PTC Gold Standards & Best Practices
Resources, stories, and tools to strengthen the paddlesports community.
The Paddlesports Trade Coalition is building a shared foundation for a healthier, more connected, and more resilient paddlesports industry. The Gold Standard – Best Practices initiative brings together retailers, brands, sales representatives, instructors, outfitters, community organizations, and advocates to create a common set of expectations, values, and practical guidance that help the entire sector thrive. This page is your home for expanding resources, real-world insights, and success stories that all tie back to the PTC Gold Standards & Best Practices.
Two frameworks, one shared foundation
The Ecosystem is the map. The Gold Standards are the moral compass.
When used in tandem, they provide both a map and a moral compass—ensuring that every partnership strengthens participation, profitability, and community impact.
Paddlesports Industry Ecosystem Framework
Defines the structure of the industry with clear roles, responsibilities, and value alignments across stakeholders.
Gold Standard Code of Ethics and Best Practices
Defines the culture that guides those relationships with principles of transparency, collaboration, and integrity.
✽ These standards are designed to improve outcomes collectively, not just for individual organizations.
What success looks like
Increase participation and retention
Create welcoming, safe, and inspiring experiences that encourage lifelong paddling.
Enhance Profitability & Sustainability
Align incentives, protect margins, and make data-driven decisions that enable long-term growth.
Strengthen the Paddlesports Ecosystem
Built for the full paddlesports ecosystem
Brands and manufacturers
Lead with transparency and enable partners with education, tools, and fair channel alignment.
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Retailers & Outfitters
Serve as the local hub for expertise, community connection, and sell-through.
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Sales representatives
Bridge brands and retailers with presence, territory knowledge, and reliable communication.
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Community organizations
Grow participation, protect access, and connect grassroots impact to industry support.
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The Latest
Gold Standards at a Glance
Retailers & Outfitters
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Invest in knowledge and customer experience
Champion the community
Communicate openly
Align with brand partnerships
Be strategic
Brand & Manufacturers
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Lead with transparency
Empower retailers and reps
Support collaboration
Act fairly across channels
Be flexible and supportive
Sales Reps
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Know your territory
Be present and responsive
Educate and inspire
Bridge the conversation
Community Organizations
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Grow participation and inclusion
Advocate for access and conservation
Educate and empower
Connect industry and community
How the ecosystem works in practice
The Ecosystem Framework clarifies roles and responsibilities so partnerships are easier to build and easier to maintain. It also sets shared expectations for what value exchange looks like between cohorts.
Turn standards into action
The Gold Standards are most powerful when they become regular practice. This guide gives every cohort a clear path from reflection to measurable improvement.
Self-Assess
Rate each standard on a 1 to 5 scale and capture evidence.
Reflect Inward
Identify strengths, gaps, and the few standards that will drive the biggest impact.
Look Outward
Evaluate partner relationships, alignment, and collaboration opportunities.
Build an Action Plan
Pick 2 to 3 focus areas, assign ownership, and define support needed.
Engage your partners
Use templates to start simple, aligned conversations across cohorts.
Take the self-assessment
Quickly understand where you are today, identify your highest impact opportunities, and choose what to strengthen next.