Check out the latest dispatch from Viking Kayaks USA to get the details on their re-release into the USA:
Viking Kayaks USA is excited to announce that the Viking Kayaks purchased in the US will now be receiving the same 30-year warranty as is offered in their country of origin, New Zealand. “These kayaks are top of the line, made with a liner polyethylene that’s higher quality than many of the boats out there.
We felt it important to demonstrate to the kayakers in the United States that the Viking Kayaks offered here are the same great quality as the boats purchased in New Zealand because these ARE the same boats. So, it only seemed right that we offer the 30-year warranty,” said Bill Bragman, president of Yak Gear, the national distributor for Viking Kayaks in the U.S.
In addition to the 30-year warranty announcement, Yak Gear is also excited to announce a new website which will support sales in the United States. Bragman described the new site as “a great place to go to find information on individual boats, a place to register your kayaks after purchase, and the best place to find Viking Kayaks USA dealer nearest you.” The website address for the new site is VikingKayaksUSA.com.
And, it’s not just a new warranty and new website in the U.S. that is making the news. Viking Kayaks is also offering three color blends now, so you’re going to see a variety of new color mixes available now. “The new Profish 400 is now offered with a yellow, red and black blend called ‘Coral’ which is a great example of how these 3-color blends can add a unique look to the boats,” said Bragman.
And, there’s more. The kayaks now sport a new, updated logo.
And, not unlike a late-night infomercial, there’s more; Viking Kayaks USA is so excited about all that’s going on with the brand that they crafted a clever video to celebrate that the ‘new’ Vikings have landed on U.S. shores again.
Yak Gear began operating as the sole distributor for Viking Kayaks in the United States in 2014. This was a result of Bragman having personally paddled the watercraft, and being so excited about them that he felt strongly he had to introduce them to the paddling public here in the states.
Since 2014, they have expanded their dealer network throughout the U.S., along the East Coast, the Gulf Coast, and now the West Coast. They’re focused on offering an excellent product to the American paddler via Viking Kayaks USA, and invite paddlers to join them as they “Explore New Waters.”
New Brand Management for Viking Kayaks USA
In late 2015, Yak Gear was pleased to bring Kendal Larson aboard as the national brand manager for Viking Kayaks USA.
Kendal comes from a long line of paddlers, having traced his heritage back to the very first king of Norway, and believes he has Viking blood in his veins. He plied the waters of northern Minnesota in a canoe while growing up, paddled in Germany off and on while stationed there with the United States Air Force while serving as a Czech intelligence specialist, and later began slicing through the salt flats of Texas after moving there. He has dipped a paddle in Mexican, Canadian, German, and Fijian waters, and plans on expanding that list.
Kendal brings a combination of business acumen and paddling passion to the position, with industry-specific experience to boot. You’ve likely seen his photography or possibly his photography and writing together in any of the kayak or fishing specific publications through the years.
Kendal has a B.A. from the University of Maryland, an M.S. from the University of Southern California, is a PADI IDC Staff Instructor teaching scuba to those who want to see a part of the world seen by few, and is a founding member of Heroes on the Water.
He still believes strongly that the way to renew the soul is via outdoor activities, and if they include water, so much the better.
For more information about Viking Kayaks, or Yak Gear, check out their websites, VikingKayaksUSA.com and Yak-Gear.com.
