Wakeboards and Skis and Tubes OH MY!

By Andrew Clarke

Summer/Winter Sports Sales Manager

Schools are out and we can now say summer is truly here.  Congratulations to all of the graduating classes of 2014! Now is the time when everyone has the chance to join their own Redneck Yacht Club for some fishing, sand bar relaxation, and a little behind boat towing.  There are a number of great options to get out on the water for a bit of recreation while the summer is here. 

Waterskiing has its roots dating back to Minnesota’s own Lake Pepin in 1922 when Ralph Samuelson fashioned the first water skis using wood planks.  Now and days we've moved from wood to fiberglass, carbon fiber and polymers to keep you moving and grooving on the water.  The two types of skiing out there are combo skiing (more basic and easier to start with) and slalom skiing (more advanced single ski).  Combo skis offer bindings that fit a wide range of foot sizes and are built to get any skier up on the water no matter the skill level.  Combo skis also have a rear binding on one of the skis to help the skier learn to drop a ski as well as learn deep water slalom skiing starts.  By contrast, slalom skis are sold as a singular ski and are a more robust to handle faster boat speeds and more aggressive turning.  Speeds for skiing vary on skier preference.  The general range is 22-28 mph for combo skis and 26-36 mph for slalom.  The last thing you’ll need to get set up for a day on the water is a stretch line tow rope for skiing.  The standard tow ropes have high degree of bound and rebound to aid the skier turning and absorb the shock from the boat bouncing on the water.

Wakeboarding started sometime in the 1980’s as its winter counterpart snowboarding was gaining popularity.  Wakeboards have various designs from simple curved shapes for cruising behind a boat to aggressive shapes that will launch the boarder high in the air giving them time any combo of spins, grabs, or flips.  The three build types are known as rocker come as a continuous rocker for ease of use and forgiveness on the water, 3-stage rocker for aggressive turning and pop for spins and grabs, and finally, hybrid boards that blend continuous and 3-stage for better pop with some forgiveness.  Board bindings can vary from an aggressively supportive boot a 2 shoe size range to a softer sided recreational boot that has a range of 5 sizes or more.  Like waterskiing, wakeboarding speeds are based on user preference and are generally between 18-24 mph.  The towropes you’ll want to use are a low to no-stretch line with a wider handle then ski ropes.  The more a wakeboard rope is able to stretch, the more off center the boarder will be in the air making landings tough when you are going head first into the lake. 

Finally, if neither of the first two sports sounds like your cup of tea, strap a Towable to your boat and hit the water for a leisurely cruise or more likely, a game of ditch the rider.  Towables come in a variety of shapes and sizes for 1-4 riders.  The most common are deck tubes which are both comfortable to lie on and can be sized for you as well as a friend or two to join in on the fun.  From the classic deck style tube, you can get as creative as you want from tubes the throw a big rooster tail to tubes that with throw you all directions while the boat is going straight.  Tubes are built to be tough but will eventually succumb to the abuse it will likely go through.  Personally, I average 2 years before I puncture a bladder and need to replace my towable.

This is the time of year cabin fever no longer exists and everyone can get out for the weekend or holiday to enjoy the warm weather and Joe’s Sporting Goods has the tools to help you make the most of the warm weather while it’s here.  If you want to learn more, stop by the shop and ask us questions.  We've been there before and want to make sure you have as much fun as we do.

And until next time, GET OUTDOORS!

First Paddle: A St. Croix Story

By Johnny “Boats” Kendrick

Paddle Sports Expert

Boom Site Landing

Recognizing the singularity of the moment, a lone goose called out on the river.  I haeartily agreed; the first paddle of the year is a singular event.  I had chosen the St. Croix Boomsite, and the Wilderness Systems Tsunami 120, for this first occasion.  Despite its popularity with motorboats, the lower St. Croix is a close-to-home gem of a paddle spot, with steep banks, sand rock cliffs and abundant waterfowl.  In contrast to Wilderness’ Pungo series kayak, the Tsunami is a smaller boat for my six-foot frame.  To get in I need to prop myself up and slide my legs down together.  The Tsunami 120 has a performance fit with my legs extended as far as the footpegs go and thighs snugly engaged in the braces.  The Wilderness kayak seat is truly the industry standard in comfort, and I felt one with my boat as I slipped out of the bay.

The river was alive in the rising sun.  A colony of egrets was congregated in the trees on a submerged island, their snowy silhouettes contrasting the darkened nests.   A few pairs of ducks flushed out in front of me; mostly woodies rising noisily and sharply into the air, often circling back to have a look at me, and a few mergansers, murmuring softly, just inches above the water.  Herons emerged like pterodactyls from the flooded trees, a bald eagle, geese, and even a pair of cormorants graced the sky, and the air was full of birdsong with swamp sparrows being the most prominent.

The peninsula that separated the Boomsite Landing from the marina and wayside was under water, but the flooded trees slowed the flow of the river.  As I neared the tip of the peninsula, I could see the current, swollen with the melt-off from the winter that just didn't want to die.  Carefully I nosed my bow into the channel and paddled vigorously.  But the Tsunami is a very efficient boat.  Even in my twelve-footer, I was soon slipping upstream with a consistent and manageable tempo, tracking with a very subtle swing in the bow as I paddled.  I was soon in the zone and at one with my boat, the river, and the beautiful spring morning.

About a mile upstream, a small slough on the Minnesota shoreline led into flooded woods.  I don’t like to enter sloughs from the downstream side.  They’re often blocked on top-but a deep green color from the otherwise brown shore caught my eye and I paddled over, hoping for marsh marigolds.  There were none blooming yet so I continued up the shoreline into the woods; evading trees and passing under a goose perched in a tree (not a common sight). As I brushed through the limb of a submerged silver maple, I surprised a couple of beavers, one of them just off my bow.  His fur was glistening red in the morning sun.  With a quick slap of his tail and they both disappeared.

Ok, ya caught me, this is Lake Superior.
It is from the deck of the Tsunami 120 though

Emerging from a rather surreal paddle through the woods, I found the river changed.  The sun was high in the eastern sky, bathing the steep Minnesota shore in warm, soft light and there I saw the rich green and yellow of marsh marigolds, stretching on to the next bend in the river.  The Wisconsin shore featured the reddish brown cliffs that marked the Boy Scout camp and I followed the line of conifers down to the old bridge pillars.  With both shores beckoning the way upstream, I set my bow in the current and soon rediscovered the joy of a fast boat on a wild river.  If one would really understand a boat and a river, the nuances of each and the music they can make together, one should paddle upstream.  What upstream travel demands is not so much hard work but consistent exertion  My favorite sidearm is the Bending Branches Sunrise, a fiberglass paddle with a slightly smaller blade.  This paddle enables me to establish a good rhythm and I soon passed the pillars following the bend in the river and arrived at the High Bridge where a sign forbids upstream travel.

Dutifully, with shoulders beginning to complain anyway, I swung the bow around and started my descent.  Half an hour later, I was back at the landing where, perhaps appropriately, it had clouded up and two motorboats were preparing to go out.  But I did take the time for two short detours on the return trip.  I saw a bald eagle on the way up, so I wanted to check out the nest.  I was happy to see the white head of an adult peaking out of the nest and I hope to return to see eaglets later in the year.  My other errand was to search the shady recesses of the Wisconsin shore for any remaining snow.  May 5^th is a late first paddle for me.  With the late snows that delighted the skiers, it frustrated the paddlers.  I was happy to find several large pockets of snow hiding in the shady cliffs.  So though it was late, my first paddle of the year was amid the remnants of snow.

SUP Minnesota

By Andrew Clarke

Summer/Winter Sports Sales Manager

Kayaks are on shore.  What's on the water?

The latest in paddle sports trending on the water are Stand Up Paddleboards (SUP’s).  These surf shaped boards give the boarder a smooth paddle on calm days and are a phenomenal form of exercise.  The sport of Stand Up Paddleboarding has its roots in one form or another tied to any area where there is surf.  This includes Africa, South America, Australia and yup, you guessed it, Hawaii.  The first (known) recorded incidence was a film made in 1939 of Duke Kahanamoku in Australia on a surfboard with a paddle in hand.  From its first glimpses, paddleboarding as a sport was largely reserved for calm days when the surf was low.  It wasn't until 2005 that the sport reached the mainland in California and started growing roots.  In 2007, the first SUP Race (Nalu) was hosted in Lake Tahoe and was the beginning of the Ta-Hoe Nalu Paddle Festival.  Locally, the sport arrived at Joe's Sporting Goods in the summer of 2009 and went largely unnoticed its first few seasons.  Since then, the sport has been growing rapidly and with the water warming up, we are in the throes of another great paddle season.  In store, we offer Rave, Doyle, and BOTE paddleboards in a variety of designs.

Classic Design

Soft Top

Race Design

SUPs come in a wide variety of different shapes that offer an assortment of paddling characteristics.  Many recreational paddleboards have a traditional surf board look and feel with a rounded nose and a wider shape.  This allows the paddler to turn well and follow the contours of a shoreline or otherwise cruise on the lake.  Race (Nalu) SUPs have a more battleship profile and a much stronger keel line to provide unparalleled tracking but sacrifice stability.  A third class of Stand Up Paddleboards are called soft top paddleboards and feature a yoga mat like material covering the board from bow to stern.  These SUPs are wider than the classic boards and are stable enough to actually do yoga on the water.  Personally, I've tried it and only got as far as the downward facing kersploosh… but I digress.  It’s common to require a few tries to get the hang of balancing on a SUP, and once you do, you will be hard pressed to not have a great time on the water. 

Be sure to sign up for our own Demo Days

Like kayaking, there are practical weight limits that can help identify what board(s) would be the best to fit your needs.  Paddleboards in the 10’ and 10’6” range have a typical peak performance capacity of up to 160-170 lbs.  The 11’ to 12’ range at a peak performance weight of up to 240 lbs.  Any SUP above 12’ will be able to handle 300 lbs and above with ease.  Using myself as an example (6’4” 235 lbs) I find the best paddle on an 11’-12’ SUP.  I can and have used a 10’6” SUP successfully finding that I turn too easily and cannot hold a straight line.  If you are hesitant at first, sign up for one of our boat demo’s at Lake Gervais.  If that doesn't work for your schedule there are many lake side rental agencies in the Twin Cities that have SUPs available per hour or per day and are a great way to get started.

Until next time, GET OUTDOORS!

Canoes: A Guide to Paddling

By Andrew Clarke

Summer/Winter Sports Sales Manager
         
Canoes are the water craft that kept the fur trade alive and the boat that helped Lewis and Clark navigate to the west coast. For many years, we Minnesotans have enjoyed traveling to the water with the canoe strapped to the roof of the family truckster, jumping in the water and paddling to our hearts content.  A few of us may have had a gunnel pumping contest or two.  Though the materials have changed over the years, canoes still hold the shape and heritage from a bygone era.  

Some things to consider when looking at what canoe you want are the shape, material, and capacity to best suit your needs.  There are many shapes and designs that can alter how a canoe performs on various water ways.  A river built canoe like the Wenonah Wilderness for example have a larger amount of rocker and rounder hull shape to make the craft highly maneuverable and reduce tracking to keep you mobile and straight in moving waterways.  Boundary Water canoes such as the famous Wenonah Minnesota II tend to go the opposite design route and are much longer and flare hull to slice through water efficiently to get you from Point A to Point B quickly. The minimal rocker keeps the boat steady on lakes that have a bit of chop from wind and other boats.  Many canoes you will find do a good job with some river and some small to mid-size lake much like Wenonah’s Spirit II or the Northwind by Ted Bell’s newest company, Northstar Canoes. 

From there the material used in the boat’s construction will play a large role in how you use the boat.  Classic materials like Aluminum are bomb proof and will hold up to anything you can throw at it from running up ob beaches to hitting mid river rocks.  The down side is they tend to be heavier (80 lbs.+) and feel like an oven when the sun is shining.  Kevlar (and other composites) are extremely light (30-50 lbs.) but also are thin skinned and you would want to avoid hitting rocks or running up on shore as much as possible.  The middle grounds for canoes lie in the polymer boats.  Royalex has historically been the best weight to strength ratio polymer canoes (60 lbs. + and bomb proof) but with the material being discontinued this year, you will want to buy a Royalex canoe sooner rather than later because once they’re gone, they’re gone.

The last thing to look at is the capacity that each boat can have.  Depending on the shape and displacement of each canoe, you will be looking at a likely range of 500 lbs. for a solo canoe, to upward of 1200+ lbs. on a BWCA capable boat.  This will also affect the seating capacity as well so if you are planning on taking a canoe trip with 3 people and a weeks’ worth of gear, a tandem canoe with a capacity of 700 lbs. probably isn't going to cut it.

Finally, don’t forget to check our website’s events page and sign up for our Open Water Demo’s at Lake Gervais.  These will kick off on May 10th and are a great way to try before you buy. 

Until Next Time, Get Outdoors!

Kayaking Season

By Andrew Clarke

Summer/Winter Sports Sales Manager

The waterways are opening up and a world of paddling is soon here.  We are receiving our full complement of Kayaks, Canoes and the latest trend Stand-UpPaddleboards (SUPs).  No matter what form of paddling you are looking to start or continue, selecting the right watercraft is the most important step to a summer full of epic stories.

Kayaks are one of the most versatile paddle craft in production.  There are many shapes and sizes that serve different purposes.  While Getting Started looking for your kayak, one of the first things we ask is what seating platform you prefer.  There are two main styles, sit-on-top and sit inside, have very different characteristics.  Sit-on-top kayaks are usually more stable and with an open cockpit, you are able to have full freedom of movement to cast your rod/reel or snap a few photos.  The down side is they tend to weigh 10-20 lbs. more than their sit inside counterparts so transporting to and from the waterway will need to be considered.  Sit inside kayaks offer more mobility and smoother ride when paddling and can get you from Point A to Point B much quicker.  Because sit inside kayaks are lighter, loading and unloading from your vehicle is easier and the sit inside kayak is easier to handle when paddling.

The next option to look closely at is the body/bodies of water you are planning on going to.  Common kayak lengths are between 9’ to 17’ and with each foot, the boat paddles differently.  The general rule (baring hull shape) is the shorter the boat, the easier it is to turn.  Conversely the longer the boat is the better it will track or hold a straight line.  If you are looking for a proper river kayak or a great kid’s boat, the 9’-10’ kayaks like the DaggerZydeco 9.0 are good starting point. The 9’-10’ kayaks are also a good selection due to their lower cost and lighter weight.  Our favorite length range is the 11’-13’ kayaks such as the WildernessSystems Pungo 120.  They are the best all-around boats that work well in rivers and lakes as well as the added dry hatches for storing a mid-paddle lunch or a weekend’s worth of camping gear.  For the larger water ways (Lake Superior) or longer trips, you typically want to start out at 14’ or longer much like the WildernessSystems Tsunami 140 Pro.  These Touring Kayaks have a bulkhead on the bow and stern for maximum storage and track from point A to point B efficiently.

Finally, you will want to look for your ideal weight capacity (you and gear).  All of the kayaks are rated for a recommended maximum weight that will give you an idea for what the kayak can handle.  I for example am 6’4” and 235 lbs.  A 9’ kayak rated for 250 lbs. would be cutting in a little too close for comfort on weight range.  It would also be a little on the short side for leg room, which is why I bought a DaggerAxis 12.0.  It has a weight capacity of 325 lbs. and more than enough leg room for me to paddle comfortably for hours on end and the occasional weekend trip. 

Kayaking is a fantastic sport if you are looking for good exercise and a way to break away from the jogging and bike trails.  If you are one of the try before you buy types, sign up for one of our DemoDays and let us know what you’d like to try.  The demo’s kick off on May 8^th and run through June 7^th at Lake Gervais.

And until next time, GET OUTDOORS!