It's a balmy 50 degrees today in this southeastern Alaska town, and the waves are waiting: From an Inuit word meaning "the place where canoes rest," Yakutat catches great Pacific tides which keep the water warmer than the air year-round.
Don't by spooked by its proximity to the North Pole; boarders might find that with a wetsuit the ride is downright toasty. And how bad-ass is it to surf alongside a glacier? Photographer and Alaska native Scott Dickerson puts it this way:
There must be something about Alaskan surfers and the challenges that they must overcome to surf "the last frontier" that drives them to another level of addiction.
The town of 600 people, sandwiched between Mount Saint Elias and Mount Fairweather, even has its own gear outpost--the Icy Waves Surf Shop (635 Haida St.). Plus: No bears!
If you read our post about kayaking in Manhattan and thought, I'd like that, but with a greater chance of falling in the Hudson, then kayak polo is for you.
The sport is just what it sounds like--a take on water polo where players paddle around on boats instead of swimming. You can use your paddles to take a hold of the ball, and while bumper car-style attacks are frowned upon, there are plenty of grade-A crashes. It's popular throughout much of Europe, but is only just taking off in the United States.
On July 2 and 8, New York Kayak Polo is offering introductory classes to the sport, held at the Pier 66 Boathouse at the Hudson River and 26th Street. Classes are free, but there's a $5 insurance fee.
There's a reason the Eastern Surfing Association picked Buxton, North Carolina for its Best of the East surfing competition this September: The little village marked by the famous Cape Hatteras lighthouse picks up tides from northern Canada, giving it some of the biggest waves on the East Coast.
The fishing's not bad, either, and unlike other eastern surf oases, you probably won't have to attack a shark to get clear waters.
The ESA Easterns will be held September 21-27. The closest major airport is Wilmington International (ILM).
We've already told you about kayaking in the Hudson, but what about those of us who'd like to explore Manhattan's waters at a faster pace? Add yachting to the list of unexpected activities you can try without leaving New York.
Manhattan Sailing School operates a fleet of boats based out of North Cove, a mini-marina set in Battery Park behind the World Financial Center. Basic sailing classes start at $590, or if you're already a serious skipper, you can become a member of the affiliated Manhattan Sailing Club and sail out on one of their 30 boats whenever you're in the mood. While it's a bargain compared to owning your own boat in NYC, membership will set you back a pretty penny at $1,110 a year.
If you're looking for a less strenuous way to hit the water, the club also has the Hudson's best kept secret: the harbor clubhouse, a floating barge docked just off Ellis Island. Think summertime drinks outdoors with stunning downtown views--and not a tourist in sight. The clubhouse is open Tuesday through Saturday evenings, and access is via a motor boat from North Cove; round-trip tickets are $10.
In these days of rampant global warming, the edgiest thing may be to head north and shun rising temps: Canoeing in the Quetico, Canada's side of Minnesota's Boundary Waters Canoe Area, is often chilly even at the height of summer. Luckily, the wildlife doesn't seem to mind.
You'll paddle alongside loons and moose instead of motorboats, which are banned in most areas of the park. Many of the park's lakes and rivers are not accessible by road, and carry-ins are tightly controlled to keep the backwoods pristine.
Shop around for an outfitter who has experience in getting the right permits to make sure no one bothers you as you live your voyageur dreams.
When I tell people about the free, walk-up kayaking program on the Hudson River in Manhattan, I'm generally greeted with incredulous stares. And who can blame them? In this town--where it costs twenty bucks just to walk out your front door--who in their right mind would provide kayak rentals for nothing?
The New York City Downtown Boathouse, that's who. The all-volunteer organization has been introducing New Yorkers to the joys of Hudson River kayaking for years, and it's as simple as showing up, signing a paper indicating that you know how to swim, slipping on a life jacket and hitting the water.
Just when you thought it was safe to strap yourself into a big, double-chambered plastic ball and roll down a ski slope with no means of controlling your descent, the dangerous side of Zorbing rears its nefarious head. Sun Journal reporter Rebekah Metzler was enjoying one of the perks of her job by previewing the Lost Valley Ski Area's soon-to-open 240-acre Zorbing park.
All was going well as she and a photographer were rolling down a grassy ski run--until their Zorb "bounced off a hay-encased post, went airborne and landed hard several seconds later," fracturing Metzler's back.
There are several measures designed to keep Zorbs from going off-course, and proper air pressure is the key to avoiding the pachinko-style caroms, but the mishap is pretty scary nonetheless. It's easy to feel invincible when you're strapped into a cushioned, womb-like bubble, but apparently that's still not enough to protect Zorbers from rare cases of extremely bad luck. There's probably just a millimeter's difference between "broken back" and "most awesome Zorbing run ever." Still, we'd do it in a heartbeat.
If you see a giant horde of skateboarders rolling by you this Saturday, don't run the other way. Join them for Go Skateboarding Day!
Sponsored by major skateboarding brands and local indie shops, Go Skateboarding Day is offering hundreds of events around the world, all with the goal of getting you off the couch and onto a board.
So whether you're already a semi-pro or your slickest moves are in Tony Hawk Underground, there's something for you. Search the full list of events, or check out one of our picks...
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by egw
