Monday, January 31, 2011

A Savannah Canoe Shop and More



Progress on the shop space continues through the month of February as we aim for our March opening.
The new space will allow us to continue running our operations, as well as providing our customers a much better quality of service for retail, rental and community events.
"We are excited about the continuing evolution of Savannah C&K and paddle sports in this area." said a spokesperson at the scene yesterday.

As you can see from the picture the place really just needs a good sweep and a lick of fresh paint.
There will be an open house free painting session this coming Sunday (Feb 6th). Details coming soon.

Yesterday's Stellar demo session
took place under sunny skies, very warm temps and the watchful eye of a friendly local vulture. To all those who attended, thank you for your feedback and time. Your comments are very much appreciated as we strive to better serve the needs of the Savannah paddler. We hope to be carrying several lines from Stellar Kayaks including their surf ski model. More information about Stellar Kayaks coming soon.

GoPro's on Bikes



2010 Post Office Bike Jam
Highlights from the gathering of the world's best freestyle bike athletes in Northern California

GoPro are making TV commercials from their favorite GoPro videos to demonstrate the professional quality footage possible with the HD HERO camera.

GoPro - Available at Savannah Canoe and Kayak.

Saturday, January 29, 2011

Stellar Kayak Demo- Sunday at Despositos



We have a small trailer load of kayaks from new kayak manufacturer Stellar, which we will be test paddling tomorrow at Thunderbolt, Jan 30th.

From the Stellar website....
Stellar Kayaks was conceived in 2008 by a Global team, bringing the latest design and manufacturing techniques together. Working in tandem with world renowned rowing manufacturer, WinTech Racing, Stellar produces highly engineered, durable, yet affordable boats and paddles.

If you are interested in coming down and giving us some feedback on the three models we have, we would be very appreciative. One is a surf ski (pictured) and two are sea kayaks.
Demo starts at 10am at Despositos. Dress warm. Bring your kit.

The surf ski in the picture above sells for $1800, in the basic layup.
Worth a closer look we think.

Sunday, January 23, 2011

Mountainfilm-Savannah Packs Them In

SC&K attended both evening showings at this years Mountainfilm Tour in Savannah.
And we are pleased to say it was a well supported event with some excellent celluloid story telling. Friday night was a sell out audience, with the Charles Morris Center packed to capacity. Last nights showing included a snippet of Hotel Charley... Jessie Coombs and Darin Mc Quoids first descent kayak trip down the Rio Piaxtla through the deepest canyon in North America.

Also on the bill was the 'needs to be seen' documentary Bag It.
The story follows an average American, Jeb Berrier, who makes a resolution to stop using plastic bags at the grocery store. Did you know that in the first ten years of the 21st Century we have used more plastic than we did in the entire 20th Century ?.

Jeb discovers that not only is plastic contributing to the death of about 100,000 marine animals and birds each year, but that this plastic is even contributing to chemicals making their way into our own bodies.

Chemicals such as Bisphenol A (BPA) and phthalates are added during manufacturing. These chemical additives, which are often used in food and drink containers, have been found to leach, and scientists have overwhelming evidence that these chemicals are affecting humans—specifically babies in utero and children.
BPA and phthalates are linked to numerous health problems—cancer, diabetes, autism, attention deficit disorder, obesity, infertility—even smaller penis size.

Congratulations to the lucky people who won SC&K kayak trips in the raffle.
We look forward to taking you on an adventure in your own back yard....just as soon as it warms up.

Proceeds from the raffle go to Georgia Conservancy.
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Thursday, January 20, 2011

This Weekend: Telluride MountainFilm on Tour

Telluride MountainFilm on Tour
2 Day Event: Fri/Sat Jan. 21 & 22
Charles H. Morris Center, Savannah, GA

A few films of interest in the line-up..

Friday, Jan. 21 7:00pm
Film: "Eastern Rises" - Featuring special guests Ben Knight, Travis Rummel, and Georgia's own, Frank Smethurst.

"The Kamchatka peninsula in the Russian Far East may as well be at the end of the earth. Its enormous, wild landscape is threaded with rivers, swimming with massive mouse-eating trout and swarming with bugs and bears. In other words, this place is the Holy Grail for truly obsessed, halfway insane fly fishermen. Felt Soul’s Ben Knight and Travis Rummel last brought Mountainfilm audiences the story of Alaskan salmon at risk in Red Gold, and this film reunites the filmmakers with Frank Smethurst (the star of their short Running Down the Man) as he and other anglers head to Kamchatka during the summer of 2008. In this gorgeous film, fishing is poetry; Bigfoot lurks in the fog; and fishermen risk life and limb in decommissioned Cold War helicopters to explore rivers that have never been fished before."

Film: "Fish Out of Water"

"Most fly fishermen say that being out on the water is therapeutic in some ways. The good people of Sun Valley Adaptive Sports would certainly agree: They use the experience to help veterans of the Iraq War who suffer from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, and fly fishing seems to be a highly effective treatment. In an almost timeless environment of natural beauty, far from the intrusions of counselors, clinics and medication schedules—not to mention IEDs and snipers—the soldiers make real progress toward coping. As one of them puts it, “You made me feel normal again.” Just as succinctly, Fish Out of Water manages to hook both the horror of war and the hope of healing."

Saturday, Jan. 22
Film: Expedition Kayak Film: "Hotel Charley"
Featuring special guests Jesse Coombs and Darin McQuoid

"For the past year, in addition to partnering with some of the world’s best guides, Eddie Bauer and First Ascent have joined forces with some of the world’s most inspirational adventurers. Meet Jesse Coombs, Darin McQuoid and Ben Stookesberry, expedition kayakers, seeking first descents around the world. Travel with them in their new film, Hotel Charley Vol. 5, which documents their pursuit of never before paddled waterfalls in three countries."

Event Details:
Ticket Prices: $10 Adult / $5 Child and Student
Online ticket address: http://www.halfmoonoutfitters.com
Box Office Address: Charles H. Morris Center - 10 E. Broad St., Savannah
Phone: 912.443.3277

www.mountainfilm.org

Wednesday, January 19, 2011

Paddle to Fitness Sessions with Ben Lawry

This year we are offering several kayak fitness instructional sessions, with
Ben Lawry as our fitness coach.
They will cover forward stroke techniques and how to integrate kayaking into a structured progressional fitness plan.
Classes will be mostly on water with some complimentary dry land exercises.
Fast race, fitness boats can be supplied if required.

Wednesday April 20 & 27 'Forward to Fitness' 5:30 - 7:30. Cost $100
Sat/Sun August 13 & 14 'Fitness and Beyond' 9:00 - 12:00. Cost $150



Sign up now - as space is limited!

Sunday, January 16, 2011

Rainbow Gathering for Paddlers - May 14/15- Little Tybee Island

Word has just come through to us of a new paddle event on the East Coast.
The Southeast Paddlers Weekend 2011
There is no fee or registration.
There are no formal class structures.
There is no official 'point of contact'.
What there is...is a desire to get fellow paddlers together, share stories, tips, techniques and skills in a beautiful natural setting by the ocean.
The only rules are : Be responsible for yourselves and practice low impact camping.
We think it sounds like a great time.
As we receive more information from our sources at large we will post it on our blog.
Here is what we have received so far...

Come spend an informal weekend boating and camping. Join others in the paddling community that share your interest for the sport and our wild coast. The location has great camping, good surf potential, good fishing and open or protected water access.



Where:Little Tybee Island, GA (31o58’ 13.69” N, 80o51’ 54.07” W)
When:May 14-15, 2011
Who:All are welcome (novice–expert, kids, families, clubs, guides, outfitters, instructors, manufacturers)
Cost and Registration:None


Paddlers :
-should be prepared for the conditions
and are expected to be responsible for themselves
-should be respectful of this wilderness location and
practice low impact camping techniques

Friday, January 14, 2011

Surf is Up - Peace Talks Off.



Naom from Israel was in Savannah last year.
He stopped by our store and picked up an RTM Super Slide....easily done when the Slide weighs less than 20lbs. With no skirt or pfd required, we recommend the Slide if you travel a lot on overseas surfing holidays....something we have all aspired to do more of this year !
Naom just sent us this picture of his local break outside of Tel Aviv.
Wow, moma how about that ?.
Obviously, there is too much 'talk' of peace and not enough surfing for peace.

We currently have the RTM Super Slide on sale for $895.
Check it out here

Thursday, January 13, 2011

Plattsburgh Uni Gets Lesson on GA Coast


It was the coldest week in the dead of winter, but for myself, a faculty member, and 8 students from State University of New York-Plattsburgh, these last 7 days have been a great experience.

Top BCU coach Steve Maynard called me up a while back asking for some local guide knowledge and assistance for his Expedition Studies class which was heading for Tybee and the GA coast. I was glad he did.
For me, working with youth in outdoor programs has long been a favourite aspect of being a guide.
When those students are very well equipped and under the expert tutelage and guidance of someone such as Mr Maynard, you know the standard of programming and learning will be as good as it gets.
I had touched down from India the week prior, and into Spring-like conditions.
Five days later the Plattsburgh crew were blown south by 40' temps and north winds gusting to 30. "Here we go", I thought.
The weather remained the same way for the duration of their visit.
The program for the week was to build skills, build experience, learn about the coast, and broaden horizons.
We achieved these goals thru 4 nights of camping in two different sites, an introduction to short boat surf kayaking, and a day of hiking with coastal authority Mike Robinson.


We did rescues and towing, group management and leadership through surf, boat control in wind and waves, marsh navigation skills, tandem sit on top surfing, and paddling a wave ski without capsizing. We snuck up on fresh water ponds, observed pelican behaviour, saw large flocks of great blues herons, witnessed young bald eagles sparing, tumbling over head, and had dolphin escorts when moral flagged. Around a fire on starry beaches, we shared stories of our lives. The sun rose up on glorious mornings and shone in crystal clear blue skies. We saw no other soul save for a solitary crabber. And all the while the north wind blew, our tents rattled and the temperature dropped. We barely noticed the rain, our exteriors already drenched from salty seas.
We had ice on our tents and frozen cliff bars. Fingers and faces turned red hot, numb from wind burn. Gear failed, skegs jammed and bodies shivered. Along with the tide, moral ebbed and flowed. The lessons came one after another, no introduction needed.
New friendships were made and old friendships were strengthened.
This was learning.
This was Expedition Studies and the classroom was the GA coast, in the dead of winter.


Steve and the Gang getting tight.

Tuesday, January 4, 2011

Mountain Film Fest in Sav -Jan 21/22

Mountainfilm on Tour in Savannah,
a nonprofit film festival designed to educate and inspire audiences about critical issues, will take place at the Charles H. Morris Center, located at 10 E. Broad St., on January 21 and January 22, 2011.
The films will feature themes of adventure, mountaineering, remarkable personalities, cultures worth exploring, environments worth preserving and conversations worth sustaining.
The two-day film festival will kick-off with an opening reception January 21 at 6:00 p.m. featuring complimentary food from local vendors, including wine and beer for purchase. Former Savannah resident Justin Clifton, director of Mountainfilm on Tour, will moderate the film introductions and presentations as well as question and answer sessions.
A complete list of films will be announced in January.
In its original format, Mountainfilm is a four-day film festival extravaganza held each year in Telluride, Colo. and the gondola-linked town of Mountain Village, Colo. For more than 30 years, Mountainfilm has attracted filmmakers, photographers, conservationists, mountaineers and explorers from around the world to support the communal motto: “Celebrating Indomitable Spirit.”

For additional information, please call Kara Hooper at 912.695.7881.