I started the business in August 1968.  Undertaking work in joinery, cabinet making and shop fitting, there was a small demand for wood veneer boat and kayak paddle repairs.

Mark Gees, racing with his own paddles

In 1969 Mike Clark of Canoeing Magazine suggested I make kayak slalom paddles and within two years I had a range of paddles.  Models such as Ace, Triton, Champion and Leda all slalom blades and Regal, Ardor and Impact for kayak racing.  My business expanded and over the next few years we made thousands of Gees paddles, and exported them all over the world, with distributors in: Australia, USA, Canada, Denmark, Norway, Holland and Belgium.

In 1980 we started making wooden seats and fittings for racing kayaks, I now concentrate on these items.