Alright, just when we thought our cold spring would never relent to allow for summer, it came this past week, starting with Grandma's Marathon, many of the runners suffered slower than normal times and some just dropped out. The week progressed with warmer & warmer temps and flat seas. 

A NE squall coming down the Lake this Friday eve, like the flick of a light switch,  changes the entire climate tonight as well as the seas, catching a couple paddlers on their way to Split Rock Lighthouse and altering their float plan.

Had I not been packing for our annual summer sojourn, starting tomorrow, on the shores of Gitchi Gummi , I might have even grabbed the SUP and hit the last hour of sunlight for a quick down wind swell ride. How magnificent these huge bodies of water.

Summer is glorious here on the North Coast and its only getting started. Last week saw a number of surf ski racers circumnavigating Washington Island at the tip of Door County, WI. Superb location and a very well run event, we certainly lucked out with spectacular weather. Think I can speak for most everyone by saying we hope to be returning next year for the second round of this new classic gathering.

In just a couple short weeks many of us will be in Munising, MI for the inaugural running of the Pictured Rocks Kayak Quest which promises to be another fantastic venue. Open water racing is alive and starting to thrive on the Great Lakes.

Fenns and Epics are finally scheduled to arrive mid July and the new surf and stand up boards are coming then too. Definitely a fine time to hit your local beach with a new ride. New on the surf scene: the NSP SUP's and the Meyerhoffer, for the boats: Epic's new V-12 and Think's stellar, new offering the Uno.

If all this weren't enough the Grouse numbers are up as well. Ah, summer.

Come check us out and lets get out and get wet!

 John

Its finally arrived, after what many remember as being one of our longer winters in quite a while, things are definitely greening up. Thats not to say we haven't seen a snow flurry or two or don't have a few remnants of ice along the North Shore of Superior (we have and we do) but paddling season has definitely begun.

Some well established and early races have been happening around the region (Mora Minnesota's Snake River race, Wiconsin's Burlington Pursuit race, Illinois' Des Plaines Canoe Marathon to name a few) and some brand new events are slated for this June and July. Check the events page for some links to upcomming happenings and come join us on the water for some good clean fun.