Hundreds of kayaks have taken to the Kiski and Youghiogheny rivers over recent weekends while a Pittsburgh store specializing in kayaks reports a surge in sales.
“You can’t get more naturally social distanced than you can in a kayak,” said Chris Kaminski, co-owner of 3 Rivers Outdoors Co. in the Swissvale portion of Regent Square.
“You almost have to try to be within six feet of someone else,” Kaminski said of the region’s bounty of lakes, rivers and creeks.
Kayak sales have increased by more than 50% compared to last year at the store, he said.
Nationally, covid-19 restrictions have been a boon to the sales of single- person watercraft, according to the market research firm NPD. Kayak and paddle sales skyrocketed by 85% and 63%, respectively, this April compared to April 2019, according the firm.
Sales of kayaks and rentals to float the Kiski River also are on the rise at the River’s Edge Canoe and Kayak in Gilpin.
“The quarantine has changed people’s mindsets,” said co-owner Neill Andritz.
The desire for residents to get out and expand their menu of activities coincides with a mild spring without the heavy rains that sunk the start of the boating season last year.
“Last weekend, it was fantastic,” Andritz said. “I haven’t seen that many kayaks on the Kiski in a long time. Hundreds of people were out.”
Andritz expects a bevy of customers and has added to his fleet of rental kayaks.
A similar scenario is playing out at Ohiopyle, where more people are opting to float the middle Youghiogheny via kayak and other single-person watercraft rather than joining a group for white-water rafting in the Lower Youghiogheny, said Eric Martin, CEO of Wilderness Voyageurs Rafting & Bike Tours of Ohiopyle.
“Bike rentals and use of the Allegheny Passage is through the roof,” Martin said.
On the water, Martin is seeing a change as well as customers are opting for single craft — inflatable kayaks, duckies and recreational kayaks. Rental of rafts for whitewater tours is only 10 percent of what is typically this time of year, he said.
People are traveling as family units with a wide variety of ages looking for something everyone can do, like float the middle Yough.
Guests, especially first-time patrons, are responding to the more mellow pace of the middle Yough, telling Martin, “I needed that.”
