About Us
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California Canoe & Kayak is one of the top Specialty Paddlesports companies in the country. Our company was founded in Marin in 1972 by paddlers and has remained a paddler owned and operated company since inception. Our focus has been exclusively on Paddlesports. Our company started at the infancy of the sport in the Bay Area. We have been the leader in the development of instruction and access to paddlesports since the beginning. Keith Miller started his business like many now large tech companies in his garage. He turned his love of water sports into a sometimes challenging but successful business. We have watched as paddlesports has grown from a small community of paddlers to a world wide sport available to most everyone.
From the start California Canoe & Kayak has embraced new technology from having one of the first computer-based Point of Sale systems to one of the very first outdoor sports websites calkayak.com we continue to embrace new ideas, to grow and evolve with our industry.
Our core belief as a local business has always been to provide excellent instruction, access, service and community support. Along the way we are proud to say we have brought thousands of people young and old into our sport and continue to provide affordable access to Oakland's waterway.
In our day to day operation we are a specialty outdoor retailer and we sell, rent and service canoes, kayaks, and stand-up paddle boards.
Our sales include many top brands in our industry. In addition, we sell the gear required for a safe and comfortable paddling experience.
This includes PFDs (lifejackets), paddles, watersports wear, water shoes, safety gear, dry bags and boxes, Thule car racks, sprayskirts, dry wear, wetsuits, parts, hats, sunscreen, and casual wear.