Have A Safe Labor Day Weekend!

P.O.A. wants to remind you that it will be busy on the water this weekend. With that in mind, here are a few tips and etiquette to remember when you are heading out in your kayak or canoe to do a little holiday paddling. We call them the "3 Be's":

1) Be Visible. Wear bright colored clothing and/or a bright hat. If you have the option, go with your yellow or orange paddle blades. If you only have black or wood blades, hey...its the end of the season and there are a ton of sales on paddles. Now you have a good excuse (for safety's sake of course) to pick up that bright colored paddle! And if paddling at dusk, make sure you have the proper lighting so that other boats can easily spot you. Remember, assume that bigger boats don't always see you, so be sure to do all you can to maximize your visibility.

2) Be Alert. If you are lucky, you will find some nice calm water to navigate without anyone to disturb your relaxing paddle. But, chances are you will run into gobs and gobs (yes, that means a lot) of weekend warriors cruising in speedboats and racing around on jet skis. So, you need to make sure that you are well aware of your surroundings at all times. Plan ahead so that oncoming vessels can easily steer clear of you. Try to avoid heavily congested areas and be sure to give other boaters plenty of distance. Scan for any hazards and be able to react if you spot any.

3) Be Ready. Make sure that if you head out into the waters this weekend, you do so with a full understanding of your limitations. Don't try to paddle an area above your experience level. Conditions can change at any time and you should be sure that you are capable of handling them. Weather is always a factor, so make sure to check it before you head out. Wind can change the water you are paddling through in the blink of an eye. If you have the proper equipment (PFD, pump, paddle float) and are fully prepared, you can assure yourself a great time and a safe return.

So, now that you've given it some thought, get out there! Grab some friends, your better half or your pet and get that paddle in the water. Enjoy the long weekend and we hope to see you on the water soon.

Paddle On,

Gabriel Cash

P.O.A.

Outdoor Retail Convention Highlights

Fellow Outdoor Enthusiast, we have seen the future...and it is good! Powers Outdoors and Powers Outdoors Adventures just returned from our bi-annual trip to Salt Lake City, UT to see the latest and greatest outdoor clothing, footwear and gear. New on the kayak front, Old Town is launching a line called Vapor. But the big hit this year at the "Open Air Demo Days" was the paddle board. These are long boards like surfboards from back in the 50's and 60's only instead of surfing them...you paddle them! It is great exercise and way more fun than you may think. Stay tuned for more information about new gear for 2009!

Whitewater - Here We Come!

So, as July winds to an end we find ourselves in desperate need of WHITEWATER! The best way to get your fix in the Midwest is to head over to the East Race Waterway in South Bend, IN. This will be POA's second trip here this summer and the weather is looking fantastic. Hope to see you there!

Details: POA provides transportation, kayak rental, lunch and a POA T-shirt to everyone signed up fo the trip. We have two seperate starting destinations, Chicago, IL and Rockford, MI. The two groups converge in South Bend for a day of paddling, food and friends. You can check out some more great pix of our last trip on our FLICKR PAGE.

If you missed out this time, unfortunately that is it for 2008. The Waterway's last day for the public is August 10th. So, be sure to put it on your calendar for next summer!

Paddle On,
P.O.A.

Wine Paddle Announced

Wine tasting and the outdoors...
what else is there in life? Well, here is your chance to experience both in the same weekend. Our next trip is scheduled for July 26 and 27. This trip is a 2.5 hour paddle through a chain of lakes. But that is just the beginning. This trip also includes two seperate wine tastings (a white and a red), some food pairings, as well as the option to camp overnight and enjoy a gourmet dinner in the evening and homeade breakfast in the morning. Now that your mouth is watering, you need to check out the details and
SIGN UP HERE!

Hope to see you on our next Adventure!

Paddle On,
P.O.A.

PowerPaddle a SUCCESS!!!

On Saturday, July 5th, Powers Outdoors Adventures was on hand to help sponsor the 7th annual Powers Outdoors PowerPaddle Race on the Muskegon River in Newaygo, MI. As always, there were two races: The Fun Paddle and the HardCore Race. The Fun Paddle had over 40 participants this year, with trophies going to the top 3 and medals through 8th place. Then, the HardCore Race had a Mens and Womens Kayak division and an open Canoe Division (pictured above). The total purse money between those classifications was over $1000! Needless to say, the weather was beautiful and the turnout was great. The highlight of the day was the rivalry between Camp Henry and Camp Newaygo. The camps showed up all dressed up in festive garb, a honeymooning couple, a cow complete with udder and the incredible Hulk just to name a few. Camp Henry walked away victorius and vowed to win again in 2009!

2008 Kayak Symposium

Thank you for making the 6th Annual Powers Outdoors Kayak Symposium a success!!! P.O.A. teamed up with Powers Outdoors for their annual kayak instruction and demo day. Over 200 people attended the event over two days at Wabasis Lake and Brooks Lake. Vendors like Columbia and Teva were on hand to pass out freebies both days. In addition, representatives from Old Town, Necky, Perception, Wilderness Systems, Dagger, Hurricane, Native and Pelican were on hand to explain paddle techniques, rescue examples, and showcase new kayaks. This event grows larger and larger each year, so if you missed it in 2008, start planning now for next year!

P.O.A. Gets its Merit Badge

Last weekend, POA was invited by Boy Scouts of America to teach some of the Powerderhorn classes at Camp Gerber located in Twin Lake, MI. 42 Members of the BSA received detailed instruction and hands on learning of kayak and canoe terminology, strokes and rescue. If your group would like to recieve instruction, please visit our website at www.PowersAdventures.com and email or call us for details.