Adirondack Symposium

By Danny Mongno

With so many amazing places to explore by paddle power, becoming more efficient, gaining more confidence, will only help you get the most out of your adventures. By building skills, you’ll only further your paddling enjoyment. This was the simple goal when the Adirondack Paddling Symposium was conceived in 2019. Now, in its fourth year, the mission continues as pack canoeists, kayakers and canoeists sign up to make the trip to the gorgeous waterways of Saranac Lake. 

The Friday-Monday, June 14-17 event focuses on the beginner to intermediate paddler, as it is this level of paddler that has the most to gain from instruction. Sure, paddling can be pretty easy and that is why so many people love it. But it can be really hard too, and when you figure that out… it’s generally at the worst time. When the wind comes up and you can’t make headway, let alone keep your boat going straight. Or the real concern, what happens when you or your paddling partner has a capsize? 

Many people got into the outdoors during the pandemic and a good percentage of them fell in love. But with social distancing and curbside pickup, many never thought of the proper gear to wear early in the spring or late in the fall. They never thought about the value of instruction. They never found community. It’s these folks who now self-identify as paddlers that we want to get to know and hopefully help take their skills, safety, knowledge, and confidence to another level.

For the intermediate paddler, we want you to stop thinking about paddling with your arms, with your upper body and start making this a whole-body activity. When you understand how the body and boat work together, you truly get the most from your craft and the most from yourself. 

The weekend kicks off with an evening welcome party, at the symposium headquarters in the historic Harrietstown Town Hall auditorium, on the banks of the Saranac River. Two days of classes follow, taking participants to many of the amazing, local, waterways of the area. For those that just can’t get enough of the great people and paddling, Monday, June 17 is ‘Tour Monday’ taking the skills that were learned over the weekend and putting them to practice. 

Throughout the weekend, meals are shared together (catered by Saranac Lake’s Bitters & Bones), as well as evening presentations on a variety of topics. There are guest appearances from sponsors like Wenonah Canoe, Bending Branches paddles, Aqua Bound paddles, and the Adirondack’s own Hornbeck Boats. Event presenting sponsor, NRS, donates their dry suit fleet, so paddlers can stay dry and warm… especially for immersion classes. This is a great opportunity to talk about gear with the experts. 

The Adirondack Paddling Symposium is held in Saranac Lake, on Friday-Monday, June 14-17, hosted by Northern Forest Canoe Trail and presented by NRS. If this piece has piqued your interest in attending, you can learn more and sign up: adirondackpaddlingsymposium.com. Registration is open but will be closing June 1. For questions, call 518-524-4117 or email: info@adkpaddlingsymposium.com. 

Author and symposium organizer, Danny Mongno, wants to thank those who’ve made this event possible. John Nemjo and Will Crimmins of Mountainman Outdoors for believing in the original vision, the team at Northern Forest Canoe Trail for taking over post-pandemic and allowing it to thrive, and to Adirondack Sports for their help with ad promo. It wouldn’t be possible without the example set by NRS founder Bill Parks, who always looked for ways to give back to the paddling community, and it’s an honor to carry on his legacy. The symposium has an incredible group of coaches that put so much energy into the preparation and execution… Finally, thanks to all who have participated; without you, there is no symposium. We can’t wait to get on the water with you again. 

Danny Mongno is blessed to say he hasn’t had a proper job outside of paddle sports since he was 16. At NRS, he works in product development and field marketing, allowing him to work at amazing events like this and others around the country. He resides with his wife and their dog in Lake Placid. As a family, they pack a boat, kayak, and SUP and enjoy a variety of winter sports.