Hundreds of kayaks have taken to the Kiski and Youghiogheny rivers over recent weekends while a Pittsburgh store specializing in kayaks reports a surge in sales.
“You can’t get more naturally social distanced than you can in a kayak,” said Chris Kaminski, co-owner of 3 Rivers Outdoors Co. in the Swissvale portion of Regent Square.
“You almost have to try to be within six feet of someone else,” Kaminski said of the region’s bounty of lakes, rivers and creeks.
Kayak sales have increased by more than 50% compared to last year at the store, he said.
Nationally, covid-19 restrictions have been a boon to the sales of single- person watercraft, according to the market research firm NPD. Kayak and paddle sales skyrocketed by 85% and 63%, respectively, this April compared to April 2019, according the firm.