Give a Little. Save Big. Glennon Card Discount Days are October 14-24, 2021

Back in 2011, Alpine Shop was one of the first retailers to sign on to assist SSM Health Cardinal Glennon Children’s Hospital with their new “Glennon Card” promotion. Little did we know then just how big this would promotion grow!

When you purchase a Glennon Card – either at Alpine Shop, on on-line at www.glennoncard.org, 100% of your money benefits the kids cared for by SSM Health Cardinal Glennon Children’s Hospital in St. Louis. Plus, the Glennon Card also provides you with significant discounts at over 270 retailers, restaurants and salons on-line and in the area (including Alpine Shop!) through Sunday, October 24. With unlimited use for 10 days, it’s easy to recoup the cost of the card. Best of all, 100% of card sales benefit the kids.

Here’s how it works: You can purchase a Glennon Card either in any Alpine Shop location or on-line here for $60 and use it all participating merchants. With your card, you’ll receive a 20% discount on nearly everything in our stores* with the main exception being a 10% discount on full-priced bikes, boats or snowsport hardgoods.

Alpine Shop is proud to have been one of the top Local Merchants for Glennon Card sales over the past five years. Please come in and purchase your Card anytime between now and Sunday, Oct. 24, and be sure to select Alpine Shop as how you heard about the Glennon Card if you purchase a digital card through the on-line checkout here.

2021 GLENNON CARD RULES AND EXCLUSIONS:
Card sharing is strictly prohibited. Since the Glennon Card is a fundraising event to help the sick and injured children cared for at SSM Health Cardinal Glennon, we encourage shoppers to buy their own Glennon Card. Participating retailers will not accept cards unless purchaser has been verified with a valid photo ID.

*20% off promotion applies to the full retail price on in-store apparel, footwear and camping gear only and is not eligible to be combined with other promotions or offers, except for clearance goods (marked with $_.97 pricing) which will be discounted from the lowest-marked price.Hardgoods such as bikes, boats and ski & snowsport hardgoods receive a 10% off discount. Used items for sale in Alpine Shop’s Winter Swap are not eligible for any discount. Select brands and items are excluded. Please see an Alpine Shop outfitter for details.

If you would like to shop on-line with us, please access our site through this link here. You will need the passcode that is either on the second page of the paper Glennon Card or from the information you received through your digital card.

Official Paddle Store & Official Paddling Experts of the MR340

On Tuesday, July 20, 534 boats holding more than 800 participants will leave Kaw Point Park in Kansas City, Kan., for the 2021 Missouri American Water MR340, the world’s longest non-stop river race.

Paddlers will have just 85 hours to navigate 340 miles across the state of Missouri, nearly all on the Missouri River, from Kansas City to St. Charles. Chances are at least a third of those participants won’t make that deadline.

Not only is Alpine Shop the Official Paddle Shop of the race, but we are also proud to have a number of employees participating in the event.

We asked a few of those paddlers (and ground crew) to give us some insight into why they compete in the MR340 and what they’d recommend you do if you decide to try it yourself one year.

Jarrid Snyder:

1. What has drawn you to this event? A: The paddling community. Especially within the shop. The support is incredible, and everyone wants to see you finish. 
2. Have you participated before? A: I started the race last year and didn’t make the finish. Ready for the haul to the boathouse this year.
3. What are your goals for this year? A: My goal is to make it to my best friends wedding. The rehearsal dinner is Thursday night, so 60 hours or bust! You could say this is an unfortunate scheduling mistake on my part.
4. What kind of boat are you using? A: I’m paddling a boat I’ve spent less than 2.5 hours in. Some surprises led me to a teammate a couple weeks ago and I just bought a 40 year old Wenonah Jenson Kevlar Canoe. 
5. What kind of paddle are you using? A:  My trusty Wenonah Black Lite Elbow and when I’m feeling like churning out some quick miles, an Aquabound Whiskey Straight Shaft double blade.
6. Paddling with Teammates?  Yes! Eric Evans from the shop. Last minute change from a solo canoe.
7. What tips and tricks would you suggest for first time participants? A: Don’t think of this as a race to St. Charles. Break it into smaller pieces. Your brain is powerful and can psych you out so just think of what needs to happen in the moment and you’ll get there!

Jarrid Snyder
Alpine Shop Program Director

Teri Rudelic:

1. What has drawn you to this event? A: The opportunity for an affordable adventure. 
2. Have you participated before? A: This will be my 4th time. 
3. What are your goals for this year? A:  My goal is to enjoy my time on the River and finish Thursday night. 
4. What kind of boat are you using? A: 18 1/2” Wenonah fiberglass Jensen
5. What kind of paddle are you using? A:  52” bent shaft Bending Branches wood paddle
6. Paddling with Teammates?  I am paddling with the same girl I’ve paddled with the last three times. 
7. What tips and tricks would you suggest for first time participants? A: Just don’t quit. Everyday you’re a little closer to the end and it’s a little easier mentally. 

Teri Rudelic
Alpine Shop Facilities Manager

Eric Evans:

1. What has drawn you to this event? A: The challenge to finish such an epic race and the commrodary of the competitors, volunteers, and the ground crews.  It's the longest continuous river race in the world!
2. Have you participated before? A: Yes.  Twice.  And I'll keep competing until my body says "NOOOOOO, don't do it again!".
3. What are your goals for this year? A:  To get Jarrid to his buddy's wedding on time!
4. What kind of boat are you using? A: 1981 Wenonah Jensen
5. What kind of paddle are you using? A: Black Pearl II canoe paddle and Werner Cyprus belmont shaft kayak paddle
6. Paddling with Teammates?  Yes. Tandem canoe
7. What tips and tricks would you suggest for first time participants? A: Ask lots and lots of questions.  Set realistic goals.  Training runs from Jefferson City and other ramps/checkpoints to St. Charles.  It's good to be familiar with the second half of the race when you will be the most exhausted. Familiar landmarks can be morale boosters.

Eric Evans
Alpine Shop Kirkwood Assistant Store Manager

Emily Woll:

1. What has drawn you to this event? A: I first did this race in 2017 after making a new year's resolution to "really throw myself at life and try new things" then 3 days later being asked to join the MR340 in a team boat. The second year I did the race to prove to myself that I could (Year one I was DNF) and to get back with the great commoradary of paddlers.
2. Have you participated before? A: Yes I raced in 2017 and DNF (did not finish, pulling out at Waverly) and 2018 tandem 
3. What are your goals for this year? A: This year I am not racing, but plan to do solo women's in 2022, with an endtime under 70 hours.
4. What kind of boat are you using? A: Most likely a Wilderness System Tsunami 145
5. What kind of paddle are you using? A: Werner Camano 220 small bent shaft... possibly a Greenlander style paddle
6. Paddling with Teammates? A: Nope, solo. But maybe traveling in a "pod" with fellow racers.
7. What tips and tricks would you suggest for first time participants? A: Tip 1: Hydrate, hydrate, hydrate! The two weeks leading up to the race, slowly increase your daily water intake to help your body get comfortable with the amount of water it will be filtering during the race. Tip 2: Real foods and fruits during the race, a lot of protein packed bars can be rough digestion during the race. Tip 3: Ladies, figure out how to pee in a boat without capsizing (or pulling over) well in advance of the race. Tip 4: Know your limits and be honest with your body.

Emily Woll
Alpine Shop Columbia Assistant Manager
-Working as ground crew in 2021 for one of Alpine Shop's teams

After Over 2000 Miles, Record Attempt Ends Less than 150 Miles from Finish Line

NEW ORLEANS – Alpine Shop employee, Perry Whitaker, set out in early May as part of a four man team attempting to set a new World Record for Fastest Time to Row the Length of the Mississippi River by a Team. 16 days later and less than 150 miles from that record, the Mississippi Speed Record canoe swamped and sank due to a life-threatening mix of high winds, ocean-going vessels, barges and tugs all converging on the river at the same time.

Perry posted on Facebook, the morning after the canoe vanished into the waves: “Our canoe is at the bottom of the Mighty Mississippi. This adventure is done, after over 2,100 miles.”

A little later he added to that:

I’ve been on lots of crazy adventures, but this is the first time I’ve ever had more than just a few people cheering for me as I was adventuring.

For more than 2,000 miles over about two weeks, people have lined the River to encourage us. They’ve cheered, war-whooped, blew horns, shot fireworks, and rang cowbells.

Lots, and lots of cowbells…

There were crowds cheering as we paddled through cities, people waving from their back yards, groups partying at isolated boat ramps, and sometimes we had absolutely no idea where the cheering was coming from.

At a few very small, BEAUTIFUL towns along the River, it seemed that a majority of the residents were out there encouraging us.

Cheering for me??? I can’t wrap my brain around strangers cheering for me because I’m just a regular guy.

Unfortunately, with less than 150 miles to go, my River humbled us.

Heavy winds swamped our canoe in the middle of the night and we lost everything in a few short minutes.

I had a firm grip on the safety boat, and I struggled to hold on to the canoe as long as I could until the current took her down.

I’m pissed.

I’m sad.

I’m disappointed.

But mostly, I’m astounded that so many people took time out of their busy lives to encourage and support me in this little adventure, and I’m very, very appreciative of everyone.

Not just the crowds along the river, but also the couple dozen outstanding people who volunteered about three weeks of their time to try to make this whole thing a success.

This is not hyperbole, but I think more highly of people today than I did before this trip.

Perry Whitaker – May 21 on Facebook

After he took a few days to make his way back to work at Alpine Shop, here’s how Perry answered some of the most frequently asked questions about the trip:

Q. Why in the Hell did you do this?

“Because it’s there”. Someone once asked Mallory why he wanted to climb Everest and he said “Because it’s there”.  Paddling the whole Mississippi in less than 3 weeks isn’t nearly as daunting as climbing Everest. Mallory died on his third attempt at Everest, we just sunk our canoe and had to be rescued by our safety boat. 

I met Conrad Anker a few years ago, he’s the person who finally found Mallory’s body about 75 years after he died. I got to buy a few beers for the guys in the safety boats who rescued us, Mallory didn’t get that option.

I’ve given a lot of presentations about the history of the Mississippi River so I was excited when I got the opportunity to join this team on the record attempt. 

Q. Have you ever done anything like this before?

I’ve been on lots of adventures, but nothing like this. 

I went on a month-long solo bike trip through Central America, I walked across England along Hadrian’s Wall then biked across Ireland, and I’ve been on a lot of other long backpacking, biking, and paddling trips.

This was the first time I tried to break a Guinness Book of World Records time for something.

Q. What was your most memorable moment of this trip?

You mean other than the canoe sinking in a storm 137 miles from the finish? 

The first 2,160 miles of the trip were great, but the last few minutes kind of sucked. 

I really enjoyed all the wildlife. We heard a pack of wolves, saw a couple bears, some sandhill cranes, and we watched a huge fisher jumping out of a tree after something. I wish I had taken a bird identification book with me, even though I was too busy paddling to look up birds.

Q. What did you expect to be your biggest challenges of this trip and were you right? 

I think my expectations were pretty close to reality. There were two categories of challenges: those things we could control and those things we couldn’t. The things we could control included training and equipment, the things we couldn’t control included things like the weather, or a major barge traffic jam caused by a damaged bridge in Memphis, TN. I expected the physical challenge to be my biggest hurdle, so I trained pretty hard. I was also worried about how much this would cost. We expected it to cost between $20,000 and $30,000 dollars.

Q. Twenty to thirty thousand dollars?

We had a huge support crew. There were three safety boats and two RVs following us down the river. The primary costs were fuel for those vehicles and food for about 25 volunteers for about 3 weeks. There was also the price of gear. The canoe was about $3500, modifications to the canoe was another grand, paddles were about $300 each. There were a million other things we needed and they all added up.

Q. Tell me about your training for this.

For the past several years, I’ve kayak over two thousand miles per year, so I already had a good start on my training. 

In addition to that, I started training on a rowing machine about a year and a half ago. Distance paddling in a canoe or kayak is more about the core than the arms so the rowing machine has been great. I should have worked on my shoulders more, but I did okay. My training was slowed down by the pandemic because I couldn’t go to the gym. 

I think I did pretty well, physically. I felt strong throughout the trip, and I think I could have paddled at that pace for a couple more weeks. 

Q. What was the weather like?

It was below freezing for the first few nights, then it got up to the mid-80’s toward the finish. The weather was surprisingly good until the wind on the last two days. 

Q. I assume this got rather monotonous at times, what kept you going?

I didn’t think it was monotonous, I enjoyed the heck out of it.

When we were forced off the river, I wasn’t joking when I asked if someone could loan me a boat to finish the trip or maybe even paddle about a thousand miles upstream back to St Louis.

Q. As you were on the river, your attempt was covered by a few newspapers and TV stations, while thousands of people were following the progress on Facebook. Were you expecting that? 

Absolutely not. I’ve been on a lot of adventures but I’ve never had thousands of people cheering me on. It was awkward. 

How are the big rivers different from the smaller Ozark streams?

A lot of the upper Mississippi seemed just like paddling on the Current River or upper Meramac. We just saw a lot more eagles and beavers on the upper Mississippi. 

Big rivers like the Mississippi and Missouri are safer than smaller streams in a lot of ways, but more dangerous in others. Paddling on a big river is usually like paddling on a lake, but we don’t worry about barge traffic on our local lakes. Once you understand the concepts of river navigation, it’s pretty easy.  

If you want to paddle on the Mississippi or Missouri, go with someone who knows what they’re doing for the first couple times. It’s simple after someone walks you through it, but it’s difficult and dangerous to try to figure out on your own.

How can people learn more about paddling on the big rivers?

The Mississippi River Water Trail Association is an organization that can really help. Big Muddy Adventures takes people out on the Mississippi all the time, and the Alpine Shop occasionally does too. You can also talk to people who’ve done the MR340, they love to talk about it.

What questions have you been asked the most about this trip?

Getting through the locks, does my butt hurt from sitting in a canoe for 2 ½ weeks, and will I do it again.

What are the answers to those questions?

Locking through was great. There are 27 locks on the Mississippi, and the US Army Corp of Engineers went above and beyond to help us get through them quickly, and some barges even let us lock through ahead of them. That was amazingly cool of them. We only had to wait a couple times. If you haven’t locked through before, do it because it’s very educational.

Yes, my butt was numb.  My hands and feet hurt and were swollen, but people don’t ask about my hands and feet, they just want to know about my butt.  

I’ve had a couple weeks to recover and I’m almost back to normal now. 

You didn’t say if you’d do it again?

I think it’s impossible to do something like this and not think of ways to be faster, more efficient, and safer. I think I could probably knock a couple days off the world record time. I already have the right boat, I just need to find the right people. If I can find the right people, I’ll try it again.

Do you have any other big adventures planned?

The MR340 is coming in a few weeks and I plan to race in that again this year. I’m also thinking about walking the Trail of Tears this winter. 

Any final thoughts or words of wisdom?

I’ve been reading a lot about Teddy Roosevelt recently, and I think more people should read his “Man in the Arena” speech.

Alpine Shop Employee Attempting World Record Paddle

UPDATE: Alpine Shop’s own Perry Whitaker – part of a four-man team known as “Mississippi Speed Record” – will be paddling through St. Louis today on day 10 of their attempt at the World Record for Fastest Time to Row the Length of the Mississippi River by a Team. (By Guinness’ guidelines, this can be undertaken in a scull, rowboat, kayak or canoe.)

The old World Record of 18 days, four hours and 51 minutes was set back in 2003. However, a new tentative record of 17 days and 20 hours was set just four days ago by another team.

Now, Mississippi Speed Record has that new time in sight. As of 10 am on Friday, May 14, they had reduced a deficit of more than four hours down to just 36 minutes off the pace as they head into Alton and then into downtown St. Louis later today.

===

ORIGINAL STORY:

Of all the personalities and characters that you may have come across at an Alpine Shop location over the past decade, none are probably so well known as Perry Whitaker. A consummate adventurer and ambassador, Whitaker has dedicated himself to getting people outdoors – especially if it involves his beloved rivers.

An experienced kayaker and canoeist, Whitaker is a 12-time finisher of the Missouri River 340 Race and has been Alpine Shop’s lead paddle instructor for almost a decade, leading everything from small basic classes to multi-day paddles on the Mississippi and Missouri Rivers around his hometown St. Louis. In 2019, he was even named one of the area’s Best Outdoor Guides/Instructors by the readers of Terrain Magazine.

Now, after months of training, he’s begun “an adventure like no other” – an attempt at the World Record for Fastest Time to Row the Length of the Mississippi River by a Team. (By Guinness’ guidelines, this can be undertaken in a scull, rowboat, kayak or canoe.) Whitaker, part of a four-man team comprised of paddling experts from across the U.S., will be attempting to break the World Record of 18 days, four hours and 51 minutes set back in 2003. The team, known as Mississippi Speed Record, has a live feed of the attempt that is allowing people from across the world to keep track of the attempt.

The second-longest river in the U.S. and the fourth longest in the world, the Mississippi River is between 2,300 and 2,350 miles (at best estimate). In order to break the record, Whitaker’s team will need to tackle nearly 140 miles each day on the river. Leaving Lake Itasca in Northern Minnesota on Tuesday, May 4, they expect to take about four days to reach the Twin Cities, six days from Minneapolis/St. Paul to St. Louis, and another seven from his hometown of St. Louis to the Gulf of Mexico south of New Orleans.

According to the Mississippi Speed Record site:

Since 2003 there have been at least three unsuccessful attempts to break the record. A team of four consisting of Tim Muhich, Colin Bright, Clint Adams and Boot Baweja made and attempt in 2014, and in 2017 they made another attempt with Dale Waldo replacing Boot Baweja. Kevin Eckelkamp (nephew of Steve Eckelkamp), Nate Lastinger and KJ Millhone made an unsuccessful attempt in 2018(9).

In 2020, Scott Miller along with KJ Millhone, Casey Millhone, and Oliver Simes put together a team to break the record. Because of the Covid pandemic and numerous stay at home orders, this attempt was scraped and Scott Miller put together the current team trying to break the record in 2021.

Give a Little. Save Big. Glennon Card Discount Days are October 16-25, 2020

Back in 2011, Alpine Shop was one of the first retailers to sign on to assist SSM Health Cardinal Glennon Children’s Hospital with their new “Glennon Card” promotion. Little did we know then just how big this would promotion grow!

When you purchase a Glennon Card – either at Alpine Shop, on on-line at www.glennoncard.org, 100% of your money benefits the kids cared for by SSM Health Cardinal Glennon Children’s Hospital in St. Louis. Plus, the Glennon Card also provides you with significant discounts at over 250 retailers, restaurants and salons on-line and in the area (including Alpine Shop!) through Sunday, October 25. With unlimited use for 10 days, it’s easy to recoup the cost of the card. Best of all, 100% of card sales benefit the kids.

Here’s how it works: You can purchase a Glennon Card either in any Alpine Shop location or on-line here for $60 and use it all participating merchants. With your card, you’ll receive a 20% discount on nearly everything in our stores* with the main exception being a 10% discount on full-priced bikes, boats or snowsport hardgoods.

Alpine Shop is proud to have been the top Local Merchant for Glennon Card sales in 2017 & 2018 and in the top five for  2019. We’d like to reclaim the top spot in 2020 with your help! Please come in and purchase your Card anytime between now and Sunday, Oct. 25, and be sure to select Alpine Shop as how you heard about the Glennon Card if you purchase a digital card through the  on-line checkout here.

2020 GLENNON CARD RULES AND EXCLUSIONS:
Card sharing is strictly prohibited. Since the Glennon Card is a fundraising event to help the sick and injured children cared for at SSM Health Cardinal Glennon, we encourage shoppers to buy their own Glennon Card! Participating retailers will not accept cards unless purchaser has been verified with a valid photo ID.

*20% off promotion applies to the full retail price on in-store apparel, footwear and camping gear only and is not eligible to be combined with other promotions or offers, except for clearance goods (marked with $_.97 pricing) which will be discounted from the lowest-marked price. Hardgoods such as bikes, boats and ski & snowsport hardgoods receive a 10% off discount.

If you would like to shop on-line with us, please access our site through this link here. You will need the passcode that is either on the second page of the paper Glennon Card or from the information you received through your digital card. 

Select brands and items are excluded. Please see an Alpine Shop outfitter for details.

Wear Your Life Jacket to Work Day

Wear Your Life Jacket to Work Day is this Friday, May 15, 2020! (Yes, it’s a real thing.)

Hosted by the National Safe Boating Council, this annual event is a fun, educational way to heighten life jacket awareness and highlight the various styles just prior to the official launch of the Safe Boating Campaign. Anyone can join in this fun event! Wear your life jacket to work, snap a picture while at work and share on social media.

Historically, most people haven’t been able to participate in the WYLJWD because: (a) they didn’t know about it, and (b) It’s not considered proper work attire. 

Now that a lot of us are working from home, we can wear whatever we want (some of us don’t even have to wear pants!).

We kayakers and canoeists were social distancing long before we were instructed to do so. Now, a lot of our friends are feeling isolated and bored, and they need our help. Many of our friends, who would ordinarily be going to baseball games and concerts this summer will be looking for other activities. This could be an opportunity for us to help introduce those people to activities that don’t involve crowds.

Those new boaters will have questions about places to go, about safety, and about gear, but they may not know who to ask.

Wearing your life jacket at work could be like a big sign saying “Ask me about kayaking!”

So, is this something you might be interested in helping with?

If so, please participate in WYLJWD and take a photo of you wearing your PFD at “work” this Friday, May 15.

Want to participate?

If you share your photo on Instagram or Twitter, use the hashtag: #PerrySaysWearYourPFD
If you share on Facebook, make sure you tag @alpineshop in the post.

Need a PFD to participate? (I think we may know a place you can get one!)

The Naiad features women’s specific floating foam panels to help keep you comfortable and moving freely.

Alpine Shop Demo Boats for Sale

For a limited time, Alpine Shop is offering up most of our demo and blem fleet for public purchase. These boats have been used in our classes in the past, or arrived at our store with blemishes that made them un-sellable at normal retail prices.

If you are interested in taking advantage of some good deals, please click here to see the complete list of boats available. Once you see a boat that interests you, call the Kirkwood Alpine Shop at (314) 962-7715 and tell them you would like to purchase one of our demo boats. An experienced outfitter will work with you to make sure the boat meets your needs and confirm that we still have the boat on hand.

These boats are first come-first served and we do not make any guarantees of availability. We will update the list as often as we can, but we will not be making those updates in real time.

Act now if you want to grab one of these boats!

An Inside Look at 2020’s Hottest Kayaks

The Alpine Shop crew practiced social distancing while bringing some of the hottest boats we already have at the shop out to the water. Take a look at what some of these craft have to offer – especially if you’re a fisherman, you’re looking for a competitive boat for the rapidly expanding world of paddle races, or if you’re looking for a fun boat that you can PEDAL as well as PADDLE.

You can find the first four of these boats on-line right now at alpineshop.com

Perception Crank 10.0 with Pedal Drive

The Crank is the first of a new generation of easy-to-use, fast and fun pedal drive kayaks from Perception Kayaks. Its perfect for lakes, ponds and calm coastal waters. The Crank incorporates a fresh design aesthetic with incredibly comfortable ergonomics for powerful yet easy pedaling while providing ample surfaces for rigging aftermarket accessories including two Solo Mount recesses within easy reach. Featuring a new-and-improved pedal drive, this kayak pedals effortlessly, covers lots of water, and provides the ability to go forward and reverse without removing the drive from the boat. The easy-handling Crank packs a punch and opens up the water to everyone in a fun, stable and manageable package.

Jackson Big Rig HDFD

Introducing the Big Rig HDFD! One of Jackson Kayaks most popular fishing kayaks now gets the upgrades of both its HD predecessors, the Coosa HD and Cuda HD with the addition of Flex Drive pedaling power. The Flex Drive system allows for hands-free fishing, forward and reverse, with unique articulation to adapt to shallow water and obstacles.

Jackson YuPIK

Named for the native Alaskan peoples that coined the word kayak (qayaq), the Jackson YuPIK changes the very definition of versatility. Bow To Stern track systems, rigging solutions and storage pockets molded in along the entirety of the boat allows the modularity for you to rig for your adventure without limitation. Customize your fun with more room! Second seat capabilities and specialized accessories, like our new kennel cot, improves the experience for everyone. Additions like the fully trimmable seat pan, our Strap Down gear track for 360 storage security and the first ever moving standing pad system make the YuPIK the most versatile kayak on the market.

Jackson Bite FD

The top-selling Bite has gotten an upgrade! The open deck and well-designed tackle management features have come together with our latest version of the Flex Drive, the Flex Drive 3D. This nimble ride is quick and responsive, and standing to fish is fun and easy for beginners and experienced anglers alike. The Bite FD tracks well and handles windy days with ease. The new Flex Drive 3D is the product of two years of constant evolution in three key components: power, propulsion and steering. From bow to stern, the Flex Drive 3D delivers unparalleled user versatility, efficiency and convenience on the water. Designed from the water up for maximum performance, intuitive use and ease of maintenance, the Flex Drive 3D empowers anglers, sportsmen and outdoor enthusiasts to get closer to the action. The original Bite retails for $799. If you want the Flex Drive, the retail price is $2199.

Wilderness Systems Tempest 175

When you talk about a fast boat, you talk about a length. All things being equal, a longer boat will always be faster than a shorter boat. And when you’re talking about getting into racing, like the MR340 and Alpine Shop’s own Meramec Marathon, a longer boat will always give you an advantage on straight ahead speed and will generally track straight ahead more easily. The Tempest melds a 17 and a half foot total length with a bit of a rocker to help with maneuverability on top of that speed. A great boat for any one looking to take their racing to the next level. Now you won’t find this beautiful 17 and a half foot boat on alpineshop.com yet. If you’re interested, please give us a call at 314-962-7715.

Give a Little. Save Big. Glennon Card Discount Days are October 18-27, 2019

Back in 2011, Alpine Shop was one of the first retailers to sign on to assist SSM Health Cardinal Glennon Children’s Hospital with their new “Glennon Card” promotion. Little did we know then just how big this would promotion grow!

When you purchase a Glennon Card – either at Alpine Shop, on on-line at www.glennoncard.org, 100% of your money benefits the kids cared for by SSM Health Cardinal Glennon Children’s Hospital in St. Louis. Plus, the Glennon Card also provides you with significant discounts at over 345 retailers, restaurants and salons in the area (including Alpine Shop!) through this Sunday, October 27. With unlimited use for 10 days, it’s easy to recoup the cost of the card. Best of all, 100% of card sales benefit the kids.

Here’s how it works: You can purchase a Digital Glennon Card on-line here for $50 and use it all participating merchants, or if you would prefer a paper version, you can grab one for $60 at any Alpine Shop retail location now through Oct. 27. Either way, you’ll receive a 20% discount on nearly everything in our stores* with the main exception being a 10% discount on full-priced bikes, boats or snowsport hardgoods.

Alpine Shop is proud to have been the top Local Merchant for Glennon Card sales in 2017 & 2018 and hope to remain the same for 2019. Please come in and purchase your Card anytime between now and Sunday, Oct. 27, or be sure to select Alpine Shop as how you heard about the Glennon Card at the on-line checkout here.

2019 GLENNON CARD RULES AND EXCLUSIONS:
Card sharing is strictly prohibited. Since the Glennon Card is a fundraising event to help the sick and injured children cared for at SSM Health Cardinal Glennon, we encourage shoppers to buy their own Glennon Card! Participating retailers will not accept cards unless purchaser has been verified with a valid photo ID.

*20% off promotion applies to the retail price on in-store apparel, footwear and camping gear only and is not eligible to be combined with other promotions or offers, except for clearance goods (marked with $_.97 pricing) which will be discounted from the lowest-marked price. Hardgoods such as bikes, boats and ski & snowsport hardgoods receive a 10% off discount. Online and Special Order items are not eligible.

Select brands and items are excluded. Please see an Alpine Shop outfitter for details.

Grab a Boat Through September 15 & You Could Get $500 Back

Late summer and early fall are the perfect times to get out and explore the rivers that make Missouri so special. As the crowds begin to fade on many of the more popular float sections, you have even more opportunities to explore the beautiful scenery at your own pace without having to worry about anyone else.

With that in mind, we’ve been working with Confluence Outdoor – the parent brand for some of our most popular boat brands like Wilderness Systems, Dagger, Perception and more – to put together a way to celebrate this time of year and get more people out in their own boats.

So, here’s the deal:

Between now and Sunday, September 15 when you purchase any Confluence Outdoor brand boat, you’ll receive an entry into a sweepstakes to win a $500 prize that can be used as either a rebate on your original boat purchase, or you can use it towards the purchase of another Confluence boat or other Confluence brand gear.

You don’t have to fill any forms out or anything like that. Once you make the purchase, you just have to be patient and wait until Tuesday, September 17 for us to announce the winner!

To get started, you can take a look at a small selection of our boats on-line. Then, come into our Kirkwood or Columbia locations in Missouri, or The Pathfinder in Manhattan, Kan., to pick out the perfect craft for you.