Greg Whittaker, a West Seattle tour operator and sports gear retailer, is at the height of the summer season — the usual peak for water sports. However, his sales tell a different story.

Both of his businesses, Alki Kayak Tours and Mountain to Sound Outfitters, have suffered blows as Canadian tourists pulled back and local water sports enthusiasts tightened their spending this summer.

“People are holding onto their money a little bit more — with this uncertainty, with the tariffs and looming financial challenges,” he said in a phone interview.

Whittaker estimates that his retail paddlesports sales are down 40% from the COVID boom.

Like Whittaker, some Seattle business owners in the outdoor recreation industry say they’ve seen fewer customers this summer, despite the hot weather and sun

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