We Are Now Stocking Scott Fly Rods!
June 17th, 2013
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New Gear- Sunset Cruiser Stand Up Board
June 14th, 2013
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We are really psyched to get out on the water and try to catch some classic Lake Superior sunsets this year! We are equally excited to hop on the latest offering from Lakeshore Paddleboard- the Sunset Cruiser.
THE SUNSET CRUISER
The latest addition to the sport category for 2013, the Sunset Cruiser offers a sleeker shape with increased performance and better glide. Carbon fiber rails add durability, strength, and stiffness to an aesthetically pleasing graphic design. If you’re looking for that little extra edge in a sport board, then the Sunset Cruiser will deliver.
Want to try out the Sunset Cruiser before you buy? Your opportunity to test paddle all of the new 2013 Stand Up Paddle Boards is Saturday June 15th in Munising, June 22nd in Marquette and June 23rd in Houghton.
Categories: Just Cool, Marquette, Stand Up Paddling
Powder Mill- Amazing New Disc Golf Course In Marquette!
June 11th, 2013
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Upper Peninsula disc golf fans have been eagerly anticipating the opening of the new Powder Mill Disk Golf course……well you don’t have to wait any more! This past weekend organizers officially opened the course for play and disc golf fanatics are certain to be pleased! This well thought out 18 hole course, designed by Tim Kopacz, is challenging and demands accuracy and control. The holes are wooded and tight offering two tees, blue tees are sure to challenge advanced players while red tees offer fun for the whole family.
While the course is open there are still several opportunities for hole sponsorship. Funds collected will be used for course improvement and maintenance, ensuring that Marquette will have a championship disc golf course for generations to enjoy. We at Down Wind Sports are the proud sponsor of hole number 5! If you or your organization are interested in joining us in sponsorship please contact the course designers at: updiscgolf@gmail.com
With this increasing excitement for disc golfing, our disc golf section is now fully stocked with the newest plastic put out by Discraft and Innova. Stop by the store and check out our selection of discs and bags and ask about our loyalty program where you can earn points towards FREE discs!
With threatening skies last night, I thought we might have the course to ourselves but enthusiastic players couldn’t keep away! It was so much fun watching players checking out the layout of the new course and learning the complexity of each hole. It will be fantastic to see what new tournaments pop up and the growth of the sport in the U.P.
Kudos to Tim, Erin, Nate, Buck and Bud (and anyone else who was involved), for putting in the monumental effort to bring this outstanding course to our community!
POWDER MILL COURSE LOCATION
The course is located in north Marquette near the Kaufman Sports Complex. Take Hwy 550 north and just past Sugarloaf Avenue turn right on (unsigned) Powder Mill Road before crossing the Dead River. Follow signs back to the BMX track and park in one of the two lots in back. You can’t miss the welcome board and framed up tee #1.
Sage Circa Fly Rod
June 10th, 2013
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A revolutionary traditional action rod series. The CIRCA will become the most loved dry fly rod series of all time from SAGE. These rods feature a smooth-casting progressive taper, light weight, tremendous accuracy, and slow action for a more relaxed casting stroke. This is one of the most amazing dry fly rods ever built. If euphoria lies in seeing trout sip your fly from the surface, this rod will take you there. Now available at Down Wind Sports of Marquette
Come Break a Guinness World Record at FinnFest 2013
June 7th, 2013
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This June the Copper Country is hosting the annual gathering of people of Finnish heritage known as Finnfest. Bringing in an estimated 10,000 people it is sure to be quite the event. Part of this festival will be an attempt to break the World Record for the most simultaneous Nordic walkers, a record currently held by a group in Sweden.
Down Wind Sports in Houghton is your Nordic walking headquarters during the event with over 100 pairs of official Nordic walking poles from Leki in stock and lots of tips and advice to help you make the best of this record breaking attempt. We are even offering huge savings on all of our in stock poles just for FinnFest.
The attempt will start at Church of the Resurrection in Hancock at 10am on June 22, travels through the city, crosses the Portage Lake Lift Bridge into Houghton, and concludes along the waterfront at Kestner Park. For more information check out the official FinnFest website or swing by the store in Houghton.
So come on up and help us set a new world record and have some fun while your at it. Make sure you swing by the store and save some money on a brand new pair of poles.
Schools Out- Time For The Down Wind Sports JR Mountain Bike Team!
June 4th, 2013
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This year marks the 13th year of our Junior Mountain Bike Team! Jeff and Melanie have organized this program to introduce local youth to the joys of Mountain Biking. Over the years our team members have gone on to compete in various races (even winning some of them), as well as joining the DWS crew as bike shop mechanics. Maybe your son or daughter might be interested in learning how to trail ride this year!
Our riders receive special pricing on bikes, apparel & there are even specials for mom & dad. Let’s all get out and ride.
THE DETAILS:
The team will meet weekly beginning on June 18th. The rides will take place at Tourist Park beginning at 9am….don’t be late! The program is for area youth, ages 10-17 years old. Riders should have a working mountain bike, helmet and hydration system. Our riders can expect to have a brief lesson each week discussing maintenance, nutrition, racing and other aspects of riding. We will then take to the woods in our ability appropriate groups and ride on mountain bike trails for the duration of the 2 hours. We will ride over logs & rocks, down & up steep hills. We will negotiate challenging corners and different terrains. Most importantly, we will have FUN!
Please feel free to speak with a Down Wind Sports team coach to sign up or if you have any questions! A complete program schedule can be picked up at Down Wind Sports of Marquette or download the information here!
Best of all this program is FREE!
Bug Seaon Is Here- Be Prepared!
June 3rd, 2013
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The Upper Peninsula bug season season can occur from March through July causing some folks to seek shelter indoors and avoid these troublesome bugs! The rest of us outdoor enthusiast’s forge ahead, bugs be damned, glad to head into the woods after a long winter season. It’ s hard to determine which bugs we dislike more, mosquitoes or the dreaded black fly.
Mosquitoes
Mosquitoes are insects that have been around for more than 30 million years. And it seems that, during those millions of years, mosquitoes have been honing their skills so that they are now experts at finding people to bite. The feeding habits of mosquitoes are quite unique in that it is only the adult females that bite humans and other animals. The male mosquitoes feed mainly on plant juices. Mosquitoes have a battery of sensors designed to track their prey, including:
- Chemical sensors – mosquitoes can sense carbon dioxide and lactic acid up to 100 feet (36 meters) away. Mammals and birds gives off these gases as part of their normal breathing. Certain chemicals in sweat also seem to attract mosquitoes (people who don’t sweat much don’t get nearly as many mosquito bites).
- Visual sensors – if you are wearing clothing that contrasts with the background, and especially if you move while wearing that clothing, mosquitoes can see you and zero in on you. It’s a good bet that anything moving is “alive”, and therefore full of blood, so this is a good strategy.
- Heat sensors – Mosquitoes can detect heat, so they can find warm-blooded mammals and birds very easily once they get close enough.
Something with this many sensors sounds more like a military aircraft than an insect. That’s why mosquitoes are so good at finding and biting you. As we’ll see later, the only way to stop these buggers from finding you is to confuse their chemical receptors with impenetrable clothing or with Bug Spray.
Black Fly
Like mosquitoes, black flies gain nourishment by living on the blood of other animals. It’s just the females who do all of the damage by biting and feeding on blood: the males feed mainly on flower nectar. Unlike mosquitoes, black fly eggs are laid in moving water where the larvae attach to rocks using tiny hooks and survive under ice, waiting for the spring thaw. There, they pupate under water feeding on passing organic debris and emerge in a bubble of air as flying adults. When they hatch, they are often preyed upon by fish, such as trout. They live about 4-6 weeks, depending on species, temperature, and food supply.
WHAT YA GOING TO DO ABOUT IT?
Sea To Summit Mosquito Headnet
When it’s bug season, make the outdoors more enjoyable by protecting your head with this lightweight net. It’s black mesh netting offers better visibility than white mesh and when not in use it folds down into a small pouch that fits in the palm of your hand!
- Fine, 500 hole per square inch hexagonal mesh
- Made of a soft multifilament polyester
- Packaged in its own tiny stuff sack
- Elasticized draw cord closure
- Wide enough to wear with a hat or without
- Also available in an Insect Shield® Permethrin treated model
- Weight: 1.3oz
Outdoor Research Spring Headnet
This no-see-um headnet gives you reliable insect protection without the chemicals. The collapsible metal hoop holds the mesh away from your face. A drawcord neck closure prevents the tiniest pests from entering your air space and it collapses into a pocket for easy storage. Perfect for trudging trough Mulligan Swamp!
Herbal Armor Insect Repellents
Herbal Armor Insect Repellents are the #1 natural, DEET-Free insect repellent according to IRI data and have been mentioned in Popular Science, National Geographic Adventure and more. Using six natural repelling oils in over 25% concentration, they have been proven 100% effective for two hours and 95.8% for three. Allergy tested, and proven non-irritating, the Herbal Armor™ repellents are good for kids and those with sensitive skin. The time-released encapsulation helps make them sweat resistant for active lifestyles. In addition, unlike DEET-based repellents, they won’t damage clothing or equipment.
Don’t let these pesky creature ruin your outdoor adventures……At Down Wind Sports we offer several weapons to combat these dreaded bugs, providing some sanity to your early spring adventures. Stop by either of our stores and get prepared for the bugs!
Categories: Backpacking, Camping, Canoeing, Climbing, Fly Fishing, General, Hiking, Houghton, Just Cool, Marquette, Mountain Biking, Rock Climbing, Travel
Down Wind Sports New Loyalty Program!
May 31st, 2013
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Down Wind Sports Loyalty Rewards Program
Over the last few months we have been researching a way to reward our loyal customers and today we are unveiling the brand spanking new Down Wind Sports Loyalty Program! It’s easy to use our mobile loyalty program and there are no cards to carry! The next time you visit us, simply leave your mobile number to track your points, and when you earn 100 points you’ll receive $5 Off your next purchase! You can also earn points by liking our facebook page, be sure and register at: http://downwind.consumer.
100 points = $5.00 Off your next purchase!
500 points = $20 off your next purchase
1000 points = $30 off your next purchase
5000 points = $50 off our next purchase
New Gear- Halo II Headband
May 31st, 2013
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Mark this down as “you can’t build a better headband”…..but Halo did! With temperatures and the humidity rising the Halo Headbands are the perfect tool for keeping the sweat out of your eyes as you are pedaling up the Benson Grade!
The Halo II Headband is Halo’s best-selling headband. Featuring a classic elastic pullover design, the Halo II will fit any head comfortably to redirect sweat and moisture from your eyes and face. Featuring our patented SweatBlock Technology and Dryline® Fabric, these athletic sweatbands will keep up with your high performance training. The Halo II’s are great sweatbands for running, cycling, or virtually any other activity that will work up a sweat. They fit comfortably under helmets and are great headbands for men or women. While we initally bought these for our mountain biking customers we have been told they are great headbands for doing yoga as well!
Baby Julbo Glasses Have Arrived- Now Where Is The Sun?
May 28th, 2013
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Just in time for next weekend….and some great sunny weather, our Julbo baby sun glasses have arrived! Why sunglasses for kids? Children’s eyes do not yet have a mature capacity for ocular protection; it takes about 25 years to develop. In the meantime, UV rays are permanently breaking down the eye’s capacity to absorb sunlight. Exposure without protection is dangerous for the surface of the eye, as well as for the crystalline lens and retina. And remember those little one’s are always looking up!
Every model of Julbo kids sunglasses are designed to improve protection, hold firm on the face in all conditions, and ensure absolute comfort and total functionality.
Besides the colors- what’s so cool about these glasses? Well for one thing they offer 100% protection against UVA, B and C rays, they are shock resistant, and they are indestructible! With the beach season upon us bring your child in and get set up with a pair of stylin’ new shades!
