The Roots of The Wild Tribe: Durable, Affordable SUPs
It was in the shadow of the Canadian Rockies and along the shore of the West Coast that The Wild Tribe was born.
On a cross-Canada road trip in the summer of 2020, the idea to design quality stand-up paddle boards with reasonable price tags became a spark in the minds of Nicolas Bédard and James Bourassa, the future owners of The Wild Tribe.
While shooting and gathering content for the company Go RVing, Bédard and Bourassa found themselves on the hunt for affordable paddle boards that fit their style. Surprised by the high cost of the boards on the market, the pair soon began to research the manufacturing processes behind SUPs.
This spark grew into a flame of dedication to create paddle boards with an affordable price tag and, along with it, a community of people united by a love of exploring.
With a warehouse in the suburbs of Quebec, The Wild Tribe saves the expenses of owning a storefront and sells directly to customers instead, eliminating brick-and-mortar costs. The owners value accessibility and aim to ensure customers pay only for the quality of their board.
Inspired by people who show perseverance, resilience and fortitude, The Wild Tribe is “about people who venture where most don’t dare. People who willingly step out of their comfort to live, to experience and to thrive.”
The Boards
Canada’s rich landscape became the inspiration for nature-themed designs featured on all the boards created at The Wild Tribe. Displaying earthy tones, jagged peaks and, of course, the grizzly bear, The Wild Tribe appeals to adventurers with a classic Canadian style—but there’s more to these boards than just appealing aesthetics.
Whether you’re looking for more stability in an all-around board or the speed of a touring board, The Wild Tribe boasts a variety of inflatable SUPs that come equipped with all the functionality, features and accessories you’ll need for a day on the water.
The Wild Tribe’s goal is to provide comfort—even in uncomfortable conditions that the wilderness often throws at us. Being able to rely on your gear when you’re far out on the glassy waters of a mountain lake or river system is truly a game-changer.
Canadian to the core, The Wild Tribe commits to giving back their time and money to protect the very wilderness and waters that inspired the creation of their boards in the first place.
The search for both cheap and durable gear that can withstand rough waters and years of heavy use is often a long and arduous one. It can be easy to run to places like Amazon for the convenience and low prices, but often that means sacrificing quality or an opportunity to support local businesses that use sustainable materials.
To me, supporting a brand whose story began because someone else was inspired by the very same places I love to play and adventure in, is an opportunity to not only equip myself with the right gear, but to create a connection that reminds me of the power of the outdoors.
Gear is a vital part of any adventure. We need it to get to those awe-inspiring places in the wilderness that we couldn’t otherwise reach. It’s the patched holes in an old jacket that remind you of that one rock climbing trip with your friends or the worn soles of your hiking boots that take you back to the many kilometres of trails covered over the years. It’s our equipment that suffers the beatings of adventures past and holds the markings of memories made in the Great Outdoors.
Gear up, get out there and enjoy the wild.
This article was sponsored by The Wild Tribe
An ability to thrive out of your comfort zone. To find comfort in discomfort. That’s what The Wild Tribe is about. It’s about people who venture where most don’t dare. People who willingly step out of their comfort to live, to experience and to thrive. We created TWT to help them achieve this with affordable and quality gear that is designed and tested here, in the harsh climate of the wild wild north.
