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: