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Meet Allison Fredericks of Denver Outdoor Adventure Company in Santa Fe Arts District

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Today we’d like to introduce you to Allison Fredericks.

Allison, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
The inspiration for starting a paddling business begins with a simple love of the water that was planted in my childhood. In my family, being outside was a way of life. Especially during the summer, on weekends, we’d all pile into the family van eagerly anticipating a day of hiking, swimming, and paddling in various state parks around Illinois and Wisconsin. At least once a summer, the whole extended family would gather for a camping and canoeing trip. We may not have been going far, but we were exploring and we were doing it together. Some of my most poignant childhood memories are from canoeing with my grandpa on these trips. The serenity of floating through the water under the warmth of the sun, punctuated by the sudden exhilarating plunge into the cold water that comes with a canoe flip has always been a feeling that has stuck with me.

It wasn’t until my husband and co-owner Luke and I moved to Florida that the idea of turning our favorite pastime into a business began to take hold. Circumstances just coalesced at the right moment, we were surrounded by water, the weather was warm enough to be on the water most of the year, and we lived very close to an extremely popular city park that conveniently was on the water. We started Pensacola Paddle Sport Rentals to provide a cost-effective opportunity for families to create those lifelong memories on the water that I so cherish.

Even though the business was going well, Luke and I always knew we wanted to move to Denver, so in 2015, we did. The paddlesport rental was such a fun and fulfilling part of our life, we knew we had to start an outdoors business here too. When we moved to Colorado, paddleboarding hadn’t really taken off yet, so that provided the opportunity to do what we love best; introducing people to new experiences. The move to Colorado has given us the opportunity to expand into even more activities, such as hiking and snowshoeing.

Has it been a smooth road?
Not always! I think we were naive about the effort involved just in getting people to know our business existed. We thought love of being the water and an earnest desire to help other people experience the joy of being on the water would be enough to make the business successful. Those things are important and are what keeps us going, but that doesn’t get customers in the door. Advertising is expensive and in the beginning, we just didn’t have the budget for it, so I had to teach myself how to effectively use social media.

The move to Colorado started the whole process of getting the word out about our business again. Colorado also presents it’s own unique challenges to outdoor recreation businesses. The Centennial State is plentiful and varied in outdoor activities. However, there are plentiful and varied governing agencies managing those outdoor activities! I’ve had to learn how to navigate the myriad of permitting processes that exist in this area.

So, as you know, we’re impressed with Denver Outdoor Adventure Company – tell our readers more, for example, what you’re most proud of as a company and what sets you apart from others.
At Denver Outdoor Adventure Company our greatest joy is creating opportunities for the whole family to experience the wonder and splendor of Colorado outdoors. We offer hiking & paddling outings, in addition to rentals of paddle boards, kayaks, and snowshoes. Our most popular rentals are our inflatable paddleboards and kayaks because they are so easy to transport and fun to take along on a mountain camping trip.

One of our favorite times to be on the water is at sunset. The water is typically calm, there are fewer people on the water; the glorious sunsets paint the sky over the Rockies. During the summer months, we offer weekly group sunset outings at Sloan’s Lake and Chatfield Reservoir. The groups range in age and experience, but being on the water together makes for fast friends.

Whether you accompany us on an adventure outing or create your own adventure with our gear rentals, we invite you to join us in exploring the Front Range wilderness by water and trail! All rental and outing information can be found and booked at www.denveroutdooradventure.com.

Let’s touch on your thoughts about our city – what do you like the most and least?
I love the mix of urban and outdoors that Denver offers. The conveniences of a big town with the mountains just a short drive away. I think many would agree though that the traffic is awful!

Pricing:

  • Rates starting at:
  • 1 Day paddle board or single kayak rental: $45
  • 1 Day tandem kayak rental: $60
  • 1 Day snowshoe rental: $20
  • Chatfield paddle outings: $25/person
  • Sloan’s Lake paddle outings:$15/person
  • Outdoor Adventure Club membership: $55/annually

Contact Info:

Getting in touch: VoyageDenver is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.

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