Outdoor Adventure Blog

Mayor's River Fest Paddle Series (Race 1) by Jason 02/22/2013 11:32:39 A.M.

Big thanks to Eric Lumbert (w/ Paddleboard New Smyrna Beach) and Adam Berringer the Mayor of New Smyrna, for putting on such an awesome event. Over 60 people came out Saturday, February 16th @ 10am for the Mayor’s River Fest Paddle Series! The weather worked on our side for once. Light wind, not too cold and the current wasn’t very strong going through the river. Was a perfect day for the first of the series of 4 races.

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Paddleboard Racing Around New Smyrna Beach by Jessica 02/21/2013 11:24:54 A.M.

The Mayor’s River Fest Paddle Race Series, hosted by Paddleboard New Smyrna Beach & Mayor Adam Barringer was created as part of a community wellness initiative focusing on fun & healthy living. The first “Friendly Flatwater Race” number 1 of 4 in the series, was held on Saturday, February 16th at 10 am and consisted of a 4 mile long course & a 2 mile short course with a total of 60 athletes.

The short course was held in a protected lagoon behind Paddleboard NSB’s storefront location. This course was designed for all levels, including first time stand up paddleboard racers. The participants in this course began just after the long course racers.

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Etowah Tarp Review by Dirk 02/18/2013 11:20:23 A.M.

The typical school of thought when purchasing a shelter for the outdoors causes people to immediately go for a tent. For a very long time I shared this same point of view - it certainly has its place in the outdoors. For the most part a tent keeps you safe from the elements, and from small critters (but not bears, that is a myth). Until recently I was one of those guys who would always lug the tent around - all 4 pounds of it. Since that my mind has been recently changed  to believe that “lighter is better” I’ve fallen in love with a product that’s eliminated almost 3 pounds from my base weight just on its own - the Etowah Sil Nylon tarp.

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Hobie Review - Revolution 13' Kayak by Spencer 02/08/2013 03:48:48 P.M.

Kayaks have very different purposes for different people, and for that very reason there are a multitude of options when it comes to picking out a kayak. For Florida, a sit-on-top is usually more versatile and well-rounded for our waterways.

Hobie revolutionized the kayaking world in the early 2000 when they launched the first Mirage Drive model. This kayak was propelled by fins, that were powered by the users' legs. The boats also came with a rudder for steering and were so easy to operate anyone could use one. Hobie still produces Mirage Drive kayaks but a lot has changed since then. There are six different models ranging from a 10 ft. single to a 13.5 ft. tandem.

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Canyoonering Zion, Part 2: Two Kinds of Safe by Richard 02/05/2013 03:54:32 P.M.

Once we finally left the campsite, we made our way to the location just inside the Zion National Park boundary where we were to park our car – because we had to stash our car and the end of the hike and hitchhike to the trailhead. After waiting for just over an hour, in the middle of nowhere, for someone to give us a ride, we hopped into the back of a pickup truck of a kind local, excited to have the wind in our hair and the trail in our sights.

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Canyoonering Zion, Part 1: Two Kinds of Smart by Richard 01/31/2013 03:48:04 P.M.

When we pulled into the campsite, the sun had already set – but it was our securities that were about to.

My trusty friend, Dave, and I were on the back-side of Zion National Park in the middle of the Utah wilderness. Three hours prior – we agreed to put our lives on the line by canyoneering through a backcountry slot canyon.

I did not tell my mother.

Aron Ralston had recently (2003) cut off his arm from being trapped under a boulder while canyoneering. The remembrance of that made it tough to sign the waiver – effectively turning my life over if something happens to me – but we each did so.

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Big Agnes Air Core Sleeping Pad by Spencer 01/28/2013 03:09:10 P.M.

Let me start this off by saying that I am a long-term, diehard self-inflating Thermarest user. My parents bought me my first sleeping pad when I was 12, as I started to camp and backpack a lot more with the boy scouts. Driven purely by weight and ease of use, I have chosen to use my 3/4 length 1 inch thick pad for over 10 years. But now all of that has changed.

While preparing for my most recent trip, the topic of sleeping pads came up.

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When Backpacking, Leave Your Fragrances at Home by Richard 01/25/2013 03:22:08 P.M.

Three days into the backcountry of Glacier National Park – a trip to celebrate our recent graduation from college – my four friends and I had our routine down pat: Joel, my Aussie friend, and I had just set up the tents (North Face Rock 22 and MSR Hubba Hubba, respectively). Chris and Zach, our Indiana born-and-raised compatriots, were hanging the bags on the designated “bear pole” in a tree – out of the way of the foraging animals. Kenan was about to go start cooking dinner, but wanted to come change his clothes first.

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Arc'teryx Clothing is Tops by Richard 01/22/2013 11:30:36 A.M.

There's a lot of awesome brands to consider when looking for outdoor apparel. The North Face is the favorite of many. Patagonia is hip, and solid. Outdoor Research is little-known, but very nice. But, to date, I've never found a brand that I like as much as Arc'teryx.

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Orange Bowl Paddle Championship: Part 2 by Jessica 01/20/2013 06:32:37 P.M.

The Orange Bowl Paddle Championships on Sunday 1/13/13, powered by Jimmy Lewis, kicked off the new year with what proved to be a highly challenging course & a very well attended event, drawing international & local professional & competitive paddlers alike!  The event was held at Bayside Marketplace, bordering Hard Rock Café Miami in sunny downtown Miami, Florida.

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