Spring is Coming! - Canoecopia

sponsored by
presents
march
12-14
2010

For 4-season protection from the elements, look no further
than Kokatat. Clothing, life jackets and accessories for men,
women and children.
hh TempesthPanthwithhSocks
Great durability and breathability are hallmarks of our new
TROPOS 3-layer fabric. The integrated socks keep feet dry
while the gravel guard keeps sand and debris out of footwear.
hh TempesthJacket
Lightweight pullover combines
waterproof/breathable fabric and
latex wrist gaskets for comfort
and protection in any paddling
environment. Inner skirt layers
with Tempest Pant waistband to
keep splash and spray on the
outside - where it belongs.
hh Nomad
This lightweight paddling boot is great
for canoeing and kayaking when more
protection from cold weather is needed.
hh Women’shDestinationhPaddlinghShirt
Durable Supplex ® keeps the sun off and the wind
out, and still allows perspiration to escape. UPF40+ sun protection factor.
hh Women’shDestinationhPaddlinghCapri
The perfect complement to our Paddling Shirt, the
Capri extends to the mid-calf and will keep the UV
rays to a minimum. UPF40+ sun protection factor.
Gary Luhm, Kokatat Ambassador: "One of my favorite paddling locations is the mountain lake region of central
Oregon and Sparks Lake, with it's backdrop of South Sister, Broken Top and Mt. Bachelor as the crown jewel." Model:
Kate Conant. Photo: ©Gary Luhm

MARCH 2010
Contents
4 Welcome to Canoecopia
5 What is Rutabaga?
6 Our Year in Review
8 Our Policies, Values, Ethics
9 What’s Going on at the Show?
12 What’s new in Gear
19 Paddling Makes the Rash go Away
20 Stand up Paddling
n Speakers and Schedule
22 Exhibitor and Vendor Listing
24 Speaker Biographies
40 Speaker Schedule
42 World Premiere Films
n Outdoor Programs
45-52 Rutabaga Outdoor Programs
n Reflections
57 Reflections on Paddling
59 Taking Robbie Camping Part 2
60 Nexus of Paddling
62 De Colores de Agua
64 Adaptation: A Family’s Tale from the River
66 Whitewater Adventure
68 Paddling Perfection
71 Big City Mountaineers
72 Sketches of a Semi-Normal Childhood
74 My True Water Dog
n Odds and Ends
76 Local Eats
77 Coupons and Special Deals
78 Show Information
PUBLISHER
Rutabaga, the Paddlesport Shop
Darren Bush, owner
LAYOUT and GRAPHIC DESIGN
Annie Tereba
EDITORS
Valerie Hein, Mo Kappes, Elizabeth Katt-Reinders,
Nancy Saulsbury, Sasha Stone, Annie Tereba
PHOTOGRAPHY BY
Darren Bush, Dave Freeman, Jim Pippitt
IN EVERY ISSUE
4 Welcome to Canoecopia
9 What’s Going on at the Show?
24 Speakers
45 Rutabaga Outdoor Programs
57 Reflections
copyright© 2010
For more information check our website at
www.canoecopia.com or call us at 1-800-I-PADDLE

4
“Rooted in the outdoors since 1976”
Welcome to Canoecopia 2010
“The gloom of the world is but a shadow.
Behind it, yet within our reach is joy. There is
radiance and glory in the darkness could we but
see, and to see we only have to look.”
As you would expect, I spent a good deal
of time paddling last year. I spent less time
paddling than I did staring at a computer
screen, talking on the phone or in strategic
planning meetings, but that is not the point.
I paddled, probably more last year than any
other year in recent memory.
It’s often a worry when your passion
becomes your vocation. People ask me
(usually on airplanes,) if I paddle as much
now as I used to, now that paddling is my
business. It’s a fair question. Truth is, I
don’t know. I do know that the Net Number
of Days Paddled is higher because of our
work. The NNDP Index is a good predictor
of our mental and physical health, I believe.
Last year was a tough one for many of us.
We’ve watched our pennies and made a
decent year of it. Meanwhile, the 24-hour
Chicken Little Network tells us the sky is
falling. Unfortunately, we listen too much
to the CLN. Not that the world is perfect;
it’s not. But I believe that it’s not so much
the tightening of belts that causes discomfort;
it’s the tightening of our hearts. Five
hundred years have passed since a young
Italian artist and architect penned the words
above. Pretty profound for an eighteen
year-old kid, and in my estimation, he was
dead-on target.
So I’ll let you in on a little secret ... my
passion isn’t paddling. I love paddling;
~ Fra Giovanni Giacondo
but my real passion is to get you to paddle
more. If you’ve never paddled, my passion
is to get you to try it. If you’ve tried it,
my passion is to get you out more. If you
paddle a little, I’d love to help you paddle
a lot. If you paddle a lot, my passion would
be to join you.
No matter how hard my day is down in
the depths of the basement (my office is
the safest place in Wisconsin in case of a
tornado), all I have to do is walk upstairs
and talk to someone who wants to learn
more about paddling and wants to buy a
kayak or a canoe. All I have to do is walk
out to the back pond and watch a group of
kids from the local youth center splash each
other. All I have to do is talk to a gentleman
standing on our pier, watching his
wife paddle for the first time, or chat with a
young mother watching her husband paddle
with their toddler, smiles on all applicable
faces.
Within our reach is joy. To see, we only
have to look. And in our experience, the
best view of our world is one from a few
feet off the water.
Thank you for allowing me to share with
you my view, and I’ll see you in March.
Darren Bush
Owner and Paddling Evangelist

What is Rutabaga?
Rutabaga (roo-tuh-BAY-guh), noun.
(Swedish, rotabagge)
1. a brassicaceous plant, Brassica napobrassica, having a yellow or white-fleshed tuber.
2. an outdoor specialty retailer specializing in canoes, kayaks and paddling gear.
3. the presenter of Canoecopia.
We get a lot of questions about the relationship between Rutabaga and Canoecopia, and
about Rutabaga in general. Here are some answers from Darren Bush, our owner and
paddling evangelist.
Q: Where’s the Rutabaga booth?
A: It’s all the Rutabaga booth. For three days, Canoecopia is just an expanded
extension of our shop, about two miles to the east at the Alliant Energy Center.
Q: How did Canoecopia start?
A: About 25 years ago, Rutabaga was in an old grocery store. The former owner had
a few of his friends from a few canoe companies bring in a few dozen boats to sell in
the parking lot. It just sorta grew from there. I took over the production of the show in
the mid ‘90s, and what you see today is the result of a great team doing a great job. I
mostly stay out of their way.
Q: How did you end up at Rutabaga?
A: I was working part-time at Rutabaga in 1990 to keep sane (I had a desk job at the
State of Wisconsin and it was crushing my soul). By 1994, I was full-time, working in
management until 2002, and then bought the business with my friend, Jeff. I bought out
Jeff in 2007. I am in love with my job.
Q: Who works at Rutabaga?
A: 19 of the greatest people on the planet. We have very little turnover, which is why
you’ll see the same faces at Canoecopia year after year. We also hire seasonal staff
to work in the Spring and Summer months, plus instructors for Rutabaga Outdoor
Programs.
Q: Why the name Rutabaga?
A: The original founder had an unexplained fondness for Frank Zappa. Google “Call
Any Vegetable” and you’ll see what I mean. I also suspect that a wee bit of cannabis
was involved. It was the ‘70s.
Q: What’s the best thing about owning a business?
A: Making people happy. I feel honored and blessed to be able to earn a living selling
equipment and experiences that enrich lives.
Q: What’s the worst thing about owning a business?
A: That depends on the day. Life’s a roller coaster. Owning a business just makes
the roller coaster bigger, faster, and on occasion, scarier. But it also makes the roller
coaster a lot more fun.
Q: Can I really paddle these things?
A: Yes, and I promise it will be a life-changing experience.
Follow us on Twitter at Rutabaga Paddler and at www.facebook.com/rutabaga
5
Canoecopia 2010 www.rutabaga.com

6
“Rooted in the outdoors since 1976”
Our Year in Review
ANNIE TEREBA
We all have our chunks of time during the
year when workloads pile up. Mine falls
into place a few months before Canoecopia
hits, as I am officially the gal who puts this publication
together. As I rush to meet deadlines, organizing and
editing, I also focus on sitting back, slowing down, and
spending part of these busy Winter months pouring over
the past year – how fast it has gone, the adventures we’ve
had, our plans for the ‘Baga family in the future.
As I sit and look over the shop this past year, I’m
proud of what we’ve been able to accomplish. Despite
the country’s economic recession, our business is
thriving, staying afloat even amid tough times. You all
have continued to paddle and gear up for trips, and we’re
grateful to be the ones helping to get you on the water.
We’ll be unveiling our new and improved webstore
this spring, leading to an easier and more enjoyable online
shopping experience for you. A team of ‘Bagas is hard
at work on this web makeover, adding new features to
the site to make it easier to navigate and to search for
what you’re looking for. Our goal is for a user-friendly
webstore that makes it easy to get the gear you need so
you can get out on the water and have some fun.
If shopping in-person is more your style, we’re always
glad to welcome you into our shop at 220 West Broadway.
We’ve made some upgrades and innovative changes to the
sales floor, including a new whitewater section and a little
cabin to display all the camping gear. The small touches
in the shop and on the grounds reflect the bright ideas and
attention to detail that come from our dedicated staff.
Like every year, we welcome new seasonal staff to the
team in the springtime, and it looks like we’re gearing up
for an amazing Summer, with wonderful additions to the
Baga family.
And speaking of the ‘Baga family – we have
added three new dogs to the shop this year and as this
publication goes to press, I’ll be personally adding a baby
to our troops. (another will join us this Summer, though I
won’t be taking credit for that one!)
We hope you take some time to read through the
Gazette, to read what our ‘Baga family has to share with
you. Inside you’ll find the What’s New Gear Guide,
Reflection articles and all the Speakers that will be at
the show this year. We hope these pieces will inform,
entertain, and inspire you. If you’re coming to the show,
stroll the aisles, ask questions, and gear up for a season
of paddling. And please – if you see one of the ‘Bagas
walking the show – introduce yourself. We’d love to chat.
In the midst of your busy schedules and bustling lives,
we hope you have a chance to slow down and reflect, too
— to look back at the year past and the new one to come.
Whether you’ve been part of our family for decades or
you’re coming to Canoecopia for the first time this year,
we’d love to be a part of your 2010.
www.jacksonkayak.com · Look for our booth at Canoecopia 2010

OVERCOMING
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time it fl ew off my roof and smashed through a cop car.
Then my friends bought me a Yakima EvenKeel for my birthday
to make sure my boat always stays safe and secure up there.
I can’t wait to use it! Just as soon as I get out of jail.
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EVERYTHING
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DO YOU OR SOMEONE YOU KNOW
SUFFER FROM RACK ENVY? IF SO,
VISIT US AT YAKIMA.COM

8
“Rooted in the outdoors since 1976”
Our Policies, Values, Ethics
Having a fairly small organization,
we can’t spend a lot of time trying
to wordsmith our policies so they read
like legal documents:
Rutabaga staff (hereafter referred to
as “staff”) will endeavor to ensure that
Rutabaga clients (hereafter referred
to as “clients”) are fully satisfied with
their consulting, testing and purchasing
experience (hereafter referred to as “experience”)
in all manner pursuant to the
client’s ultimate enjoyment of paddling.
Ours reads more like this:
“We at Rutabaga treat people like we
would want to be treated.”
I wish I could take credit for the concept,
but someone with more authority
than me created it a few thousand
years ago. But to quote poet Edwin
Markham, “We have committed the
Golden Rule to memory; now let us
commit it to life.” We’re committed. At
least, we’re committed to committing.
We promise to be honorable; you
promise to be reasonable.
All of our policies are designed
around these two things; when you
come to our business, be it Rutabaga or
Canoecopia, we want you to feel as if
you just walked into my living room;
warmly welcomed. We would hope that
we would be treated the same. I have
always been gratified by the way we
are treated by you at Canoecopia and at
Rutabaga too.
When something goes awry (we’re
human, and make mistakes too), we
pledge to be honorable in how we fix the
problem. What we ask is that you be reasonable
in your expectations. We will fix
every problem that is fixable as quickly
as we possibly can. Just remember that
some problems take longer to fix.
We have endeavored to provide here
a succinct summary of how we like to
do business. This is our baseline. Thank
you and see you at the show.
HOW CANOECOPIA WORKS
In a perfect world:
1) You purchase gear.
2) You love it.
3) We all live happily ever after.
But the world is not always perfect ...
so here’s how we handle imperfection.
General Deposit
If you can’t make a decision on a boat
during Canoecopia, put a general $400
deposit down at the show for a boat to
be chosen later under less demanding
circumstances at Rutabaga. This will
secure the Canoecopia discounts on
boats and paddling gear for a one-time
purchase through May 31st, 2010.
Special Orders
If the perfect boat for you is not in our
stock, or you want something special, we
can order it. We plan production slots with
most of our manufacturers for custom or
special order boats. It might take a while
longer, (up to 8-10 weeks,) but you will
certainly get the boat you want.
Returns
Life happens and what you buy today
might not be what you expected. We’ve
been there ourselves. It may not be
tomorrow, or even next week before this
is discovered. We understand, so we try to
make it easy and fair. During Canoecopia,
Rutabaga extends its normal 30-day return
window an additional 15 days. After
45 days, a store credit may be given as
circumstances dictate.
Used Boat Trade-Ins
Is it time to upgrade your boat to a lighter,
longer, more stable or more playful canoe
or kayak? Whatever your situation may
be we have a trade-in program for you.
Let us look at your current boat, assess its
full market value, then apply a percentage
of that value to the boat of your choice.
Please ask the friendly staff for details at
the boat pick-up booth.
“We promise to be honorable;
you promise to be reasonable.”
Websites and Mail Order
Consider it your 24-hour Rutabaga. We may not be at the store all hours of the day,
but our products and insight are always available for viewing (and purchasing!) at
www.rutabaga.com. Compare products, create your very own “wish list,” read the
reviews of our staff or place an order in your jammies.

What’s Going on at the Show
Every year the Rutabaga staff brainstorms new and exciting
activities to improve Canoecopia, both to enhance
your weekend and to make it more fun for us! In addition to the
presentations and demonstrations, there’s a lot going on during
the three days, so be sure to read the schedules carefully ... and
consider a 3-day pass if your schedule allows. There’s more
than enough to keep you busy!
Food Pantry Donation - All weekend
Please consider donating a non-perishable
food item (or items) for the Second Harvest
Foodbank of Southern Wisconsin. Barrels
will be placed near the info booth, and if
you donate you’ll receive a free gift.
Aluminum Chef Competition
Sponsored by MSR and Whole Foods
Saturday, 4:30 pm, Quetico Room
Aluminum Chef has become a must-see
at Canoecopia, and 2010 is no exception.
Three chefs will test their culinary skills
against each other in a true outdoor style.
No Viking range or copper pots, just MSR
stoves and cook kits, and a pantry of
ingredients you might have on your next
camping trip.
Outdoor chefs Marty Koch and Kevin Callan will attempt to
reclaim the title of Aluminum Chef from our local Chef Joey
Dunscombe of Madison’s Weary Traveler Freehouse. Sit in the
front row if you want to taste the goodies.
Many thanks to MSR for their sponsorship of Aluminum
Chef, and special thanks to Whole Foods for providing the
secret ingredient (and the rest of the ingredients as well).
Yoga for Paddlers
Saturday, 9:30 am and Sunday, 10:30 am, Atrium
What paddler doesn’t want to improve core strength, flexibility
and balance? Begin your day with 45-minutes of morning yoga as
Anna Levesque, yoga instructor and paddler, leads us in a gentle
yoga routine that targets specific muscles used for paddling. No
prior yoga experience necessary — all levels welcome.
Paddling Club Rendezvous
Saturday, 5:30-7:30 pm, Superior Room, Clarion Hotel
Mark your calendars for March 13th as Rutabaga and The
Illinois Paddling Council host the first annual Paddling Club
Rendezvous in the Superior Room of the Clarion Hotel, located
next to the Alliant Energy Center. The Rendezvous is an opportunity
for paddling club members all over the Midwest to
network, share favorite paddling destinations, plan joint activities,
recruit new members, and just get to know each other. We
hope you’ll join us to check out your local paddling clubs.
Thanks to Rutabaga for providing pizza and soft drinks. All
club members and potential members are welcome!
Saturday Night Film Premiere/Party
sponsored by Rutabaga
Saturday, 8:00 pm, High Noon Saloon, 701 East Washington
Ave., Madison, WI. (608) 268-1122
Rutabaga is pleased to present the world premiere of This is
Canoeing by Justine Curgenven. Well known for her This is the
Sea kayaking series DVDs, Justine’s new film is a long-overdue
celebration of the single blade, showcasing some of canoeing’s
most talented paddlers as they explore wilderness & run challenging
whitewater in open boats. After the film, dance to the sounds
of DJ Nick Nice. $5.00 cover at the door. See you there!
Thank you to our Canoecopia sponsors; Kokatat, NRS, Teva,
Sierra Magazine and Don Miller Subaru. The energy they
bring to Canoecopia is phenomenal, and we’re grateful for their
support and partnership. Please visit their booths, they are one
of the reasons we can keep doing Canoecopia.
9
Canoecopia 2010 www.rutabaga.com

Join the next
AmericAn
revolution.
Across the country, thousands of young ‘Outsiders’ are joining together to form an Outdoor Nation. With passions
that range from kayaking to climbing to kite flying, a growing group of next generation leaders are spearheading a
new movement to champion the outdoors – as athletes and advocates.
As this new exciting effort kicks off, there are many ways to get involved. Embrace Your Inner Outsider!
online. on lAnd.
Visit Outdoor Nation online – www.outdoornation.org
– where you can network with outdoor leaders, create
outdoor clubs and groups and even earn free gear
just for giving your opinion. Twice a month, Outsiders
will be asked for their feedback on a range of outdoor
issues and, in exchange, get free outdoor stuff.
Become A FAn
This June, thousands of young people, of all ages,
will descend upon New York City’s Central Park to
participate in the first ever Outdoor Nation event.
Spanning two days, the outdoor nAtion FestivAl
And summit will offer a range of exciting adventures
– from rock climbing to kayaking to fishing all in the
world’s iconic urban park. In addition, more than 500
young leaders from across the country will host the
world’s first Youth Summit on the Outdoors – setting
a national agenda for a new youth-led outdoor
movement.
Outdoor Nation is on Facebook and looking for fans! Simply visit www.facebook.com/outdoornation to learn more
about the growing community and how you can connect with Outsiders from across the country. Join Outdoor
Nation and Help Start the Next American Revolution!
www.outdoornAtion.org

SIERRA CLUB
One swallow does not make a summer, but one skein of geese,
cleaving the murk of March thaw, is the Spring. - Aldo Leopold.
I
grew up, through no fault of my own, in a Los Angeles,
California suburb. In this suburb, there were few wild
things. The hills behind our housing development were
quite wild, however, and I periodically cleaned the sagebrush
out of my bicycle chain guard. It was these wild places that
allowed me, an avowed lover of nature, to survive childhood
in what was otherwise a sea of concrete, strip maps, and well-
manicured lawns. Subdivisions were named for the flora or
fauna that were displaced. I lived in Oak Park. There were
no oaks in Oak Park.
After 26 years in Wisconsin, I have grown to love the signs of
seasons changing. They are distinct from each other and each
has a treasure hidden within their respective complexities. I
didn’t find out that John Muir, the flesh and bone, brain and
heart behind the Sierra Club was a Scottish-born, Wisconsinraised
lover of Nature. I, like Muir, was transplanted here.
Sierra Magazine, the publishing arm of the Sierra Club, is a
wonderful resource for those of us who love Nature and enjoy
learning about amazing natural places, ways to help preserve
them, and the courageous women and men who are passionate
about conserving their little corner of the world.
Rutabaga is once again proud to have
Sierra Magazine as our media sponsor
for Canoecopia. The folks at Sierra
Magazine are more than partners, they
are our friends. We welcome the Sierra
Club and its members to Canoecopia
2010 and hope you stop by and thank
them for their support.
SIERRA magazine is proud to be a sponsor of Canoecopia 2010
For more information, call:
Kristi Rummel,
National Advertising Director,
kristi.rummel@sierraclub.org
SIERRA CLUB
- darren bush
SIERRA is committed to help grow the paddling sport community.
The Sierra Club and its one-million+ members have been paddling, fishing and protecting
our waterways for more than 100 years. We encourage our members to explore and
enjoy the waterways by providing paddling clinics and trips nationwide through our
Sierra Club Outings program. (Awarded 2008/09 Best Adventure Travel Companies by
National Geographic Adventure magazine). SIERRA magazine publishes regular paddling
features, showcases paddling gear as well as our infamous Annual Paddling Issue
in the May/June issue.
SIERRA readers love to paddle!
Own a Canoe—26%
Own a Kayak—17%
Whitewater—25%
Touring—29%
Recreational—77%
Long Weekend—35%
Local Day Trips —71%
Expedition of 5 days or more—19%
Wear paddling-specific clothing—34%
Fishing from a Canoe or Kayak—45%
Stop by our booth & register to win a cool paddling prize!
*Pick up a free copy of SIERRA’s Annual Outings Adventure Travel issue.
*Plus 2010 Wisconsin Sierra Club river touring trip listing.
*Daily raffle!
11
Canoecopia 2010 www.rutabaga.com

12
“Rooted in the outdoors since 1976”
FeelFree
Sit-on-top kayaks are simple, straightforward crafts designed to be easy and fun to
use. FeelFree kayaks are new to Rutabaga and Canoecopia, with unique features
such as a built-in wheel for rolling (not carrying) your boat to the water. Sometimes
a simple improvement makes all the difference. Be sure to check out the Moken
series—it’s a great platform for inland and offshore kayak fishing.
Yakima Even Keel
Yakima was kind enough to send us prototypes for
these kayak saddles last summer, and we put ‘em
through the test ... and they passed with flying colors.
They’re easy to attach and detach, which we love, and
Bell Expedition 1-2p.Final their 12/15/09 design is simple 9:48 AM and brilliant. Page 1 No hull deformities
on any of the kayaks we used to test them.
FoxWorx Paddles
We’re pleased and proud to
welcome FoxWorx Paddles
back to Rutabaga after a tenyear
hiatus and an ownership
change. If you’re looking
for lightweight paddles, Dale
and Bev are building some
lovely paddles.
We especially love the FFG
bent and Excel straight.

Astral Camino
Astral has always been on the
forefront of lifevest (PFD) design
and functionality. Last year the
introduction of the ventilated
V-Eight was a home run, so the
folks at Astral brought us the
Camino, a more tailored vest for
sea kayaking or canoeing. Simple
and elegant.
Kialoa
Surftech Laird Softtop
Darren and Annie have been
paddling with one of these for a
season and they love it. The
adjustability allows you to share with
friends, and with stand up paddling
taking off like it is, your friends will
definitely want to try too.
If you want a lighter paddle, try the
carbon Shaka Puu for men or the
Pipes for women. Both are gorgeous.
We’re in our third year of SUP (stand-up
paddling) at Rutabaga. After paddling all
the boards at the summer trade shows, we
chose to partner up with Surftech, makers
of the Laird Hamilton line of stand-up
boards. We love the Laird Softtop 11.5
for a great performing board, and the
new French 10’6” and 11’6” will suit
beginners as an all-around board.
PADDLING
Carts
Deck Bags
Lights
Compasses
CAR TOP
Blocks & Kits
Straps
St Storage
®
New
H2Duo
Bottle/
Cup
13
Canoecopia 2010 www.rutabaga.com
For F For all yo your adventures.
CAMPING
Bottles
Showers
Solar Light
DRY BAGS
Personal
Electronic
Stuff Sacks
Duffels
High quality. Plus bike and snow gear, too.

14
“Rooted in the outdoors since 1976”
Werner Skagit CM
The Skagit CM is a
lighter, stiffer version of
the popular Skagit IM.
The CM comes standard
with a carbonfiber blend
shaft and carbonfiberreinforced
nylon blades,
giving you a lighter
swing weight and a
stiffer blade. A great
beginner paddle, and
when you move up to a
composite paddle, it’s a
great spare.
There’s never been
a better time
…to begin or enhance your paddling
experience. Stable performance and
value make us one of the most desired kayaks for
paddlers of all sizes and experience levels.
www.perceptionkayaks.com
Kokatat Tempest
Okay, it’s not new. But we blew it. Kokatat
presented this piece as a great paddling top
for kayak fishing, and we thought just kayak
fishing. Then we woke up last fall and said,
“Wait a second ... this is an awesome
paddling top, period.”
You’ll be hard-pressed to
find more bang for your
buck ... if you paddle a
kayak of any species, you
should definitely try on a
Tempest.
Teva
The new women’s Itumba from
Teva features toe protection, EVA
nonabsorbant topsoles and plenty of
drainage ports. A super sticky Spider
Rubber® sole makes them a great
water sandal.

Epic V10 Sport
Rutabaga is pleased to welcome Epic Kayak to Canoecopia. We’re particularly
excited about the V10 Sport, a fast, light, self-bailing surf-ski that, after
some practice, can be a paddle for fitness or recreational racing. We’ll also be
featuring Epic wing blade paddles, a perfect match with faster kayaks from
any kayak manufacturer.
P&H Aries
Liquidlogic Coupe
The Remix XP crossover kayaks (crossing
over from flatwater to whitewater and
back again) were a runaway hit last year.
For those of you who want to play in the
whitewater but want to sit on, not in, the
Coupe is a sit-on-top version of the Remix
XP. The Coupe is the only sit-on-top with a
spring-loaded skeg. Seat sold separately.
If you’ve always wanted a playful sea kayak that can also serve as a weekend
tripper, take a look at the Aries series. Designed to play in rough water
or surf, the Aries series is perfect for a whitewater paddler who wants a sea
kayak. It’s the Triumph Spitfire of sea kayaks (except much more reliable).
Also available in polyethylene, called the Delphin.
Aquaracks
Storing your kayak (or long,
skinny solo canoe) has never been
easier. We love the big Aquaracks,
but they were sometimes too
large for our needs. These smaller
Aquaracks will turn your garage
into a boathouse. As if we needed
encouragement.
15
Canoecopia 2010 www.rutabaga.com
WE’RE BACK.
Visit us online to find old
favorites and new designs,
all made with pride in
Duluth, Minnesota.
Old #7 Box-style Canoe Pack. Over a
dozen pack styles
to choose from.
www.frostriver.com
Call : 218-727-1472

16
“Rooted in the outdoors since 1976”
NRS Sasquatch
NRS’s latest paddling shoe utilizes a new cuff
that is both comfortable and simple. A tough,
texturized rubber sole also encases the toes
creating a very durable but low-profile shoe.
Venture Flex 11
This compact little river runner is perfect for
exploring all those little rivers you think nobody
has ever paddled. Good hull speed and tracking for
a boat less then 12 feet, the roomy cockpit is comfortable
and easy to enter and exit yet it still allows
for decent thigh bracing for edging.
GoGirl
Ok, so what’s a GoGirl?
Simply put, GoGirl is the way to stand up to crowded, disgusting,
distant or non-existent bathrooms. It’s a female urination
device (sometimes called a FUD) that allows you to
pee while standing up. It’s neat. It’s discreet. It’s hygienic.
North Water Paddle Britches
All sea kayakers struggle with storing an extra paddle on the deck. It’s a hassle and it
scratches up our boats. These Paddle Britches are weird, but they’re really cool, and are a great
way to store your spare. Stop by the North Water booth and see Morgan for a full demonstration.

Pyranha Fusion S
Expanding their crossover offerings, Pyranha created a
downsized version of their runaway success; the Fusion S.
THE NEW 2010
It’s only six inches shorter than the original Fusion but the
COMMANDER 120
S loses about 20% of the volume. Great boat for smaller
people or smaller rivers.
Native Inuit 12.5
A new level of
performance for fishing
kayaks. Quiet, agile and
easy to paddle.
• Two Seating Options
• Ample Tankwells
• SlideTrax Accessory System
• Ready for Trolling motor
The newest watercraft from Native is aimed at broadening their family of boats to
include a snugger fitting short touring kayak that has two dry hatches and a very
WS_Commander_Canoecopia.indd 1 12/23/09 9:43 AM
comfortable cockpit and seat. The Inuit is a great option if you’re searching for an
efficient, sporty, and comfortable day paddler.
Platypus Softbottles
There’s not a hard bottle out there that’s
cleaner, greener, and more flexible than
a Platypus SoftBottle. Each one comes
with our Clean-Taste Guarantee and
it’s made with zero BPA. The SoftBottle
is green, too, because it’s ultra-reusable
and lightweight, it uses less energy and
materials.
Wilderness Systems Commander
This new sit-inside fishing kayak has enough
stability to allow standing up. Loads of add-on
features such as rod holders, bases for camera
mounts, anchor systems, and fishfinders allow
you to customize your boat to your needs. The
Hideaway sliding seat and raised seat platform
allow better visibility if you’re sight fishing.
17
Canoecopia 2010 www.rutabaga.com

Nova Craft’s
New Rob Roy
Canoecopia 2010
Speakers / Nova Craft
Ambassadors;
novacraft.com
Prototype shown above
The
Legendary
Kevin Callan
kevincallan.com
— Rob Roy —
r o b r o y c a n o e . c o m
John
MacGregor
Inspired by John MacGregor’s
Original Design
Nova Craft’s latest addition, the Rob Roy 3.9, is the perfect
vessel for solo paddlers. It combines the enjoyment of canoe
tripping with the versatility of a kayak. The Rob Roy 3.9 is small,
light, easy to portage, has great load capacity, and is highly
maneuverable with impressive performance. 866-88 CANOE
Debra Kraiker Rolf Kraiker
blazingpaddles.ca

Paddling Makes the Rash go Away
KEVIN CALLAN
few years back my father found
A himself in a coma, which caused a
great deal of stress to the family.
Individuals react to stress in various
ways. With me, a massive rash formed
all over my body. Of course, I went to the
doctor, who then informed me that when
the stress went away, so would the rash.
So off I went on a canoe trip in Quetico
for twenty-eight days. Three days into
the trip the rash disappeared. More mindblowing,
however, was a half-hour in on
the return trip home, the rash came back.
And you wonder why I smirk at people
who can’t fully understand why paddling
is so important?
My father understood. I left for my trip
the day he awoke – and he knew why.
My daughter, now five, has understood
the passion for wilderness paddling
from the age of six-months – when she
completed her first canoe trip, and loved
it so much that she’s constantly asking
when our next trip is.
My wife, Alana, understands. She
insists our marriage has flourished
because of our canoe trips together, but
also never questions the times I head out
alone.
My friends understand as well. That’s
how they’ve become lifelong friends –
we go on canoe trips together. All of us,
every culture on this planet, are born
from wilderness; and when we return
to the familiar, our senses peak and all
the ills of society fade away. The rash
disappears.
My life encompasses anything that
has to do with wilderness travel, which
is why I have ventured to Canoecopia
year after year. To me, this is a time of
celebration and reflection. It’s a time to
reminisce on past trips and grow excited
for the next to come. And it’s a darn good
time to buy all the gadgets.
Here’s a list of what I added to my gear
list last season – and a look for this year.
Nova Craft’s Canadian Flag Canoe.
Nova Craft gives you the freedom to
choose your favorite canoe pattern. They
will bond a patterned fabric between the
clear gel outer layer and Kevlar or Kevlar/
Spectra inner layers in the canoe of your
choice. The Canadian Company laminated
a flowing maple leaf design into my boat
to celebrate Canada’s first annual National
Canoe Day. Cool!
I switched to the new MSR
SimmerLite Liquid Fuel Stove from
the Whisperlite Dragonfly. Both are light
weight, have good simmer control and
bring water to a boil very quickly. Why
did I switch? Because the Dragonfly
sounds like a jet taking off and there’s
no way I’ll ever hear the bear sneak into
camp while the burner is going.
The Gravity Filter by Platapus is a
somewhat new water system idea that
saves you the hassle of pumping the filter,
working on gravity instead. I purchased
it for my large-group trips where we
planned to have six or more at camp and
it was pure bliss having everyone fill their
water bottles up with ease. This thing
filters four liters of water in just two-anda-half
minutes.
The moment I saw Nova Craft’s new
Rob Roy Canoe design, I made my
order. Maybe because I’m half Scottish
or maybe because I’m a bit of a history
buff ... whatever the reason, I can’t wait to
give it a go. My Scottish cousins sent me
the appropriate kilt to wear for the maiden
voyage – which will be the Northern
Forest Water Trail in June – and I’m just
hoping black flies and mosquitoes don’t
fly up my bloody skirt on the portages.
novacraft.com
kevincallan.com
19
Canoecopia 2010 www.rutabaga.com

20
“Rooted in the outdoors since 1976”
JOHN
REINDERS
S.U.P. Stand Up Paddling.
It seems like in no time at all the sport of Stand Up Paddling has
exploded from a few passionate individuals into one of the coolest
new trends in paddling. At Rutabaga, not only are we on top of it,
we’re embracing the sport. And we think you’ll love it, too.
At last year’s Outdoor Retailer Demo Day, an event at the
industry’s annual trade show, we at Rutabaga had our eyes opened to
the fastest growing development in the paddlesport industry, Stand Up
Paddling (S.U.P.). Like other years, there were fun new canoes and
kayaks to test out, but there were actually more stand up paddleboards
to try than traditional watercraft. The number and variety of boards
we paddled at Demo Days were incredible, and we came away with
some favorites to share with our Rutabaga family.
So here’s the scoop:
What is Stand Up Paddling (S.U.P.)?
It’s just like it sounds. You stand up on an oversized surfboard with
an oversized canoe paddle and well…you paddle. That’s all there
is to it. Deciding where and how you do it is part of the fun. Like
canoes and kayaks, the boards come in many shapes and sizes, so
you’ll want to find a board that works for you and the type of paddling
you want to do.
Generally speaking, bigger boards are easier to learn on and better
for bigger paddlers, while narrower and smaller boards can be more
challenging and playful. As for paddles, we generally size them based
on your height, but your paddling style is factored in, as well.
Where did S.U.P. start? How long have people been doing it?
The origins of S.U.P. are not known precisely, but legend has it
that the first modern stand-up paddlers were photographers catching
photos of tourists learning to surf in Hawaii. From there, the idea
spread and was cultivated by a number of trend-setting paddlers who
have brought the sport to where it is today.
Now there are open water races between the Hawaiian Islands
and all up and down the West Coast. S.U.P. has naturally made its
biggest inroads where there was already surf-culture, but it is rapidly
spreading inland.
Why Stand Up?
First of all, S.U.P is a new and fun way to enjoy your time on
the water, and it can be whatever you want it to be — a lazy paddle
around the pond, a way to catch a wave or two, or even a killer
workout. And standing up instead of sitting down gives you a view
you won’t get sitting in a boat.
You can also stand-up paddle in almost any size and type of wave,
whether you ride it for a few feet or a few hundred yards. Surfers use
stand-up paddleboards to get out farther or catch different swells than
they could with a regular surfboard. Amateurs like myself can have
a blast on the smaller waves of Lake Michigan or on the wakes of
powerboats passing by. You can even have a good time cruising the
flat water of smaller inland lakes, or paddling downriver and surfing
the rapids.
But as well as being a lot of fun, S.U.P. provides the added benefit
of a great core workout. Many people use stand-up as core training,
because you use all of your muscles and you aren’t stuck in a gym.
You may be exercising, but you’re cruising around — standing up —
and having a great time. In fact, many adventure athletes and people
training for the Ironman Triathlon use S.U.P. as a no-impact core
workout.
Who’s Who in S.U.P.?
We paddled dozens of boards to make sure we could bring a good
selection home to our Rutabaga family. And while we tried boards
of all shapes and sizes, one manufacturer stood out above the rest:
Surftech.
Surftech is the largest manufacturer of surf- and paddleboards on
the planet, and they know everything there is to know about board
making. They have an incredibly wide stable of passionate athletes
who use their experience and skills to help keep the company on
the top of the surf-heap, and we’re excited to bring their stand-up
paddleboards to Rutabaga.

Rutabaga will also
be carrying standup
paddles from
Werner, Kialoa,
and Surftech, all
companies with
a passion for and
tradition of making
awesome paddles.
It’s clear that
S.U.P. is here to
stay, and we at
Rutabaga want
to be the ones to
bring it to you. It’s
fun, versatile, and
accessible; not to
mention downright
cool. And as your
primary paddling
enablers, we at
Rutabaga want
to help give you
a chance to catch
some of that cool.
Surf’s up.
21
Canoecopia 2010 www.rutabaga.com

22
“Rooted in the outdoors since 1976”
Exhibitor & Vend
Adaptive Paddling
Adventure Medical Kits
AdventureScreen.com
Ahnu Footwear
American Canoe Association
American Traders
Aquabound Paddles
Astral Buoyancy
AT Paddles
Bay-Lakes Council, Boy Scouts
Beaches of Fort Meyers, Sanibel Island
Bear Paw Outdoor Adventure Resort
Bearskin Lodge
Bell Canoe Works
Bending Branches Paddles
Big City Mountaineers
Body Boat Blade International
BoundaryWatersCanoeArea.com
Boundary Waters Journal
Cache Lake Camping Food
CameraPacker
Camp Manito-wish YMCA
Canoe & Kayak Magazine
Cap’n Redbeards
Cascade Creek
Chaco Footwear
Chesapeake Light Craft
Chosen Valley Canoe Accessories
Chota Outdoor Gear
Conserve School
Cooke Custom Sewing
Current Designs Kayaks
Dagger
Danuu Canoe & Kayak Cover
Delta Kayaks
Don Miller Automotive
Door Cty. Sea Kayak Symposium
Eagle’s Nest Outfitters
Epic Kayaks
Everglades Area Tours
EZ - Row
Family Tent Camping
Filson
Folbot
Four Rivers Realty, Inc.
FoxWorx Paddles
Friends of the BWCA
Girls at Play
GoGirl
Grand Portage Isle Royale Lines
Grand Trunk
Gransfors Bruks Axes
Granite Gear
Great River Outfitters
Gunflint Northwoods Outfitters
Harken Hoister
Harmony
Hawks Nest Canoe Outfitters
Holz Canoe Paddles
Horny Toad
Hurricane Kayaks
Icebreaker
Immersion Research
Impex Kayaks
Iron, Price & Rusk Cty. Paddle
Isle Royale National Park
Jackson Kayaks
Jansport
Jefferson County Parks Dept.
Jetboil
Katadyn
Kayaking Adventure of Door Cty.
Keen Footwear
KIALOA Paddles
Kinetic Koffee Company
Klean Kanteen
Kokatat
Lafayette Development Corp.
Level Six
Liquidlogic Kayaks
Living Adventure
Mad River Canoe
Madison Winter Festival
Malone Auto Racks
Michigan’s Keweenaw Peninsula
Minocqua-Arbor Vitae-Woodruff
Missinaibi Headwaters Outfitters
Mountain Safety Research
Marine Technology International MTI
Nada Chair
National Outdoor Leaders School
Native Eyewear
Native Watercraft
Naturally Bamboo
Necky Kayaks
Nemo Equipment
NEOSport Wetsuits
Nicolet College
Northcentralwisconsin.com
Northern Lakes Girl Scout Canoe Base
North Water
Northern Forest Canoe Trail
Northern Soul
Northern Tier High Adventure
NorthWest Canoe
Nova Craft Canoe
NRS
Ocean Kayaks
Old Scout Outdoor Products
Old Town Canoe
Ontario Parks
Original Bug Shirt
Ostrom Outdoors
Outdoor Research
P&H Kayaks
Packtowl
Paddle & Portage
Paddling.net
Pakboat
Perception Kayaks
Peregrine Outfitters
Petzl
Piragis Northwoods Company
Platypus
Poi Boy Fishing & Wilderness Lodge
Presque Isle COC
Prijon
Pyranha
Quantum Engineering
Quietwater Films
Rec Repair
Renewal in the Wilderness
Rock Art in Watercolors
Rustic Wolf Inn, Shiocton Bus. League
Rutabaga Outdoor Programs
Savage River Works
Sawyer Paddles
Scotty Inc.
Sea Kayaker Magazine
Sea to Summit
Seal Line

or Listing
Seals Sprayskirts
Sea-Lect Designs
Seattle Sports
Seven Treasures
Sierra Magazine
Sierra Inner City Outings
Sierra Club River Touring Section
Silent Sports Magazine
Silverwaves * Olas de Plata
Snap Dragon Designs
SOAR Inflatables
Spirit of the Wilderness
Spring Creek Outfitters
St. Germain COC
Steri Pen
Superior Kayaks
Superior Portage Pads
Suspenz Storage Racks
TCTeardrops LLC
Teko
Teraswhey
Terra Santa Kayak Expeditions
Teva
The Sign Post
TheCanoeist.com
Thermarest
Thule
Tilley Endurables
Trek & Trail
Tuktu Paddles
Turisaven Beyond Expectations
Tuscarora Outfitters
University of Sea Kayaking
Valley Sea Kayaks
Vibram Five Fingers
Vortex Optics
Voyageur North Canoe Outfitters
Voyageur Wilderness Programme Ltd.
Wabakimi Canoe & Fishing Adventures
Walk on Water Surfboards, LLC.
Washington Island COC
Wenonah Canoe
Werner Paddles
Whiskeyjack Paddles
Whitecap Kayak
Wilderness Medicine Institute of NOLS
Wilderness Systems
Wildwasser Sports
Williams & Hall Outfitters
Windpaddle Sails
Wisconsin Canoe Heritage Museum
Wisconsin DNR
Wisconsin Lakes Realty, Inc.
Wisconsin State Park System
Wooden Canoe Heritage Assoc.
Yakima Products
Lobby
Aldo Leopold Nature Center
American Hiking Society
Callie Rohr Memorial Canoe Race
Chicago Area Sea Kayakers Assoc.
Dane Cty. Office of Lakes & Watersheds
Dane County Parks
Friends of the Apostle Islands
Ice Age Trail Alliance
KayakAnna.org
Mad City Paddlers
Madison Audubon Society
Portage Canal Society
Prairie State Canoeists
River Action of IL & IA Quad Cities
Rivers Project
RockRiverSweep.org
St. Croix National Scenic Riverway
Stateline Paddlers
TEAM Survivor
Upper MS Nat. Wildlife & Fish Refuge
U.S. Army Corp. of Engineers
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
Wabakimi Project
The Wilderness Classroom
STOP BY OUR BOOTH AND SEE WHAT
EPIC CAN HELP YOU ACCOMPLISH!
WWW.EPICKAYAKS.COM

24
“Rooted in the outdoors since 1976”
Our Speakers for
2010
For more information and speaker bios, please see our website at: www.canoecopia.com
{ adaptive paddling panel }
Inclusive Paddling: Paddlers’
Perspectives
Imagine how freeing canoeing
and kayaking can be to people
with physical disabilities who
experience significant barriers
on land. This panel will highlight
paddlers with disabilities who will
inspire you with their stories and share
their creative approaches to meeting challenges. You’ll learn the
basic concepts of adaptive paddling and how to make adaptations
for various disabilities. We’ll feature “show and tell” where you’ll
discover simple solutions for common concerns and see what’s new in
adaptive equipment.
{ american canoe assoc. }
Managing Risk While Afloat
Whether you are a trip leader for your club, an
instructor for an outfitter, or someone who likes
to paddle in a group, risk management can help
you ensure that your next trip is a success. This
session will provide you with guidelines and
tools for comprehensively evaluating three core aspects of a paddling
trip: participants, leadership, and overall on-water management.
{ baja sirenas }
The Mermaids Explore Baja’s Coast
Eleven “mermaids” of various ages
gathered in La Paz to begin a magical
journey exploring, swimming, paddling
and snorkeling the Gulf of California
between Espiritu Santo Island and Isla
Carmen, just east of Loreto. They were accompanied
by blue-footed boobies, bottle nose dolphins, cardon cacti, brydes
whale, waterfalls, high winds, big waves, mangos and avocados, and
good company. The combination and energy made this the trip of a
lifetime. Yes, it was a paddling trip, but it was so much more.
{ tom bamonte }
Paddling the Lonely Islands of Georgian Bay
With 30,000 islands, soaring cliffs and
capricious winds Georgian Bay offers a
paddling environment as challenging and
interesting as any in the Great Lakes. Sizable
portions of its shores are nearly uninhabited. Yet,
relatively few paddlers find their way to Georgian Bay.
For the past three summers Tom Bamonte explored remote sections of
Georgian Bay with trusted paddling partners. These trips culminated
with a visit to Lonely Island, an uninhabited island miles from the
mainland that had never before been visited by kayak. Tom will
describe why this trip to Lonely Island and environs took on the
character of a quest. Hint: it involves waking up one morning to the
words “our boats are gone.”
{ greg barton }
Reaching for the Gold - Tales from an Olympian
Greg Barton stunned the world by winning two
kayaking gold medals at the 1988 Olympics. Greg
will provide entertaining anecdotes of the road to
Olympic Glory and show video footage of his Gold
medal kayak races. He’ll share his start in paddling,
different types of races, and how to find and enter a race near you. An
inspirational story of dedication and making dreams come true.
How to Improve Your Speed and Fitness - Strategies & Training
Do you feel tired and sore after a long paddle? A few workouts
beforehand can greatly improve your paddling speed and comfort.

Learn how to optimally train, whether to compete for races or
to increase your paddling efficiency. Greg will cover training
theories, schedules and crosstraining. He’ll also touch on
strategies such as pacing and wake riding for more efficient
paddling. Whether you want to increase your speed for racing,
get in shape for your upcoming trip or just feel better, this
presentation will teach you the right way to go about it.
{ john bates }
Birds of Northern Rivers and Lakes
A host of birds regale any northern paddle
trip with their songs and fly-bys. The
Northwoods of Minnesota, Wisconsin, and
Michigan supports the highest number of
nesting bird species of any region north of
Mexico – in fact, it’s hard to find a better
place to watch birds! From eagles to marsh
hawks and kingbirds to kingfishers, we’ll look at the most
notable of the birds one might see on any given paddle, get a
feel for their personality, and show you where to look for them.
Critters of Northern Rivers and Lakes
When you paddle on a northern river or lake, you're paddling
within a larger wildlife community that has lived in and along
water for thousands of years. Knowing who they are and how
they survive can deeply enrich any paddle experience. We’ll
take a glimpse at some of the cornucopia of life that calls the
northern water their home.
{ kelly blades }
Demystifying the Rescue
There are two kinds of kayakers in the
world…those who swim and those who
lie about it. Kelly will cause you to do
some critical thinking regarding the
whole concept of rescues in a question
and answer forum. Bring your opinions, your objections, and
your sacred cows. Our goal is to figure out what's important,
what's safe, and what's good practice and technique.
Why a Sea Kayak?
This session will focus on what a sea kayak is and isn't; what
a sea kayak can and can't do well; what a sea kayak should
and shouldn't have; who should use a sea kayak and in what
conditions. In short, Kelly will define sea kayak so you can go
forth and make your own educated decisions.
{ lloyd brandon }
Four Years and 1,000 miles of
Midwestern Day Trips
Come hear the story of an individual
new to paddling who has discovered
wonderful rivers in Wisconsin,
Minnesota, and Iowa. While working
full-time, Lloyd has managed to take 90 day
trips in the last four years, seeing wonderful sights, meeting
interesting people and refining his paddling technique. Learn
how Lloyd uses a variety of sources to find new rivers to
paddle. He’s always looking for new rivers to paddle and
returning to old favorites for new experiences.
{ kevin callan }
How to be a Happy Camper
A perennial favorite at
Canoecopia, Kevin returns to
show us how to be “happy” out
there in the woods. The renowned
author will be presenting camping tips such as erecting a
tarp, choosing a good sleeping bag, lighting a one-match fire,
dealing with black bears, choosing less crowded routes, baking
bannock, freezing beer, brewing true-grit camp coffee, buying
your man’s man s
you don’t have to use
TECHNOLOGY & TRADITION
TOGETHER ON THE WATER
25
Canoecopia 2010 www.rutabaga.com
hand-me-downs.
Introducing KIALOA’s women-specifi c SUP paddle, “The Pipes”.
Ergonomically shaped to take advantage of the female build, and it comes in
black or two great custom patterns. Visit kialoa.com today to see more.
541-382-5355 · www.kialoa.com

26
“Rooted in the outdoors since 1976”
the best camp gadgets, and more. Kevin is both informative and
entertaining, and this is a show you don’t want to miss.
{ rob center, darren bush,
dana henry }
The Northern Forest Canoe Trail:
Theory and Practice
The Northern Forest Canoe Trail is
a 740-mile long water trail that runs
from Old Forge, New York to Fort Kent,
Maine. Rob Center, co-founder of the NFCT,
will give an overview of the history found along the trail, the
different types of woods and water, and the ecological and
social impact of the trail. Once you understand the trail and its
workings, Darren Bush and Dana Henry will give their version
of a trip they took last fall on the NFCT, from the beauty of
Lake Umbagog to the whitewater of the Androscoggin River.
{ terrie cooper, tim pflieger }
A Paddler's Paradise - Door County
With over 315 miles of coastline (more than any
other county in the U.S.), Door County is truly a
kayaker's paradise. Local paddlers Terrie Cooper
and Tim Pflieger will take you on a visual journey
highlighting Door County’s unique natural history
and show you some of their favorite off the beaten
path paddling spots. Learn how this fragile and beautiful
peninsula and necklace of islands was formed, what rare species
of plants and animals call this place home, and what efforts
are being taken to protect these coastlines.We’ll share tips for
launching and exploring this paddler’s paradise and highlight
Rutabaga’s annual Door County Sea Kayak Symposium.
{ sam crowley }
Defined by Water - Sea Kayaking the
Upper Peninsula
Michigan's Upper Peninsula is
surrounded by three Great Lakes,
making it a land defined by water.
The U.P. is an intersection of beauty,
history and geology, providing a great
paddling environment to explore. The U.P. is home to places
such as Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore, Grand Island
National Recreation Area, Mackinaw Straits, Garden Peninsula
and the Keweenaw Peninsula. Sam has paddled them all and is
eager to share his experiences with you.
Navigation Basics
This practical session will teach you about the tools and basic
concepts for navigating on the water as a canoeist or a kayaker.
Compass, topo maps, nautical charts, map and chart symbols,
and more are some of the tools. Piloting, ded reckoning, using
ranges and more are some of the concepts. Put these together
for the basis of practical navigation skills that make a lifetime
of paddling more enjoyable.

Stuff and the Art of Packing a Kayak
Whether going on a day paddle or a major expedition, we all
have stuff (a.k.a. gear) to bring along. Some of it is essential to
safety, some of it is essential to our enjoyment, some of it we
bring just because. Learn what gear to bring along and how to
pack it to meet three goals. 1) Your safety gear is accessible. 2)
Your boat handling and performance is not compromised. 3)
You’re packing efficiently so you don’t have to buy a bigger
boat just to carry all of your stuff.
{ justine curgenven }
This is Canoeing - Behind the Scenes
Award winning filmmaker Justine
Curgenven talks about the making of
her brand new open boating DVD, This
is Canoeing. The DVD is the first of
it's kind, showcasing top names, dream
destinations and wilderness trips. Shot in high
definition in Canada, the United States, Wales and Scotland, it's
guaranteed to inspire you to get on the water. Films include a
trip on the remote Mountain river, experts competing at open
canoe slalom, and breathtaking class 5 canoeing down the
spectacular Moose River. Justine will show some of the best
footage, tell some behind the scenes stories and give tips about
how she developed camera mounts for the film.
New Zealand Sea Kayak Circumnavigation
Justine Curgenven talks about her 2,400km journey around
the South Island of New Zealand. She'll tell stories about the
highs and lows and show video footage from her multipleaward
winning film of the trip. Justine and her partner struggled
in 40-knot headwinds, were thrown around in crashing surf
and coped with illness and a helicopter evacuation in remote
fiordland. Close encounters with albatrosses, dolphins and
whales and the kindness of strangers kept them going for 67
days on one of the world’s toughest kayak journeys.
{ william durbin }
Pork Eaters and Hivernants: Canoeing
in the Voyageur Days
Welcome to the world of the voyageur.
Would you qualify to sign on as a
canoeman with the North West Fur
Company? Author William Durbin will help
you evaluate your potential as he takes a historical look at
canoeing, focusing on the year 1800. He’ll describe the process
of enrolling with the North West Company, and he’ll share maps
of the major trade routes of the period. Along the way he’ll show
photos of the construction of a classic thirty-five foot Montreal
birch bark canoe. He’ll also detail the equipment these people
used, and the food, clothing, portages, and trail conditions that
tested these hardy and colorful characters during their fourteen
to sixteen hour days paddling through the wilderness.
{ don easley }
Fishin' the Boundary Waters
for Dummies
Many paddlers return from the
Boundary Waters with tales of
fish so thick that you could walk
across walleyes on the water and not
get your feet wet, but that is not the usual experience. So how
in the heck do non-anglers (or casual anglers) catch fish up
there? Ask the Cap'n. Don will share proven tactics for a most
memorable canoe adventure to the Northwoods. He will show
you how to catch walleye, smallmouth bass, and northern pike
without carrying 25 pounds of tackle and live bait. Learn where
to look for active fish, the best bait to use, and which color of
bait will be most effective. Pick up safer and easier methods of
handling, cleaning, and frying up a stringer of walleye for shore
lunch. If you're not catching all the fish you want, stop in and
pick up a few secrets.
{ bob evans }
The Canoe Country Pictograph Quest:
Some New, Some Old, Some Not at All
Throughout 24 years of traveling
canoe country, Bob Evans and his wife
have found the history, culture, and
religion of the Ojibwa to be their prime
interest. As part of the Quetico Quest celebrating
100 anniversary of Quetico, they committed to compiling a
complete record of all known pictograph sites in Quetico, the
Boundary Waters and immediately bordering waters, based on
personal visits to each site. They found the most rewarding part
of this quest was an intense literary study of the culture and
religion of the Ojibwa as represented by the pictograph images.
{ shawna franklin, leon somme }
Fun, Fast & Feasible - Ocean
Currents of the Pacific
Northwest
Currents in the Pacific
Northwest can exceed 16
knots! They create whirlpools,
plumes, overfalls, tidal races,
and standing waves. Depending on your skills and your
understanding of these currents, they can be the most exciting
places to play in the ocean or some of the most treacherous
waters in the area. Learn how to identify the features and how
they form, strategies to use these areas for fun or to avoid them
for safety. You can use the information we will be discussing to
plan your own trip to the beautiful Pacific Northwest!
Sea Kayak Around Haida Gwaii: The Queen Charlotte Islands
In the summer of 2007, Shawna Franklin, Leon Sommé, and
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Canoecopia 2010 www.rutabaga.com

28
“Rooted in the outdoors since 1976”
renowned cinematographer Justine Curgenven successfully
circumnavigated Haida Gwaii - The Queen Charlotte
Islands. This rugged archipelago is perched at the edge
of the continental shelf off the northwest coast of British
Columbia. Isolated from the mainland, Haida Gwaii is the
“Galápagos of the North,” a unique biological zone with many
endemic animals and plants. The indigenous Haida are world
famous for their advanced culture and art work. The seas
surrounding these islands are some of the most challenging in
North America. The islands are constantly buffeted by storms
from the open Pacific bringing high winds and associated seas
that challenge the skills of the best paddlers.
Living out of their boats for 4 weeks, the team traveled lightly
and without logistical shore support, allowing them flexibility
to respond and react to the challenges they met on the sea, and
to get to know the warm and gracious inhabitants of this remote
outpost. Come hear their story of their journey around this
magical land!
Become a Virtual
Explorer
On Earth Day
2010, Dave
Freeman and
Amy Voytilla
will begin a 3
year, 12,000 mile
journey by canoe,
kayak, and dogsled to educate
elementary and middle school students about North America's
waterways and the importance of protecting the natural world.
This session will give educators and parents the basic tools
they need to engage their students in this educational journey
and bring the thrill and excitement of paddling and exploration
into your classroom or home. You will learn how you can use
moderated chats, online polls, email, and other interactive
technology to communicate with the expedition team as they
paddle from Seattle to the Arctic Ocean and then work their
way from the Arctic Ocean to the Florida Keys over the next 3
school years.
The Trans-Amazon Expediton: 3,000 miles across South
America
Dave Freeman will share stories, videos and photos from
the banks of the Amazon River. In 2008 Dave and five other
teammates completed the Trans-Amazon Expedition, a 3,000
mile journey by bicycle and canoe across South America. The
expedition consisted of three, six-week long phases over the
course of two and a half years. For a taste of the experience,
imagine paddling from dawn to dusk every day, fishing for
piranha, freeing an anaconda from a fisherman's net, camping
in remote river communities, spotting the deadly wandering
spider, and floating alongside pink river dolphins.
{ amy funk }
Trip Like A Girl
The first time Amy paddled down
a river at the age of twelve she
was mesmerized. She and three
neighbor girls paddled down a
local river, creating some of the best
memories of her life. Bitten by the canoe
bug, she went on to teach canoeing, study primitive skills and
lead trips for various Girl Scout camps. She is convinced that
girls belong in wild places.
This session is tailored to women who want to learn or perfect
skills for tripping. From dealing with fears to learning hard
skills, you will leave with the basics needed to plan your first
trip or hone some skills for your next trip. Plus, hear inspiring
stories of women who dared!
{ dave freeman } { doug gilmore }
Woodland
Caribou
Provincial Park
- Where Nature
Still Rules
Woodland Caribou
Provincial Park is located only five hours
north of International Falls, just west of Red Lake, Ontario. It
boasts two unique qualities: its accessibility and its truly wild
character. As Ontario’s 3rd largest wilderness park it is also
a cultural landscape whose roots routinely appear in the way
the land has been modified and used for thousands of years.
This evidence is found in the rock paintings that are found
throughout the area as well as the formations of rocks found on
the shorelines and along the waterways. This landscape also has
a spiritual component which has guided the Anishinabe since
time immemorial.
{ gail green }
{ martin kehoe }
Côte de Rose Granit: Paddling the
North Brittany Coast of France
Brittany shares a Celtic history
with the coastal territories of
northern neighbors Ireland, Wales,
Normandy, and England. The
northern coast of Brittany is known
for the spectacular ruggedness and color of the pink granite
that predominates. Tranquil sand beaches are bookmarked
by heaving cliffs and astounding natural stone sculptures. Of
note in this area is the remarkable tidal range; up to 40 feet
in the spring tides. Paddling rock gardens, island hopping,

coastal exploration and, of course, wine and cheese lunches are
features of this beautiful presentation based on a 12-day trip
enjoyed by Midwestern paddlers in the fall of '09.
Beyond the Riviera Maya: Paddling Mexico’s Sian Ka’an
Reserve
A world of remote beaches, peaceful sunsets and dazzling
coastline lies just south of Cancun and the high impact
tourism of the increasingly popular Mayan Riviera. The
Caribbean coast of Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula, home to
the ancient and present day Mayan people, is rich in cultural
and natural history. The old contrasts with the new in this
travelogue presentation as you journey south down a narrow
land peninsula at the northern edge of the Sian Ka’an Reserve
where old style Mexican beach living is at the forefront. Here
sea kayakers enjoy world class paddling, snorkeling, birding,
swimming and exploring.
{ carla hacker & fellow teachers }
Out of the Classroom: Paddling
Adventures for Teachers and Students
Paddling as an educational adventure
for teachers and their students
provides on opportunity to take
the classroom curriculum outdoors
and onto the water. Developing
padding skills, creating curricular
connections and an appreciation
for the aquatic environment while
learning to work together are all part of a
Rutabaga teacher education workshop that will be highlighted
in this presentation. A canoeing unit in physical education
classes at Wright Middle School in Madison Wisconsin will be
showcased as an example of a successful school-based paddling
program.
You’re the glue that holds my
proverbial “real life” together....or is
that the resin? Either way, I know
time on the water is why WE were
put here on this earth.
{ don halloran }
Up a Creek with an Irish Storyteller
For 62 years Don has been paddling North
American waterways. He will draw on
his Irish heritage of storytelling to relate
humorous and insightful incidents gleaned
from his extensive travels in wilderness
areas. Consider the possibilities when an
Irishman encounters: thieves on the Amazon River, grizzly
bears in the Yukon, duct tape and a leaky birch-bark canoe,
a tornado on the Missouri River, and heart medicine lost in
rapids. Privation and stress, like 11 out of 14 days of rain on
a British Columbia canoe trip, become occasions where Irish
humor saves the day. These and other tales (all true?) are what
attract us to wild areas where we are confronted with and
challenged to survive the elemental forces of nature.
{ grant herman }
Treasures of the Apostle Islands:
A Gift to Sea Kayakers
Throughout a vibrant history, people
have interacted with the Apostle Islands
for a diversity of reasons. There have
always been paddlers, and contemporary
sea kayakers can discover evidence of former
Island life as they explore the beaches, forests and shorelines of
Lake Superior’s treasured islands.
En route through this presentation you’ll vicariously paddle
over historic shipwrecks, walk the dunes of Julian Bay on
Stockton Island, and experience the multitude of features
that bring adventurous kayakers here each year; breathtaking
sea caves of Sand and Devil’s Island, high cliffs and emerald
waters of Mawikwe Bay, remote beaches, and a glimpse into
29
Canoecopia 2010 www.rutabaga.com
Join the Wenonah Canoe
social network launching March 1.
Over 40 years of setting the standard
for canoe design and manufacturing.
Visit us at Canoecopia 2010.

30
“Rooted in the outdoors since 1976”
the Island’s lighthouse legacy. Lake Superior’s tumultuous
weather has shaped many a destiny over the years and no
Superior story is complete without its mention.
Essential Equipment For Paddling
Whether you go out for a day, a week
or a month, there are certain skills
and equipment that paddlers need to
make the most out of their trip. One
of Wayne’s favorite sayings sums
it up best, “There is no such thing as
bad weather, only improper equipment.”
That being said, how do you choose the right
equipment from all the options that are available on the market?
How much equipment is too much? When you have limited
resources which equipment should be on the top of your list?
How To Choose The Kayak That Works Best For You
Let’s face it; if there was one perfect kayak, we would all
be paddling it. When a kayak is designed it is done so with
specific performance goals. In addition, kayak performance
is also dependent upon the skill and the size of the paddler.
Where you paddle also makes a difference, because not all
water conditions and environments are the same. When you
put all of the variables together trying to choose a kayak can be
an overwhelming task from the seemingly endless variety of
boats available in the marketplace. Before you buy or upgrade
to your next boat you may want to listen to a systematic way to
shop for a kayak. Your ultimate goal should be to find the boat
that fits your needs and your budget. If you want a step-by-step
approach to finding the kayak that works best for you then join
Wayne Horodowich for a dynamic and detailed discussion.
Wayne will draw upon his 25+ years of teaching kayaking
and fitting paddlers into kayaks so they can have an enjoyable
experience.
{ matt howell }
{ wayne horodowich }
The Great Missinaibi Adventure:
Diving for Lost Treasure
In August of 2009 Missinaibi Headwaters
Outfitters teamed up with Outpost Magazine and
CBC television to take a team of adventurers
on a 7 day scuba diving adventure down the
Missinaibi River looking for lost treasures from
the fur trade era. The team, directed by lead guide
Matt Howell, included Les Stroud (Survivorman)
and Evan Solomon (host of CBC Newsworld's, Power
and Politics with Evan Solomon). Join Matt Howell as he
presents the logistical challenges of leading such a unique trip
(think 11 people with normal gear, plus personal gear, plus
scuba gear, plus air compressor ...) as well as the findings and
an overview of the trip itself.
{ eric jackson }
Developing a Paddling Family
Eric Jackson has created a true family business:
selling to families, developing family and
kid programs, and living the family dream.
He has two kids who compete along side of
him in kayaking on the USA Team and paddle
with him daily. His wife is part of the family business, and
they all work from home or on the river. Jackson Kayak cut
the average starting age for paddlers in half by creating boats
for kids in 2004 and continues to develop boats in different
categories. Eric will show you how to develop your family (or
help someone else’s family) into a happy unit that plays together.
You know what they say about families that play together!
{ cliff jacobson }
Cooking Secrets
Discover a wealth of food ideas that will
make your canoeing and camping trips
more fun. Emphasis is on fast-to-prepare
entrees that take no more than 20 minutes
to make. Discover pita pizza, tortilla melts,
northwoods stir fry, garlic-cheese pita melts and
egg mcpita, and carmel tortillas. Learn tricks for preparing meals
in cold blustery weather and for large groups. How do you make
Red River cereal for ten on a one burner trail stove without burning
the porridge?
Learn how to modify cookware from home so you can use it afield.
Discover clever ways to keep your stove in tip-top shape (did you
know that carburetor cleaner unclogs stove valves?). Enjoy all this
and more, based on Cliff’s book, Basic Illustrated Cooking.
Packing & Portaging
Learn how to efficiently pack for a canoe trip and waterproof
your gear without relying on expensive technology. Discover
the pro's and con's of various portage packs, dry bags and
wanigans (dry boxes) and learn how each is best utilized on a
canoe trip. Adventurous participants may try double-packing
a heavy load with a tumpline. We'll check out portage yokes,
canoe tumplines and portaging procedures.
{ jerry karbon }
Repairing Wood /
Canvas and Cedar
Strip Canoes
Learn about common
wood and canvas
and cedar strip canoe
repair as Jerry uses an old,
uncanvased canoe hull to
demonstrate various repair problems, such as broken or missing
ribs, planking, gunwales, stems, seats and thwarts. He’ll discuss

and demonstrate the tools, techniques and materials needed to
make the repairs. He'll also answer your questions about wood,
canvas and strip canoe repair challenges you may have.
{ rob kesselring }
Far North Paddling - You Can Do It!
This is a presentation for folks who are
not content to watch someone else’s
grand far north adventure, but who
actually want to do a trip of their own.
Through stories and photos Rob will help
you choose a river that is suitable for your
skill level and budget. He will help you decide
what gear to bring and will share secrets on how best to get “in
and out.” Rob will share logistical strategies and discuss shelters,
spray decks, fishing and an analysis of the best canoes for a
tundra trip. He will also talk about ice, whitewater and bears.
Two Perspectives on Camping and Paddling the Boundary
Waters With Stu Osthoff
Boundary Waters Journal publisher, Stuart Osthoff, and ardent
paddler, Rob Kesselring, will face off and debate two styles of
canoe country camping. Stu is a proponent of double-portaging,
fresh food, base camping. Rob prefers ultralight, always-on-themove
canoe touring. Stu likes to fish. Rob likes to explore. Stu
likes to eat well in the wilds. Rob counts on losing a half-pound
of flab every day. Expect a lively discussion between two good
friends with different opinions on how best to enjoy America’s
favorite wilderness area. Whatever your paddling and camping
style, participants will take home valuable tips, and insights that
will enrich your enjoyment of future canoe trips.
{ mike kinziger }
A Five Week Solo Traverse of the
Woodland Caribou
Seldom does one have the opportunity
to spend five weeks alone in a remote
wilderness environment. In 2009,
Mike Kinziger climbed in a solo canoe
and traversed The Woodland Caribou Provincial
Park in Ontario, Canada. The selected route covered more
than 275 miles, including nearly 55 miles of portaging and
more than 150 lakes. Ninety-three pieces of clothing/gear were
carefully selected. Forty-two dinners and forty-two breakfasts
were prepared in advance. Come hear Mike’s paddling
philosophy and special story!
{ marty koch }
Paddling The Ozarks
Located just 8-10 hours south
of Madison is the Ozarks of
Missouri and Arkansas. With
over 10,000 miles of streams to
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Canoecopia 2010 www.rutabaga.com

32
“Rooted in the outdoors since 1976”
explore the area is a paddler's promised land. From famous
rivers like the Current, Jacks Forks and Buffalo to little known
streams like the Courtois (Kur-Tow-Way), Huzzah, and St.
Francis, the Ozarks offer opportunities for paddlers of all skill
levels. Plus you can paddle there in April when the northern
rivers and lakes are frozen. Come enjoy an overview of these
and other wonderful rivers, as well as the natural history of
the Ozarks. Until you’ve paddled through a forest of blooming
dogwood trees, well, you haven’t paddled.
Ten Steps To Better Outdoor Photography
You know the drill. You snap lots of photos on your outdoor
adventures and when you get the pictures back they don't
measure up to what you saw. Ever wonder how the professionals
take such stunning photos while yours are just so-so?
Marty will show you ten things to do to make your photos
stand out from the ordinary. These simple techniques can be
used with any camera. Topics will include creative exposure,
photo composition, camera orientation, and after the shoot
enhancements. Utilizing these ten techniques you will be
shooting like a pro in no time.
{ deb kraiker }
Menu Planning for Canoe Tripping
Food can make or break a canoe trip. Besides
being tasty, food on a canoe trip also needs to
be nutritionally balanced. Learn how to plan
menus and get preparation tips for a variety of
foods that are suitable for canoe trips lasting
from a weekend outing to multi-week wilderness
adventures. Learn how to overcome the challenge
of planning menus that don't require refrigeration,
especially when traveling to destinations that have a
ban on bottles and cans. Various types of cooking styles from
baking to open fire cooking will be covered.
{ rolf kraiker }
How to Paddle a Canoe
Being in complete control of a canoe is
part science, part art. The paddler who has
mastered the craft can make a canoe dance
on the water. Getting the most out of a canoe
however is an exercise in physics: the use
of the arms and body, the paddle, the canoe,
the flow of the water ... all conform to the basic
principles of science. This presentation will cover the
principles involved in exercising the maximum control
of a canoe while minimizing the effort involved.
{ megan kress }
Women's Gear: Function or Fluff?
Join Megan Kress to talk about the virtues
of gear designed specifically for women.
Discussion of canoeing and kayaking gear as well as the
accessories and apparel that accompany them will be among
the many topics. Bring your questions and your gripes!
Megan’s a chick, with a chick-shaped body and can relate to
the struggles with ill-fitting gear.
{ ben lawry }
Dry Land Rolling
Rolling is the holy grail of kayaking:
a skill that most people would
benefit from mastering for reasons
of safety, confidence and shear fun
of it. Join Ben for a look at a couple of
dependable rolls that will work in all
situations and get you quickly paddling again in
a strong, safe position.
Having attended the dry land rolling session, you are then
invited to join Ben at the pool where you can see the motions
put into practice and demonstrated in the water.
Forward Stroke
99% of your time is spent paddling forward — so why not
come see how to make it more efficient. Ben will set up some
principals and then talk about how you can develop your form
from those core ideas. He’ll discuss how to draw the power
from your paddle and put it into your kayak. Learn where and
how you can apply the most power, and hear about the four
phases of paddling. He also will touch on grip width, paddle
length and blade shape.
The Four P's of Paddling
Four of the main components of successful paddling are
interactively played within this session. Join Ben to discover
how sitting and balance will effect your paddling and your
boat choice. Look at power, where it comes from and how it is
transmitted to your kayak. This will also give you some good
clues as to the correct boat fit for yourself.
{ anna levesque }
A Woman’s Guide to Paddling
Join Anna as she gives tips and guidance
for women who are just getting into
recreational kayaking or who want to
add to their knowledge base. You’ll
learn and discuss: how to choose the right
kayak, how to lift and carry your kayak, how
to get in and out of your kayak and what to look for in quality
gear. Anna also discusses the physical and emotional benefits of
paddling for women and gives you tips on how to get more out
of your paddling, whether you’re looking to challenge yourself,
to relax or to transform your life in a positive way.
Yoga for Paddlers
In this rejuvenating yoga class long-time yoga and kayak instructor
Anna Levesque focuses on stretching and strengthening the major

muscle groups used in paddling. Learn easy stretches that can
enhance your paddling skills, your comfort in your boat and your
overall health. This session not only provides great health benefits,
but also a quiet break from the bustle of the showroom floor. No
previous yoga experience necessary. Please bring a mat or towel if
you have one and wear loose fitting clothing as it will make your
experience more comfortable.
{ laura macfarland }
A New Kind of Scavenger Hunt
Laura will take you down three
Wisconsin rivers, taking a closer
look at three of the invasive
species that are impacting them
and others around the great lakes
region. Learn how these invasive
species degrade our native riverine
ecosystems. More importantly, learn how
to identify and report infestations. You’re going to be on the
river anyway - why not participate in this new scavenger hunt
and help protect our rivers!
{ reggie mcleod }
Paddling the Upper Mississippi
Backwaters
Did you realize that the Upper
Mississippi is a great river to paddle,
whether you want to explore quiet
backwaters for an afternoon or take a river
odyssey? Did you know that hundreds of miles
of the river is a national wildlife refuge and open to camping
without fees or registration?
Reggie will talk about planning trips, getting to a good spot and
safely enjoying the river. He’ll share some of the most pristine
places and talk about some of the dangers — high water, poison
ivy, tow boats, wing dams — and how to avoid them. He’ll
explain how the river works and the government agencies that
share responsibilities on the river.
{ jimbo meador }
Kayak Fishing
Jimbo Meador will talk about the art of
flyfishing from kayaks with a focus on
sight fishing and the almost lost art of
poling. There is nothing like using a kayak
to stalk your pray in areas that are out of
reach for people in conventional craft or other
means of fishing. You enter the fish’s world by using stealth and
the ability to see them before they see you. To see a fish that
is oblivious to your presence and then try to present a fly that
lands in the fish’s field of vision close enough that he can see it
but not so close that it spooks the fish and then watch the fish
eat the fly is the ultimate form of angling.
{ danny mongno }
Fitting the Perfect Kayak Paddle
The sure fire way to guarantee more
fun while paddling is to use less
energy. The best two ways to obtain
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Canoecopia 2010 www.rutabaga.com

34
“Rooted in the outdoors since 1976”
this goal are to assure you are using a proper fitting paddle
and to perform strokes more efficiently. In this session Danny
will discuss low angle and high angle paddling styles, paddle
fit options, lengths and materials to help prescribe the perfect
fitting paddle for each individual. Then he’ll dissect some
everyday strokes and see how, along with matching a better
fitting paddle, we can perform these strokes using less energy
and obtain better boat control.
Stand Up for Yourself: An Intro to Stand Up Paddling
Stand Up Paddling is so much more than a surfing sport. Stand
up paddlers are bringing the sport to the lakes and rivers all
around us in the Midwest. In this session, you’ll discover why
stand up paddling is becoming so popular, what it’s all about
and how easy it is for you to get started. Danny will take you
through an interactive seminar on the techniques used in “SUP,”
the gear needed and a bit on the history of the sport. Bring an
open mind to try something new and get ready to have fun.
{ jon nelson }
Quetico's Ice Age Legacy
Quetico’s landscape is dominated by bedrock and
glacial till left behind after the retreat of glaciers
about 12,000 years ago, and its numerous lakes
surrounded by high cliffs with their shorelines
of boulders and glacial till are remnants of this
glacial past. As the glacier receded, much of Quetico
was submerged under glacial Lake Agassiz, and the land was
covered in tundra vegetation. The Paleo-Indians who moved
into this landscape scoured by glacial ice were Quetico’s
first explorers. Today’s canoeists cross portages and sleep on
campsites that were first used by Native People who have lived
in Quetico since the glacier's retreat. Jon will introduce you to
Quetico’s glacial past, its long and varied human history, and
the diverse plant and animal life found in today’s Quetico.
Join the CD Kayak social network launching March 1
Visit www.cdkayak.com
Another example of
needless government
spending.
The CD team is looking forward to seeing old
friends and meeting new ones at Canoecopia 2010!
www.cdkayak.com
{ carlos odonez, roberto aguila }
Ecuador: South America's
Paddling Hot Spot
Ecuador is a friendly,
politically stable country
straddling the equator, and
boasts an infinite variety of
fascinating places to visit:
exotic and lush rain forests, the
headwaters of the Amazon River,
the magnificent Andes, a pristine coast, and the spectacular
Galapagos Islands. There are abundant paddling opportunities
in all of these locations, plus one of the highest concentration
of rivers per square mile make Ecuador an unrivaled paddling
destination. Whether you are a whitewater rafting enthusiast, a
kayaking “ appassionato” or a novice, Ecuador has something
to offer.
{ david pancoe }
Outfitters Secrets Revealed:
Paddling Manitoba’s Wilderness
Rivers
Manitoba is a very remote
province with world class
wilderness rivers. The Bloodvein,
Seal and Hayes are legendary for
wilderness paddlers. However, the
remoteness of these rivers presents
logistical challenges for the independent wilderness paddler.
In this presentation, David Pancoe will share everything you
need to know to get you to some of Manitoba’s best paddling
destinations. This interactive presentation will discuss where
Get out of the real world and on to the water.
With over 30 models to choose from, we know CD
has the perfect kayak for you.
The The The The fullest fullest fullest fullest and and and and � � � � nest nest nest nest line line line line of of of of kayaks kayaks kayaks kayaks in in in in the the the the world. world. world. world.

you can get the best price on charter
aircraft, new floatplane flight regulations,
transporting firearms into Canada for Arctic
trips, best places to put-in and take-out, train
travel, prices and best options. We are laying
it all out there for you!
{ m. shaun quinn }
Paddling Overuse
Injuries
We love to
paddle, and the
more we do
it, the more
susceptible
we become to
overuse injuries
such as tendonitis,
strains and sprains.
What is the best way to care and manage for
these injuries when they happen in the field
on a remote trip? Shaun of The Wilderness
Medicine Institute of NOLS (WMI) will
teach you how to care for overuse injuries in
remote settings.
Brent Reitzs Forward Stroke Clinic
Brent competed nationally and
internationally for ten years before turning
his focus to coaching. Brent has taken
his many years of racing experience and
developed effective coaching techniques that
allow the recreational kayaker to experience
the benefits of that efficient stroke racers
have long enjoyed. Both in person and
through his excellent video (The Brent Reitz
Forward Stroke Clinic), Brent has taught
hundreds of recreational kayakers to paddle
faster and longer with less effort and injury.
Whether you've been paddling for years,
or are just getting started, everyone can
improve their forward stroke!
{ larry ricker }
Boundary Waters
for Newbies
Do you want
to plan a trip to
the Boundary
Waters but don’t
know where to start?
Then this presentation is for you. Larry
Ricker will cover everything you need to
know including how to obtain a permit, what
to take with you and what to expect when
you get there. Larry will also provide an
overview of the rules and regulations to be
followed while in the wilderness.
Photography 101 — Techniques to Improve
Your Photography
Good photography requires a lot more
than an expensive camera. In fact, good
photos can be taken with very inexpensive
equipment. Larry will lead you through
the artistic as well as mechanical aspects
of photography, providing 10 tips you can
use to improve those vacation photos of
yours and start impressing your friends and
coworkers – regardless of what equipment
you are using. Larry will cover the art of
seeing a photo, provide some guidelines on
how to compose your shot, tell you how to
reduce camera shake, and give some pointers
on “digitally processing” your photos before
you show them off. All will be illustrated
with photos from Larry’s archives.
{ brent reitz } { kenny salwey }
Mississippi: Tales of the Last River Rat
Kenny Salwey, of Buffalo County,
Wisconsin, is the last of a breed of men who
has eked out a living close to nature. He
belongs to a tradition – a fabled fraternity of
backwoodsmen whose life has always been
intricately bound to the seasonal ebb and
flow of the mighty Mississippi River system.
He has earned his self-sufficient lifestyle as
FOLDING
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The XT-15 and XT-17 are solos that
impress with great handling, good looks
and compact packed size.
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companions. Great stability and paddling
performance make Puffins enjoyable on
the water. With good looks and lightweight
price, they are a pleasure to own.
PakCanoes
are excellent for remote
wilderness trips or adventures closer to
home. Light-weight, compact for easy
travel and storage, yet rugged, dependable
and easy paddling.
www.pakboats.com
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(603)632-9500
info@pakboats.com

36
“Rooted in the outdoors since 1976”
an old-time trapper, hunter, fisherman, root and herb collector,
river guide and all-round woodsman.
In 2004 the BBC released a 50-minute documentary based on
the book The Last River Rat: Kenny Salway’s Life in the Wild, by
J. Scott Bestul and Kenny Salwey. Narrated by Kenny, the film
reveals a world of spirituality and seasonal change. Salwey is our
guide to the fascinating plants and animals that share the forests,
swamps, bluff tops and river. The film follows Kenny as he
slowly drifts down channels through flooded forests in his canoe.
Kenny will introduce the film, and after its showing will answer
questions about his life along the river. This film has not been
released by the BBC, so don’t miss this rare opportunity to
experience the story of the Last River Rat. Mississippi: Tales
of the Last River Rat has won numerous awards including
an Emmy in 2006 for Best Cinematography, Best of Show
in the Natural History Documentary France Wildlife Film
Festival in 2006, and Best Cinematography at the International
Wildlife Film Festival in 2005.
{ cindy scherrer }
At Waters Edge - Women’s Approach to Paddling
Paddling is all about the journey. From the moment
you wondered what it would be like to paddle a
kayak or a canoe, you’ve taken the first step. You can
read about it, talk about it and will probably ask a lot
of questions. Do we as women have specific challenges?
Some may be obvious that can be overcome with a few
tricks and ingenuity. Others are not so clear and may take some
trial and error. This participatory workshop is designed to work
out some of those challenges and share ideas. With a little
guidance the goal is to help women access the watery trails
they’ve imagined.
{ steve scherrer }
Understanding Boat Control
Does this boat track well? Will it turn easily?
Is this boat stable? Is it easy to “roll?” A basic
understanding of the physical properties of a vessel
enables a paddler to fully utilize all of the design
aspects their boat possesses. In Steve's presentation you
will learn how each of these design characteristics affect
performance. Whether you are shopping for your first boat or
your tenth, this presentation will open your eyes to what a boat
can do!
{ bill schultz }
Kayaking for Door County Smallies
Since 1995, Bill has spent countless days
catching and releasing smallmouth bass in the
beautiful clear waters of Door County. When
you add his river fishing he has caught and
released over 12,000 smallies during the past 15
years. In his seminar, Bill will share what you need to know to
have a successful fishing experience on one of the top smallie
fisheries in the country. You will learn where to launch, where
to fish, what lures produce and how to use them. The bonus is
these techniques work on any waters holding smallies. He will
also discuss fishing kayaks and related equipment to optimize
your fishing experience.
{ david seaton }
Becoming A Boundary
Waters Family
Think you can't
take your kids
anywhere but the local
park? The Boundary
Waters is an ideal
backdrop for your family
adventure. Many families would love to visit the BWCAW
but don’t have the skills to feel comfortable the first time.
Becoming a Boundary Waters Family© takes the mysteries
out of camping in canoe country. Whether your children are 2,
12 or 20 they can enjoy and benefit from an experience in the
woods. Dave will help your family find the “woods wisdom” to
get started.
{ tim smith }
Up A Creek with Only a Paddle
If you venture off the beaten
path and aren’t sure what to do
in an unexpected emergency, this
talk could save your life. Using a
common sense approach, Tim will
cover what you need to know and what
you need to do when faced with an unexpected situation (nonmedical)
or an unexpected “stay” in the backcountry. We’ll
discuss the three crucial priorities you need to address in order
to make it back alive, the three most important pieces of gear to
have on you at all times and expose some of the common myths
that permeate the literature. Tim will help you avoid becoming
one with nature through the composting process!
{ dave sproule, barb rees }
More of Ontario Park’s Best
Paddling Routes
If you think paddling
Ontario means
paddling Quetico,
think again. Take
a tour of some of
the best places
to throw your
boat in the water in

Northern Ontario Parks, some of them well-known and some of
them not. With more water than you can shake a paddle at, the
opportunities for canoeing and kayaking seem endless. From
Great Lakes shores, across the great Canadian Shield, through
the expanse of the Boreal Forest, join Ontario Parks staff as
they take you on a tour that will fill your paddling “to-do” list
with plenty of options.
{ brian staniszewski }
Paddling Fitness: Maximizing Performance and Enjoyment
All activities demand a certain level of fitness to do safely and
enjoyably, and paddling is no exception. In this session Brian
will discuss general fitness concepts along with the physical
demands of paddling and explore what it takes to get in shape
and stay in shape year round for paddling. We’ll discuss and get
hands on with various exercises and
routines, using both gym based
equipment and simple elastic
bands. Whether you’re new
to paddling or a seasoned
pro, come learn ways to
maximize your performance
and enjoyment on the water for
years to come.
{ hailey thompson }
A Paddling Progression:
How a 15-year-old Made It to Worlds
Join 15 year old Hailey Thompson as she describes her
transformation, from her toddler years spent canoeing the
northern lakes and streams of Wisconsin through her early teen
years as she has competed at an elite national and international
level on some of the most challenging slalom whitewater
courses of North America and Europe. She discusses the
barriers that she and other women face in pursuing gender
equality in the Women’s Canoe class of the Olympics.
Also included in this presentation will be segments from Justine
Curgenven’s new video, This is Canoeing which features
Hailey’s evolution and diversity as a paddler. Hailey is proudly
sponsored and supported by Rutabaga, as well as a number of
manufacturers at Canoecopia, and would like to thank them for
their support.
The Wilds of Wabakimi: Old
Trails and New Adventures
Wabakimi Provincial Park
may not be for everyone,
but that may be just what
makes it so memorable
for the rest of us. How
do you go about planning
your own adventure in this
2,200,000 acre boreal wilderness
when there are no park facilities and no roads? Join John
Thomson, Wabakimi Park Superintendent, as he relays key
points garnered from 5 years experience as park superintendent,
including ways to access the park, maintained routes, choosing
a route, getting information and permits. He’ll provide
information on backcountry ethics, projects of interest, and
work with local First Nations. Loaded with all this Wabakimi
information, planning your adventure starts to look a lot easier.
{ jon turk }
Crossings
For the paddler, the ultimate
challenge, and reward,
occurs when you leave land
behind and cross open water
toward a shoreline that lies
fuzzy in the distance … or
invisible over the horizon.
Whether you’re a beginner
or an expert, a canoeist or a
kayaker, join Jon Turk for an
instructive “How-To,” mixed
with tales of high adventure
gleaned from 10,000 miles
{ john thomson }
3MM XSPAN JANE
37
Canoecopia 2010 www.rutabaga.com
You won’t believe it’s neoprene
1.5MM XSPAN LONG SLEEVE
1.5MM MULTI-SPORT GLOVE
3MM PADDLE HI TOP BOOT
www.neosportusa.com

38
“Rooted in the outdoors since 1976”
in kayaks, canoes, and rowboats, from the high arctic to the
equatorial tropics. Learn how to enjoy the journey, and stay
alive, when you’re in open water, on lakes or in the ocean,
vulnerable to sudden storms, steep waves, contrary currents,
icebergs, or salt water crocodiles.
The Raven’s Gift
Jon Turk has kayaked around Cape Horn, traversed the
Northwest Passage and paddled across the North Pacific Rim.
But, the strangest trip he ever took was the journey he made
as a man of science into the realm of the spiritual. In 2000,
in the remote Siberian village of Vyvenka, Jon Turk met an
elderly woman named Moolynaut, a Koryak shaman, and
learned about her voyages to the spirit world. A year later,
Moolynaut entreated the spirit of a great, black raven to help
mend Jon’s pelvis, which had been previously fractured in a
mountaineering accident. When the healing was complete, Turk
was able to walk without pain.
Turk, a scientist, could find no rational explanation for the
healing and the experience changed his life, irrevocably
altering his view of the connectivity between the natural and
spiritual worlds. Searching for the Raven Spirit, he traversed
the frozen tundra where Moolynaut was born, camping with
bands of reindeer herders, and recording stories of their lives
and spirituality. Framed by high adventure across the vast and
forbidding Siberian landscape, The Raven's Gift is a life-altering
vision of the ties between the natural and spiritual realms,
informed by one man’s awakening and guided by the ancient
Spirit Bird with wide black wings and the power to heal.
national, regional & local music | workshops | kid’s activities | camping | food | and more!
presented by four lakes traditional music collective, inc.
2010
sugar
maple
traditional musiC Festival
7 th annual!
august 6 & 7, 2010
lake Farm County Park | madison, Wi
Featuring:
bluegrass,
old time,
Cajun, blues
& other Fine
handmade music
sPonsored by:
tiCkets, details at www.sugarmaplefest.org
(tickets also sold at: Whole Foods, spruce tree music, Willy st. Co-op)
{ john van den brandt }
How'd Ya Get That Shot?!
Tips, Tales and Lessons
Learned Afield
In this fast paced,
information packed
presentation, wildlife
photographer John Van
Den Brandt answers the one
question he's most frequently asked,
“ How’d you get that shot?! ”
John tells the story behind the
shots, sharing the tips and strategies employed in capturing his
amazing wildlife photographs, many of which have appeared in
his nationally distributed calendars.
Whether you’re new to photography or a seasoned veteran,
you’ll come away from this all-new presentation energized
and armed with an array of practical tools and ideas for
visualizing and photographing the natural world. If you’re not
a photographer but love wildlife, Van Den Brandt’s stunning
images will leave you inspired to go out and explore your own
wild places and witness first-hand the beauty and drama of the
natural world.
{ hannah williams, matt abbotts }
A Superior Adventure:
A Couple's Journey Around The Big Lake
Matt Abbotts and Hannah Williams set out to explore one of
Myth: Kevlar skid plates cause poor performance, slobbering-up
a canoe’s entry lines. Depressing. Only bad paddlers that
bash into boulders with geriatric canoes need them.
Reality: savvy paddlers use NorthWest Canoe
skid plates. Tons of protection under
a pound. Comforting. They know
paddling prowess and hull shape
determines the efficiency of a
three-dimensional object
moving through fluid.
www.CanoeSkidPlate.com

the biggest bodies of fresh water in the
world. Lake Superior is renowned for
its unforgiving waters and the pair
couldn’t think of a better way to
test their recent engagement than a
circumnavigation of its rugged and
beautiful coastline. From the initial
stages of planning to battling 10-foot
waves it was a steep learning curve.
They encountered overdeveloped
shoreline with no available camping,
dealt with third degree burns
inflicted during a cooking accident,
saw desolation in the Canadian wilds
and made it through all the quarrels and
arguments that nature could force upon them.
Leaving their home in Houghton, Michigan they paddled west
into an adventure they never would have expected. Seventy-five
days later they returned to where they started with improved
confidence in their kayaking, a stronger relationship, and a
great story.
{ charles wright }
Paddling Everglades National Park
and the Wilderness Waterway
Florida’s Everglades is North
America’s premier winter time
paddling destination. With water
and air temperatures in the seventies,
spectacular wildlife and nearly two
million acres of protected wilderness, it
is a paddler’s paradise. You can take a canoe into mangrove
tunnels where brackish creeks interconnect lakes and the
forest forms a dense canopy over your craft. You can take a
day paddle to a remote island and walk a “mound” built by the
Calusa Indians over 4000 years ago. You can sea kayak along
coastal Florida and camp on pristine, uninhabited beaches that
stretch for miles. You can paddle the Paradise Coast Blueway
and the Wilderness Waterway in sheltered, flat water from one
side of Florida to the other. Or, you can float leisurely out with
the tide to a remote island beach for lunch.
{ skip yowell, BCM teens }
The Big City Mountaineers Canoe
Program - Changing Kids’ Lives
“Canoeing is enjoyable because
you are able to control your own
boat by your own power. Watching
other people go by in their motor
powered fishing boats made me wish I
could show them how much fun being in
a canoe really is. In a powered boat like that, you don’t get to
feel the ebb and flow of the water as you push yourself along.
In a canoe, you need to communicate with the person who is
steering. In my opinion, that builds a lifelong skill that will
work in my favor in everything I do.”
These words were written by a young man who had never been
outside his inner city neighborhood. He was a participant in
Big City Mountaineers, a nonprofit organization that seeks
to enhance urban teens’ lives with outdoor experiences that
transform the way they view the world.
As a co-founder of JanSport and the author of The Hippie
Guide to Climbing the Corporate Ladder and Other Mountains,
Skip Yowell has had the opportunity to participate in many
worthwhile adventures. One of his greatest endeavors each
summer is a Big City Mountaineers week-long trip in Boundary
Waters with four youth, whose lives are transformed by their
interaction with nature. Join Skip and the boys from Urban
Ventures for a look at BCM’s successful wilderness canoe
program. In addition, Skip will show a short documentary film
based on his book and hold a drawing for some rare limited
addition JanSport packs.
{ ray zvirbulis }
Paddle ‘Til Dark: A Yukon River
Journey
If you have ever craved to travel in
the wilderness, to experience the
solitude of a vast empty land, to feel
the cold,
wind
driven rain, the warming sun
while paddling a kayak, then
come hear Ray’s story of
a solo kayak trip down the
Yukon River.
Ray’s adventure really begins
in the mid-50's when he first
heard Sgt. Preston and Yukon
King clear the Canadian
frontier of undesireable
characters. Because of
them he had to see the
Yukon Territory and Alaska.
Deciding that a kayak was
the best approach, in 1999 he
began the first of his Yukon
River journeys starting from
Lake Atlin, B.C., the source
of the river. His goal was to
reach the Bering Sea, 2,300
miles away. Come see and
hear his story. Then start
packing.
39
Canoecopia 2010 www.rutabaga.com

40
“Rooted in the outdoors since 1976”
FRIDAY
Atrium (Upstairs) Killarney (Clarion) Bear (Upstairs) Caribou (Upstairs) Algonquin BWCA Quetico Superior
S. Crowley
Define by Water:
Sea Kayaking the UP
J. Van Den Brandt
How’d Ya Get
That Shot?
J. Turk
The Raven’s
Gift
L. Ricker
The Boundary Waters
for Newbies
D. Freeman
The Trans-Amazon
Expedition
D. Sproule & B. Rees
Ontario’s Best
Canoe Routes
L. MacFarland
A New Scavenger
Hunt
D. Mongno
Fitting the Perfect
Kayak
M. Koch
Paddling
the Ozarks
D. Easley
Fishin’ the BWCA
for Dummies
J. Bates
Birds of Northern
Rivers & Lakes
D. Gilmore
Woodland Caribou
Provincial Park
S. Yowell
Big City Mountaineers
Canoe Program
B. Reitz
Forward Stroke
Clinic
M. S. Quinn
Paddling Overuse
Injuries
B. Lawry
The 4 Ps of
Paddling
C. Wright
Paddling Everglades
National Park
C. Jacobson
Packing and
Portaging
J. Curgenven
New Zealand Kayak
Circumnavigation
R. Zvirbulis
Paddle ‘til Dark: A
Yukon River Journey
E. Jackson
Developing a Paddling
Family
R. McLeod
Paddling the Upper
Mississippi Backwaters
K. Blades
De-mystifying
the Rescue
C. Scherrer
Women’s Approach
to Paddling
Franklin & Somme
Sea Kayak around
Haida Gwaii
K. Callan
How to be a
Happy Camper
J. Thomson
The Wilds
of Wabakimi
W. Horodowich
Choosing a Kayak that
G. Barton
Reaching for Gold -
Tales from an Olympian
L. Brandon
Four Years & 1,000
Works Best for You
miles of Day Trips
B. Lawry
Dry Land
Rolling
M. Kress
Women’s Gear :
Function or Fluff
4:30 5:30 6:30 7:30
SATURDAY
Atrium (Upstairs) Killarney (Clarion) Bear (Upstairs) Caribou (Upstairs) Algonquin BWCA Quetico Superior
W. Horodowich
Essential Equipment
for Paddling
K. Callan
How to be a Happy
Camper
J. Turk
Crossings
Virtual Explorer
T. Bamonte
Paddling the Islands
of Georgian Bay
Center, Bush, Henry
Northern Forest
Canoe Trail
Cooper & Pflieger
A Paddler’s Paradise:
Door County
D. Freeman
Become a
Virtual Explorer
A. Levesque
Yoga for
Paddlers
R. McLeod
Paddling the Upper
Mississippi Backwaters
C. Jacobson
Cooking
Secrets
G. Herman
Treasures of the
Apostle Islands
R. Kraiker
How to
Paddle a Canoe
A. Funk
Trip Like
a Girl
Williams & Abbotts
A Superior
Adventure
C. Hacker/Teachers
Out of the Classroom:
Paddling Adventures
D. Mongno
Fitting the Perfect
Kayak Paddle
W. Durbin
Pork Eaters/Hivernants:
The Voyageur Days
D. Halloran
Up a Creek with an
Irish Storyteller
J. Bates
Critters of the North
Rivers & Lakes
R. Kesselring
Far North Paddling:
You Can Do It
D. Kraiker
Menu Planning for
Canoe Tripping
D. Freeman
The Trans-Amazon
Expedition
Am. Canoe Assoc.
Managing Risk
While Afloat
B. Lawry
Forward
Stroke
G. Green
Paddling Mexico’s
Sian Ka’an Reserve
D. Easley
Fishin’ the BWCA
for Dummies
L. Ricker
Photography
101
J. Nelson
Quetico’s Ice
Age Legacy
H. Thompson
How a 15-yr-old Girl
Made it to Worlds
B. Reitz
Forward Stroke
Clinic
B. Staniszewski
Paddling Fitness:
Perform & Enjoy
S. Crowley
Stuff and the Art
of Packing a Kayak
B. Schultz
Kayaking for Door
County Smallies
J. Van Den Brandt
How’d Ya get
That shot?
M. Kinziger
5 Week solo traverse
of Woodland Caribou
A. Levesque
A Woman’s Guide
to Paddling
S. Yowell
Big City Mountaineers
Canoe Program
Adapt Paddling Panel
Inclusive Paddling:
Paddler’s Perspective
G. Barton
How to Improve
Your Speed & Fitness
J. Karbon
Repair Wood/Canvas
& Strip Canoes
W. Horodowich
Choosing a Kayak that
Works Best for You
K. Salwey
Mississippi ... Tales
of the Last River Rat
J. Curgenven
New Zealand Kayak
Circumnavigation
D. Pancoe
Paddling Manitoba’s
Wilderness Rivers
M. Howell
Missinaibi Adventures:
Diving for Lost Gold
D. Seaton
Becoming a Boundary
Waters Family
B. Lawry
Dry Land
Rolling
S. Scherrer
Understanding Boat
Control
G. Green
Paddling the North
Brittany Coast of France
K. Salwey
Continued: Tales of
the Last River Rat
J. Meador
Kayak
Fishing
Cooper & Pflieger
A Paddler’s Paradise -
Door County
G. Barton
Reaching for Gold:
Tales from an Olympian
T. Smith
Up a Creek with
Only a Paddle
S. Crowley
Navigation
Basics
M. Kress
Women’s Gear:
Function or Fluff
9:30 10:30 11:30 12:30 1:30 2:30 3:30

J. Bates
Birds of Northern
Rivers & Lakes
The 3rd Annual
Aluminum Chef
Competition
J. Turk
The Raven’s
Gift
Odonez & Aguila
Ecuador: South Ameri-
Franklin & Somme
Ocean Currents of
the Pacific NW
R. Evans
Canoe Country
Pictograph Quest
K. Blades
Why a
Sea Kayak?
D. Mongno
Intro to Stand
up Paddling
4:30
ca’s Paddling Hot Spot
SUNDAY
Atrium (Upstairs) Killarney (Clarion) Bear (Upstairs) Caribou (Upstairs) Algonquin BWCA Quetico Superior
M. Koch
Paddling
the Ozarks
C. Jacobson
Packing and
Portaging
J. Turk
Crossings
R. Zvirbulis
Paddle ‘til Dark: A
Yukon River Journey
R. Kesselring
Far North Paddling:
You Can Do It
B. Schultz
Kayaking for Door
County Smallies
K. Blades
De-mystifying
the Rescue
A. Levesque
Yoga for
Paddlers
M. Koch
Ten Steps to Better
Outdoor Photography
K. Callan
How to be a
Happy Camper
Franklin & Somme
Sea Kayak around
Haida Gwaii
D. Halloran
Up a Creek with
an Irish Storyteller
J. Curgenven
This is Canoeing:
Behind the Scenes
J. Thomson
The Wilds
of Wabakimi
T. Smith
Up a Creek with
Only a Paddle
D. Mongno
Fitting the Perfect
Kayak Paddle
R. Kraiker
How to
Paddle a Canoe
K. Salwey
Mississippi: Tales
of the Last River Rat
S. Crowley
Define by Water: Sea
Kayaking the U.P.
W. Horodowich
Essential Equipment
for Paddling
Baja Sirenas
The Mermaids Explore
Baja’s Remote Coast
Center/Bush/Henry
Northern Forest
Canoe Trail
Kesselring/Osthoff
Two Perspectives on
Paddling the BWCA
C. Scherrer
Women’s Approach
to Paddling
G. Herman
Treasures of the
Apostle Islands
K. Salway
Continued: Tales of
the Last River Rat
J. Meador
Kayak
Fishing
C. Wright
Paddling Everglades
National Park
E. Jackson
Developing a
Paddling Family
L. Ricker
The Boundary Waters
for Newbies
G. Barton
How to Improve
your Speed & Fitness
B. Lawry
The 4 Ps
of Paddling
J. Nelson
Quetico’s Ice
Age Legacy
J. Curgenven
This is Canoeing:
Behind the Scenes
G. Green
Paddling: North Brittany
Coast of France
T. Bamonte
Paddling the Islands
B. Reitz
Forward Stroke Clinic
A. Funk
Trip Like a Girl
of Georgian Bay
D. Seaton
Becoming a
BWCA Family
S. Scherrer
Understanding
Boat Control
10:30 11:30 12:30 1:30 2:30
Canoecopia
Speaker
Schedule
2010
POOL DEMONSTRATIONS
12:00 Steve Scherrer – Understanding Boat Control
12:30 Greg Barton – Using a Wing Paddle
1:00 Ben Lawry – Set Up, Hip Snap & Rolling
1:30 Rolf & Deb Kraiker – Canadian Style Canoeing
2:00 Kelly Blades – Kayak Rescues
2:30 Kelly Blades & Danny Mongno – The Big Show
41
Canoecopia 2010 www.rutabaga.com
These fun and lively pool demonstrations have become
so popular that this year we are asking everyone to vacate
the pool area after each program. This allows us to more
easily regulate the number of spectators and gives those
in line the opportunity to enjoy the next demonstration.
We thank you for your cooperation!
SATURDAY
SUNDAY
12:00 Ben Lawry – Set Up, Hip Snap & Rolling
12:30 Hailey Thompson – Paddling a C1
1:00 Steve Scherrer – Understanding Boat Control
1:30 D. Mayoleth, S. Scherrer– Greenland & Euro Rolling
2:00 Rolf & Deb Kraiker – Canadian Style Canoeing
2:30 Kelly Blades & Danny Mongno – The Big Show

42
“Rooted in the outdoors since 1976”
This is Canoeing
Rutabaga, Kokatat, Esquif and Cackle TV Productions
are pleased to present the world premiere of Justine
Crugenven’s new film: This is Canoeing.
Justine will introduce her new film at Rutabaga’s premiere
party at the High Noon Saloon on Saturday, March 13 at 8
pm. She’ll highlight 60 minutes of the most dramatic, high
adventure footage. As an added treat on Sunday, Justine will
present two speaker sessions in which she’ll talk about the
making of the film and showcase additional clips from the
film.
This is Canoeing is a long overdue celebration of the single
blade, showcasing some of canoeing’s most talented paddlers,
exploring wilderness & running challenging whitewater. This
double-disc set contains three hours of stunning high definition
footage. Twelve individual chapters tell the stories of a
birchbark canoe journey, a northern wilderness trip, a father
and son paddling journey, a voyageur adventure, open canoe
slalom, incredible whitewater canoeing, and more. Disc One
focuses on three wilderness journeys. The other disc contains
shorter segments about inspirational and influential paddlers,
plus two whitewater features.
This is Canoeing is produced by Justine Curgenven, an
award winning adventure filmmaker, expedition sea kayaker &
all round adventurer. Her documentaries have been shown
on the BBC and National Geographic and have won her
multiple awards at film festivals including Banff, Kendal &
the Reel Film Festival. Her entertaining DVDs, This is the Sea
(Volumes 1 through 4) have inspired thousands of people to
take to the water. Rutabaga is excited that Justine is returning
to Canoecopia and invite you to join us at the High Noon
Saloon and at the show to be the very first to see what will
surely become a classic DVD.

*
Pick up a
free copy of
Sea Kayaker
magazine.
Come to the
Sea Kayaker magazine
booth and enter to
win a Werner Custom
Camano Paddle!
D rawing
will
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Sunday,
March
14
at
3PM.
N eed
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Winner will be prescribed their perfect fitting paddle
including length, shaft diameter, etc.
Show Special: New subscribers save 33% off
the newsstand price! $19.95 for 1 year! (US)
Subscribe online at
www.seakayakermag.com (enter code CC07)

Rutabaga Outdoor Programs
With such a big world to explore and experience, what
come to mind when you think of paddling “off to
Great Places”? Maybe a canoe trip down a faraway
river or a sea kayak adventure along a distant coast?
Perhaps paddling closer to home in the Boundary Waters, along the
Mississippi, or among the Apostle Islands? Or maybe it’s in your own
backyard on a local stream with a fishing pole or through a lazy marsh
with binoculars in hand? There is no shortage of Great Places and
that’s what we’re all about here at Rutabaga - helping you discover
your own Great Places.
An important component of exploring Great Places is having the
skills to enjoy the journey. That’s where Rutabaga Outdoor Programs
comes in. We believe the quality of your paddling experience is
enhanced as you build competence and confidence. As you expand
your skill base, you become more self-assured and self-reliant. And
learning can be most effective when you get feedback, direction, and
“Oh, The Places You’ll Go!”
“Congratulations! Today is your day. You’re off to Great Places! You’re off and away!”
- “Oh, the Places you’ll Go!”, Dr. Seuss, 1990
45
Canoecopia 2010 www.rutabaga.com
know that someone qualified “has your back”.
We hope you’ll enjoy browsing this section of the Canoecopia
Gazette to learn what we can offer to improve the quality of your
paddling experiences. From young to old, beginner to advanced,
high-adventure to low-key, we strive to offer opportunities for every
paddler to grow and develop, and therefore, more thoroughly enjoy
the Great Places in your life.
And will you succeed?
Yes! You will, indeed!
(98 and 3/4 % guaranteed.)*
Enjoy the journey,
Nancy Saulsbury
Mo Kappes
Rutabaga Outdoor Programs n www.rutabaga.com/outdoorprograms

46
“Rooted in the outdoors since 1976”
ADULT INSTRUCTION
CANOEING
“Canoeing gives me a perspective I can’t get from my boots!”
SOLO CANOE
Imagine yourself skillfully navigating a twisting
river – enjoying freedom and independence as you
maneuver your own craft through the water. Join us
to learn how to paddle a solo canoe. Who knows what
adventures await you?
n Solo Canoe 1
n Solo Canoe 2
TANDEM CANOE
Sometimes two is more fun. Paddling together can
be a fun and rewarding way to spend time with a
friend or loved one – provided you have the right
tools. Discover how to paddle effectively and
enjoyably with a partner.
n Introduction to Recreational Canoeing
n Tandem Canoe
SKILLS WORKSHOPS
There’s always more to learn to increase your
enjoyment and proficiency in a canoe
n Introduction to River Canoeing
n Advanced Boat Control for Canoes
EXPERT GUEST INSTRUCTORS
Learn from the Pros! Our Expert Guest Instructors
will broaden your paddling world view.
Rolf and Deb Kraiker teach their popular
n Canadian Style Canoe Workshop
Join Brian Heikenen for
n Intro to Moving Water for Canoe
n Introduction to Whitewater Canoeing
Dana Henry helps you gain
n Efficiency in Motion with High
Performance Canoeing

JENNY SOLOMON
It was far greater than learning how to just paddle a kayak. It
represented unbelievably more than simply maneuvering a canoe
about on calm waters. It was a piece of my life taken from me over
four years ago, put back into place. It was freedom to feel as one with
nature and to glide along independently with no artificial parts. Just me. As
I am today.
Four years ago there was doubt that I would ever be able to ambulate on
my own again; and doubt that my hands would be of any more use than to
‘scoop’. No one believed that I would be able to work again, or live on my
own, or take care of my daughters, or drive a car. The experts wondered
about the ‘lesions on my brain’; put me on dialysis, and counted each day I
remained alive as a major accomplishment.
Yet, here I am, the Class Paddle full of signatures to remind me of just
how far I’ve come. This class went far beyond any hope or possibility that
those experts could have imagined. It opened up a world of opportunity for
me. It caused me to burst with joy and made me want to scream ‘Life, here
I come! I’m BACK!’
It was far greater than just learning how to paddle a kayak.
47
For detailed class information visit us at www.rutabaga.com/outdoorprograms or call 800-472-3353.
Canoecopia 2010 www.rutabaga.com

48
“Rooted in the outdoors since 1976”
KAYAKING
“I used to feel, as I believe many do, that all a person needs to do is get into the kayak and paddle. My paddling
experience has been greatly enhanced by what I have learned in class and I am now a happier and safer boater.”
RECREATIONAL KAYAK
Enjoy paddling on small lakes and rivers for a few hours of relaxation and connection to nature. These classes will give you the
tools for countless hours of kayaking pleasure!
n Recreational Kayak 1
n Recreational Kayak 2
SEA KAYAK
Are you intrigued by the idea of camping from your kayak, paddling on larger bodies of water, exploring the Apostle Islands, or
paddling fast and efficiently for fitness? Then a Sea Kayak is the perfect craft for you. Join us to learn the skills you need to safely
explore our water-covered planet!
n Sea Kayak 1
n Sea Kayak 2
n Sea Kayak Combo I & 2
n Navigation for the Sea Kayaker
n Video Stroke Analysis
n Open Water Skills—Paddling Lake Michigan
SKILLS WORKSHOP
You have the basics, now it’s time to develop and perfect
specific skills. Have you seen someone do something cool
on the water? Come learn how!
n Kayak Skills Workshops
n Boat Control: Hip Snaps and Braces
n Boat Control: Leans and Turns
n Rescues and Towing
n Using a Wing Paddle
n Kayak Roll Basics
n Introduction to River Kayaking
n Introduction to Moving Water for Kayak
EXPERT GUEST INSTRUCTORS
Expand your quiver of paddling tools as our Expert Guest
Instructors share their unique insights and approaches,
leaving you with plenty of new skills to perfect.
Join Ben Lawry for one or more
of his series of classes:
n Core Paddling Skills
n Rolling & Bracing
n Rudders & Draws
n Tows & Rescues
n Forward Stroke
Guest Instructor Brent Reitz teaches his famous:
n Brent Reitz Forward Stroke Clinic

TRIPS and OUTINGS
GROUP PADDLES
Join us for a few hours as we explore local waterways and
enjoy the camaraderie of fellow paddlers. Canoes and kayaks
welcome. Rentals available.
n Thursday Evening Paddles – every week
n Water Divas Paddles – Tues. evenings for women!
n Moonlight paddles – full moon, will paddle!
n Fishing & Paddling
n Kayak & Coffee Club – morning outings and coffee
with new friends
DAY TRIPS
Enjoy the beauty of southern Wisconsin’s rivers or lakes.
What a perfect way to have an adventure, meet new people,
and leave the logistics to us. It doesn’t get any better than that!
Appropriate for the novice to advanced paddler. Canoeists and
kayakers welcome.
“I love seeing the seasons change on the same river.”
So many waterways, so little time! Join us for some favorites:
Badfish Creek
Baraboo River
Bark River
Crawfish River
Grant River
Kettle Moraine Lakes
Kickapoo River
Mecan River
Mirror Lake
Pecatonica River
Sugar River
Wisconsin River – so many sections to explore
And more…
Paddle, Point & Shoot – Photography & Paddling on the Rock River
OVERNIGHT TRIPS
Enjoy magical starry nights and misty sunrises with a fun
group of people. It is easier than you think!
n Sea Kayak weekend on Lake Michigan
49
For detailed class information visit us at www.rutabaga.com/outdoorprograms or call 800-472-3353.
Canoecopia 2010 www.rutabaga.com

50
“Rooted in the outdoors since 1976”
KIDS and FAMILIES
“The more you know, the more fun it is.”
Q: Explain one of the processes by which water can be made safe to drink.
A: Flirtation makes water safe to drink because it removes large pollutants like grit, sand, dead sheep and canoeists.
— Children’s Science Exam
KIDS CLASSES
Canoeing and kayaking for youth entering
3rd-5th grade. Kids love the water! Introduce
them to a sport that can last them a lifetime.
n Kids Kayaking Series
n Kids Canoeing Series
n Piccolo Paddlers
n Mysteries of the Marsh
Paddling Nature Camp
n Kids Adventure
MIDDLE SCHOOL CLASSES
Canoeing and kayaking for youth entering
6 th -8 th grade. Whether your young person
is a beginner or somewhat experienced, we
have an exciting class for them!
n Kayak Camp
n Canoe and Kayak Camp
n Kayak Adventures
n Camp Explorer
HIGH SCHOOL CLASSES
Canoeing and kayaking for teens entering
9 th -10 th grade. From entry level to
advanced, we combine paddling with other
outdoor skills. Your teenager won’t be able
to get enough!
n Introduction to Paddling Camp
LEADERSHIP SKILLS COURSE
“Leadership is ultimately about creating
a way for people to contribute to making
something extraordinary happen.”
(wikipedia.com). Introduce your teen to
“making something extraordinary happen.”
For youth entering grades 8-12.
JUNIOR LEADERSHIP
DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM
Teens! Positively influence young people.
Volunteer as a Junior Leader for a fun
and rewarding summer experience. For
teens entering 9th-12th grade. No previous
leadership or paddling experience is
required!
For more information contact Mo Kappes
at mok@rutabaga.com.
FAMILY PADDLING
Exploring the watery world as a family can
be a great way to build a life long skill that
everyone can enjoy. Check out what we
have to offer your family!
n Family Canoe
n Family Kayak
COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS
Beautiful lakes and waterways surround
Madison, yet many of our youth lack the
resources or opportunities to explore these
bodies of water. Canoeing and kayaking
can add a whole new level of excitement
and team building to your organization’s
summer programming. Contact Mo Kappes
at mok@rutabaga.com to discover how
we can create a unique and memorable
experience for your youth.
JOSH KESTELMAN
SCHOLARSHIP FUND
Rutabaga provides scholarships to help
community agencies and individuals attend
our summer programs.

HANNAH KINZER
It had rained in heavy sheets and a thin haze shrouded the small pond behind
Rutabaga. Though it was fairly miserable outside I was excited. I stared
calculatingly at the kayaks. “Am I supposed to ride and steer that thing?” Long,
slender, and painted in the vibrant colors that reflected my mood, I got in the line
with my mom to get my kayak.
When we all got our kayaks, we had to practice paddling on land. I was a little
irritated, impatient to get into my kayak. Why couldn’t we just get on the water?
But the instructor began with “let’s start with the basics of paddling.” Grudgingly I
participated.
Finally, I boarded my kayak and was pushed off from shore. The pond was
beautiful and I got a whole different perspective from kayak level. After going
around the fountain in the middle of the pond a few times, I got the hang of steering.
We headed out of the pond. After paddling under a large and noisy bridge, which
was crowded with bird nests, we made it to the marsh. Tiny bugs whizzed back and
forth on the water’s surface. A family of ducks paddled past so close it seemed you
could reach out and touch their soft, water-sprinkled feathers. Fog covered the marsh
like a misty veil. A bird could be heard in the distance. It was beautifully still, the
quiet only broken by the light splashes of our paddling. This was what I had wanted
to do. Now I could relax and listen to the sounds of the lake that filled the world
around me.
51
For detailed class information visit us at www.rutabaga.com/outdoorprograms or call 800-472-3353.
Canoecopia 2010 www.rutabaga.com

52
“Rooted in the outdoors since 1976”
MORE PADDLING CLASSES
n Yoga and Yakin’ – a perfect combo: Yoga and Kayaking
n Boats, Birds & Botany – a bit of instruction followed by an
eco-tour of Lake Wingra
n Intro to Stand Up Paddleboard – discover the hottest new craze!
LEADERSHIP TRAINING & CERTIFICATIONS
Of SPECIAL INTEREST
n Out of the Classroom – Canoeing and Kayaking Adventures
for Teachers.
n Wilderness First Aid – be prepared
n American Canoe Association Instructor Certification
in canoe and kayak
ahnu_rhutabaga_ad.121609.FLOL.HI.pdf 1 12/16/09 12:26 PM
“Paddling is a way to escape the volumes of humanity that I am surrounded with every day.”
Q: What causes the tides in the oceans?
A: The tides are a fight between the Earth and the Moon. All water tends to flow towards the moon, because
there is no water on the moon, and nature hates a vacuum. I forget where the sun joins in this fight.
— Children’s Science Exam
CUSTOMIZED COURSES & ADVENTURES
We’re a creative bunch here at Rutabaga and there’s nothing we’d
enjoy more than creating an adventure that works for you! Whether
you’re looking to spice up a company outing, host a family reunion,
or get your Scout Troop out on the water, we’re here and we’re game!
Give us a call.
n Private lessons
n Adaptive Paddling for People with Disabilities
n Birthday parties
n Group Outings
Visit us at www.rutabaga.com/outdoorprograms
for detailed class information or call 800-472-3353.

The Dragons are Coming
Capital Lakes DragonFest!
On June 26, 2010, TeamSurvivor Madison,
Inc. is hosting the first dragon boat festival in
Madison – the Capital Lakes DragonFest.
Dragon boating is an activity where friends,
coworkers, businesses and community
groups can get together to enjoy a day of
camaraderie, physical exercise and fun! It’s
an exciting activity that gives all abilities and
ages the opportunity to take part.
What is dragon boating?
A dragon boat is a large 40+ foot-long
canoe that features the head and tail of a
dragon. Dragon boating originated in China
over 2000 years ago and has emerged in
modern times as an international sport.
At a dragon boat festival, individuals
form teams with the goal of having fun and
performing to the best of their abilities,
blending the talents of each team member
into a smoothly performing boat. A team is
made up of 20 paddlers, a drummer to keep
TSM is changing the lives of women
surviving any cancer diagnosis. Formed in
2003, the all-volunteer, non-profit organization
provides free or low cost fitness activities and
health education programs for women with a
past or present diagnosis of cancer. The yearround
activities range from walking and biking
to paddling and triathlon training.
EVI HUNGERFORD
time, and a steersperson who keeps the boat
in a straight line. They paddle down a 300-
to 500-meter course, competing against other
teams. Style, rhythm, timing and endurance
are most important.
Learn more!
Wouldn’t you love to form a team and try
this increasingly popular sport? Our goal
for the 2010 Capital Lakes DragonFest is to
introduce the community to a unique activity
that provides team building, fitness, and fun!
Stop by the TeamSurvivor Madison, Inc.
booth in the lobby of Canoecopia to learn
how you can organize your team.
Experiencing a dragon boat race, either
by watching or paddling, is a thrill that can
be enjoyed by everyone! We hope you’ll
join us for Madison’s first Capital Lakes
DragonFest.
For more information about the
Capital Lakes DragonFest visit
www.CapitalLakesDragonFest.com
TeamSurvivor Madison, Incorporated
Members share fitness, friendship and
fun while thriving and surviving! Perhaps
best captured by the organization’s vision
statement, “Together, women with cancer
achieving the extraordinary,” members
experience a unique camaraderie. To learn
more, visit the TSM, Inc. website at www.
teamsurvivormadison.org.

Rutabaga presents ...
My First Symposium
SARAH TATRO
Last summer I went to my first Door County
Sea Kayak Symposium. I am 13 years old and
I participated in the teenager program. The
classes were really fun, combining a good time
with basic strokes and rescues. The first day
there were some strong winds, which were fun
but hard to paddle against. The instructors were
really cool and always had fun games for us to
play. Plus I made a few really good friends.
In one of our classes we practiced rescues
and wet exits. I was really scared because once
I am upside down it’s like my brain goes into
a state of panic. But my instructor was really
calm and with his help I finally got it. It felt
good knowing I could do something that once
scared me that much. I also did one naturalist
tour of Kangaroo Lake. The tour was amazing
and so beautiful. There were lots of reeds and
we spotted a few colorful birds and many kinds
of insects.
One of my favorite parts was just gathering
under the tent each evening for dinner. It was
like a really big family getting together to eat.
The food was always different and tasted good.
It was fun to sit around and listen to people tell
stories about their day. The whole symposium
was filled with excitement and adventure. I’m
extremely excited to come again. I think 2010
will be the best year ever!
rutabaga’s DOOR COUNTY
Join the fun and become part
of the paddling community.
A SYMPOSIUM FOR EVERYONE!
July 9-11, 2010
Wagon Trail Resort, Rowleys Bay, Door County, WI.
www.everyonepaddles.com
rutabaga’s
sea kayak symposium
Saturday, August 21, 2010
Join us for a day of canoeing fun for everyone
located at our store in Monona, WI.
Visit our website at www.rutabaga.com
spring event
Save the Date! n Sunday, May 23, 2010 n 9:30am-2pm
We invite women curious about canoeing or kayaking to join us for a relaxed,
no-pressure day of paddling and learning. Come and learn from the experts.
Featuring:
n On-water paddling mini-courses in canoes and kayaks
n On-land clinics on how to load your boat, camp cooking, yoga and more.
n Door prizes
n Discounts on selected women’s items.
n And much more!
Visit our website for more information:
www.rutabaga.com/waterdivas
See you on the water!
55
Canoecopia 2010 www.rutabaga.com
Paddling for
women by women!

Reflections
The Canoecopia Magazine is sort of an odd duck when
it comes to publications; it’s neither fish nor fowl.
That’s because it’s not really a magazine and it’s not really
a simple Canoecopia show guide.
This all started more than a decade ago, when the Canoecopia
Gazette, black and white, 16 pages on non-recycled
newsprint, had a spare page. It was not something I loved;
it was a simple show guide. I asked permission to write a
small piece to insert in the gazette about a paddling trip I
had been on a few months earlier, and was told that if we
didn’t need it for something else, I could do that.
What we heard back is that you liked the stories as much as
the rest of the more perfunctory yet necessary information.
So we kept doing it. We expanded the gazette to include
more stories from more people about their lives and how
they had been influenced by paddling.
on
Paddling
Now 64 pages larger, on partially-recycled glossy heat-set
ink, we’ve come a long way. 50,000 of you will receive
this by mail, another 10,000 will receive it at the shop or
in grocery stores or through your paddling club. In this
less-than-stellar economy we considered keeping the same
publication, buy I felt strongly about making the Canoecopia
Magazine into a “keeper” -- something you might want
to have around the house. We want to feel proud when we
look at it, and we do.
Through these writings by our staff (and my daughter, who
is rapidly become an incredible writer), we hope that you
will enjoy a glimpse into what we do, and why we do it ...
because we love the natural world, the people in it, and we
felt it best to share that with you.
In gratitude,
Darren Bush

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JIM PIPPITT
Taking Robbie Camping Part 2
I’m lucky enough to have a very
forgiving family. Last year’s camping
trip to Wisconsin for my Florida-bound
nephew, Robbie, was a bit of a shock for
him. He has a lot of happy memories of
the outing, but also remembers losing
pints of blood to swarms of mosquitoes.
Later, when I asked him whether he’d
like to try camping again, his first
question was, “Are there going to be
mosquitoes?” I told him I didn’t think
so, but I couldn’t promise it. His second
question was more favorable, “Will there
be any whitewater?”
(Readers of last year’s essay will
remember that he had been promised
some whitewater. Luckily, I had the Brule
up my sleeve.)
“Yes Robbie, there will be whitewater.”
Robert, his dad, asked if he could come
along. He was curious to see the camping
thing. On our first day of camping,
Robert totally surprised me. He asked
how hard it was to kayak, and whether
I had a boat that would fit him. I never
dreamed he’d want to kayak. I knew he
liked powerboats, now paddle boats too?
Heck, he had back surgery a year ago.
We took the super easy run first. Class
1+ rapids that looked so dull to my jaded
eye were really exciting for them. After
a somewhat shaky start, Robert handled
his boat with ease. Robbie had a harder
time of it, but did way better than I did
my first time. At the end of the run, they
were grinning ear to ear. Robert asked if
we could shoot the middle difficulty run.
I threw caution to the wind and loaded
the boats.
It started out great. Cat took the lead
in her kayak, followed by Robert, then
Robbie, then me in a canoe. They looked
like pros, until the first real rock garden.
Robbie hit a submerged rock sideways
and flipped. As I went by him I saw he
was fine. He even managed to keep a
hold of his paddle. Cat spun around,
nabbed his boat, brought it to me then
inexplicably gave me her paddle. The
water took her away downstream with
the most puzzled expression on her face.
I could see her wondering both why she
gave me her paddle and how she was
going to get out of this one using only her
hands to control her boat. (She did great
and eddied out around the next bend.)
I made my way upriver, made sure he
was fine, took a picture of the intrepid
boy, and then helped him back down to
his kayak. “My shoe! I’m missing my
water shoe!” said Robbie. I pulled the
shoe out of the boat. “Gosh, Uncle Jim, is
there anything you can’t do?”
I paddled the rest of that trip with one
heck of a fat head. It felt great. I even did
a perfect eddy turn to return Cat’s paddle
to her. No reason not to look like a Super
Uncle.
At the end of the run, they were almost
giggly. They had survived! They were
bushed, but totally happy. We made a
huge roaring fire and I showed Robbie
the finer points of Dutch oven cooking.
We made Robert a perfect Father’s Day
cake. Then because we “needed” more
sugar, we made cinnamon rolls.
Robert and Robbie thought it was one
of their best days ever. It was one of my
best days too. We retold the stories of the
day over and over again, perfecting them
in the retelling. We made plans for the
next day’s adventures and even discussed
what we might do next year. I can’t wait
to see what we’ll do.
59
Canoecopia 2010 www.rutabaga.com

60
“Rooted in the outdoors since 1976”
Another day, another gale warning. Despite careful planning,
the worst summer in over 150 years looks like it will be
the end of my trip around Ireland. Nobody can remember such
a stretch of weather.
Everyone I meet is
filled with gloom and
says things like ‘You
need to come back
another year to see how
nice summer usually
is.’ Even the fishermen
are staying off the
water and say it will be
another week before
it clears. Somethings
you don’t want to hear
waiting out the weather
in a place called Black
Ball Harbor.
After 10 days, at
least today’s forecast
offers a slight break
before another gale is
to blow-in this evening.
Looking at the Atlantic
Ocean, strong winds
have it in a rough but
manageable state. I
take the chance to
make mileage and
continue the trip. A
steady rain combined
with the wind makes
breaking camp
miserable. Despite all
of this, I am happy to
be back in my boat,
The Nexus
of Paddling
SAM CROWLEY
happy to be paddling and not ready to give in to the gloom.
For lunch, as well as a break from the bumpy seas and strong
winds, I pull into the slip at the small village of Garnish. A
fellow walks up and asks “Are you the American going around?”
It is Mitey McNally who insists on feeding me lunch. Concerned
about losing valuable paddling time socializing, I say no. It is
Mitey’s promise it will be quick that changes my mind. When I
thank him for his generosity, Mitey responds simply, “The Irish
like to care for madmen.”
It wasn’t the first time someone thought that way of my
paddling plans. Before my first solo trip in the Apostle Islands, I
had a co-worker try to talk me out of it. There is plenty of time
to think about memories like that on a three month long trip. It is
triggered by the often-asked question, how did I get here?
Quite simply, I was seduced. It was a love affair with the
Apostle Islands and kayaking that changed my life. Passionate
instructors made learning enjoyable. Their great instruction and
positive feedback encouraged me to push my limits and do my
first overnight trip in the Apostle Islands. Exploring the islands
and camping on remote beaches provided a needed release from
a stressful life. Quickly, long trips became an addiction.
The instructors’ enthusiasm was contagious and encouraged
me to begin thinking about becoming an instructor. At my
instructor workshop were staff instructors from Rutabaga. Now
every season I drive to Madison to run instructor workshops and
stay with a fellow participant from that first workshop. Working
at Rutabaga is like having a family where everyone paddles.
It is years later that I end up at Black Ball Harbor in County
Cork, Ireland. The same county my Dad’s side of the family
emigrated from. At Black Ball, I was fortunate to have met a
family on holiday that took me in. The Matriarch, Eileen, is an
82-year-old who could pass for a 50-year-old. Eileen’s name
is an anglicized version of a Gaelic word that means a shaft of
sunshine, much like what one would see on a cloudy day. It also
turns out that her family has cousins who are Crowley’s.
Eileen’s eyes sparkle and she is always quick with a smile and
a laugh. She also isn’t afraid to share her wisdom. After seven

days, because of the weather and the inability to move, I was in
a tortured state thinking the trip was over. She turned to me and
said “Sam, maybe it is your ancestors who are keeping you here
to get to know more about their land and people.” In my gloom, I
felt a ray of sunshine.
Back in Garnish, it is obvious the forecasted gale came away
early. After lunch, the sea is covered in whitecaps and the wind
quickly strengthens so it is difficult to even stand. By the end
vapor
FlatbEd
a barrEl harnEss that carriEs up to 60
litEr barrEls or drybags in comFort.
of the afternoon, seas are breaking over the small island that
protects the Garnish slip. Mitey, generous as always, extends his
hospitality and puts me up until the storm passes. That night, we
travel to a pub in nearby Allihies. The same publican, Doc, is
working that I met ten nights ago. He welcomes me back with
“You haven’t gotten very far,” and laughs. I have to agree.
Sometimes you cannot plan for what your ancestors have in
mind for you.
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61
Canoecopia 2010 www.rutabaga.com
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62
“Rooted in the outdoors since 1976”
De Colores de Agua
VALERIE HEIN
I
started working at Rutabaga about two years ago and one
of the main things that appealed to me was the family
atmosphere. Rutabaga is family owned and the core staff
working here is a close-knit group of individuals brought
together by common bonds. Every year the Rutabaga family has a
gathering to reinforce these bonds: Watercolors. A couple of days
spent away from the shop, paddling quiet stretches of Wisconsin
water and using the Fall foliage as a backdrop for some good old
fashioned team building.
This year Watercolors was held October 19-21 at Wyalusing
State Park in Southwestern Wisconsin. Bright blue skies, crisp
fresh air and bright yellow leaves surrounded the group camp
we reserved for our gathering. We had two cabins for lodging, a
dining hall with a kitchen large enough to feed an army and one of
the biggest grills I’ve ever seen. Also close by was a large field to
accommodate our Frisbee needs and an amphitheater style fire pit
that kept us warm each evening. The nineteenth served as a night
for us early birds to arrive. Several of us took advantage of our free
time and took a hike on the Sugar Maple Trail. We encountered
the remnants of a waterfall along the trail and snuck a couple of
glimpses of the Mississippi River, where we would be paddling
the next day. After our hike we had quite the appetite built up so
we ventured into Prairie du Chien for dinner – saving the cooking
for when the rest of the group arrived. On our way back to camp
we stopped at Eunice’s to purchase firewood, and I was even lucky
enough to buy several pumpkins and squash from their farm stand.
By the time we returned to camp the sun had set and the stars were
starting to appear. Since most of us ‘Bagas live in the city, seeing
the stars in the country is pretty special. You don’t realize how
much light pollution there is in the city until you get out to a place
like Wyalusing and look at the sky from the top of a picnic table.
Once the fire was built, stories were shared about our summer’s
adventures and our plans for the upcoming winter, all while being
warmed by the fire’s intense heat. One by one, people started
towards the cabins for the evening. We all wanted to be well rested
for our day of paddling to come.
Tuesday greeted us with cloudy skies but we were optimistic
that the weather would stay on our side. Breakfast, and more
importantly coffee, was made and by the time we were all fueled
up the rest of the group started to arrive. Around mid-morning we
loaded up the vehicles with our canoes, paddling supplies, lunches
and a bunch of eager paddlers and headed down to the boat launch.
The canoe trail that we paddled led us through the calm sloughs
of the Mississippi River, provided us with the sighting of a bald
eagle and a chance for fishing for a couple of the guys. After about
an hour we took a break to re-group for lunch and then headed
out onto the main channel of the Mississippi. The banks of the
river were covered with trees just past their peak colors but were
highlighted by rays of sun peaking out from the clouds. For such
a big body of water, the river was quite calm, and aside from
a passing fishing boat, our canoes were the only boats in sight.
By the time we re-entered the backwaters, the sky momentarily
cleared and gave me the chance to take a couple of pretty photos of
the group and their canoes. We all thoroughly enjoyed our trip out
on the canoe trail but we’re ready for our next adventures of the
day. For some that meant a hike back by camp, a quick snooze and
a snack. For others, that meant a chance to take long boarding to
another level on a local hill. Don’t worry, no one got hurt.
Once we all reconvened at camp, feeling fully recuperated, we
decided to fire up the grill and the stove and get dinner started.
If you haven’t noticed by now, eating is pretty important to us
and this meal was no exception. What a feast! Marit made us
homemade soup, Joe grilled chicken and veggie burgers on the
monster grill and we had enough sides to satisfy everyone’s tastes.

A round of Mo’s peanut butter cup
s’mores cooked on the fire topped off
our meal. Once again we sat around
the fire telling tales, laughing at jokes
and together enjoying the calm that
comes with being disconnected from
our regular lives. As the fire died
down, and the last of us headed to the
cabins and the warmth of our sleeping
bags, I was left with the feeling of
being surrounded by friends. Or better
yet, my “Baga family.”
The last person to join the group
was Darren, who we met early
Wednesday morning on the banks
of the Lower Kickapoo River. After
running the shuttle and putting in,
the clouds began to lift and we began
an amazing day on the water. Clear
skies, temperatures approaching the
high sixties and beautiful surroundings
filled the day. The Kickapoo offered
us the flexibility of paddling at our
own pace, taking the time to drift
between canoes and catch up on a
more personal level. And in Jeff’s
case, it gave him a chance to lie back
while I controlled the canoe from
the bow. By the time we took out in
Wauzeka you could see the genuine
happiness in everyone’s smiles due
to such an enjoyable day. We headed
back to Madison, and those of us that
weren’t driving got to squeeze in a
bumpy nap in the back seat of the car.
Back in town we had a closing dinner
at the Brass Ring, giving spouses,
partners, and a couple other coworkers
the chance to spend more time with
the group.
The two and a half days at
Wyalusing were irreplaceable. It has
been so long since I have been able to
devote a couple of days to something
I love. I feel so lucky that Rutabaga
allows me to spend time in a canoe
surrounded by people just like me.
What a great type of family in which
to be involved. It’s so comforting to
know that a paddling buddy is always
close by.
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64
“Rooted in the outdoors since 1976”
ELIZABETH KATT-REINDERS
I
dip my paddle in the river and feel the pull of the current. The
baby stands between my knees, clutching the gunwales with his
chubby fingers. He strains to see past me, peering at Dad who
sits smiling in the stern, instructing our two other boys, three
and six, in their paddling “technique.”
We’re on our first overnight canoe trip, paddling down a stretch of
the Wisconsin River with three other families. John has been pushing
me to take a river trip since we had our first son, but until now I have
been hesitant to try anything bigger than a lap around the lake or a
mile long stretch of a quiet creek.
John and I share a love for time spent outdoors, and before we
had kids we enjoyed plenty of backpacking and wilderness camping.
When we started our family, we transitioned to car camping and
discovered plenty of great campgrounds around the country. But an
overnight canoe trip? It seemed like more than I wanted to take on.
The idea of packing our kids and all of our gear in a canoe and then
setting up camp hours away from either our origin or our destination
seemed crazy. What if we dump the boat and all of our gear gets wet?
What if the boys get antsy sitting in the boat for so long? What if the
baby crawls off the sandbar and floats away downriver? My anxious
alter ego somehow surfaced and took over my naturally adventurous
self when it came to a paddling trip, and for six years I shot down
every overnight that John proposed.
But something shifted for me when my friend Molly invited us
to join a group of families on their annual fall paddle down the
Wisconsin River. I had heard about the hardcore wilderness paddlers
who take their babies on weeklong Boundary Waters trips, washing
cloth diapers in dry bags and watching as little ones cut their teeth
on old wooden paddles. And while I liked the idea in theory, I knew
I didn’t have it in me. But this trip felt doable. We’d paddle a twelvemile
stretch, taking our time and camping on one of the large sandbars
in the middle of the river for a night. We’d have the company of other
families with little ones, and we’d all be in it together.
So we loaded our tent and sleeping bags, a few clothes and enough
food for the one meal our family was in charge of into our big blue
barrels and we set off down the river. The older boys sit atop dry bags
in front of John, and the baby settles in at my feet in the bow.
As I pull my paddle through the water, my tension dissipates and
A Family’s Tale from the River
flows downstream with the current. As parents of little children, it can
be too easy to get in the habit of not doing things, to prophesy gloom
and doom, to swear off those activities we once enjoyed because
they seem too hard to do with kids. But out here on the water the sun
shines, the breeze blows, and kids laugh and squeal from four canoes
floating down the river in succession. There’s nothing hard about this.
I remember what it is I love about being out here—what it is that
brought me and John together in the first place. Out on the water,
outside the confining walls of home and work we feel our true size in
the scheme of the planet. We move through the landscape at a slower
pace, noticing the details that go unnoticed at a faster speed. We feel
the pull of the current and the water on our paddles. We inhale the
moment, letting go of life’s distractions, letting nature restore our
energy and feed our souls.
My-six year-old wants to shore up to every sandbar we pass, eyeing
opportunities for exploration and adventure. But we paddle on for
another hour since the baby is happy, not wanting to push our luck.
We watch turtles sunning on logs, and we sit slack-jawed as an osprey
swoops down, snagging a fish right out of the river. By the time we
climb ashore at our sandbar of choice, my baby has fallen asleep and I
lay him down for a nap on the beach while we set up camp.
I’m so grateful that John didn’t let me back out of this trip. We’ve
been taking the kids camping since our oldest was seven weeks old,
but a canoe trip feels different—no car, no jungle gym, no electricity,
no toys. Traveling by canoe makes the journey as special as the
destination, and the simplicity of a boat and a beach and barrel of
necessities keeps us that much closer to nature.
We want our kids to be comfortable amid the elements—big sky,
big water, big wind—and we want to share our love of nature with
them at their young, impressionable ages. We want to instill a passion
in them for the natural world, a sense of awe for the vastness of it all.
We want them to discover hidden places accessible only by foot or
by boat. And we hope these trips will help them know us better, that
by seeing how we choose to spend our time that we’re showing them
what’s important to us, what we value and love.
Dark blue swallows the oranges and pinks and the last of the
s’mores are eaten around the fire. The kids surrender easily to
bedtime, spent from hours digging in the sand and splashing in the

iver. We all sleep well, despite a teething baby. And while I
can’t quite drag myself from the tent to catch the sun stealing
the sky from the night, I do peak out to see the mist rising off
the river in the early morning light. This is what I love about
camping—waking up to the sunrise, snug in my sleeping
bag, listening as the kids stir and awaken, peppering the still
morning air with their munchkin voices and bright ideas.
We’re reluctant to leave our island-camp, but we load up the
canoes and head towards our takeout six miles downriver. The
wind whips stronger today and dark clouds loom ominously
ahead, but we try to stay lighthearted. John keeps his fishing
rod tucked behind him, and he casts a line in every pool and
eddy we pass, despite my snapping at him to keep paddling.
He laughs and holds up a Smallmouth Bass for a picture before
tossing it back and picking up his paddle.
Anxiety creeps up my spine as I eye those dark clouds and
worry about soaking wet, crying kids with hours left to paddle.
If it was just John and I paddling with our friends, pre-kid days,
the weather wouldn’t faze me in the least. But John reminds me
that the kids won’t melt if they get a little wet, and besides —
we’re prepared. We paddle to shore for a moment and dig out
raincoats and pants and warm fleeces. With the boys decked out
head to toe and the baby tucked into the leg of a spare pair of
John’s rain pants, we paddle off.
It’s amazing how quickly my mood shifts. With everyone
warm and waterproof, my good spirits return and I find myself
looking forward to a rainy paddle. But in five minutes the rain
passes and bright blue flushes out the grey. Warm and cozy in
our gear, we paddle on, spying osprey and eagles soaring high
overhead.
As we approach our takeout, I’m happy for the time on the
water, but wish the trip could linger a little longer. The current
is pulling us further downstream, but we sweep our paddles out
wide and steer our way to shore.
We climb out of canoes, kids smiling or sleeping; parents
relieved and feeling accomplished. We all agree we’ll need two
nights next year. As we pack up the van John gives me a big
hug, thanking me for giving the trip a shot. I hug him back, and
hear myself tell him I may be up for that Boundary Waters trip
after all.
Elizabeth Katt-Reinders is a freelance writer in Madison, WI. To read more of Elizabeth’s essays, visit her blog
www.clarity-chaos.com, or visit her professional website www.verbalmedium.com
65
Canoecopia 2010 www.rutabaga.com
The leader in lightweight.

66
“Rooted in the outdoors since 1976”
Whitewater Adventure
MO KAPPES
and
ALI DWYER
Every December, my friends Patty and Allen send a Christmas letter regaling
me with the adventurous trips they have taken the previous year (hut trips
in Colorado, rafting in Idaho, scuba diving, etc.). This year, the letter
included an invitation to join them on one of those awesome trips … an eight-day
whitewater paddling adventure through Desolation Grays Canyon on the Green
River in Utah—a Class II-III section of the river. They would raft it, and I would
paddle a solo whitewater canoe. With anxious excitement, I accepted the invitation
and convinced my partner, Ali, to join in the fun. This was one of those trips you
just can’t pass up.
We were the Midwest contingent, joining Patty and Allen and ten of their
experienced rafting friends who had logged countless days on rivers more technical
than the Green. I had paddled whitewater before, but not big Western water. Ali had
only encountered riffles.
As well as experienced rafters and paddlers, the folks on our trip were awesome
to be around! They were supportive, welcoming and fun and ready to teach us
about the local flora (those cactus are sharp) and fauna (mountain goats are scared
of bears), the ways of the river (she flows mightily) and how to eat well (every raft
has a 100 quart cooler).
May 15th found us in tiny Vernal, Utah, at the mouth of Desolation Canyon. As
we waited our turn at the put in, we watched uprooted trees float by on the swollen

iver. In my experience, this was a sure sign of flooding and
danger. In the ranger’s opinion, this was an auspicious sign that
the river was rising and the rapids were crankin’!
Western water is huge on a normal day, and this was not a
normal day. The Green River was near the limits of her banks.
In a solo canoe I had my work cut out for me. I nervously
approached each rapid, rapidly scouting the big rolling waves and
picking my line. I learned quickly that running these rapids was
simple; I just had to point myself in the direction I wanted to go,
roll with the waves, brace when necessary, and keep my blade
in the water. As the days passed I became more confident in my
skills and began to look forward to the waves on the next rapid,
rather than fighting my nervous impulse to hop onto one of the
rafts.
As for Ali, she was safely tucked into a raft, being assured that
they “hardly ever” flip over. Her first few rapids were approached
with nervousness, until it became clear that the raft could handle
the huge waves and still come out upright with everyone and
everything inside. Now that she was comfortable, she could really
focus on learning about river dynamics from Allen—how holes
are created, why to avoid them, and how to use eddies.
I rediscovered my love of whitewater canoeing and Ali gained
more confidence on the river. It was a truly magical experience
that, months later, is still vivid in our memories. We excitedly
await the next river trip invitation!
67
Canoecopia 2010 www.rutabaga.com

68
“Rooted in the outdoors since 1976”
Paddling
LARRY COOPER
My paddling adventures began in 1974 while I was still
in high school. My first boat was a fiberglass Seda
Vagabond with a blue deck and a white hull. I think
I was the only high schooler in Alabama that had a boat without
a motor. I got my driver’s license, my car, and my kayak on the
same day and a spectacular journey began.
Due to the singular nature of the kayak, and the fact that there
was no one else around to paddle with anyway, I spent a lot of
my early paddling time alone. That, coupled with the statistic
that Alabama has more miles of navigable waterways than any
other state, meant I got out on a lot of lovely water and most of
the time I saw it all by myself, particularly since most boaters
saw the water as a summer time thing. The bugless winter was
my favorite time to be out paddling, and I experienced a thin skin
of lake ice for the first time while paddling down there during a
particularly cold winter day. The feel of the thin ice cracking as
I slipped my paddle blades through it is unforgettable.
I always looked for beautiful places to be, but I never
believed I would find absolute perfection until it presented
itself to my wife and I on a splendid September day in the Tetons
in northwest Wyoming.
On my first trip to the Tetons, right after high school graduation
in 1976, I had gone on a climbing trip with a friend from home
and our first climb was Mt Moran, a massive block of a mountain
standing 12,605 feet, rising some 6000 feet above Leigh Lake.
On our approach hike we walked around that lake and we were

Perfection
stunned by the beautiful view of the broad summit of Moran
towering overhead. It was my first real view of the mountains,
and a scene that never left me.
Thirty something years and many Teton trips later, my wife
and I left Wisconsin to visit those mountains again, but this time
climbing was not to be the goal. We planned on some hikes
and took the kayaks to explore the lakes to get a perspective I
had never enjoyed before. The day dawned with an immaculate
sunrise, and we were out early to our put in on String Lake, a
narrow channel of water as the name implies, that connects to a
portage, and the only water entrance to Leigh Lake.
Leigh Lake is a body of water about 3 miles long, 2 miles
wide, and 200 feet deep. Carved by glaciers descending from
the Teton Range, it is fed by the frigid melt water from the lofty
peaks. The water is clear and cold, and on the day we spent on
it, Leigh Lake was as smooth and perfect as a mirror.
The weightless, suspended feeling of paddling across the
middle of the lake was mixed with a touch of vertigo as the
shadows of the boat slipped around, deep underneath us in a kind
of surreal, indescribable perspective. In all my years of paddling,
the perfect day had presented itself, and I was in it with Karen,
unable to speak at times other than to just say, “Wow.”
In my heart I know that this will be my last memory to leave
me. I hope you witness perfection as I have. You’ll know it
when you see it. Paddling will take you to places you cannot
even imagine. Let it.
69
Canoecopia 2010 www.rutabaga.com

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Big City Mountaineers
JEFF WEIDMAN
The exit interview was the end of a long satisfying
relationship with JanSport in Appleton, Wisconsin. I
had been a wholesale rep for them, enjoyed a nice run
and was hanging up my sales hat for good. I had a new gig
lined up at Rutabaga and was looking forward to the change
(and getting off the road).
The sales manager looked at me and noted I had been taking
good care of my bank account. “You’re right,” I said. “Sales has
been good to me.” He wondered if I had been taking similar care
of my karma account. Huh? He said that maybe it was the time of
life to give something back
and slid a business card
across the table.
Big City Mountaineers?
What do they do? The
interviewer didn’t miss a
beat. “They change kids
lives one at a time by
giving them an entirely
new perspective for eight
days.” Good news is
they have a paddle-based
program in the BWCA
that could use some help.
That was six years ago.
Today BCM runs 12 trips
to BWCA each summer,
owns all their own boats and gear (donated by Rutabaga and
various paddlesports manufacturers) and draws teen boys and
girls from Chicago and Minneapolis. I am on the executive
committee of the board of directors. We ran over 75 trips
nationwide this last summer, opened up a new hub in Portland,
and are poised for major growth.
A typical trip is 5 adults and 5 “at risk” teens. The teens are
selected by the youth association with which they are affiliated and
is based on need. Most have never been away from home. Of the
adults, one is the trip leader, another is a youth councilor that has
been working with the teens and the other three are volunteers.
This year’s trip was being lead by Keith Dumbleton, a
Chicago high school teacher who had guided with me years
ago on another BCM trip. Nathan Pugh was the youth leader,
bringing kids up from a Chicago YMCA. Skip Yowell from
JanSport and I rounded out the adult team. The range of
outdoor and paddling experience in the adults was wide.
Remember that these boys had never been away from home
for more than a day, and certainly had never been to anything
resembling a wilderness, but the boys climbed in a van and left
Chicago with Nate and Keith and drove the 12 hours to Ely.
There they met Skip and I at Wilderness Wind, our partner for
lodging and equipment storage outside of town. Over the next
day, we practiced paddling, and camped in wall tents.
The boys were nervous at the put in, and their lack of
experience in the outdoors showed in their questions: “How
deep is it?” “Are there animals that can hurt us?” “What if it
rains?” My favorite: “Are there sharks?” I guess it was Shark
Week on the Discovery Channel.
As we pushed off to paddle to our first portage, you could
tell they had reservations.
They had never been in a
wilderness setting before,
much less with everything
they needed to live for a
week in a loaded canoe.
They couldn’t believe we
had to haul everything
over the portages. The
first portage went a
little rough—not much
teamwork and a lot of
complaining. Once on the
other side of the portage,
we loaded up and started
paddling again. It wasn’t
until now they understood
how we would be traveling. This was a sobering moment.
But the first campsite was a real winner. We helped them
unpack and put up their tents the first time, but the rest of the
trip would be on their own. Cooks and cleanups were assigned
and it was time to swim and fish. They were in heaven.
During the next five days, it was rewarding to see how they
gained confidence. By the last night, they didn’t really need
us anymore. Navigating, unpacking, pitching tents, cooking,
hauling food at night, and packing up the next morning. They
had become a cohesive team and were working well together.
This is what makes BCM work. We provide an environment
where growth is not accidental. Their youth leader Nathan Pugh
commented: “I saw more change in six days than I have in the
last six months.” That is an amazing amount of growth, thanks
to time in the wilderness.
BCM is proud and thankful to call Rutabaga a partner.
Look for the BCM teen representatives in the JanSport booth
at Canoecopia. Please consider volunteering on one of our
trips. You too will see how wilderness canoe tripping can
dramatically change the lives of these kids, one at a time.
71
Canoecopia 2010 www.rutabaga.com

72
“Rooted in the outdoors since 1976”
Sketches of a Semi-Normal
WHITNEY BUSH
Childhood
Usually memories for me are silent. An image takes shape in my
head and the details are slowly added as if my mind is the illustrator
for an animated movie. First there is the pencil sketch, slowly a
steady hand adds colors and setting and observers until the picture is
complete, as well as the feeling that accompanies it.
When I say sound I don’t mean music. I mean the choking of a
lawn mower when the grass is too wet, or the rusted squeak when you
turn on the hose. My memories are full of images. Of colors and lights
and faces. But there is one exception; one noise that acts as a catalyst
as well as accompaniment.
I heard that sound last week as my roommate pushed hard on the
clutch of her old jeep and rolled right and back, throwing the car into
reverse. As we backed out of our parking spot I heard it.
There is no sound quite like a manual car accelerating backwards.
There’s the hum of the motor which becomes a whir and as you
speed up the pitch grows higher and louder. I hear that noise and the
illustrator beings sketching in my head.
First there is the car itself that makes the noise. An old blue Corolla
wagon affectionately named Blue Car. Above the driver’s door handle
white sticker letters spell out “EXPERIMENTAL.”
It’s funny how many people believed that. Maybe it was just one
tollbooth worker, but still. Then there is the Yakima roof rack, which
seems like it was just a natural part of the car. Now the illustrator
begins to outline the lake and the boathouse. We find Blue Car facing
the lake, just above the dock and boat ramp.
Lake Wingra is 339 acres, fed by a spring. It’s small enough that no
motors are allowed but big enough that when we paddle on the more
western half, by Big Spring, the cattails and the old beaver lodge, we
aren’t bothered by the people swimming or fishing on the far eastern
shore near Henry Vilas Zoo. There the water leaves and begins its
journey down Wingra Creek, on its merry way to a string of rivers
and lakes, maybe all the way to the Gulf of Mexico, if it’s feeling
ambitious. But we don’t really care about that.
The illustrator keeps sketching and in the picture in my mind the
sun is getting ready to set. It was usually evening when we went
there. Blue Car was as close to the lake as you could get and Dad
was unloading canoes and setting them on the grass. Then there is
the noise that brought us here as Dad, or sometimes Mom, reverses
back to the area designated for parking. I created a contradiction in
my mind. Even though I could see we had the lake to ourselves and
I loved that fact, I still assumed this was how every other four year
old girl would spend her evenings: in a lilac canoe custom made for
her and her birthday with sunflower print Tevas, pig tails and her dad
teaching her the j-stroke.
I’ve realized that just because I learned something when I was little
doesn’t mean everyone did. My sophomore year in college, I was
talking about beavers with my good friend. No, I don’t remember how
the topic came up, but considering I study Wildlife and Wildlands
Conservation it’s not really unexpected.
We were discussing Christmas tree ornaments, specifically one that
has been on our tree forever— a beaver on snowshoes. I told her how
disappointed I was that Farm & Fleet hadn’t double-checked their

facts, and so in an effort to remedy their error, I had taken an
orange highlighter to its teeth. She was confused which made
me confused. Due to a project I had done in kindergarten,
I had learned that beavers have yellowish orange teeth. My
logic told me that that was just one of those things you learn in
kindergarten so everyone knew it too. But yesterday when my
friend asked me what the DNR was, or today when my friend
asked what the difference was between a canoe and a kayak, I
realize again that it is only from a distance that my childhood
looks normal.
Our family was small: Mom, Dad, Ian and me. We liked to go
camping. We liked to eat together. It seemed like someone was
always staying with us. But when you look closer you see that
we almost always had company because of sales reps traveling
through and trade shows going on. Sometimes we had never
met them before because somebody’s friend who reps for
some snowboarding company needed somewhere to crash.
Usually they drove old trucks, the back stuffed with outdoor
gear and piles of clothing, including the usual boxes filled with
a plethora of cotton t-shirts, branded with unabashed product
placement. I don’t think I ever bought a t-shirt in my life.
We had a kayak in our living room before we had a garage. I
could paddle solo canoe well before I could ride a bike. We had
a tipi in our backyard. Dad made breakfast every morning and
we ate it, together. My mother knit almost every sweater I’ve
ever owned. It’s hard to draw the line between or around what
things we did because of the outdoor industry and what things
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were just who we are. Maybe they’re all the same.
When I spent my eighth birthday on the Wisconsin River
with my dad and my Perception Umiak (a kayak the color of
grape cough syrup, surfing the waves from a pair of jet skis
I had not yet learned to be annoyed by), it seemed not just
normal, but right. When we landed at Dad’s favorite sand bar
and we lay on our stomachs, our heads level with a rock where
a dragonfly nymph was hatching out of its exoskeleton and
pumping up its wings for its trial flight. It was how everyone
should spend not just birthdays, but everyday.
When I fly home the second weekend of March for our
family reunion, it’s just what I need to do. We never have
“real” family reunions if you expect blood to be what ties us
all together. But it’s the best family reunion I could ask for as
I wander the aisles of the Alliant Energy Center, greeting and
hugging my adopted sisters and uncles setting up their booths
for the weekend. Their companies have been as familiar to be
as my own, common household words since I could talk.
Canoecopia is my home for three or four days every year. As
I write this, maybe it’s too early to be thinking about March.
But just as I always need to be planning for my next adventure,
it’s great to know I always have my family reunion to look
forward to.
Editor’s note: Whitney named Blue Car when she
was three, she just doesn’t remember that part.
Designed to deliver the kind of responsiveness and performance you want for a relaxing
day trip on the lake, and for when you seek out the challenge of a running river or
beginner rapids. Whatever the conditions, Dagger makes it easier and a lot more fun.
73
Canoecopia 2010 www.rutabaga.com
WHITEWATER TOURING | RECREATIONAL KAYAKS
www.dagger.com

74
“Rooted in the outdoors since 1976”
My True Water Dog
In the summer of ‘08, we decided to get an “emergency
backup puppy” to soften the blow for when Abby passes
on to the great dog couch in the sky. Rosie could not be more
different from Abby. She’s exuberant, she’s cuddly, and as it
turns out, she’s a true Water Dog.
I was nervous about getting Rosie near water. Abby had a
bad start and completely swore off any water that wasn’t in her
bowl. One day, young Rosie saw a dog swimming near a dock.
Her toenails clicked back and forth along the dock, intently
observing the swimming Lab. And then she jumped! I saw her
disappear under the water for a second, and then her little brain
kicked in and she started swimming happily around the other
dog, trying to steal his toy. Whew! I learned that getting her in
the water was easy. Getting her out was harder.
Getting her in a canoe was harder still. Rosie is a spooky
creature. Anything new, especially if it might—maybe—move,
is hard for her to take. (For months, she was terrified of ordinary
doors.) We had to do a lot of conditioning to get her near, then
in the canoe. Luckily, she is eternally hungry, and quite willing
to work/learn for biscuits.
The key to a good dog experience while paddling is much
the same as with a kid. A tired dog is a good dog. She’ll put up
with 25 minutes of paddling and then expect a good 15 minutes
Stop by and visit us at our display and
see all the new models!
2010 Subaru Forester
Proud Automotive
Sponsor of
CAnOECOPIA 2010
2010 Subaru Outback
JIM PIPPITT
of running along the shore. Then we can get 35 minutes of
paddling and give her 10 minutes of racing at the water’s edge.
Lather, rinse, repeat. Eventually she runs out of gas (about
the same time as any children who might be along) and turns
into cute, wet, furry ballast. Then, it’s a Kodak moment.
I love having a real Water Dog. We go out whenever we can
for a whole day on the river and return burnt, tired, smelling of
wet dog and smiling ear to ear. It’s a blessing for us all.
Two Locations to Serve You!
754 E. Washington Avenue, Madison • 258-3636
SALES: Mon. & Thurs. 9am-9pm; Tues., Wed. & Fri. 9am-6pm; Sat. 9am-4pm • SERVICE: Mon.-Fri. 7am-5:30pm; Sat. 8am-1pm
5822 Odana Road (at Tokay Blvd.) • 608-442-3232
SALES: Mon. - Thurs. 9am-8pm; Fri. 9am-6pm; Sat. 9am-5pm • SERVICE: Mon.-Fri. 7am-5:30pm; Sat. 8am-1pm
www.donmiller.com

Thule’s Hullavator raises the bar (literally), to lift
60-90% of the kayak’s weight so you don’t have to.

76
“Rooted in the outdoors since 1976”
Local Eats
Angelo’s Pizza
5801 Monona Drive n 222-1464
Where the Rutabaga staff go after Canoecopia
breakdown. We recommend the
white pizza with artichoke hearts.
Fraboni’s
108 Owen Road n 222-6632
Fast and delicious Italian sandwiches
from a great, family-owned neighborhood
deli. Owner Steve is a kayaker, so he gets
bonus points for that.
Great Dane Pub and Brewing
Company
123 E. Doty Street n 284-0000
This is the downtown location, there are
two others. Great pub food and fine beer.
Annie likes the Mac and Cheese with aged
cheddar.
Jolly Bob’s
1210 Williamson Street n 251-3902
Specializing in Caribbean fare. Best Coconut
Shrimp, awesome tropical drinks with
umbrellas, great reggae music.
Pizza Brutta
1805 Monroe Street n 257-2120
This place has authentic Neapolitan pizza
right out of a wood-burning oven and
nothing on the menu is over $12. Order a
la carte and they’ll bring it right to your table.
The pizzas are as big as dinner plates
and really filling. Local produce and dairy
is always used in the growing season, and
they make their own mozzarella!
The Alchemy
1980 Atwood Avenue n 204-7644
The Alchemy has tasty sandwiches with
out-of-the-ordinary sides, like wasabi
green beans. The atmosphere is relaxed,
it’s very kid-friendly and they feature a
delectable beer selection.
The Curve
653 South Park Street n 251-0311
The ultimate greasy spoon breakfast joint:
cash only, tattoed cooks and endless coffee.
Wonderful place and close to Canoecopia.
A Madison tradition.
Weary Traveler
1201 Williamson Street n 442-6207
Think gourmet bar food ... it works. Chef
Joey is one of our Aluminum Chefs. The
burgers are especially good.
Essen Haus
514 East Wilsonstrasse n 255-4674
Great bangers and mash, and the best
liver dumpling soup. Boots of beer and
polka are sure to please a lively bunch of
sausage-chomping Midwesterners.
Brocach Irish Pub
7 West Main Street (on the Square) n
255-2015
They have the most excellent Shepard’s
Pie. Good portions, reasonable price, great
tap beers including Guinness you can cut
with a knife.
David’s Jamaican
5734 Monona Drive n 222-8109
Located in an old Taco Bell, don’t be
fooled by the exterior. David and Pauline
are Jamaican natives, preparing delicious
traditional Jamaican fare at a very reasonable
price. You’ll never leave hungry.
La Bamba Burritos
5809 Monona Drive n 221-8772
The sign says “Burritos as big as your
head.” They’re open late and pricing is
very reasonable.
Sardine
617 Williamson Street n 441-1600
Really a wonderful bistro in the heart of
Madison. They have Jim’s favorite mussel
prep in the city. He eats it just for the
sauce alone. They do a great job of bringing
interest and variety to even the basics.
Jim likes taking people here because
there’s always something for every taste.
Taqueria Guadalajara
1033 South Park Street n 250-1824
One of a number of family-owned authentic
taquerias. Killer guaraches, sopes, and
several good beer choices. Se habla Ingles.
Lao Laan Xang
2098 Atwood Avenue n 819-0140
A favorite curry place in Madison (the
curry squash is amazing). The food is delicious
and reasonably priced. Situated next
to the Barrymore Theater, it’s a great place
to start a night on the town.
Local Grocery Stores and Delis:
Trader Joe’s
1810 Monroe Street, 257-1916
Whole Foods
3313 University Avenue, 233-9566
Willy Street Co-Op
1221 Williamson Street, 294-0116
Ken’s Meats and Deli
5725 Monona Drive, 222-6663.

Quietwater Films 3-set DVDs
$29.95 (reg. $49.95)
tandem canoeing, solo
canoeing and rec kayaking
220 WEST BROADWAY, MONONA, WI. 53716 608-223-9300
15% off any Rutabaga
Outdoor Program class
excluding WFA, ACA
instructor training
220 WEST BROADWAY, MONONA, WI. 53716 608-223-9300
$25 off
Door County Sea Kayak symposium
registration fee*
*When registering online, enter code 2253 in notes field.
220 WEST BROADWAY, MONONA, WI. 53716 608-223-9300
Buy one safety item
get second one 1/2 off
of equal or lesser value
220 WEST BROADWAY, MONONA, WI. 53716 608-223-9300
Buy 2 pair of socks
Get one pair FREE!
220 WEST BROADWAY, MONONA, WI. 53716 608-223-9300
—VALID in-store only—
Valid in-store only between 4/1/10 — 8/31/10
Cannot be used in combination with any other discount/coupon
Valid in-store only between 3/20/10 — 7/31/10
Cannot be used in combination with any other discount/coupon
Valid until 6/1/10
Cannot be used in combination with any other discount/coupon
Valid in-store only between 4/1/10 — 9/30/10
Cannot be used in combination with any other discount/coupon
of equal or lesser value
Valid in-store between 5/1/10 — 7/31/10
Cannot be used in combination with any other discount/coupon
Buy one get one free
weekday canoe or kayak rental
Valid in-store only between 5/1/10 — 9/30/10
Cannot be used in combination with any other discount/coupon
220 WEST BROADWAY, MONONA, WI. 53716 608-223-9300
2441 2442
2252
10% off any one
paddle clothing item
220 WEST BROADWAY, MONONA, WI. 53716 608-223-9300
Free license plate
holder with purchase
of $25 or more
Valid in-store only between 4/15/10 — 9/30/10
Cannot be used in combination with any other discount/coupon
Valid in-store only between 4/1/10 — 6/30/10
Cannot be used in combination with any other discount/coupon
220 WEST BROADWAY, MONONA, WI. 53716 608-223-9300
2444
Buy two canoe paddles
get the third (spare) 30% off
off equal or lesser value
Valid in-store only between 5/1/10 — 9/30/10
Cannot be used in combination with any other discount/coupon
220 WEST BROADWAY, MONONA, WI. 53716 608-223-9300
2445 2446
25% off
one pair of shoes
Valid in-store only between 5/1/10 — 8/31/10
Cannot be used in combination with any other discount/coupon
220 WEST BROADWAY, MONONA, WI. 53716 608-223-9300
2447 2448
2443
2444

78
“Rooted in the outdoors since 1976”
TRAVEL LIGHT
ICEBREAKER
MERINO
NEW ICEBREAKER INSTORE
AT RUTABAGA NOW
Canoecopia 2010 Information
Where: Exhibition Hall at the Alliant Energy Center
1919 Alliant Energy Center Way Madison, WI. 53713
When: March 12: 4 p.m. - 9 p.m.
March 13: 9 a.m. - 6 p.m.
March 14: 10 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Admission: $10/day, $15/3-day pass.
Children under 18 are free
Host: Canoecopia is presented annually by Rutabaga,
The Paddlesport Shop, 220 West Broadway,
Monona, WI 53716
Information: Call 608-223-9300,
1-800-I-PADDLE or check our
website at www.canoecopia.com
Rutabaga, the store, will be closed Wednesday, March 10
and re-open Thursday, March 18. We thank you for your
patience while we put the shop back together.
COME BY THE
ICEBREAKER
BOOTH AND
ENJOY 30% OFF
2 OF OUR BEST
SELLERS!
Wristbands passes
for Canoecopia
are available now for
purchase at Rutabaga
$10/day $15/3-day pass
Childcare Sponsored by
Childcare will be provided
once again for Canoecopia
attendees. Space is limited,
and two-hour time limits
will be in effect. We welcome
children between the ages of
15-months and 8 years of age.
The room will be staffed with
certified childcare specialists.
The childcare room will be
located at the top of the stairs
by the main ticket entrance.
For more information, stop by
the info booth at the show.

INUIT 12.5
MARVEL 12
MANTA RAY 12 ANGLER
ULTIMATE 14.5 ANGLER
REMIX XP 10
COUPE
DEUCE COUPE
We have advanced the design and comfort level of the Inuit series
beyond any other touring kayak. The Tru-Track hull offers straight
tracking despite the shorter hull length plus it provides a high level of
maneuverability. Our new 5 Star Seating raises the standard for
outfitting as it supports and cushions all over, all day.
SIZES: 12.5, 13.5, 14.5
The Marvel series provides all the stability, maneuverability, and comfort
you expect from a kayak, plus the uniquely adjustable First Class Seat
moves to make room for a pooch or other small passenger. Other great
features include the amazingly easy to use storage hatch cover,
thigh pads and paddle holder. Optional rudder available.
SIZES: 10, 12, 14.5
The signature features of the Manta Ray series have made Manta Rays
one of the best sit-on-top choices for paddlers and anglers but now
owners can enjoy the new ultra comfortable DVC Deluxe seating and
the innovative Groove accessory system too.
SIZES: 11, 12, 14
The Ultimate series’ stable Tunnel Hull makes standing to sight fish
and pole easy or you can sit and fish or paddle in comfort all day in the
suspended First Class seating system. The open hull also offers ample
room and easy access to your tackle and gear.
SIZES: 12, 14.5, 16
WWW.NATIVEWATERCRAFT.COM WWW.LIQUIDLOGICKAYAKS.COM
Boasting the smooth, river running moves of the Remix series, the Remix
XP’s open up an additional dimension to the “all water” kayaker. They
are sleek and maneuverable in swift water but gain stability and tracking
when you lower the spring loaded skeg to quickly navigate across
flat waters.
SIZES: 9, 10
You don’t limit yourself and neither should your kayak! Let the Coupe
carry you from light rapids to the surf to the open water. The drop down
skeg lets you easily adjust for greater maneuverability or better tracking
in a moment. You can also personalize this uniquely versatile and
stable SOT with a number of additional seating options.
SIZE: 10
Take the versatility, stability, maneuverability, spring-loaded drop down
skeg, and other great features of the Coupe SOT, then add an additional
hatch and two more seating spaces and you have the best tandem siton-top
for whitewater, flatwater and the surf. Add additional
comfort through the extra seating options.
SIZE: 13

“Where shall you seek beauty, and how shall you find her unless she herself be your way and your
guide? And how shall you speak of her unless she be the weaver of your speech?
“Beauty is kind and gentle.
Like a young mother half-shy in her own glory, she walks among us.”
~ Kahlil Gibran