It's less than a week for the best weekend of the year. On Friday is a first of it's kind. The Eastern Canadian Sea Kayak Instructors Conference is taking place in Parry Sound, Ontario.

We have instructors from all over coming to speak at it. Right now we have over 30 participants so it is going to be a lively group indeed. I mean, you get 3 sea kayak instructors together in a group and you can't get a word in edgewise, imagine 30? I'm dead...

 Saturday and Sunday is the Georgian Bay Canoe & Kayak Festival also talking place at White Squall. It is shaping up to be another fantastic weekend. It is a super laidback weekend of seminars and on water sessions. Every year or rains and every year the power seems to go out causing chaos. I have talked to lots of people who have traveled the kayak symposium circuit and they all comment on how friendly and unassuming people are at this one. I have been to other symposiums where it sometimes turns into a pissing contest of gear of skills. I keep trying to start one but for some reason, nobody is interested and they are all there just to have a good time.

The highlight for me will not take place on the water or even in a dry suit. Fred Eaglesmith will be making another appearance on Saturday night. For those who don't know who this guy is, you need to get on board now. Wikipedia describes him as, "Eaglesmith is a prolific and talented songwriter, and is known for writing songs about machines or vehicles, including songs about trains, tractors, trucks, cars, and engines. Rural life, dogs, guns, drinking and farming/ranching are other common themes. Many of his songs are about failing farms and small businesses."

It is fantastic and you can listen to samples of his latest album, "Milly's Café".

Youthful crazyness! Here is the YouTube description: Going round Sainsburys in Kayaks, supermarket sweep style.

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Big Agnes, manufacturer of award-winning sleeping bags, pads and tents, enters its seventh year of business reporting record sales growth. Additionally, brand recognition is stronger than ever, as Big Agnes has earned several of the outdoor industry’s most coveted awards for new product in 2007.

Johnson Outdoors Paddlesports, a leader in the recreational boating community, is pleased to announce the launch of two new websites for their paddling accessory brands: Extrasport® Tech Wear and PFD’s and Carlisle® Paddle Gear. Site development for Lendal® Paddles, a recent addition to the Paddlesports portfolio, is currently underway and will launch in June 2007.

RACINE, Wis.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Johnson Outdoors Inc. (Nasdaq: JOUT), a leading global outdoor recreation company, today announced net sales of $122.1 million for the second quarter ended March 30, 2007, a 14 percent increase compared to net sales of $107.4 million for the prior year quarter. Net earnings were $1.6 million, or $0.17 per diluted share, for the second quarter of 2007 compared to net earnings of $4.2 million, or $0.46 per diluted share in the prior year quarter.

Toronto, ON, Canada -- Apr 25, 2007 -- On May 5th, 2007, Seth Wotten will leave Kenora, Ontario to resume the Water for Future Generations Expedition. This is a cross continental solo canoe journey to raise awareness about water related environmental issues and inspire people to take action to protect our water resources. Wotten is canoeing from Montreal, Quebec to Tuktoyaktuk, Northwest Territories over the course of 2006, 2007, and 2008. During his travels, he has been suggesting ways to take action for our water, promoting environmental campaigns, and making observations about the waterways.

As a guide or instructor, carrying and knowing how to use a stirrup rescue tool can be very helpful. It is a quick and easy assisting device to help and injured or weak paddler back into their boat.

It is fairly simple to make your own by going out and purchasing some tubular webbing from your local climbing store. What ever material you purchase, make sure that it doesn't float as it will make your rescue considerably easier.

The latest draft of H-29, the voluntary manufacturing standard for canoe and kayak safety, is available for download at www.paddlesportsindustry.org/paddlepro.htm along with a form for your comments. Comments from manufacturers are due by May 25, 2007 to the Paddlesports Industry Association's partner, the American Boat and Yacht Council; please also email a copy of your comments to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .

As I have written about before, I regularly paddle with a pretty hard-core group of men and woman paddlers. We paddle all winter and normally ice doesn't get in our way. This winter has been a weird one as we all have been so busy, we haven't had a lot of paddle time.

This weekend has what we have started to call it the Jinx weekend. For the past three years, this is the weekend that if something is going to go wrong, it will. We have had several accidents and for us that means actually coming out of our boats in surf and usually around rocks. Normally it is nothing to serious (a quick contact tow and then lots of teasing) but once it was a little serious (Lots of good learning afterwards followed by even more teasing).

My friend Sean recently sent out this note to the gang and I couldn't help but post it here (with his permission of course)...

Hello all. I'm looking forward to getting out this weekend either on Saturday or Sunday (hopefully both). I've been doing some regression analysis on a variety of factors related to the upcoming jinx weekend. Here is what I have concluded:

1. THE JINX WEEKEND - Based on historical data the third weekend in April (approximately April 21 through 24) is a time when someone in our group (which I have defined as myself, John, Erik, Liz and David) is likely to capsize.

2. THE DOUBLE JEOPARDY CLAUSE - If you have capsized already on April 21, 22, 23 or 24 in the Toronto harbour area you are unlikely to capsize again. (Erick capsized in 2005 but not 2006 and Liz, John and Sean (in that order) capsized in 2006 but did not capsize in 2005). This data suggests that David is at the highest risk of capsize this coming weekend. I am at the lowest risk. Liz and John are low/medium risk and Erik is at a medium risk.

3. THE EVEN NUMBER FEMALE RULE - Based on historical data around the capsizes, the safest configuration of a paddling group is to have even numbered paddlers with at least one female on the water. This configuration produces the least consequence capsizes. All male groups on the water tend to be associated with the most significant capsizes and odd number paddling groups are the most dangerous ( i.e. Erik, Sean and David paddled in April of 2005 with Erik capsizing in rocks and in 2006 John, Erik and Sean were on the water as mayhem ensued).

4. ROCKS - In all circumstances it is dangerous to be near rocks. All April capsizes in 2006 and 2007 have been related to paddling near rocks.

5. THE APRIL NOR'EASTER - 2005 and 2006 capsizes have occured when a nor'easter arrived in western lake Ontario on a weekend. Historical data suggests it is best to avoid these.

That's the type of data analysis everybody should be doing...

So this is the 4th anniversary of the Jinx weekend. What am I going to do about it? I'm getting out of Dodge. I'm flying out to Victoria to do some paddling and meet with a client about the new Trade Association of Paddlesports and West Coast Sea Kayak Symposium websites that I have been working on. That's what has been keeping me off the water all winter!

Does your breath stink and your students are not saying anything? Have you noticed they are fighting for position to stay upwind of you?

If you are not sure what is going on, it's probably you and Breath Alert Stank Mouth Detector is the fancy gadget tool for you. It uses some sort of scientific method that detects the level of volatile sulfide compounds and hydrocarbon gas that cause bad breath. It takes these levels and rates your breath slinkiness.

And best of all, according to the website, it comes preinstalled with a AAA battery! You can't beat that...

More info: coolest-gadgets.com