Ladies of the Lake

We are offering a unique opportunity to camp on Grand Island located a mile off shore of Munising.  What to have a fun experience with your friends and learn how to camp out of your kayak?  Sign up today!

Grand Island Overnight

Thursday-Friday

This 2-day course combined with one night of camping on Grand Island will prep you for your next big adventure, whether you want to prepare for the Gales Symposium, head to Baja, or just doing a multi-day Lake Superior trip. The class will cover everything from basics like how to pack your boat for tripping, to more advanced concepts like loaded -boat handling skills, rescues, navigation and trip planning. This class will depart and spend the night camping on Grand Island. Participants must have appropriate gear for the overnight.

Prerequisites: Camping equipment, food for 2 lunches, 2 dinners and 2 breakfast, water and snacks. Able to perform partner rescue, high comfort with wet exiting, ability to paddle at least 10 miles a day in moderate conditions. Instructors will contact participants prior to event with gear requirements.

Circumnavigate Grand Island

Thursday-Friday

This 2-day course combined with one night of camping on Grand Island is designed for advanced paddlers who want to hone their skills in a variety of water conditions. This class is being designed and created for advanced paddlers by LOL coaches who will tailor the learning opportunities to the needs of the group. This overnight trip is an ideal segue for the Rough and Ready classes offered later in the weekend which focus on assessment and risk management.

Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore is beautiful place to paddle. That’s why Ladies of the Lake has settled down in Munising. From soaring cliffs, sea caves, and waterfalls to rolling rivers and protected bays, this area offers something for everyone and we offer guided tours that will take you there.  It’s a great way to get out and see and the area and take a break from the rigor of classes.

Our tours are a full day affair and will take you to some of the most beautiful shoreline that Pictured Rocks has to offer.  If you sign up for a tour you will be unable to take a class on that day. We have tours for every level of paddler, from the first time boaters to seasoned pros. Space is limited so sign up today at: http://downwindsports.com/lol/registration-2017/

Hey Ladies- we have officially opened registration for the 2017 LOL located in Munising Michigan!   We have been really busy planning an awesome event based on feedback from last years participants and coaches.   Here are some of the most important things to know for this year:

Registration

Just like last year all registration will be done online.  We’ve changed our registration a little in order to make it easier.  You will no longer have to sign up on one page and then pay at another. It’s all done in one place this year.  In past years you’ve had to fill out a waiver when you arrived at the event. This year we’ve wrapped that into your registration. PLEASE REMEMBER TO USE THE COUPON CODE:  Shazam to receive your discount!

Scheduling

Last year we offered online scheduling and it was a huge success.  We will be doing the same thing this year.  You’ll be able to select all of your classes and tours while you’re signing up.  Again this year we will be using a color coding system to help you build the perfect schedule and make sure you get into classes that are best suited for you and your paddling goals.  To learn more about this year’s scheduling check out these pages:

Class Schedule

Tour Schedule

Some classes and all tours have a limited number of available spots.  We’d recommend signing up early to ensure that you get what you want.

Cancellations

In the past we have carried all canceled registrations forward to next event, sometimes for multiple years.  This became more complicated with higher attendance. We are no longer carrying registrations forward.  We will offer partial refunds to all cancellations.  If you sign up and are unable to attend please let us know as soon as possible.  If you let us know you can’t make it before April 15th we will refund 75% of your registration fee.  If you cancel between April 15th and July 1st we will refund half of your registration.  No refunds will be given for cancellations after July 1st.

Location

Munising is a paddler’s paradise with great access to Lake Superior and some of the most beautiful shoreline you’ll find anywhere on the planet.  LOL headquarters will be located upstairs at Sydney’s Restaurant where the always friendly staff do their best to cater to our every need.

New This Year! On Friday night we will be gathering the entire symposium together for a Buffet Dinner at 387 (headquarters).  This will be the first time in the history of our event where we are able to gather for a group dinner! The dinner is included with your registration.

Werner Paddles Theme Party –  This is it.  The one you’ve heard about. The now famous, or infamous, Ladies of the Lake theme party. It’s hard to describe the unbridled fun that comes from 100+ women dressed in costume and partying down.  In the past themes have ranged from Woodstock to the Oscars; from Pirates to the Wild West.  This year we are calling all Super Heros, so grab a friend, and get ready to use your superpowers!

Cost

One great thing about registering early is that the sooner you register, the less you pay. If you sign up any time between now and March 10th, your registration will only cost you $225!  PLEASE REMEMBER TO USE THE COUPON CODE:  Shazam to receive your discount!

If you sign up between March 10th and June 1st, registration will cost $300.  After June 1st, the price will rise to $350.  This fee gets you world class instruction and all of the breathtaking tours that are offered at the event.

Questions?

If you have any questions or if there is anything we can help you out with please email Bill at downwindsports@gmail.com or call us at 906.226-7112

Ready to register?  Click here to begin the process!

Just a heads up for all of our 2016 LOL participants looking for our headquarters…….Sydney’s has gone through improvements and now a name change!  With over 40 years of combined hospitality experience, Munising native Cheri Tannehill Goetz and husband Tony Goetz of Sault Ste Marie recently purchased Sydney’s Family Restaurant. After months of remodeling, refining their new menu and services, this family dining and catering establishment has been renamed 387 Restaurant & Beer Parlor (387).  The Ladies of the Lake Sea Kayak Symposium will still be upstairs at 387 with all of our off water activities!

This is going to be a good one!  Friday after a day of paddling be sure to stop by the headquarters, grab a refreshment and be prepared to be inspired by a couple of ladies who had a dream and acted on it!

“Lake Michigan in a Dugout: The Documentary” is a film following the story of two women chasing their ridiculous dream: to journey around Lake Michigan aboard their handmade dugout sailing canoe, an adventure that would ultimately take them over 1200 miles in 93 days. Told in part through the friendly banter between the two and the friends they made along the way, the documentary explores the search for everyday adventure and the power of our imaginations to push dreams into reality.

Bio:
Amy Lukas graduated from Valparaiso University in 2011 with a BS in Biology, minors in Chemistry and Humanities. Mary Catterlin graduated from Indiana University in 2011 with a BA in Fine Art, minoring in Art History. The summer of 2012 found them doing other things… When Mary started hand carving a cottonwood tree into a dugout canoe, Amy knew they were in for an adventure. Spurred by their love of Lake Michigan and a desire for a challenge, they dreamed big. Both Amy and Mary were relatively (okay, completely) new to long distance expeditions when they set off on their 1200 mile journey around Lake Michigan aboard their handmade dugout sailing canoe in the summer of 2012.

Amy and Mary are also completely new to the realm of book & film, but they thoroughly enjoyed the process of telling a story they love. Their 93 day adventure has recently taken the form of a published illustrated journal and a full length documentary detailing the ins and outs of their dream coming to life. They hope to inspire others to follow their dreams, no matter how big, small, or ridiculous.

When asked what is currently taking up their time as 27 year olds, frequent answers include speaking, writing, creating, and adventuring on the southern shoreline of Lake Michigan. Side jobs include non profit work, graphic design work, surf instructing, traveling, and ice cream scooping. They have also decided on their next adventure; to finish what they started by circling the remaining four Great Lakes in one nonstop multi-modal journey. This time, the answer to your question is, yes, they will be taking Makeba, the dugout sailing canoe, for a small portion of the trip. A very small portion. This journey will take them over thousands of miles of freshwater shoreline through seasons as they travel by dugout, kayak, SUP, bike, snowshoe, ski, and sail. Needless to say, they have a lot of planning to do.

Need a break from paddling? Tired or sore muscles? Then how about switching it up a bit and taking in some of the other scenery Munising has to offer. Join our staff on a Munising Waterfall Hiking Tour where during this ½ day field trip we will show you some of the waterfalls close to Munising and allow for some great photographs.
Prerequisites: Good shoes/boots, vehicle for traveling to different destinations.  PLEASE NOTE,  THIS CLASS THAT MEETS AT LOL HEADQAURTERS.

Tis the season.  Running around figuring out the perfect gift for someone can be daunting.  Some years you hit it….some you don’t.  This year why not commit to a grand experience by paddling with your friends at Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore, considered by many to be a world class sea kayaking destination.

Socks wear out, are lost, and soon forgotten.  A weekend of smiles and laughs with your friends, now that is a gift and memories that will last a lifetime.  Start your adventure by registering today!

Hey this might be a record!  We have officially opened registration for the 2016 LOL located in Munising Michigan.   We have been really busy planning an awesome event based on feedback from last years participants and coaches.   Here are some of the most important things to know for this year:

Participation

With planning an event like Ladies of the Lake many logistical problems come up and year after year we try our best to fix them to offer a high quality experience for our participants.  Over the past few years we have had the problem of keeping the correct ratios of participants to coaches.  Our issue has been we really want to keep this an all female event and to be honest- sometimes it is hard to come up with enough coaches to meet our needs.  Having said that for the first time in our history we are capping our event at 130 participants.  By doing this we know exactly how many coaches we will have to hire to meet industry safety standards.  What does that mean for participants?   It means folks will have to sign up early if you want to guarantee yourself a spot!

Registration

Just like last year all registration will be done online.  We’ve changed our registration a little in order to make it easier.  You will no longer have to sign up on one page and then pay at another. It’s all done in one place this year.  In past years you’ve had to fill out a waiver when you arrived at the event. This year we’ve wrapped that into your registration. PLEASE REMEMBER TO USE THE COUPON CODE:  EarlyBird to receive your discount!

Scheduling

Last year we offered online scheduling and it was a huge success.  We will be doing the same thing this year.  You’ll be able to select all of your classes and tours while you’re signing up.  Again this year we will be using a color coding system to help you build the perfect schedule and make sure you get into classes that are best suited for you and your paddling goals.  To learn more about this year’s scheduling check out this post: LOL 2016 Schedule.   Some classes and all tours have a limited number of available spots.  We’d recommend signing up early to ensure that you get what you want.

Cancellations

In the past we have carried all canceled registrations forward to next event, sometimes for multiple years.  This became more complicated with higher attendance. We are no longer carrying registrations forward.  We will offer partial refunds to all cancellations.  If you sign up and are unable to attend please let us know as soon as possible.  If you let us know you can’t make it before April 15th we will refund 75% of your registration fee.  If you cancel between April 15th and July 1st we will refund half of your registration.  No refunds will be given for cancellations after July 1st.

Location

Munising is a paddler’s paradise with great access to Lake Superior and some of the most beautiful shoreline you’ll find anywhere on the planet.  LOL headquarters will be located upstairs at Sydney’s Restaurant where the always friendly staff do their best to cater to our every need.

Werner Paddles Theme Party –  This is it.  The one you’ve heard about. The now famous, or infamous, Ladies of the Lake theme party. It’s hard to describe the unbridled fun that comes from 100+ women dressed in costume and partying down.  In the past themes have ranged from Woodstock to the Oscars; from Pirates to the Wild West.  This year we are taking it under the Big Top with a Circus Themed party!  So grab a friend, listen to the Ringmaster, and get ready for the greatest show on earth!

Cost

One great thing about registering early is that the sooner you register, the less you pay. If you sign up any time between this Friday and March 10th, your registration will only cost you $200!  PLEASE REMEMBER TO USE THE COUPON CODE:  EarlyBird to receive your discount!

If you sign up between March 10th and June 1st, registration will cost $300.  After June 1st, the price will rise to $350.  This fee gets you world class instruction and all of the breathtaking tours that are offered at the event.

Questions?

If you have any questions or if there is anything we can help you out with please email Bill at downwindsports@gmail.com or call us at 906.226-7112