can try his skill. The first step in the Canadian feels wacklig, but quickly is a sense of the interplay between developed and paddle boat. During the demonstration of Kanupolo similar to handball on the water, chasing the kayaks then rapidly quickly through the hall.

Whether wildwater driving, hiking or boat racing - the possibilities are numerous canoe. "There is a starting point for everyone. We have newcomers in all fields, and our membership figures are constant," said President Olaf DKV Heukrodt. Approximately 114 000 people paddling, according to the association in the association, 1.3 million canoeists are there in Germany. And if the wind is blowing from behind times, there are the necessary accessories. With a sail aufgespannten drift moves the canoe by itself - without any muscle power.

Less interest to kick

The fair has on opening weekend attracted far fewer people than last year. On the first two days, 77,000 people streamed through the 17 halls, said a spokeswoman on Sunday on request. Last year there were 85,000 visitors. "We are not dissatisfied. Among the economic conditions we have from the beginning to decline," said the spokeswoman. Up to 25 January with the organizers expect some 250,000 visitors. Nine days show 1641 exhibitors from 57 countries present their products and services around the water sports.

At the opening of the "boot" on Saturday announced Transport Minister Wolfgang Tiefensee (SPD), a modernization of recreational licenses to. The practical part of the examination should be developed, practical knowledge questions in distant theoretical content be removed. "This is exactly the right way and an important sign. We want the complete Sportbootführerschein detoxify," said Robert Marx, President of the Federation boating industry.

Bundesverband: Way of elitist image

The German boat feared, given the global economic crisis, a sharp sales slump. You feel "significant headwinds," said Marx. "We are in the Neubooten by mid-2008 until mid-2009 is certainly a double-digit decline in total have."

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He did not expect that, following the insolvency of traditional yacht builder Dehler mid-December, more companies are threatened by the Committee, said Marx. "In Germany we have no evidence that it is elsewhere in this much trouble there." The third German yacht from the Dehler shipyard Sauerland Meschede-Freienohl lacked capital to its pre boats. In early December, the Rostocker SMG Shipyard bankruptcy.

For services, charterers and accessory dealers Marx predicted steady sales figures over the previous year. "The experience of previous crises shows that the people in their old vessels to invest or charter."

The boating industry must, however, refer to the new demands of the marketplace. "We must move away from the elitist image. The good growth rates have spoiled it for too long we have done too little," said Marx. By changing the focus should be more buyers can be gained. So it is very important, family-friendly ships to build.