UPCA - United Pipe Clubs of America for the Pipe Smoking Community

The United Pipe Clubs of America (UPCA) was organized in 2002 as a national federation of pipe clubs in the United States. Its purpose is to promote and protect the interests of the American pipe smoking community by encouraging and assisting in the formation of local pipe clubs and actively supporting their activities, including pipe shows and pipe smoking competitions.

UPCA's broader goals are to bring American pipe smokers together by serving as a liason to facilitate the sharing of information and ideas between its member clubs and to maintain smokers' enthusiasm for the hobby by presenting a positive public image of the culture and traditions of pipe smoking and collecting.

We welcome you to the UPCA website and hope you will use it both to learn what clubs are doing around the country (and abroad) and as a reliable source for news and information about upcoming pipe-related events and reports after they occur. We also encourage you to provide information in these categories for posting on the site.

Quick Links

2008 Contest Summary

2008 Annual Meeting

Scheduled Pipe Events

Contact Us

See Headlines Below

International Pipe Smoking Day - February 20th

See video, Learn more>>>

About 20 members of the New York Pipe Club gathered at the De La Concha shop on 6th avenue in Manhattan on Wednesday evening, February 20, to mark International Pipe Smoking Day.

Must Read.... A Quiet Revolution

At the annual Seattle Pipe Club banquet dinner Rick Newcombe was the keynote speaker and delivered an eloquent message on being a pipe smoker today. He discussed pipe smoking of old and explored the fulfillment that our pipes bring...something unknown to 99+ percent of the world's population.

We thought you would like to read his speech in its entirety.... Just click here for a pdf version .

2008 Chicago Contest Pipe Selected

By Henryk Worobiec

Henryk Worobiec is one of the best-known carvers in Przemysl, the capital of Polish pipemaking. After becoming an architect, he took over his father's workshop in 1979 and has been making pipes ever since. He has won many awards over the years, is a great supporter of pipe clubs and has made pipes for several slow smoking competitions. Mr. Worobiec is featured in the article on Polish pipe making which appeared in the spring 2007 issue of Pipes and Tobaccos, with photos of him and several of his pipe designs. Visit his website at www.fajka.przemysl.pl .

The 2007 World Cup

This event took place on October 12-14 in St. Petersburg, Russia. It included a Pipe Show, a Banquet, and a Slow Smoke Competition with nearly 300 contestants. UPCA fielded a team comprised of 4 members: Craig Tarler, Rick Newcombe, Tom Pfaeffle and Vernon Vig. Tom is the current U.S. National Champion having won his title at the 2007 Contest in Chicago last May. He has submitted a magnificent report that can be accessed by clicking the photo at right. That page also contains links to many photos of the event.

Click Image for Show Report

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