Archive | May, 2008

Canoeing.com Profiles Bob Brown

29 May

Have you ever wanted to know more about the people who design the canoes we paddle? Have you wondered what combination of skills and interests it takes to envision and actualize a new canoe design? We at Canoeing.com have, so we recently spent some time with Bob Brown, who has designed boats for Wenonah, Bell, […]

When a 400-Mile Canoe Race Isn’t Long Enough …

28 May

The Yukon Territory community of Whitehorse is already the starting point for a 400-mile canoe race. Apparently, though, that’s not long enough for everybody in the community. Recently, local organizers announced plans for a 2009 event that would have racers paddle 1000 miles — from Whitehorse to the Alaska Pipeline Bridge on the Dalton Highway […]

Weather Slows Canoe Sales, Analysts Say

23 May

Blame it on the weather. The Outdoor Industry Association recently reported that, while outdoor gear sales rose 9% in the first quarter of 2008, sales of canoes, paddlesport gear, and kayaks was off an unspecified amount over the same period. Industry analysts blame the unseasonably cool spring experienced by much of the country for the slow […]

Portaging to the Boundary Waters

21 May

If you’ve spent any time paddling in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness — or its Canadian companion Quetico Provincial Park — you’re aware there’s a fair amount of portaging that comes with any trip. For Ladysmith, Wisconsin’s Jim Kurz, however, there’s apparently not enough portaging for his tastes. He’s taken it upon himself, according […]

Paddlers Celebrate Thompson’s 200th

19 May

Teams of paddlers are commemorating the 200th anniversary of David Thompson’s exploration of western Canada by retracing the 19th Century explorer’s route in 25-foot-long north canoes. The teams have been on the trail for a week in what they intend to be a 63-day, 2,200 mile trip. Dubbed the Thompson Brigade, the reenactors plan to […]

Canoeing.com News: Tents Section Un-Zipped

19 May

Canoeing.com invites you to crawl into our new Tents section! We’ve just expanded our Gear Guide to include information on the tents you’ll likely be interested in for your next canoe-based expedition or weekend on the water. In all, we’ve cataloged nearly 300 tents, tarps, and shelters. A special feature of the new section is […]

Book Review: A Guide to Paddling in the Yukon

13 May

  Like a canoe that tracks straight and maneuvers well, Ken Madsen and Peter Mather’s A Guide to Paddling in the Yukon is a fine book for two reasons: it’s a helpful guidebook for canoeing and kayaking in the Yukon territory and it’s a worthy “coffee table book” thanks to its striking collection of color […]

Still Paddling to the Sea

12 May

Inspired by the Caldicott Award-winning book and Oscar-nominated film Paddle to the Sea, Jody Smith’s students at Cheery Creek public school in Marquette, Michigan often launched carved boats with their initials onto the water of Lake Superior. Like author Holling C. Holling’s young carver in the story, they hoped their boats would travel far and […]