BOUNDARY WATERS – Paddle and Portage media is excited to announce it has been chosen as the official media partner for Canoecopia 2026. This marks the second consecutive year Paddle and Portage will serve in this capacity for Canoecopia, the largest paddle sports show of its kind in the world.
Darren Bush owns Rutabaga canoe and kayak shop in Madison, Wisc. The paddling and outdoor gear store is intricately involved with Canoecopia. Joe Friedrichs and M Baxley from the Paddle & Portage Podcast will be on site during the 2026 expo once again.
“We chose to work with Paddle and Portage as official media sponsors because Joe and Baxley and their guests speak to our people with authenticity, and they all support the paddling community,” Bush said. “Their journalism and podcasts are excellent, and we’re pleased to partner with them for the second year in a row.”
Canoecopia runs March 13 to 15 at the Alliant Energy Center in Madison. As the official media partner for the event, Paddle and Portage will conduct interviews with attendees and presenters, as well as with some of the many hundreds of representatives from the paddling and outdoor industry. The interviews will be shared on both the Canoecopia and Paddle and Portage platforms. The Paddle and Portage team will also shoot videos and photos at the expo.
Rutabaga and Bush made headlines across the Upper Midwest and beyond when news of the store possibly closing surfaced in September. The paddling community and residents of Madison responded with rallying cries of support to keep the store moving forward, even as Bush eyes retirement from the industry and the pursuit of new endeavors. Rutabaga is being sold and will remain open, Bush said this month. Canoecopia 2026 was always scheduled to happen even when there was the possibility of Rutabaga closing, he added.
“Canoecopia 2026 is going to be a special one, as we’re celebrating another year of supporting the paddle sports community, and celebrating the transition to new ownership,” Bush said. “I’m gratified by the response of the paddling community supporting my family and me, and that Rutabaga and Canoecopia will be around for another 50 years.”
Friedrichs and longtime collaborator Baxley will be attending their sixth Canoecopia in 2026. In addition to being active at the Paddle and Portage booth, both are frequent presenters during the three-day event.
Paddle and Portage was founded in January 2024 by local journalist and author Joe Friedrichs and has been well-received by the BWCA Wilderness and broader paddling communities. The company offers a unique perspective on the intersection of news, adventure, and storytelling from the Boundary Waters, as well as other paddling destinations across North America.
Paddle and Portage offers a number of ways to engage with their content: a podcast hosted by Friedrichs and Baxley, and online content, including stories, news, and information about the BWCA Wilderness. Paddle and Portage is expanding both its podcasting and online content in 2026, including more video podcasts and content on its YouTube channel.
For more information about Paddle and Portage, go to the website paddleandportage.com
