JK in the Press

Press Releases

Press Coverage 2010

Press Coverage 2009

Press Coverage 2008

Press Coverage 2007

Press Coverage 2006

Press Coverage 2005

All Media interests should contact Lee Hart of Brand Amp at the following address:
Lee Hart
Brand Amp
Salida, CO
719.539.7788
lee@brandamp.com
http://BrandAmp.com

Rec dealers

Dealer Packets

• US
• Canada
• Distributors
• Instructional Programs
• Livery/Outfitters
• Rec & Touring

Photos | Videos

2010 Photos

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Photos | Videos

Outfitters & Rental Partners

We at Jackson Kayak think that one of the best ways to spend the weekend with the family is to simply look up a local kayak outfitter/rental company in your area and spend the day out on the water with the entire family. Great exercise, great fun and no hassle is what these businesses are all about. Just show up, grab your paddle and go!

Outfitters are a great way to easily and affordably show up with the family (and don't forget the dog!) and just head out from their launch site. No need to bring your gear, no need to haul your own kayak, and the fact that most offer a shuttle service for local rivers, means you don't have to worry about bringing two cars!

With Jackson Kayak's Day Tripper lineup, there are kayaks for every sized person in the family. Mom, Dad, even the kids have their own size... The Day Trippers are perfect for those that might be new to kayaking. The open cockpit never leaves you feeling cramped or boxed in. The two adult sizes (10 and 12) fit a range from 100 to 350 lbs. In particular, the Mini Tripper isn't just a smaller adult kayak, it's a perfectly sized kayak for children. The Mini Tripper is designed so that the child can get in/out easily with nothing for them to restrict their exit/entry. It is also perfectly designed for a child to paddle without hitting his or her elbows on the cockpit rim.

These businesses are the best way to introduce yourself and your family to the fun and adventure that paddling brings. For those that may just be vacationing in areas far from home, you can't beat the ability to just show up with nothing and head out in a matter of minutes for a great day on the water.

This page dedicated to our rental partners and their business. Feel free to look up a Jackson Kayak outfitter or livery in the area closest to you right on this page.

Happy Paddling!

• Jackson Kayak Accessories to make your kayak all it can be
• Creek Floats- Villain, Rocker, Hero
• Fun Floats- Stars, Funs
• Gear Bag
• Happy Feet Footbags- Super Linear Stars, Funs, all playboats under 7'
• Happy Seat- Stars, Funs, Villain, Rocker, Hero, All-Water, Journey, Dynamic Duo
• Happy Seat / Thruster Combo- Stars, Funs, all playboats.
• Happy Thruster- Stars, Funs, all Playboats
• Sweet Cheeks- All Super Linear kayaks, any non-jackson, Journey, All-Water
• Day Tripper Skirt- Mini-Skirt to keep your legs dry

• Jackson Kayak Replacement Parts
• Pump Bulb- for Funs and Stars
• Clam Cleat with Hardware- for Backband
• Seat Bolt Kit- for 2006 and later JK boats
• Seat Tab Kit- for Standard Daytrippers
• Snap Rivet Set- for thigh pads on all Whitewater Kayaks
• Backband Rope Kit- good for all WW boats
• Surelock Backband Kit- good for all WW boats
• Thigh Pads- good for all WW boats
• Hip Pad Kit- All kayaks

• Addition Paddler Tools
• PaddleStation- get fit and ready for paddling
• ShockStraps- A cool easy way to tie your boats down.
• Kids Paddle- Because they aren�t so easy to find

• Become a better paddler at home
• EJ's Rolling & Bracing DVD
• EJ's Strokes & Concepts DVD
• EJ's Basic Playboating DVD
• EJ's Advanced Playboating DVD
• EJ's Playboating DVD Combo
• EJ's Basic Riverrunning DVD
• EJ's Advanced Riverrunning DVD
• EJ's River Running DVD Combo
• EJ's Strokes & Concepts Book
• Anybody Can Kayak! Basic Playboating DVD- Greg Parker
• Life After Kayak School Book- Billy Harris

• Action/Lifestyle DVDs
• Hotel Charlie 2: River of Doubt DVD
• Hotel Charley 3: Lost World DVD
• Hotel Charley 4: At Your Own Risk DVD
• Here & Now DVD (582 Films)
• World Cup Road Trip DVD- Skippy Films
• Nomads DVD- Polly Green
• Soft Power Health DVD- Jessie Stone

• Jackson Kayak Goodies
• JK Hoodie
• Fidel Hat
• Key Chain Mini Tool
• Nalgene Water Bottle
• Sponge
• Vertical T-Shirt
• Women's Rib Knit Tank
• Capilene Long Sleeve Shirt
• Capilene Short Sleeve T-shirt
• JK Beanies
• JK Cap
• JK Decal 1-1/2" x 4-1/2"
• JK Kids Cap
• JK Large Decal
• JK Logo Decal
• JK Long Sleeve T-Shirt
• JK Visor
• JK Womens Bamboo T-Shirt

About Jackson Kayak | Contact Jackson Kayak

Jackson Kayak was born in October of 2003. We are a family owned business, dedicated to making paddling better for everyone. I’m Eric Jackson, co-founder along with Tony Lunt, my kayaker friend from Arizona. David Knight and I design the kayaks together and have been doing so since 1994. David Knight is a C-1er from the Washington, DC area. His full time job is at the Naval Surface Warfare Center in Bethesda, Maryland. There, he is a naval architect with a special interest in structures (he likes to blow things up, then make them stronger, and try to blow them up again) David will retire from the government in a couple of years and move to Rock Island where we can play with him every day. My wife, Kristine is my external hard drive, my conscience and reminder of things, and my advisor. She is a partner for me in every way. You will see the attention to detail that Kristine brings to Jackson Kayak in everything we do. My partner, Tony Lunt, adds a strong business focus along with the financial support needed to strengthen the bootstraps that we have started Jackson Kayak with. He is a destination kayaker that must normally travel to find water. When not “street surfing” during the occasional downpour in Tucson, AZ, you can find him riding his stallions and roping cattle on his expansive desert ranch. Jackson Kayak is located at Rock Island, Tennessee, home of the Ultimate playboating spot as well as a river running and creeking paradise during the rainy season.

We have a 92,000 square foot factory in Sparta, TN that we purchased in 2006 when we grew out of our 735 square foot ex-laundry matt. In 2008 we installed two large ovens, brining our manufacturing in house for the first time. We have a true dream team in manufacturing with John Ratliff, John Shepherd, Brad Cisco, Leif Koehler, Jase Bouldin, Tony Lee, and more! My Right hand man is Dave Olson, who I have worked with since 1999 in my former company. Dave is a genius that loves business, especially the hard stuff. He has helped me grow up as a business owner, keeping pace with the challenges of running a company that is growing and getting more complex each year.

We are becoming a full service kayak company, opening up our products to the flatwater paddlers with the All-Water, Day Trippers, and Journey’s in 2009. This is just another step to bring the Jackson Kayak flavor and dedication to making paddling a lifestyle, not a commodity. With manufacturers moving to China, and going for cheap labor instead of dedicated paddlers with years of experience and skills in making boats under the JK motto: “Build it like it is yours”. We can certainly put our boats up for the most intense inspection and you will find workmanship in every corner, every trim job, and every piece of assembly.

We back up our product with a lifetime warranty on workmanship and go above and beyond the written warranty in case of anything going wrong. You will always have access to the president of this company, me, by emailing (ericjackson at jacksonkayak.com) or calling me on my cell phone at  931-224-1721 . I answer all of my own emails and come from the paddler’s perspective, as I most likely was on the water that day, and every other day you try to get me. This is my dream, for myself, my family, my friends, my partners, and my staff. Most of them fall in more than one of those categories. We are living our dream and working to make this company something we can all be proud of for years to come and pass off to our children.

You and your local dealer are our company advisors; we are making this company to cater to you. We are doing what we can to be your company of choice. Feel free to provide any input, at any time.

So, you have never seen a Jackson Kayak and you want some specifics, Check out the Kayaks section to learn more.

About Jackson Kayak | Contact Jackson Kayak

Jackson Kayak
325 Iris Dr
Sparta, TN 38583
Main number: 931.738.2628
info at jacksonkayak.com

• Become a dealer: Marty Cronin, 303.517.2621; ,marty at jacksonkayak dot com
• Dealer Service: Teri Lee x101; teri at jacksonkayak.com or Tara Etter x107; tara at jacksonkayak.com
• School/instructional program sales: Colin Kemp, 931.314.3414, colin at worldkayak.com
• Warranty issues: Please fill out the downloadable customer warranty info form and email to: warranty at jacksonkayak dot com.  Download the form here: WARRANTY FORM
  Please allow up to five days for a reply
• JK store customer service: Lorraine Valet x118; websales at jacksonkayak.com
• Accounts Payable: Debbie Sopha, x105; dsopha at jacksonkayak.com
• Accounts Receivable: Donita Koelhler x117; donita at jacksonkayak.com or Camile Collins x100, ccollins at jacksonkayak.com
• Shipping: Brandon Rains x102; brandon at jacksonkayak.com
• Parts Vendors: Jane Bouldin x103; jane at jacksonkayak.com
• Human Resources: Shannon Phillips x104; shannon at jacksonkayak.com
• Media Relations: Lee Hart, Brand Amp, 303.898.4141; lee at brandamp.com

Jackson Family:
EricJackson at jacksonkayak.com
Kristine at jacksonkayak.com
Emily at jacksonkayak.com
Dane at jacksonkayak.com

Adam Kamptner

John Ratliff

Brad Sisco

Carman Ratliff

Steve

Rich Williams

Jase Bouldin

Jane Bouldin

Seth Webster

Dustin White

David Gallaher

Who makes Jackson Kayak fly? I am a business owner who is successful because my team is running like a well tuned racing engine. Each member of the home team is responsible for more than the tasks their title suggests. They don’t ever say, “that is not my job”, but instead, it is “how can I help?”. Kristine’s mom does accounts receivable, payable, the accounting, banking, and accessories. She is 65 years old and her career is just blossoming. Get in between her and her job and you’ll see one New Yorker you’ll side step before it is too late. Goat has been shipping our kayaks to your dealers, and to random locations, one boat at a time for over two years and when I get to the factory and want to get the quick version of what’s up, I go back to where he is staging shipments, and anticipating boats that are still on the line but will ship that day. When I want to get to the real deal, where it all counts everyday, I go to the line, where our team of assemblers have been building your boats since 2004. We have some new faces, but we still have the original ones; and for that we are blessed. Built it like it is yours isn’t a slogan it is a way of life in that plant. Look at any cockpit rim trimming job on a Jackson Kayak and you’ll see a smooth, beautiful hand trimmed, hand shaped boat. What makes them so much better? Time, time, and more time, by trained, practiced, hard working, kayakers who don’t want you to cut yourself on their rim. Who is that sweet southern voice on the line when you call in? Carman Ratliff. Carman is to customer service what hot water is to coffee. She adds the service to the customer. Her husband John is my right hand man, the Chief of Operations. He is the team leader that everyone falls under, but he doesn’t have to run the plant like a classroom. People show up to work, do their job, and then some, bringing new projects to the table on their own, without having to be told to get to work.

I am very lucky to have this team of individuals that definitely fall under the “The Whole is greater than the sum of the parts.” Concept. There is no limit to what this team can do. They care like it was their own baby. I just hope that I can help them become all they want to be as part of this team, known as Team Jackson Kayak/ Home Team.

Factory Team | Regional Team

Devon Barker

Phil Boyer

Jesse Coombs

Jason Craig

Ruth Gordon

Ben Guska

Billy Harris

Dane Jackson

Emily Jackson

Eric 'EJ' Jackson

Jez

Joel Kowalski

Darin McQuoid

Rafael Ortiz

Boyd Ruppelt

Eric Seymour

Jessie Stone

Ben Stookesberry

Nicholas Troutman

Clay Wright

Stephen Wright

Factory Team | Regional Team

Jeremy Adkins

Paul Armes

Brett Barton

Zack Boles

Kevin Brown

Samantha Brunner

Chris Busksey aka Pikey

Damon Bungard

Lauren Burress

Trevor Coffman

Marty Cronin

Mark Cecchini (Che-key-nee)

Sage Donnelly

Katy Doyle

Brian Gardel, aka "Frenchy"

Keegan Grady

Heather Herbeck

Isaac Holden

Kyle Hull

Joe Jacobi

Joe Keck

Colin Kemp

Jay Kincaid

Chris Korbulic

Kat Levitt

BillyBob Malesky

Annie-Pier Marchand

Mike Mathwin

John McConville

Matt "Sharky" McGuire

Jake Measom

Justin Owen "Owen" to most

Greg Parker

Jose Manuel Rodriguez

Dan Rubado

Eric Seymour

Jonathan Shales

Eric Stalowy

David Stefan

Jim Sullivan

Brad Sutton

Rob Terry

Justin Thompson

Rodrigo Tuschner

Mario Vargas

Alec Voorhees

Ryan Whetung

Yagi

YoYo