They stock life jackets, paddles, helmets, dry bags, dry boxes, tie-down straps, water shoes and booties

ASHLAND — Leslie Dopp decided it was time to be a grown-up when she turned 30.

But not too grown up.

She and her husband, Matt, left Colorado’s ski slopes and moved to Ashland to start their own business. Both had worked as river guides, so they decided to stick with something they knew and work for themselves instead of somebody else.

"We were playing and having a good time, but we were broke," Leslie said. "We were having fun, but we weren’t really getting anywhere."

They christened their business Kokopelli River Guides, borrowing the name of the flute-playing fertility god of the Hopi Indians. This spring, as they started their third season on the water, they decided to open a retail store to complement their river trips and paddling classes.

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The Kokopelli River Center sells kayaks and a full range of the specialized gear that helps paddlers and rafters make the most of a day on the water. They stock life jackets, paddles, helmets, dry bags, dry boxes, tie-down straps, water shoes and booties from a variety of specialty manufacturers such as Dagger, Pyranha, Stohlquist, Lotus, Splash, Adventure Technology and Big Spoons.

Other stores such as McKenzie Outfitters, G.I. Joe’s and Black Bird Shopping Center sell boats and gear, but nobody specialized in paddle sports until the Dopps came along.

"All the vendors told us this area was a void for them," said Matt, an Oregon native who spends most of his time on the water teaching paddling, river rescue and first-aid.

The idea for the store surfaced when the Dopps realized that people who enrolled in their classes were using the Internet to buy equipment and driving to Medford or Eugene to buy boats.

"People kept asking us where they could buy gear," Leslie said, "so we started ordering things for people. Last summer we started to think about opening a shop and we spent all winter figuring it out."

They found an old storefront at the extreme southern end of town and stocked it with boats that reflect the growing diversity in paddle sports. There are whitewater kayaks for boaters who want to play on fast-flowing rivers; recreational kayaks for people who enjoy slow-paced paddling on flatwater lakes, and touring kayaks for people who want to paddle for a few days, camping along the way.

"There’s such a variety of people here," she said, "and such a variety of water."

They also rent boats to people who want to try before they buy. Rental fees can be applied to the purchase of a new boat.

Leslie, who was born in Florida, tends the store, selling gear and chatting with people about places to paddle.

"People come in just to see what’s going on," she said. "What we’re trying to offer is service. If somebody needs to have a dry-top gasket repaired, we can help with that. We’re not just trying to sell ’em something. We make them want to enjoy coming back here."

They also lead informal trips on local waters on Wednesday evenings. Their "paddle club" outings are geared toward novice paddlers and others who want to spend time on the water with the extra margin of safety that a group provides. People who own their own gear can join the outing for no charge. Others can rent gear for $20.

They’ve discovered the paddlers in Southern Oregon are a far more eclectic group than the mostly 20-something crowd they encountered on Colorado rivers.

"Here most of the people who come in the store are in the 35-to-55 age range," she said. "They have the time to do this, and they have the money.

"There was a guy who came in (Tuesday) about 50 who wants to learn white-water kayaking."

Who: Kokopelli River Center

Where: 2475 Siskiyou Blvd., Ashland

What they do: Kayak sales and rentals; gear sales, guided trips, paddle lessons

Phone: 201-7694

Web:

kokopelliriverguides.com

Reach reporter Bill Kettler at 776-4492, or e-mail bkettler@mailtribune.com