rSeptember 28-30, Naturally Superior Adventures will be hosting the annual Surfing Superior Confluence. Located at the mouth of the Michipicoten River on Lake Superior, the wind can kick up some fantastic standing waves against the river current.

Here is the description from their site:
Enjoy laid back soul surfin' or intense ender sessions in the freshwater surf playground at the mouth of the Michipicoten River. This informal gathering of surf-seeking intermediate to advanced paddlers takes advantage of autumnal gales and late summer warm water to provide an informal, instructional and by all means entertaining way to cap off your paddling season in late September. You'll be wishing the weekend will never end. [Link: Naturally Superior Adventures]

Surfing Record Smashed
Speaking about surfing, Brazil recently set the record for the number of surfers on a single wave. The next time you try to break the record you will now need more then 84 people on it! The old record was 71 people set in Cape Town.

The record breaking attempt was made during the Earthwave Festival de Surf Ecorodovias, a three day festival of wave-riding events that featured a professional longboarding surfing contest, outrigger canoe paddling and demonstrations of stand up paddling, the latest discipline of surfing that is sweeping the world. [Link: globalsurfnews.com]

That no log, that a bone!
David Boyers was standing in about two feet of water in the South Fork of the Licking River when he saw what appeared to be a funny-looking log.

After examining it, he thought it might be a bone so he took a trip down to the museum where he eventually met with a palaeontologist at the Cincinnati Museum Center.

The "log" was not a dinosaur bone. But it was the partial right ulna - think foreleg - of a mastodon, circa 20,000 years ago, said Dr. Glenn Storrs, assistant vice president for natural history and science at the museum.

Storrs said the museum, which is a federal repository for bones and fossils, receives numerous phone calls from people who think they've found ancient bones. Usually they turn out to be from a modern animal or are just an unusual rock formation, but about one every year or two turns out to be a significant find. [Link: The Cincinnati Post]

More in the world of ancient artefacts
Roy Mitchell of Decatur, TN talks about a dugout canoe that was given to him back in 1969. Estimates put a value of around $150,000-$250,000 for the 400-600 year old artefact. [Link: The Decatur Daily News]

Simon's back!
Simon is back from his trip from Norway. It sounds fantastic. He had difficulties updating his blog via text message so the whole trip was posted all at once. [Link]

Blow-Up Doll Whitewater Raft Race
Is there anything that the Russian people won't do? The recently ran Fifth Bubble Baba Challenge saw 400 men and woman race to the finish line of a set of rapids in the Vuoksa river. What makes this race different is that you need to bring your own inflatable woman to float along with. Where do they get that many inflatable woman to come along? Apparently, they were able to rent them somewhere. A couple of woman were disappointed that they were required to float down on another woman as the rental company didn't rent blow-up men... I don't know what to think about it. It reminds me of the Gale Storm rescue device we recently reported on. [Link] Thanks to getoutdoors.com.

Strained Diplomacy between Iran and US Spills over to Paddling
We reported on it earlier but it is starting to pop-up in other news sources so it is good to talk about again. It seems that Iranian kayak coach Katayoun Ashraf was fired from the Iranian National Federation team for bringing three teenage athletes to the U.S. to train.  They sought extra training in hopes of representing Iran in the 2008 Olympics in Beijing.  But now the athletes' position on the national team is in jeopardy. How crazy is that. [Link]

Now get back to work!

Almost done!
23 days into their "Chasing the Anna" expedition, Derrick and Taino are ¾ the way around Puerto Rico. They made it through Hurricane Dean. [Link]
 
Sunscreen Confusion
Outside Blog has an interesting post about what SPF means in sunscreen. They report on a couple improvements the FDA is trying to implement for package labeling. [Link]

Keeping Maine's boaters safe
The Kennebec Journal in Maine asks the question: Are we doing what we can and should do to keep Maine's boaters safe? It gives an interesting primer at mandatory boater education for all boats including canoes and kayaks.

"Boating safety is analagous to hunter safety," says a 2007 report issued by a state group studying the possibility of a Maine mandatory boater education course. "Until mandatory hunter safety was implemented Maine experienced many hunting related shootings including numerous fatalities. Once mandatory hunter education and mandatory hunter orange clothing were required, hunting related shootings decreased significantly." [Link]

The Reactor is coming!
MSR has finally started shipping is long delayed Reactor Stove. Everybody seems to be really excited about it. [Link]

BCU Syllabus Change Summery
Mark Tozer recently posted a great summery of many of the changes about to happen to the BCU kayaking instruction program. It looks really promising. I'm a big fan of the new kids curriculum. [Link]

Calling all Gear Junkies!
Kayak Journal Podcast has posted a pile (and I mean a pile) of great video casts reporting on the latest gear from OR. If you want to find out what Werner, Bending Branches, Suunto, Delta Kayaks, Wenonah, Watershed, Surefire, Smith Optics, Optimus, Teva or Kokatat are working on for next season, head on over! [Link]

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There was a crash with 7 vehicles on the I-70 in Vail, CO today which left one person in critical condition. The other passengers suffered only minor injuries.

The canoe that was strapped to one of the cars didn't fair to well...

Article Link: aspentimes.com

A summary of local news today.

• Fees are going to increase for the Boundary Waters Canoe Area. It is currently $10 per adult per night with a proposed increase to $16 per night. Increase would be implemented next year. [More Info]

• Lake Superior is the place to kayak. A great travel article says so. If it is in print, it must be true. [More Info]

• Get Outside Kids! Main is has unveiled a new initiative today to encourage young people to get outside. It looks like an interesting PR campaign. [More Info]

• Renaissance Adventure Guides from Lakewood, CO is highlighted at yourhub.com. [More Info]

• Outside Magazine online edition has a great interview with Marlow Long who was hired to be an instructor and stunt double with the upcoming movie "Into the Wild". He was hired to teach actor, Emile Hirsch how to paddle in the Sean Penn directed movie.

My favourite question:

Outside: So they must have paid you the big bucks.
Marlow Long: Let's just say I made the same amount in two weeks working with the film crew as I normally do in an entire year as a pro paddler, earning a salary from my sponsors. [More Info]