If you’re tired of the same ‘ole Charlotte scene on Thursday nights, Take it Outside and unwind at the US National Whitewater Center! The USNWC offers Food and Beer specials, great local music and the best sunset around! You can’t find a setting like this anywhere else in the world!
Great Outdoor Provision Co. will be offering small, informal canoe and kayak demonstrations at Lake Crabtree County Park. This is a great opportunity to try before you buy, that boat you saw in our shop in an environment that is instructional, informational, and informal. Our Thursday Afternoon Demos are geared towards customers who have already narrowed down their choices after visiting one of our shops and feel that some on-water time prior to purchase is necessary. Though we usually bring an assortment of boats, we generally focus on bringing demo models that have been specifically requested by customers. Please let us know in advance if there is a particular boat in our demo fleet you would like to try and we will do our best to get it to the lake. Please note that if a boat is not in our demo fleet, we will not be able to bring it to the event.
Contact our Cameron Village Shop @ 919.833.1741
On Saturday, May 10th, Salt Marsh Kayak Company will host the 4th Annual Wrightsville Beach Challenge sea kayak race. The race starts at our sound-side facility on Wrightsville Beach, continues ocean-front to Crystal Pier, and then returns to our sound-side facility across the street from the Blockade Runner Resort Hotel. All proceeds benefit the Cape Fear Community College boat building school.
For all race details and entry forms go to the events page of the Salt Marsh Kayak Company website.
The U.S. Olympic Team Trials for Whitewater Slalom is the second of three competitions where U.S. paddlers can earn points towards selection to the 2008 U.S. Olympic Team. U.S. paddlers began accumulating points at the 2007 World Championships and will conclude the selection process at the Augsburg World Cup (#3), July 5-6, 2008.
The U.S., which has secured 2008 Olympic berths in the men’s and women’s single kayak events, will be vying for slots in the men’s single and double canoe. Canada, which has 2008 Olympic Games berths wrapped-up in the men’s and women’s single kayak, will also be vying for slots in the men’s single and double canoes.
These competitions will be held simultaneously in one seamless spectator event at the US National Whitewater Center in Charlotte, NC. The races themselves will take place from 11am - 4pm each day, Friday April 25 - Sunday, April 27.
On May 17th, 2008, the IsoSeries Yuki Joy Adventure Race is bringing Adventure Racing back to the Triad. The race at Pilot Mountain is composed of three disciplines: trekking, paddling and cycling (on and off road). Racers will move from one UTM coordinate checkpoint to the next using a map, compass, good navigational planning and luck. Teams of 2-4 people will be out on the course for between 12-14 hours seeing spots on Pilot Mountain and the surrounding areas that even the most hardened triad hiker hasn’t seen.
For more information, contact Todd at isotopesracing@gmail.com, or http://www.wfu.edu/~falltl4/
Stop by and check out the new Vibram FiveFingers, NOW in ALL of our shops!
barefooting (bare•foot•n) n. 1. The exhilarating joy of going barefoot without leaving yourself exposed; 2. any activity requiring unconventional footwear offering the protection of a thin, flexible Vibram skin; 3. an intelligent way to deepen your connection with your natural surroundings.
M’s & W’s FiveFingers Sprint: Hook and loop closures along the heel and instep provide a comfortable secure fit. A thin, abrasion-resistant stretch polyamide fabric fits low on the foot—for comfort and quick drying. A flexible, non-marking TC1 performance rubber sole is razor siped to enhance grip over a variety of terrain.
SPRINT IS BEST FOR: Light Trekking, Bouldering, Pose Method Running, ChiRunning, Fitness Training, Yoga, Pilates, Sailing, Boating, Kayaking, Canoeing, Surfing, Windsurfing, Flats Fishing, Travel
$80
It felt like Spring today and I headed out to test drive the Ride 135 by Wilderness Systems. As a fisherman, boater, and general outdoor enthusiast I have seriously been eyeing this boat since it entered the shop.
I have been looking for a boat that has the versatility to handle flat water at good speed, run some class 2 rapids, and cover the distance with a boat load of gear to experience more primitive campsites. Oh, did I forget to mention a boat that I could take on my family vacation to the beach so that my nephews can climb on, dive off, swim, and then get back onto. I had a strong suspicion this boat was going to be the one.
Being 60 pounds it took two of us to get it on top of my truck and off into the water (If you are taller than 5′6″ and have a shorter car this won’t be as difficult). This drawback was soon forgotten once I began cruising the water with great speed despite having my 70 pound puppy in the rear tankwell. Right from the start this boat had a very comfortable feel with it’s new cushy seat system along with great design that allowed for all the essentials right at my fingertips. Switching between paddling and fishing was a breeze with the rod/paddle holders and I was even able to stand and cast because of the Ride’s pontoon style hull. I certainly wouldn’t recommend this technique for a novice and their canine friend.
This hull enabled me to glide thru water only 6 to 8 inches in depth but not prohibit me from great tracking and speed when I wanted to get up and go. Wow, I was impressed and starting to think I would be the proud owner of this boat in the very near future. I’m already planning a float, camp, and fishing trip down the Watauga River in eastern TN to run those rapids. I have no doubt that beginner thru experts alike, the Ride will not leave you yearning for more. Enjoy ~Rudy (Charlotte shop manager)
Want to become famous (well sort of)? Send your outdoor related pictures + captions to: mulepics@greatoutdoorprovision.com
We’ll post them on our MULEpics Flickr Page & they might even make the homepage!
Here’s a pic from Winston-Salem Customer, Steve H. His son Tyler paddles his new Perception Acadia youth kayak on Old City Lake in Lexington, NC
All proceeds benefit scholarships for Cape Fear Community College Boat Building Students.
Raffle Tickets are available our Wilmington Shop
Winning ticket will be drawn at the Wrightsville Beach Challenge Kayak Race to be held on Sat, May 10
NIGHT OF THE LIVING DONKEY - a kayaking horror movie
DVD available at your local Great Outdoor Provision Co. - $19.95
The quasi-sequel to Enter The Donkey, this movie brings back all the same characters and more for a horrific kayak thriller.
nightofthelivingdonkey.com for more info
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