Master the MR340

So you signed up for longest contiguous paddle race in the country – the MR340 – now what do you do? The experts at Alpine Shop are here to help! 

A significant number of Alpine Shop employees have participated in the MR340, and many have done the race multiple times. Together, they’re helping to bring their knowledge to you as part of our MR340 Introduction Clinics going on this spring and summer.

Your head instructor for these classes is an 11-time competitor, and has earned three trophies from the race that he won’t stop bragging about.  

There will be three MR340 clinics.

Clinic #1 – May 7th – 6:30pm : Intro to MR340 Q&A – Location : Alpine Shop – Kirkwood MO

We’ll review charts, navigation, support teams, best practices, horror stories, and gear.  Bring your questions!

Clinic #2 – May 26th – 3pm : Forward Strokes – Location: Simpson Lake

 Let’s be blunt, just about anyone can get into a kayak and figure out that paddling on the right turns the boat left, paddling on the left makes the boat go right, and paddling on both sides SOMETIMES makes the boat go straight. It often takes YEARS to develop an efficient forward stroke, but we’ll try to speed up the process.  It takes about 250,000 paddles strokes to get to St Charles from KC, try to imagine how just a small improvement in efficiency can help you out. 

Clinic #3 – June 25th – 6:30pm : Safety & Rescue – Location: Simpson Lake

If you tip your kayak on most rivers in Missouri, you can just stand up and walk to shore. That’s not the case on the Mighty MO! Every year, a few MR340 racers end up in the river. Attend this class to learn how to rescue yourself and others in a safe, controlled setting so you’ll be more prepared when there’s a problem during the race (when you’re fatigued and disoriented).

Each class lasts approximately 90 minutes and is $10.

Interested in registering? Sign up today here!

Get Outside Expo Presenter – Scott Mansker, MR340 Race Director

Find out how the MR340 grew from 11 boats in 2006 to over 500 boats in 2019. The World’s Longest Non-Stop River Race has been listed as one of National Geographic‘s Top 100 American Adventures and it draws paddlers from around the world. Best of all, it happens right in our backyard.

Scott Mansker is the race director for the MR340 and will be presenting during the 2019 Get Outside Expo at noon on Sunday, March 3

Scott Mansker is the race director for the MR340 and will be presenting during the 2019 Get Outside Expo at noon on Sunday, March 3

From www.rivermiles.com:

Imagine a race across the entire state of Missouri, just you and your boat thrown against 340 miles of wind, heat, bugs and rain.

The Missouri 340 is an endurance race across the state of Missouri. Competitors will start in Kansas City and finish, some of them anyway, in St. Charles. With numerous towns and hamlets, the course offers plenty of opportunity for resupply while en route. The Missouri River is also incredibly scenic and isolated in some stretches, with wildlife and beautiful vistas to rival any river in North America. But if you’re trying to win this race, you won’t have time to enjoy any of it.

Participants are allowed exactly 88 hours to complete the course. There are nine checkpoints along the route where paddlers are required to sign in and sign out. Cutoff times will be associated with these checkpoints based on the 88 hour pace. Failure to miss two consecutive deadlines is grounds for disqualification. To finish this race in 88 hours is a huge accomplishment. Only 2/3 of the teams were able to do that last year.

There are no dams, locks or portages on this stretch of the Missouri. You could, conceivably, finish this race without ever having left your boat. (We don’t recommend it.) This doesn’t mean that the race is without danger. Any time you put yourself on the water, especially moving water, you assume a certain amount of risk. The Missouri 340 course is all on Class I water. The current is about 3 mph and there are no rapids. The biggest hazard to paddlers would be motorboats, mostly fisherman, and the occasional towboat pushing barges. In river obstacles would include wing dikes, buoys and bridge pilings.

DamNation – a Featured Presentation of the 2019 Get Outside Expo

On Saturday evening, March 2 at 7 pm, at the 2019 Get Outside Expo, Alpine Shop is proud to present – on the side of our building weather permitting! – DamNation, a feature film presented by Patagonia, on the impact of dams throughout our nation.

The film is FREE to all participants and will also feature a complimentary beer from Urban Chestnut Brewing Company for those 21 and older.

The Story

This powerful film odyssey across America explores the sea change in our national attitude from pride in big dams as engineering wonders to the growing awareness that our own future is bound to the life and health of our rivers. Dam removal has moved beyond the fictional Monkey Wrench Gang to go mainstream. Where obsolete dams come down, rivers bound back to life, giving salmon and other wild fish the right of return to primeval spawning grounds, after decades without access. DamNation’s majestic cinematography and unexpected discoveries move through rivers and landscapes altered by dams, but also through a metamorphosis in values, from conquest of the natural world to knowing ourselves as part of nature.

DamNation opens big, on a birth, with the stirring words of Franklin D. Roosevelt at the dedication of Hoover Dam, and on a death, as the engineer at Elwha Dam powers down the turbine on its last day. DamNation stints neither the history nor the science of dams, and above all conveys experiences known so far to only a few, including the awe of watching a 30-pound salmon hurtling 20 feet into the air in a vain attempt to reach the spawning grounds that lie barricaded upriver. We witness the seismic power of a dam breaking apart and, once the river breaks free, the elation in watching wild salmon – after a century of denied access – swimming their way home.

The People

DamNation’s filmmakers have done their documentary homework. Rediscovered archival footage and pristine vintage photography reveals the young archaeological “salvage” team working against time to recover priceless Anasazi artifacts before the flooding of Glen Canyon in 1958. We meet singer Katie Lee, who was among the last to experience the canyon and, at the age of 94, still recalls the vivid beauty of its walls. Her nemesis, Floyd Dominy, the long-time Bureau of Reclamation czar who dammed Glen Canyon, exudes pride in his power to alter a landscape. We also hear from dam defender Congressman Tom McClintock and dam critic, ex-Interior Secretary Bruce Babbitt.

Most of the voices in DamNation ring far from the lobbied halls of our capitols, and closer to the heart of a river. We hear the smoldering outrage of a Nez Perce elder recalling from his youth the flooding of his people’s sacred falls and fishing ground along the Columbia, and the quiet testimony of a river keeper who has manned his post 12 hours a day for 13 years to count, observe and protect a Rogue River steelhead run. And DamNation is not without its action heroes, including the activist/artist who two decades ago painted under moonlight a giant crack down the face of Hetch Hetchy’s dam.

The Shift

DamNation shows how far things have moved and how quickly, from the assumption 50 years ago that dams were always a power for good, to the first successful attempt to remove a marginal dam 20 years ago on the Kennebec River. The film highlights other dam removal stories, including the Elwha and White Salmon Rivers in Washington, the Rogue River in Oregon, and the Penobscot River in Maine.

Diverse interests across the country are coming together to remove obsolete dams and find more cost-effective options to meet power, shipping, irrigation and other needs, while helping to restore rivers, preserve tribal customs, recover fish stocks, revitalize waterfronts, improve recreational opportunities and render watersheds more resilient to climate change.

Dam owners, impacted communities, and politicians are now reevaluating the usefulness of certain dams and often advocating for decommissioning and removal. Some call it a movement, others call it a generational shift in values.DamNation documents both – and the undeniable momentum behind river restoration that has begun to take hold in our country.

Origins

When, as a young man, DamNation producer Matt Stoecker witnessed migrating steelhead jump at, and bounce off, Stanford University’s Searsville Dam, he recognized the destructive power of a single dam on an entire watershed and beyond. Matt is now a fish biologist, who has since spearheaded the removal of more than a dozen such barriers to migration and is actively involved in efforts to dismantle several others. He and Patagonia founder/owner Yvon Chouinard, a long-time “dam buster” who for years has supported groups working to tear down dams, share the desire to free our rivers. Together they decided to capture such efforts, and their healing effects, on film and share them with the world. Teaming up with Felt Soul Media’s Ben Knight and Travis Rummel, DamNation was born.

Join us on Saturday, March 2 at Alpine Shop Kirkwood at 7 pm for our presentation of DamNation!

First Schlafly Al-Pint Night Fundraiser of 2019

The 2019 Get Outside EXPO begins with the first of our 2019 Schlafly Al-Pint Nights at Alpine Shop Kirkwood. Join us on Friday, March 1 from 6 to 9 pm to raise funds for the Missouri Whitewater AssociationTeam River Runner and the St. Louis Canoe & Kayak Club to aid their continuing efforts to encourage the growth of paddling and the protection of our waterways.

$5 at the Pint Night gets you a custom plastic pint cup, plus two free pours of some fantastic Schlafly Beer.

We’ll also be pre-selling a brand new way to enjoy Al-Pint Night’s in 2019… More details will be coming on Wednesday, February 27! Stay tuned!

The Missouri Whitewater Association (MWA) is a public organization which exists to encourage the growth of paddling as a beneficial recreational sport and a recognized competitive sport, to teach paddling skills, river safety techniques, to sponsor river trips and other outdoor activities, and to educate club members and the general public about the sport and about river conservation. The MWA will be hosting the Missouri State Whitewater Championships on March 22-24 on the St. Francis River near Fredericktown, MO.

Team River Runner – St Louis (TRR) with ST. Louis VAMC gives military veterans and their family members an opportunity to find health, healing, and new challenges through whitewater boating and other paddling sports. The benefits of TRR have as much to do with social support, finding emotional strength and re-creating personal identity as they do with athletic activity.

The St. Louis Canoe & Kayak Club supports canoe and kayak related activities, trips and educational programs. The Club promotes safe and ethical use of our waterways. Other projects include helping to keep our waterways clean and provide instructional skills clinics through the year.

Find out more about the 2019 Get Outside Expo here!

Where to Paddle in Kansas

Finding a good piece of water to canoe or kayak can be tricky in Kansas. Reservoirs can often be windy, making them unpleasant for small boats, and most of the rivers in Kansas are not open for public use.

Don’t hang up your paddles yet, though; there is some good water nearby. Here are some places to start.

Local
There are several locations around Tuttle Creek where the coves are shallow and out of the wind, so the paddling can be relatively calm. Stockdale, Fancy Creek and Carnahan are all areas that can be good canoeing waters.

The River Pond area is also a good place to do some relaxing canoeing or kayaking, and is a popular area for bird-watching. Boats and PFDs are available for rent there as well.

State Fishing Lakes
There are many state fishing lakes in Kansas, and three very nice ones are in the Manhattan region.
Pottawatomie #2 is about 5 minutes north of Highway 24 just east of Manhattan and has some beautiful scenery and campsites beside a 75-acre lake.
Pottawatomie #1 is a smaller lake (24 acres) about 5 miles north of Westmoreland on Highway 99.
Geary State Fishing Lake is a beautiful, nearly 100-acre lake about 8 miles south of Junction City just off Highway 77.

Rivers
If you are interested in float trips on a Kansas river, the options available to you are limited. Only three rivers in Kansas are public rivers: the Kansas, the Arkansas and the Missouri. All other rivers and streams flow over private property, which includes the water to the midpoint of the stream.

That means to canoe through these waters you must get permission from the landowners.
Stick to the public rivers, and you’re good. In northeast Kansas, that means the Kansas River, which runs through Junction City, Ogden, Manhattan, Wamego, to Topeka and finally Kansas City.
You can break up this river into sections based on the length of trip you’re looking for. Here are a few of the access points in this region:
• Junction City: K-18 (Grant Ave. Park) bridge
• Ogden: Ogden bypass bridge (300 yds downstream from bridge)
• Manhattan: K-177 bridge off McDowell Creek Rd.
• Manhattan: Hwy 24-Blue River confluence boat ramp (3/4 mile upstream of Kansas River)
• St. George: St. George River Park. Great access due to a brand new boat ramp/parking area developed by the City of St. George.
• Wamego: Hwy 99 bridge
• Belvue: Shoeman Rd. bridge (steep bank climb)

Kansas River Highlights
The Junction City to Ogden leg is very scenic and passes through Fort Riley. For a fun detour, you can stop upstream and hike in to the First Territorial Capital museum.
The Ogden to Manhattan stretch is also beautiful, cutting through the Flint Hills. There is great camping here as well as on to St. George.

Floating Is All There Is To It, Right?

The MacKeen Family vs The MR340

MR 340 Thought for Day 3: “All the kayakers have to do is float down the river all day.” – Sandy Sandi

When I began to plan for the MR340, I thought, “All I have to do is organize food and supplies, look at the map and guide book and drive to a checkpoint and wait for hours.” How hard is that? I even brought projects to do, thinking I would have time for them. Hasn’t happened yet!
A month ago, when the MR 340 was going to be in July, I got my RV license. My sister-in-law Sandi, who has previous experience driving large vehicles, gave me some informal lessons.
From Day 1, Sandi and I have been extremely busy planning our route, and then having to change it when things didn’t go right. You don’t want to miss a turn in a motor home…have you ever tried backing one up? With a trailer attached to it? Or a burning car in your path?

Scary Mari, Sandy Sandi
We came up with “handles” for ourselves. I’m Scary Mary, and she’s Sandy Sandi. Explanation: I told my oldest daughter Nikki the other day, “I’m really getting the hang of driving the RV.”
She responded, “How do Kaity and Jarod feel about your driving?” Hmmm…I asked them. Their response: “Scared.” “Terrified.” Hence the handle! However, Jarod was sleeping when he was supposed to be navigating today. Looked pretty relaxed to me!
The other day, Sandi was driving us to the checkpoint in Glasgow. We had inadvertently printed an older MR 340 guide book, so the directions were a little off. We turned too early at one point, and ended up in a Sand Plant. I remember Sandi saying, “Oh, this is not the checkpoint, I’ll just turn around here. We might get into a little sand.” A little sand! Well, let’s just say after a tow truck got us out, we were fine!

GlasgowHermannOff into the Fog, Katfish Katy 2
This morning, we saw the kayakers off into a light fog at Katfish Katy. Each time we saw the teams, they all seemed in fairly good spirits. They should be; they have moved up in the ranking! On Day Two they were #176 and #179 out of 283. On Day Three they were #135 (RED-E Oar Knot) and #138 (RED-E Set Go)! They got in fairly early at Hermann, MO, around 9:00pm. We are had a good night sleep!

On day 4 the thought for the Day: “We got this!” – Nikki MacKeen

We Got This!

We’re all pumped! Teams were up at 5:15am, left Hermann by 6:00am. Crew waiting for teams at Klondike, MO. They should be here by about 1pm. Not even getting out of the boat; crew bringing them tea and crumpets…no, just kidding, sandwiches and coffee.
When Nikki got out of the boat, she put her fists in the air and yelled, “We got this! Only 27 miles!”
The air was full of anticipation and excitement. There was a ceremony at 7pm, we were excited to receive our final results. We ended as #163 RED-E Set Row, and #164 RED-E Oar Knot (out of 283 teams). The teams tied for 14th place in the Mixed Tandem (out of 22). We did pretty good for our first time!

Klondike Boat RampSmiles 2

 

102_2374
Huge shout-out goes to Perry from the Alpine Shop! For all his training and help, we couldn’t have done it without him!

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It’s been quite the adventure!

 

 

Till next time,

Mary Mackeen

 

The Secret To Getting (The MR340) Started

The Mackeen Family vs The MR340

 

The thought for Day One of the MR340: “The secret to getting ahead is getting started.” – Mark Twain

The Race Begins

Last night we considered parking our RV at a nearby WalMart, but opted instead for the parking area by Kaw Point, a stopping point for Lewis and Clark, and for the MR340. Right by train tracks, and heard the loud whooshing and rattling of trains on the track all night. Despite that, most of us slept pretty well.

Ground crew up at 5:20am to make blueberry pancakes for breakfast. Coffee, pancakes, oranges, and we all piled out to get teams and kayaks to the river. A DJ playing upbeat music, Lewis and Clark reenactors walking around in costume, and even a flying GoPro whizzing over the river made for an animated early morning scene. As the 8am start neared, the DJ shouted over the loudspeaker to “Get your boat in the water!” About 250 boats of various sizes and colors filled the river, the Kansas City skyline in the background.

The mayor spoke, and several in 1800’s costume shot off guns to start the paddlers. With the crowd yelling and gun smoke filling the air, the paddlers were off! I managed to get some pictures of both teams, RED-E Oar Knot and RED-E Set Go before they followed the pack down the river.

Jarod and Kaity have been making awesome food, and were a great help to the teams, getting them down to the starting point on time. I had heard from Rich via cell phone, and Nikki and Chris via the Safety Boat Crew (not to worry, no problems, just no phone!) that both were due at the first checkpoint in Lexington, MO around 3:30pm. We arrived safely there at 2:00pm, after a few errands. Sandi and I took turns driving the RV. I did pretty well, if I do say so myself!

Here We Go! (2)What am I doingKaity

As we began day two of the race the thought of the day was “It was the best of times, it was the worst of times…” Charles Dickens, A Tale of Two Cities. Heather said, “This has been the worst day of my life! But it was fun!” The first day is the toughest day. It’s the longest, at 105 miles. Even if you don’t finish the entire race, even one day is an accomplishment. And at the end of it, there are blisters, sunburn, sore muscles, exhaustion…you get the picture.

IMGP0010DiBruno Bros 1RED-E Oar Knot Day 2

RED-E Set Go (Rich and Heather, had it reversed yesterday!), and RED-E Oar Knot (Nikki and Chris) made it to the third checkpoint at about 1:30am! So, technically the second day. You can keep up with their progress on www.raceowl.com. Currently, RED-E Oar Knot (Nikki, Chris) are 176 out of 283 teams and RED-E Set Row(Rich, Heather) are 179!

Kayakers have to make it to a checkpoint by a certain time. The “Grim Reaper” Safety Boat (how’s that for ironic?) gets to each checkpoint by the deadline. If you end up behind the Grim Reaper, you are out of the race! The deadline for the third checkpoint, Miami, MO, was 11am today. So they were safe! And worn out.

As Jarod and Kaity, our youngest children and ground crew, waited at the boat dock with me. Jarod  helped a safety crew member carry his kayak to a large grassy area. Those who were staying the night there kept their boats in this place. Safety crew have been so amazing and helpful, working round the clock.

Josh Race 4

Our son Josh who lives in Colorado is lending his support by racing with the USAFA Cycling Team while we race on the Missouri River.

We may be tired and sore but we are still in the race! We’ll update you on Day three as soon as possible!

 

Mary Mackeen

How to Choose the Best Kayak for You!

What is the best way to choose a kayak?

You have several options to start with: recreational kayaks, touring and sea kayaks, whitewater kayaks, fishing kayaks, and many of these offer a choice of sit in or sit on designs, and even solo or tandem seating. There are positives and negatives that need to be weighed when deciding on the right model for you.

The most important factor in choosing the right kayak is to have a good idea of what kind of paddling you want to do. Renting or demoing a kayak from a store or an outfitter on a local river or lake is a good idea since no two kayaks perform the same even if the dimensions are similar. Some colleges, universities and parks offer kayak and other outdoor equipment rentals to students and community members, as do military bases for service members. Since you will usually own your kayak for quite a while, picking the right one is essential for your enjoyment of the activity, and you want to choose the one that is suited to your preferred paddling destinations and activities while on the water, such as fishing.

In making your choice, consider the places you want to go and the type of water you expect to encounter. With this information in mind, here’s a closer look at your options.

Recreational Kayaks

Recreational kayaks of the variety with cockpits that allow you to sit close to the surface of the water and possible use a spray skirt are a great choice for entry-level or beginning kayakers. They are in the 9 to 11 foot range and are often referred to as “poke-around boats,” with the understanding that due to their shorter length they are not going to be used for long multi-mile trips hauling a lot of gear. They are just kayaks for adults or children to have fun with on gentle streams or placid ponds. They are typically wide, stable, lightweight, easy to get in and out of, and priced competitively. This makes them popular with beginners, children, seniors, and others for whom paddling is a just few hours out on the water with no particular destination in mind. The short length makes them quite easy to transport and store as well.

It is important to understand the limitations of these boats, however, and realize that they will be slow in the water (compared to longer designs) ride deeper, and have poor handling in rough water or windy weather. Their initial stability does make them useful for anyone who pursues other activities while kayaking, such as fishing, photography, or bird watching (as long as conditions are not too rough). While even the economical and tough, roto-molded plastic nine foot boats are light enough for most people to lift and transport, composite materials such as Kevlar and carbon can make these boats weigh in at 25lbs or less, truly light enough for anyone to carry. Getting a composite boat can cost much more that the basic plastic models, however.

Several different options in recreational kayaks are available at Alpine Shop. Sit-on-top, recreational (with a cockpit and possibly bulkheads) and tandems are the most common models. Depending on your recreational kayaking needs, one of these will be likely be the perfect choice .

As mentioned earlier a sit-in recreational kayaks with cockpits do allow one the option of using a nylon sprayskirt that offers wave/sun/wind/rain protection that is not found on sit-on-tops, and usually allows one to sit lower in the kayak for even greater stability. The cockpit styles usually come with one bulkhead sealed, dry storage compartments, and sometimes two. Contrary to popular belief wearing a sprayskirt will not trap you in your kayak although practicing exiting the boat with on near shore builds confidence.  Basic kayak classes are very useful for getting started in the sport as well. For whatever reason the sit-in or cockpit style has been far more popular over the years in Missouri than the sit-on variety but both have their uses and proponents.

Some of the main points about Sit-on-tops are these:

-They are stable and self-draining. They are easy to climb on to from the water even unassisted. If they capsize you merely have to climb back on.

-They are an excellent platform for swimming, snorkeling, sunbathing, or fishing from.

-Since you are exposed to the elements you will get wet and have no sun protection other than your clothing and sunscreen. Conversely in the cooler months you have to dress more warmly with fleece, wetsuits, or drysuits more than a sit-in style of kayak. Your gear is more exposed and should be kept in waterproof bags bungied to the decks.

-Fishing rod holders, fish finders, and even livewells are commonly used on these types of kayaks.

Tandem kayaks, whether cockpit style or sit-on-top, are very popular so that small children can paddle with their parents, or your canine friends can come along as well. Many can be paddled solo if the other party elects not to come on occasion.

Sea or Touring Kayaks

Sea touring kayaks are performance boats for more advanced paddling. Coming in lengths of 14 to 18 feet, and chosen for your size, ability, and speed you wish to travel, a sea kayak can take you to hard to reach places you perhaps felt you could not get to on your own, such as that ideal campsite in the middle of the Mississippi River or on a distant arm of Lake of the Ozarks.

Sea touring kayaks are designed for long distances, multiday trips, rough water conditions, and advanced maneuvers and rescues. Sea kayaks are generally longer and somewhat narrower than recreational kayaks. They have two bulkheads, fore and aft, and at least two hatches. The cockpit area is enclosed, and the cockpit coaming allows for attaching a spray skirt. Inside the cockpit, thigh braces and adjustable foot pegs aid in both stability and maneuverability. Foot pegs are also used to adjust the rudder angle when the boat is so equipped (although rudders are only recommended for wide, windy ocean and lake crossings.)

A  good Sea kayak has deck lines (rope) running around the deck perimeter which are an important safety feature that allows a swimmer to grab on to when doing a deep water rescue..

Because they’re longer (and faster), sea kayaks are often heavier than other kayaks, especially in the economical plastic layups. You can counter this weight by choosing a boat constructed from lightweight material like fiberglass or a carbon-Kevlar mix.

Whitewater Kayaks

Whitewater kayaks are designed for all types of rivers—and paddlers. Don’t look at these if you’re planning a lazy float down a placid river, because these boats are designed for fast-moving whitewater conditions.

One thing that holds true for all whitewater boats is that they are shorter and more maneuverable than the other types of kayaks but there are also major and subtle differences in the various kayaks designed for true whitewater.

There are creek boats-around 8 or 9 feet long- for narrow runs and big drops. There are river runners that favor stability and tracking than go up to 10 feet and are great to run rivers without a lot of stopping and playing. Then there are playboats, with hard edges and flat hulls around 6 to 8 feet, designed for acrobatic moves. All come in varying lengths, widths, volumes, and hull designs. Each variable affects performance. No matter what the literature says, no one boat does it all perfectly.

However the new river runner and crossover styles of whitewater boats such as the Liquid Logic Remix 9 and 10 foot models, are truly all purpose. They have the rockered (banana shape) hull to handle serious whitewater, but when you drop the attached skeg on the Remixes, they paddle acceptably on lakes or slow rivers too.

-Rich Orr, Paddlesports Director

Great Prizes Are Part of the Great Canoe & Kayak Event

Alpine Shop’s Great Canoe and Kayak Event begins Friday, February 21 and runs through Sunday, Feb. 23 at our Kirkwood and Columbia locations in Missouri, and at our O’Fallon, Ill., location, as well.

Besides being our biggest paddlesport sale of the year, along with clinics and a Saturday night Paddlers’ Party for everyone, you also have a chance to win part of over $1000 in prizes as part of the GCKE Sweepstakes.

Prizes include a GoPro Hero 3+ Black Edition Camera (valued at $399.99), a Yeti Coolers Roadie cooler ($249.99) and plenty more including paddle accessories, clothing and other prizes.

All you need to do to enter is click on the form below, fill out the entry form and drop it off at a Great Canoe & Kayak Event location by Sunday, March 2, 2014. Prizes will be drawn on Monday, March 6, 2014.

Good luck and we hope to see you at the Great Canoe & Kayak Event this weekend!

Entry form for 2014 GCKE Sweepstakes

What’s the Best Boat for You? You Can Paddle Day is Saturday, May 4

We took two of Alpine Shop‘s best paddlers out to Simpson Park in St. Louis County to test their opinions on what is the best light touring kayak for the St Louis area. Mike Morin and Jake Parr – both Shop managers and certified ACA instructors do their best to tell you which boat they prefer and why.

Mike prefers the Jackson Journey due to it’s comfortable seat, ample cargo space and displacement style hull. Jake prefers the Wilderness Systems Tsunami 145 because of its speed, it’s hard-chine hull and comfy cockpit.

Which boat is best for you? It could be either kayak, or perhaps a completely different boat. The point is, until you paddle it, you can’t know for sure. That’s why we have events throughout the spring and summer like our You Can Paddle Day on Saturday, May 4, 2013, and our demo days throughout the rest of the season.

You wouldn’t buy a car without driving it. Don’t buy a boat without paddling it first. We’re the only company in the area with such a wide range of boats – whitewater kayaks, touring kayaks, rec kayaks, canoes and even Stand Up Paddle Boards – that offers test paddles to its customers.

Come find out why we’re the best paddle store in the St Louis area.