Short’s to Short’s Update
We’ve been amazed by how many registrations we’ve already received for this year’s Short’s to Short’s Paddle, which will be held on Friday, April 27th. This year’s event is sure to be larger than ever! Michigan-based mountaineering and outdoor outfitter, Moosejaw, announced this week that they will be a sponsor of this year’s Paddle, and are giving away free, custom arcteryx t-shirts to the first 300 paddlers to arrive at our Elk Rapids post-paddle party at Short’s Production Brewery. Moosejaw is also giving away some great prizes to event participants. Participants will also receive a commemorative beer mug, which will be handy because we’ll have a bunch of great brews on tap. A special beer garden area will be set up under a tent outside of our Elk Rapids Production Brewery and it will be open from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. on the 27th, with plenty of amazing beers on tap, great prize give-aways, food vendors, music, brewery tours, and more. We’ll have tents set up and plan to go forward with the post-Paddle reception no matter what the weather throws at us!
The 2012 Short’s to Short’s Paddle will introduce new check-in points at Torch Lake, Alden, Torch River, Elk Lake narrows area, and a new take-out location in Elk Rapids (sadly, the Riverwalk Grill burned down in October). Each paddler will be given a participant ID number that will allow us to quickly check you in as either “moving on” or else “dropping out.” Checking in at these points and letting us know if you are dropping out will entitle you to receive your free t-shirt and pint glass at the end of the day! We’ll also have more safety boats on the course than ever before, and will ask that paddlers stay within the designated course (more info on that later) to remain a part of the event. In years past, when people have cut straight across Torch Lake, we haven’t been able to keep as close of an eye on everyone as we would like. This year, we’ll ask all paddlers to stay inside of a line of stationary safety boats and buoys.
Green Planet Extreme Adventure Tours will again provide transportation and ground support services for the Short’s to Short’s paddlers. Kevin operates independently of our event, but has been extremely helpful to our paddlers in years past. You can sign up for transportation
and/or kayak rentals through Green Planet’s website, here:
http://www.greenplanetextreme.
To register for the Short’s to Short’s Paddle, please click here.
Anniversary Party, Aww Jeah!
We have also received tremendous interest in this year’s Anniversary Party, which is on Saturday the 28th of April, especially after the announcement last week via Facebook that we will be releasing the first ever bottle conditioned double Huma Lupa Licious, called Aww Jeah. Aww Jeah is a commemorative 1,000th production batch of Huma and will be available for sale only at our Pub, starting on the day of the Anni Party. Supplies are extremely limited (around 300 cases). More information about this release will be forthcoming, but Anniversary Party attendees will be able to experience AwwJeah from a firkin, as well as a separate side-project made with the final runnings of the Aww Jeah, which were then heavily hopped and lagered. That version is called Mmkay.
Lodging Information
If you are planning to attend either the Paddle or the Anni Party, and are looking for accommodations, we have prepared a list of places you can stay that still had availability as of this week, complete with pricing information. In most cases, you have to mention that you are coming for our event to get the best deal.
All Seasons Motel
109 South Division Street
Bellaire, MI 49615
(231) 533-8323
$55-85 per night.
Applesauce Inn
7296 S. M-88 Hwy
Bellaire MI 49615
(231) 533-6448
$75 must book 2 nights (usually 99.00 for the spring madness). In order to receive this special pricing you need to mention that you are involved with the Short’s to Short’s Paddle. They have only 3 rooms available.
The Blue Pelican
2535 North Main St
Central Lake, MI 49622
(231) 544-2583
$75/night full or queen, $85/night king-free breakfast. In order to receive this special pricing you need to mention that you are involved with the Short’s to Short’s Paddle.
Chain O Lakes Campground
7231 S M 88 Hwy
Bellaire, MI 49615
(231) 264-8019
$23/tent, $25/pop-up, $30-36/rv, $40 rustic cabins
Elk Rapids Beach Resorts
Elk Rapids, MI 49629
(231) 264-6400
$135/night must have 2 night minimum. In order to receive this special pricing you need to mention that you are involved with the Short’s to Short’s Paddle.
Grand Traverse Resort & Spa
Acme, MI
800-236-1577
$139-219 per night. In order to receive this special pricing you need to mention that you are involved with the Short’s to Short’s Paddle.
You may also register using the following online hyperlink:
http://grandtraverseresort.com/promocode/index.cfm?promoCode=STS0412
Grand Victorian B&B
402 N Bridge St
Bellaire, MI 49615
877-438-6111
$125-205 if you book more than 1 night receive a 10% discount. In order to receive this special pricing you need to mention that you are involved with the Short’s to Short’s Paddle. 5 rooms are available.
Honcho Rest Campground
8988 Cairn Hwy
Elk Rapids, MI 49629
(231) 264-8548
$10/tent if more than 2 people include $5 per person, $25/RV, $45/Cabin. In order to receive this special pricing you need to mention that you are involved with the Short’s to Short’s Paddle.
Shanty Creek Resort
Bellaire, MI 49615
(231) 533-8621
$99/night. In order to receive this special pricing you need to mention that you are involved with the Short’s to Short’s Paddle.
We’ll continue to post updates about the Short’s to Short’s Paddle and Anniversary Party as the event dates approach!
– SBC Event Staff
