Hamilton Reef
02-23-2007, 01:06 PM
East Lansing quiet-water show caters to paddlers
http://www.mlive.com/outdoors/grpress/index.ssf?/base/sports-0/117224073364700.xml&coll=6
Friday, February 23, 2007 By Howard Meyerson Press Outdoors Editor hmeyerson@grpress.com
Paddlers and other "quiet-sport" enthusiasts will be gathering in East Lansing on March 3 for the 12th annual Quiet Water Symposium, an event organized by paddlers to promote hand-crafted canoes, kayaks and boats.
But this year's show will be different from those in recent years.
It not only will be larger, with more presenters, but showgoers will be able to buy outdoor gear.
"We are finding we have to evolve," said Russ Hicks, chairman for this year's show and an antique boat and canoe restorer by trade.
"We found expenses were going up and the revenues were not. If the show was going to survive, it had to change."
Hicks is referring to a past show policy that prohibited commercial outfitters from selling their wares there. He and other organizers said they once felt that allowing them in would overly commercialize the show.
The symposium showcases wood craftsmanship, whether building canoes, kayaks, John-boats or other vessels.
It also is a forum for paddlers to get together and share tips about trips and wilderness camping adventures.
The show has been a labor of love for Hicks and the other volunteers who pull it together every year. But it hit an attendance "ceiling" two years ago, Hicks said.
As costs rose to cover tables, chairs, parking and hotel accommodations for guest speakers, it seemed the number who were willing to pay tapered off.
"If you're going to raise the price you have to offer people more to see and do at the show," Hicks said.
This year's lineup "has exploded," according to Hicks.
Several outdoor retailers will be showing gear.
Visitors will be able to buy kayaks, even plastic kayaks.
There also will be a clothing and accessories shown.
Sixteen presentations are scheduled during the day, covering topics like "Wilderness First Aid Kits" and "How To Get Your Kayak to Obey and Stop Going in Circles," to "Canoeing Canada" and "River Gems of the Western U.P."
This year's speakers include notable authors Cliff Jacobson and Joanie and Gary McGuffin along with Kimberli Bindschatel speaking on "The Bears of Alaska: A Grizzly Adventure."
"Julie Heenan is from Butler, Kentucky," Hicks said. "She's bringing a 28-foot-long pink war canoe. It is the canoe that was used in the film 'The Last of the Mohicans.' Julie is a cancer survivor. She gets other survivors to sign it and paddle it on the Ohio River.
"We will also have Dean Juntunen, a paraplegic paddler from Port Huron who has designed an off-road wheelchair. He's a photographer, paddler and storyteller. His best story is of his attempt to circumnavigate Lake Superior in his kayak."
http://www.mlive.com/outdoors/grpress/index.ssf?/base/sports-0/117224073364700.xml&coll=6
Friday, February 23, 2007 By Howard Meyerson Press Outdoors Editor hmeyerson@grpress.com
Paddlers and other "quiet-sport" enthusiasts will be gathering in East Lansing on March 3 for the 12th annual Quiet Water Symposium, an event organized by paddlers to promote hand-crafted canoes, kayaks and boats.
But this year's show will be different from those in recent years.
It not only will be larger, with more presenters, but showgoers will be able to buy outdoor gear.
"We are finding we have to evolve," said Russ Hicks, chairman for this year's show and an antique boat and canoe restorer by trade.
"We found expenses were going up and the revenues were not. If the show was going to survive, it had to change."
Hicks is referring to a past show policy that prohibited commercial outfitters from selling their wares there. He and other organizers said they once felt that allowing them in would overly commercialize the show.
The symposium showcases wood craftsmanship, whether building canoes, kayaks, John-boats or other vessels.
It also is a forum for paddlers to get together and share tips about trips and wilderness camping adventures.
The show has been a labor of love for Hicks and the other volunteers who pull it together every year. But it hit an attendance "ceiling" two years ago, Hicks said.
As costs rose to cover tables, chairs, parking and hotel accommodations for guest speakers, it seemed the number who were willing to pay tapered off.
"If you're going to raise the price you have to offer people more to see and do at the show," Hicks said.
This year's lineup "has exploded," according to Hicks.
Several outdoor retailers will be showing gear.
Visitors will be able to buy kayaks, even plastic kayaks.
There also will be a clothing and accessories shown.
Sixteen presentations are scheduled during the day, covering topics like "Wilderness First Aid Kits" and "How To Get Your Kayak to Obey and Stop Going in Circles," to "Canoeing Canada" and "River Gems of the Western U.P."
This year's speakers include notable authors Cliff Jacobson and Joanie and Gary McGuffin along with Kimberli Bindschatel speaking on "The Bears of Alaska: A Grizzly Adventure."
"Julie Heenan is from Butler, Kentucky," Hicks said. "She's bringing a 28-foot-long pink war canoe. It is the canoe that was used in the film 'The Last of the Mohicans.' Julie is a cancer survivor. She gets other survivors to sign it and paddle it on the Ohio River.
"We will also have Dean Juntunen, a paraplegic paddler from Port Huron who has designed an off-road wheelchair. He's a photographer, paddler and storyteller. His best story is of his attempt to circumnavigate Lake Superior in his kayak."