Blue Dog Kayaking
Passionate About Paddling.
The End of an Era.
After many successful years, Blue Dog Kayaking is coming to the end of an era.
What started as a paddling business grew into something much bigger. Blue Dog Kayaking helped thousands of paddlers get on the water, discover new places, develop their skills, and pursue adventures across Canada and beyond.
As the business grew, so did our goals and the direction we wanted to take. Blue Dog Outfitters expanded, along with the number of Nigel Dennis Kayaks being imported into Canada each year. With this growth came a natural shift in roles, and David Nichols made the decision to step away from kayaking and focus on sales and distribution. He will continue importing and selling Nigel Dennis Kayaks through Blue Dog Outfitters, including custom orders.
Amber Champion managed and ran Blue Dog Kayaking for many years while continuing to develop and deliver programs. As the company grew, she found herself increasingly focused on managing the business rather than doing what she loves most, coaching, paddling, and being on the water.
Recognizing that her strengths and passion lie in coaching and training, Amber has chosen to return to a smaller, paddler-focused program through Champion Adventures & Coaching. This shift allows her to spend less time managing a multifaceted company and more time doing what brought her into the industry in the first place.
Blue Dog Kayaking has been an important part of the paddling community and of our own journey. We are proud of what we built and of the opportunities it created for paddlers, coaches, and adventurers.
Although Blue Dog Kayaking is coming to a close, the people and passion behind it will continue. Amber, along with many of the people who have worked with Blue Dog over the years, will continue through Champion Adventures & Coaching.
Blue Dog Outfitters will also continue to import and sell Nigel Dennis Kayaks, including custom orders, and we look forward to welcoming both new and returning customers.
To everyone who paddled with us, worked with us, supported us, bought a kayak, joined an adventure, attended a course, or simply followed along, thank you.
Blue Dog Kayaking has been an incredible chapter. We’re grateful for the people, experiences, and adventures that came with it, and excited to see what comes next.
A Note from Blue Dog Outfitters
We are the Canadian importer and a Nigel Dennis Kayaks (NDK) Expedition Centre, bringing the full range of these iconic, hand-built sea kayaks to paddlers across Canada and the Northwest USA.
Choosing the right kayak can make all the difference in your confidence, comfort, and safety on the water. NDK has built a reputation for producing exceptional expedition sea kayaks that are trusted by paddlers, guides, coaches, and expeditioners around the world.
Whether you are looking for your first NDK, upgrading your current kayak, or interested in a custom order, Blue Dog Outfitters is your Canadian source for Nigel Dennis Kayaks. We have the experience and knowledge to help you find the right NDK for your paddling goals.
Looking for an NDK? Start with Blue Dog Outfitters.
Learn with Us
Champion Adventures & Coaching is a paddler-focused sea kayaking coaching and training company based on Vancouver Island, British Columbia. We specialize in helping paddlers build the skills, confidence, decision-making, and experience needed to become more capable and independent on the water.
Whether you are looking to develop your foundational skills, refine your technique, prepare for more dynamic coastal environments, or pursue advanced training and instructor development, our programs are designed around real-world paddling and meaningful skill development.
With a strong focus on small groups and individualized coaching, we work with paddlers who want to challenge themselves, develop their abilities, and continue progressing in their sea kayaking journey.
Looking for top notch kayak coaching? Start with Champion Adventures & Coaching.
Email: achampionadventure@gmail.com