SPRING has arrived and the rivers are roaring

Its been a long winter and we still have snow up here in the north country but the rivers are runnable and the creekers are doing their thing. The Surfers had their fun last weekend when a howling NE wind accompanied a rather large low presure system that brought 10" of heavy, wet snow and some fantastic surf. One particularily keen surfer, 56 year old Magilla Schaus made the drive through the massive storm all the way from Buffalo, NY just to catch the Superior stoke.  Congrats on riding the waves of all five of the Great Lakes Magilla, and thanks for the inspiration, I think you logged more water time than anyone last weekend.

So what does spring bring in '08? The boards are in! Superior Surf Systems has finally began stocking surf boards, including Stand Up Paddle Boards. Last weekend saw these boards catching some big rides, it will be interesting to see just where this goes as the advantage of having a paddle out there to catch waves and manuever oneself quickly and efficiently are undeniable.

The trailer of Think Surf Skis, ICF and Fitness kayaks is scheduled to arrive tomorrow, just in time for the first weekend of flatwater racing in Wausau, WI this weekend. Hope to see some old friends and newcomers there. The new Fluid boats are rumored to arrive the first week of May.

The Ozone kites are on their way and will be here in plenty of time for Superior Surf Systems' Spring Surf demo on Park Point, in Duluth on May 31st. Surf Skis, Surf Kayaks, Surf Boards and Surf Kites will all be available for demo between 10:00 am and 3:00 pm on Saturday. Bring a friend and a towel it should be a blast.

Afterwards there will be a group fitness paddle and whoever is interested can join in on dinner, wrapping up a great day on the water.

Get out & get wet!

Right before SPRING here in MN comes State Hockey Tourney. Beginning today we can see the entire drama unfold over the next 5 days. This is some of the best sport one can find on TV today. Competition for the pure love of the game with athletes giving everything they have. 

Exciting News! SuperiorSurfSystems has just picked up two new lines of boats that offer some exhilarating new options for fun on the water and which will round out our stable, making this little shop on the Nation's North Shore quite likely, the most unique boat shop in North America as far as specialized equipment that you just won't find at most paddlesport shops. Not to mention experience and knowledge you will not expect either.

This is just the beginning too, there are many more things to come.

If somebody knows of a more interesting shop please fill me in, I want to go.

This spring sees the addition of both Valley Sea Kayaks, out of Nottingham, England, and Fluid Kayaks, out of Parys, South Africa.

Valley has long been an industry leader, nearly 4 decades of boat building, and now expands into high performance open water racing/fitness kayaks and surf kayaks. Meanwhile, Fluid is a dynamic new comer to the world of kayak manufacturing, with some twists and turns of its own.

How cool that the ideas of the people indigenous to the arctic, the wandering Polynesians, the Vikings, the Voyaguers.... are still motivating us to return to the water with new ideas & designs.

The new fleet of Epics has arrived: V-10's, legacy's and 18 X's are in. Think trailer is arriving sometime in early April. The Fluids are coming in along with the Valleys' as we speak, Should be a fun spring. If you can't make Canoecopia, consider making the Kettle River Kayak Festival May 3-4 www.Kettleriverpaddlefest.com or the SuperiorSurfSytems demo day May 31st on the end of Park point in Duluth. Bayside for warmer water.

I am traveling to Canoecopia, www.canoecopia.com in Madison, WI at the end of this week, March 7-9. I will have some boats with me and can bring anything that is currently here in the shop. Please contact me by phone or e-mail should you wish to make arrangements.

Spring Regards, almost, John Abrahams

218-591-7873