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.

Greetings Wave Chasers,

How about the coming of a new administration? Now all we need are some healthy storms.

Sorry for the long lapse in news from the North Shore. It was a busy and fleeting summer with lots of days on the road. But I'm happy to report that we had a very successful season.

November is here, along with our first snow, the deer opener and some pretty strong winds. Old man winter seems to be banging at the door and Gitche Gumee seems ready to throw open the gates...

With colder air and the liklihood of big low pressure systems comes the chance for waves and the thrill of riding the biggest Lake Superior and the rest of the Great Lakes have to offer. Cold? You betcha. But these inland seas have the best fresh water surf on earth. Come check out the stoke. If you haven't surfed the Great Lakes and haven't seen the DVD, visit our 'video page' and check out the "UNSALTED" trailer to get a little more background and some sense of what we've got.

As for news from the North Shore's original and only complete watersport shop, Superior Surf Systems is now carrying the full line of Hyperflex Wetsuits and accessories, as well as NSP, Southpoint, 7S, Blue, Modern Longboards, McTavish and Walden Surf Boards.

Ozone Surf & Snow Kites are here and we will be offering some snow kiting demos this winter as soon as the inland lakes freeze up. Watch this space for further details shortly after after Thanksgiving.

In addition to this we have some great deals on in stock Surf Skis from this past season, the fastest kayaks on water from Epic, Think and Fenn. And, of course, the Nations largest line up of Surf Kayaks including Necky, Valley, Mega and Fluid. 

The web site does not reflect all the current equipment and accessories but should soon as we rebuild the site. In the mean time feel free to call or e-mail with quetions or needs. Also, with any luck and the economy not tanking any worse than it already has, plans for the new retail store near Stoney Point are underway.

Stay tuned, this will be good.

 Get Out & Get Wet!

Well, July and summer weather have finally arrived. Lillacs are still blooming and the wild flowers are in full strut. The racing season is also heating up with some great events coming up in the next month or so; Muscoda, Two Harbors Kayak Festival and the USCA Nationals are all just around the corner. Come check out one or all of these unique and challenging events.

The very last boats to arrive this season, the Valley Rapier 20's are en route to MN and should arrive July 14th. Surf Boards & Stand Up paddle Boards are here as well. Ozone surf Kites are now available too.

It is Summer in the Northland, even the water of Lake Superior is warming up and its definitely time to make hay. Come check out our equipment and try something new.

Get out & get wet! 

June 1 and we have just had our first couple of truly summer like days this spring. Time for the blood sucking critters to join in on the paddles. I often wonder how the Voyageurs managed to survive up here paddling across thousands of miles of trade routes, taking huge loads in & out of the belly of the New Continent all while feeding the voracious insects . One method employed was to smear grease on your body. Those guys were rugged and hard core paddlers that covered water & land miles at pace. Breaking for "a pipe" every hour. The Vikings, Polynesians, Eskimos and others all making a living from their boats.

How cool that paddling and plying the world's waters has been such a phenominal thread of the development of Mankind. 

Pardon the small digression. But its good that boat, board and kite design is still progressing and that we are finding better ways to ride the wind & waves and that today its mostly about fun. 

The Spring Demo was a success despite light winds. Many core water people from across the state of MN and a few from WI gathered to fly some kites, paddle some boards and boats and generally just bring in the summer season on Lake Superior. The season promises to be an interesting one as folks are starting to meet others who share their passion for the water and often in venues other than what they are accustomed to.

The Two Harbors Kayak Festival brochures are printed and have been mailed to everyone on the mailing list. If you are not on this list and wish to recieve your registration brochure for the biggest Great Lakes race of the  summer please contact us and we'll get one to you right away. Or just go staright to www.kayakfestival.org

This year brings the official addition of Outrigger Classes to the race events and promises to be the biggest and best field of partcipants in the past eleven years. Remember this is not only about racing, it is a festival with great activities and fun for everyone, including the kids; classes, camping, kids camp, climbing, demos, speakers, food, fun and music are just some of the things that you will be able to enjoy. Come see old friends and make some new ones. Challenge yourself on mighty Lake Superior, the World's Greatest Lake.

Get Out & Get Wet!

The First Annual Superior Surf Systems Spring Surf Demo is happening Saturday, May 31st at the end of Park Point right across from the Beach House and fields, bayside.

This is also referred to as the Park Point Boat Launch.

We begin at 10am - go til 3pm then head off on a fitness paddle to wrap it all up.

This event will feature a wide variety of water sport equipment,  much of it never seen here in the Northland before, not to mention all at the same time & place.

Surf Skis, Racing & Fitness Kayaks, Stand Up Paddle Boards and Surf Boards, Surf Kayaks, Surf Kites and kids boats will all be available for demo.

Bring appropriate water apparel, a PFD, an open mind and a penchant for fun. 218-591-7873 for more info.

Get out & Get Wet!

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

Late February brings longer light, something all paddlers/surfers can appreciate.

Yet today, the wind hits your face so hard it makes your teeth hurt, Superior is freezing up, all the way to Stoney Pt. Up til now a paddler could drop their boat in and head out for a supernatural adventure, church, any day of the week, any time of the day. 

Its another below zero cold spell and the pack ice is forming and reforming constantly. Every now & again a bold ice fisherman ventures out to set up on what may remain in place but then, again, might not.

Will the Lake have another late, unimagineably smooth freeze like last year? That 'once in century' occurrence that allowed a five year old girl to have a shipwreck named after her. (She discovered the wreckage of the sunken ship off Park Point, in Duluth, MN, through perfectly transparent ice last February).

Sophie's Wreck is still not conclusively identified, so, guess the current moniker should stick.

Besides, Superior should  keep some of her secrets and maintain many of her mysteries and myths. She is a complex character.

Keep checking in, as winter looses its grip on the frozen north and the water begins to flow, bringing the lifeblood of spring, we will keep you posted as to new happenings here on Superior's North Shore. Looking forward to a great '08. 

Christmas Delivery	Think Legend
click to enlarge	click to enlarge

This winter has seen few storms along Minnesota's North Shore of Lake Superior. After getting slammed by a couple of big snows in December its been relatively quiet. No big low pressure systems coupled with NE winds has made for a relatively quiet surf season.

We did have our first rain of '08 last Monday, which made for an ice covered mess and forced over half of the John Beargrease Sled Dog Marathon teams to drop out of the longest race in the lower 48 states. Bummer as many of the teams had come from quite a distance and all had trained hard. In case anyone is interested, Jason Barron of Lincoln, MT won the race and more details may be found at www.johnbeargrease.com

If you are interested in trying snow kiting check out UMD's RecreationalSports Outdoor Program for its Snow Kiting Expo on Island & Boulder Lakes. Hours are from noon to 5 pm both Feb 9 & 10. www.umdrsop.org

The Birkie is the next big sporting event up here and then after that comes SPRING!

Superior Surf Systems will have more surf skis, ICF and open water racing kayaks this spring than ever, including some exciting new models from Think ( the FIT and the Legend) If you are a seasoned paddler looking for a new fitness or racing boat, a sea kayaker looking to expand your paddling horizons, a xc skier needing some excellent offseason crosstraining, or a person just looking for fun and lifelong way to stay fit, check us out.

Designer's notes on the new Think Legend: