Greetings Short’s 2 Short’s Paddler! First off I want to say thanks for joining me on this adventure; I look forward to meeting all of you (if that’s possible). We spent a lot of time organizing the event this year in hopes to provide an efficient, enjoyable and safe adventure, for Free! The future success of this event largely depends on the paddlers’ cooperation and safe outcome, so please review the items below very carefully and plan wisely.
I’ve compared the grueling nature of this paddle to what it’s like operating Short’s. Both the paddle and Short’s require stamina, perseverance, and tenacity to survive. Although it’s very hard work, it can be enjoyable and rewarding. It can also be unpredictable, and the best way to accommodate the unpredictable is to be prepared. The river sections represent the reprieve or little breaks in between the madness, and help you prepare physically and mentally for the bigger challenges ahead (Torch and Elk Lake). Take advantage of those opportunities. Please read through this check list carefully as it may save your life! The goal here is to keep this simple safe and fun. SAFE, SAFE, SAFE being the number one thing to focus on.
Thanks again for being safe and participating. Your cooperation and enjoyment are appreciated and encouraged.
Please consider tomorrow’s forecast – is supposed to be mid 70’s and WINDY! (20-30mph) – This pretty much means Torch and Elk Lake are both going to be Brutal! A skirt is highly recommended to keep water out of your boat.
Dress Appropriately – It’s highly recommended you avoid wearing cotton clothing as it absorbs water. Granted the air will be warm but the water is still very cold, and with the wind could be potentially hypothermic if you happen to fall in.
Wear any wicking layers like smart wool so you can peel them off when needed.
Windbreaker and or rain coat – something to cut the wind and waves!
Mittens and extra gloves – in the morning it will be cold and comfort is key. Stay dry and stay warm!
Sunglasses and sunscreen
Hat
Skirt
Wear HI-VIS clothing if applicable so we can easily identify you from afar, or affix hi vis to your boat!
Dry set of clothing – if you do not have a dry bag to pack your back up clothing in (your boat), you can leave your bag with ground support. Just leave your name clearly marked on your gear so we can deliver to you at your destination. Remember a COMPLETE SET OF CLOTHING!Please Wear Your Life Vest! – As previously mentioned it will be windy and wavy – heightening the risk level, making it even harder for safety boats to see you, especially if the waves turn you over.
Paddle with at least one person!This will make it easier for safety boats to monitor you. It will also allow someone to make a phone call in a distress situation. It is going to be windy and wavy so the bigger the group the better. We can find you and rescue you easier in the event a boat becomes turned over. Partner and groups are a must!
Safety Contact Info – I’ve noticed on some of your registration forms that you put your safety contact info as a person who is also going to be paddling. If you are one of those people, I recommend you send me an email with a back up name and number to someone who will not be paddling. Attached to this email is your map with the safety contact info on it. Please program this info into your phone. Here it is again: 5 total!
Safety Boat Captain’s: (If you’re signed up, you got this information in an email with phone numbers)
Kurt Koerber
Curt Guntzviller
Nick Fairbanks
James Short
Mike and Char Anderson
Ground Support
Kevin Karpinski
Mark Poe
Shannon Karpinski & Josh
Registration Updates or Changes – please email me and let me know if you have any updates to your registration or any other changes you have, especially if you have changed your mind and do not plan on attending. I have seen a few already and sorry we’ll miss you!
Registration Packet – VERY IMPORTANT – contains a map of the course with safety boat and land support phone numbers, as well as your 2010 S2S sticker and participating business coupons. We’ll have it in a small dry bag provided by Green Planet
Porta Pottie – has been ordered for the launch site thanks to the Village of Bellaire!
Friday Morning’s Schedule
6:00 – 7:30 am – late registration sign up
6:30 to 7:30 am – Registration Check In – once you arrive, please check in so we know you will be on the water. At check in you will need to sign the participation waiver, get your info packet, and stage your boat in line to launch (very important)
7:30 – group photo (there are 90 registered paddlers!)
7:40 – Pre launch meeting
7:30 – 8:30 Launch Time – stand next to your boat and wait your turn to hit the water. It’s important we do this swiftly
The Course officially ends at the Elk Rapids Boat Launch in Elk River (some of you may want to hit up the Riverwalk Grill for your free pint). Totally fine, just coordinate with land support if you have requested a shuttle and don’t want to be left behind.
T – Shirts! – The Short’s 2 Short’s shirts are being shipped today for delivery in Elk Rapids tomorrow (Friday). If you don’t make it to the plant, I can mail your shirt, or hand it off at the Anniversary Party. If you didn’t request a t-shirt and would like one, we should have some left over or we can put in another order. If you have ordered an XXL Tee, we will have to special order those. I apologize; the shirt order was in before I received all requests so I guessed on size and quantity. Small through XL tee’s are $18.00. XXL Tee’s will be $20
80’s songs – I try to think of the crappiest 80’s songs to sing while treading through the river section. Come with a few stuck in your head to share.
Pickin’ Up Litter – Short’s Brewing Company will donate a $50 gift certificate to the person who picks up the most trash along the way. Leave your name and your collections with a safety boat, land support or the Elk Rapids facility and we’ll hash out the winner when we get it all.
Elk Rapids Plant Tour – 5:00 to 7:00 pm
Participating Businesses along the way: your packet includes coupons to a few
The Clam Shack – The start of Clam River, off to your left at Dewitt Marine – Look for the S2S Banner! Coffee, water, snacks etc.
The Dockside – See you registration packet for a $2.00 off coupon!
Fabiano’s at Torch River – Excellent Sandwiches, and great retail store.
The Riverwalk Grill – Free pint with purchase of a lunch or dinner item
Pearl’s New Orleans Kitchen – See registration packet for coupon
The Moose downtown E.R. will have pizza by the slice as well as other deli favorites if you’re hungry. They also sell Short’s six packs.
Return Shuttle: This will be managed by Kevin from Green Planet. We’re suggesting a $5.00 donation to cover the expense.
The Dockside to Torch River Shuttle: since it’s going to be windy, my guess is a few of you may opt to do this. Please let Kevin or myself know ASAP so we can try to accommodate you.
The Skegemog Drop Point – is actually just before you enter elk lake on your right hand side after all the stumps and such. Please make a note on your map. From the land it’s at the end of Chippewa Trail (off of Cherry Ave by the Elk Farm) in Rapid City. Let me know if you need any more info about this point. We’ve never used it, but if you’re second guessing the push up Elk, you might want to consider it.
Attached is your participation waiver – please review this document and bring a signed copy with you. We will have extras at check in, but if you can bring your own copy we’d really appreciate it! Click here to download.
I look forward to another epic adventure. Please let me know if you have any questions or concerns.
UPDATE: Please note that some details of the S2S 2010 have changed.
Okay, this year’s pre paddle went pretty well. Everyone was in the water by 8:20 a.m. The morning was really cold and eventually warmed up around 11:00 am to 40-ish, when we got close to the dockside. All the water was extremely flat, until the last part of Torch Lake for the first ½ of the trip. Lake Skegemog and Elk Lake were the toughest as there was a 10-15 MPH head wind which was brutal. All in all, given the weather we had, anyone should be able to finish this trip in about 10 to 12 hours leisurely. That’s casual through the rivers with about 1.5 to 2 hours worth of breaks in between. So I have compiled a list of the last minute essentials for those of you who intend to do this trip and take it seriously. (If you haven’t registered for the event yet, do it here!)
Bring warm gloves, several pairs. I used my winter mittens for the first half, and it totally made the 30 degree wind much more bearable and the ride much more comfortable and enjoyable.
Dress for the weather. This year the weather started around 30 degrees and finished about 55 degrees with light wind (10-15mph near the end). I dressed as if I was going cross country skiing. I had a base layer and soft shell ski pants for the bottom and on top, several wicking layers of smart wools which could be easily shed, and a raincoat/windbreaker. Fighting wet and cold is essential to really enjoy this adventure. So dress appropriately so you can be comfortable and have a good experience.
Make cockpit adjustments – I would recommend making your kayak or canoe seating or cockpit adjustments prior to launch day. Sit in your vessel and decide where the most comfortable position is going to be for your ride. It’s a long ways, and being comfortable will really improve your enjoyment!
Pack a complete set of back up clothing in a dry bag. This pre paddle we experienced a kayaker who took on water in his rear storage compartment because the cover wasn’t tightened completely. In that compartment was his dry bag with back up clothing. He took on so much water he eventually began to sink and was picked up by the safety boat. Once the safety boat had returned him soaking wet to the next drop point we discovered his entire dry bag was also full of water, posing a serious problem. So the moral of this story:
Fasten your compartments completely
Pack your dry gear correctly, especially your phone!
Paddle with a Partner. I can’t emphasize how important this is. As the kayakers make it into the bigger bodies of water they tend to disperse. This can make it challenging for safety boats to monitor several paddles strewn about over miles of lake. It’s especially worse when the lake is rough. So find someone to paddle next to that fits your pace or plan to have a partner. Prior to launching you will receive a packet containing a map and the safety boat locations and the captains phone numbers. Also included in the info packs will be Kevin Karpinski’s number as well as the rest of the ground support. So in the event you end up in a safety boat, you can arrange a pick up at the nearest location. Also in this packet will be info for participating establishments along the paddle. Some will be offering a “special or feature” lunch or dinner. Those establishments are:
Bring Sun Screen – This is the first time the sun had really been out during one of the paddles. Although I had sunglasses on, it still wasn’t enough. The sun was tricky, even through the clouds. So bring sunscreen for your face at a minimum. Several of us pretty paddlers look like raccoons with crispy noses and cheeks!
Even Extra Gear. Most of the safety boats will have towels and blankets. If you do not have a dry bag but want a bag at the finish, you should arrange to leave it with Kevin for ground support, or he can put it in a safety boat.
Life Jacket – Wear one or have one readily accessible on your boat. Better safe than sorry!
Water and Snacks – I’m hoping to outfit the safety boats with blankets and towels. If you don’t plan on patronizing any of the establishments along the way I highly recommend bringing a snack or snacks water and what not. It’s a long day either way you shake it.
HOLIE BAJEEZUS! Short’s is six years old! Come join us in celebrating six years of beer liberation and the power of the smallness. We’ve been hard at it and continue to beat the odds. So come venture off the beaten path and take advantage of a special menu, special brews and special folks in a special place!
Short’s Brewing Company 2010 Anniversary party Details. Happy 6th!
May 1st doors open at 3:00pm
Beers on Tap:
Key Lime Pie
Caramel Apple
Black Belgian IPA
Pistachio Cream Ale
Ale La Reverend (1 keg)
Black Licorice Lager (2010 batch from ER)
Golden Rule
Nicie Spicie
Bourbon Barrel Sustenance
Sustenance Black Beer
Anniversary Ale (double wheat wine with blood orange, green peppercorns and super hopped)
The Curl (till it runs out)
New Mission Pale Ale
Mystery Stout
Uber Goober
Turtle Stout
Passion Brew
Holistic Healing
Huma Lupa Licious
Locals Light
Kegs we’ll be rotating through:
Plum Rye Bock
Hangin’ Frank
Stellar Ale
Music:
Nathan Bates 4:00 – 5:30 pm
Sam Corbin and Jen Sygit 6:00 – 7:30
Reggie Smith and the After Party 8:00 – 11:00
Food:
Chorizo Tacos with black beans, corn, lettuce tomatoes and cheddar cheese, served with tortilla chips and a side of cilantro lime sour cream
Buffalo Chicken Wrap with bacon, tomatoes, lettuce and a blue cheese spread served with kettle chips and a pickle
Pesto Cucumber Salad with kalamata olives, red onion, carrots and feta wrapped in tomato herb tortilla with hummus and spinach
Tomato Blue Cheese Soup
Pizza by the slice – Pepperoni and cheese
Brewers Corner:
This year we’ll be setting up another brewers booth featuring SBC’s Brewstaff. They’ll be pouring 2007 Imperial Beers (ginger in the Rye & Carob Stout) , 2009 Bourbon Barrel Sustenance, Smoked Apple Ale and other
Short’s Brewing Company will be in St. Louis on Saturday April 17th at Schlafly Brewing Company celebrating the Repeal of Prohibition along with Kuhnhenn and Mt. Pleasant Brewing Company. For more details, visit the Schlafly website.
We’ve got a great beer dinner coming up on April 26th at Pearls in Elk Rapids! First course is served at 6:30, so we’d ask that if you plan on attending, please come a little early. Cost is $35 plus tax and gratuity. As our friends at Pearls stated:
Shaq and Kobe. Lennon and McCartney. De Niro and Scorcese. Short’s Brewing and Pearl’s New Orleans Kitchen.
Rather than particiapte in an epic battle for the hearts and minds of Michigan food and beer lovers, Short’s and Pearl’s have chosen to join their powers for the good. Menu, cost and more vital details will be coming soon, but I suggest that everyone set their alarms for April 26 to enjoy a stellar line-up of food and beer the likes of which have never been seen before! Or at least since the last time we did this.
A partnership that only the bravest would challenge and only the most foolish would miss.
Hope to see you there. Space is limited, cutoff will be at 40, so don’t miss it!
Alright Short’s Fans! As you’ll recall, we announced that we’re going to have our 2nd Annual Short’s to Shorts Paddle to celebrate our 6th Year Anniversary Party coming up on May 1st, 2010.
The 2010 Short’s 2 Short’s Paddle is the day before the Anniversary Party. Bright and early on April 30th. That’s a Friday, so plan accordingly now. [click to continue…]
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