Australian Paddle Sports Pty Ltd was originally founded in Sydney in 2012 by Brett Greenwood & Matt Blundell with the sole aim to provide the Australian market with a range of quality premium paddling products from around the world at a competitive price.
Brett is a multiple gold medalist in both masters sprint and marathon paddling at both State, National & International level, has achieved line honours in the Hawkesbury Canoe Classic, Murray Marathon and Myall Classic Marathon, has competed in over 60 Ocean ski races and in 2011 completed a solo and unassisted crossing of Bass Strait in a sea kayak. Brett also holds an AC Level 1 Flatwater coaching certificate and is an AC Marathon Official.
Some of Brett’s notable achievements are:
2016 – Silver Medal K1 and Bronze Medal Mixed K2 – Canoe Marathon Masters World Cup- Brandenburg Germany
2016 -Paddle Australia Masters Marathon Paddler of the Year.
2017 – Gold Medal K1 & K2 -Canoe Marathon Masters World Cup- Pietermaritzburg South Africa
2018 – Gold medal Mixed K2 – Canoe Marathon Masters World Cup- Prada Vila Verde, Portugal
2018 – Paddle Australia Masters Marathon Paddler of the Year.
2019 – Gold Medal K1 & K2 – European Canoe Marathon Championships (Masters) – Decize, France
2019 – Gold Medal K1 & K2 -Canoe Marathon Masters World Championships- Shaoxing, China
2022- Gold Medal K1 & Mixed K2 – Canoe Marathon Masters World Championships- Ponte de Lima, Portugal
2022- Paddle Australia Paddler of the Year- Master
2023- Silver medal K1 & Mixed K2- Canoe Marathon Masters World Championships – Vejen, Denmark
Brett also won the Paddle NSW Marathon Series -Division 1 – for 7 consecutive years.
Matt has competed at National and International levels in kayaking in flat water sprints, marathon and multi day river marathon races for over 20 years. He has won the World Masters Canoe Marathon Championships, Hawkesbury Canoe Classic, NSW State Marathon Championships, National Marathon Championships and well as achieved podium finishes in numerous adventure races including the NZ Coast to Coast race, AROC, XPD, Geo Quest and Max Adventures. Matt is also an AC Level 1 Flatwater Coach and Assessor.
Brett and his wife Jill took ownership of the business in 2014 so Matt could concentrate on his retail outlet Prokayaks. We are the exclusive Australian importers of Vajda and Carbonology Sport canoes, kayaks and surfskis and in early 2017 became the exclusive importer of Jantex Professional Paddles from Slovakia. We also import Knysna river boats from South Africa and Kick the Waves wildwater boats from the Czech Republic. We also sell a range of clothing and accessories that is well suited to the paddling market.
Our team believes these products to be the best quality products on the market today and are continually expanding our range to provide quality paddling products to the Australian market.
Vajda Canoes, Kayaks and Surfskis
The Vajda (pronounced VIDA) brand is synonymous with success and victory all around the world.
We chose to stock the Vajda range of Canoes, Kayaks and Skis as we felt the Australian market needed a European built product that was synonymous with quality at a competitive price.
Vajda focuses on detail and have a unique understanding of customer needs. They also have a wide portfolio of canoe products to help us satisfy all our customers specific requirements. Vajda not only offers the top level of production for Olympic champions, they also offer high quality models for developing athletes and recreational paddlers. With the most progressive technologies in the sporting industry all our paddlers can fully enjoy premium quality when purchasing a Vajda product.
Vajda is a family company founded in 1991 by 2 brothers, Marcel & Rene Vajda, who excelled in wild water racing. The company now employs 60 people and produces 1,900+ boats each year for many canoe disciplines. Vajda boats are manufactured by qualified tradesmen, most of whom are paddlers themselves, using only the highest quality composite materials. Vajda quality is ensured as they are only made in their factory in Slovakia and no products are made under licence externally. Whilst a large company Vajda still maintains the ability to provide customised orders to suit specific client needs.
Australian Paddle Sports supports Vajda with any warranty work required as well as stocking a full range of accessories for ongoing customisation of your boat.
Carbonology Sport
We took over the importation of Carbonology Sport Surfskis in 2015 to offer our Australian customers the best of what South Africa has to offer in Innovation, Technology, Quality and Value for money.
Carbonology Sport are a Port Elizabeth based company in Eastern Cape, South Africa established in 2006 by Hein van Rooyen, a SA National sprint and marathon paddler and Jason Goedhals, a SA National Lifesaving representative. Hein has a background in all composites, specializing in
advanced composites and lightweight systems technologies. Jason comes from an engineering background and composite development, specializing in wind energy.
Carbonology Sport produce both Beginner, Intermediate and Advanced Surfskis including what is regarded as the world’s fastest Double Ocean Racing Ski and the world’s first Sit-on-Top Kayak for downriver racing.
Australian Paddle Sports supports Carbonology Sport with any warranty work required as well as stocking a full range of accessories for ongoing customisation of your boat.
Jantex Professional Paddles
In late 2015 APS were invited to distribute Jantex paddles also from Slovakia. Jantex paddles are made of the highest grade carbon graphite fibres and epoxy resin. They produce a range of shaft types and blades to ensure the perfect paddle can be made for both professional flat water, surf ski & down river paddlers as well as touring paddlers & children. With a choice of 4 shafts, 5 blade shapes and over 10 sizes in each shape the perfect paddle is guaranteed.
Jantex technicians use the best lab rats – the world’s top paddlers. Rene Poulsen has helped to test and refine the latest Jantex Beta Rio range of blades. Paddling legend Max Hoff had a hand in the new Jantex Gamma Rio blade design.
In early 2017 APS were awarded exclusive importers of Jantex Paddles into Australia. We support Jantex with any warranty work required as well as stocking a full range of their shafts and blades for ongoing customisation of your paddle in Australia. We custom assemble all paddles in Australia to suit our clients specific needs. We only use Jantex shafts as we believe no compromise should be made to make the perfect paddle.
With their continual inventive designs Jantex Paddles are simply the best in the world!
Kick the Waves
Kick the Waves hail from the Czech Republic and since 2003 have been producing high-tec composite boats and other water sport equipment for wildwater racing.
Kick the Waves offer 16 different boat models which can be manufactured in 5 different constructions to meet the needs of our customers.
Australian Paddle Sports commenced the importation of custom built Kick The Waves boats in 2017 to meet the needs of our wildwater clients.
Rhino Rack, Vaikobi, Reed Chillcheater, Funky Pants
Australian Paddle Sports does not stop with just supplying boats and paddles. We also distribute the full range of Rhino Rack, and Vaikobi products from Australia plus some essential paddling products from Reed Chillcheater in the UK. In 2017 we added Funky Pants to our clothing range simply because they are seriously funky and incredibly comfy!
As the Australian distributor of some of the worlds best brands of skis, kayaks and paddles our aim is to be able to satisfy our customers’ every need. As such we carry a wide range of parts and accessories for all of the brands and models that we represent, and if we don’t have a particular part in stock we can certainly get it in for you.
Our products are continually expanding as the sport and market develops. Our nationwide network of dealers can provide you with all the information needed to choose the right product for your paddling needs.