Receiving his first kayak and paddle in 1973 as a graduation gift, Joe Matuska swam several times on his first outing and came home with a broken paddle and a broken boat. Figuring that someone with a degree in Medical Microbiology should be able to fix them, he went to work. Joe’s ‘hobby’ became a lengthy career in the paddle sport industry, leading him to start Aqua Bound in 1991.

Manufacturing paddles for whitewater, touring and recreational kayaking as well as canoeing, Aqua Bound was also the first to introduce gas-assist moulded paddle blades. Aqua Bound is now owned by Branches and manufactured in Wisconsin, where the tradition of extraordinary quality and service continues to this day.