Watersport Store Is At The Center Of Summer Fun
5/24/2006 5:09:13 PM by
Summer's here. It's hot. It'ssweaty. For many, beating theheat means heading to thebeach or lake to cool off. For others,it also means water sports time again-- time to dust off the kayak, polishthe sailboat, and check the rigging onthe windsurfer.
"The summer brings people out,"said Ilan Neuwirth of Water-Play, alarge retailer of water sports productsin Fort Lauderdale. "We're seeingrecord numbers of people comethrough our doors looking for a wayto get out on the water to have fun.The water is relatively calm, thewind's light; generally perfect conditionsfor most water sports."
Statistics from the NationalMarine Manufacturer's Associationalso indicate that the use of smallboating products is on the rise inrelation to other more expensiveforms of boating products.
For people who might have beencautious about spending the moneyon larger boats, the relatively inexpensiveprice of small water sportsproducts has made the buyingprocess easier to swallow.
KAYAKS ARE POPULAR
Water-Play, at 2000 S. FederalHighway., may have the largestselection of water sports equipmentunder one roof anywhere. It featuressailboats, kayaks, windsurfers, waterskies and wakeboards, kitesurfingequipment, canoes, pedal boats, surfboards,wetsuits, life vests, andaccessories to go with them.
"We keep in touch with the pulseof what kinds of products are popularat any time, and for the last sixor seven years kayaks have beenour largest category," saidNeuwirth. "They're inexpensive,easy to use, versatile, and anybodycan learn to paddle."
Kayaks are available in two basicstyles: Sit-On-Top or Sit-Inside. TheSOT variety is the more popular dueto the ease of getting in and out,according to Neuwirth, and basicpackages start at about $399.
"They're a great value for the dollar,"he said. "Once you buy one,they're virtually maintenance free, nogas or oil. There's so much you cando and so many places to go, I thinkits the most cost effective way tohave fun on the water."
Colleen Guido, owner of FullMoon Kayak Tours, has also seen herkayak business grow over the lastyear. Her kayak fleet has doubled insize, and some of her more populartrips are sold out days in advance.
"Water-Play sends us a lot of peoplewho want to try kayaking beforethey buy one, and some just like theconvenience of coming with us andthe camaraderie," said Guido. "We'rebusier than we have ever been."
One of the most successful innovationsin the kayak world in recentyears has been developed by HobieKayak -- the same California companythat made Hobie Surfboards andCatamarans a household name. Thenew SUV of kayaks, called theMirage, features a pedal drive apparatus,which drives the kayak at asurprisingly fast speed. (Water-Playis currently working on opening anew Watersports rental operation,which will feature the Hobie Mirage,and other kayaks at the new ShaneWatersports Center on Indian CreekDrive in Miami Beach.)
WINDSURFING
Windsurfing was hot in thelate '80s and early '90s, cooled off fora couple of years and is now makinga comeback, says Neuwirth. He creditsthis resurgence with technicaladvances in board and sail designthat has made windsurfing easierand more fun for all skill levels.
"The biggest single thing they didfor beginners were make the boardswider, more stable, lighter and faster.You get the thrill in about half thetime that we did 20 years ago when Ilearned," said Neuwirth.
What about lessons?
"Invaluable," says Neuwirth. "Werecommend that everyone whowants to learn take a lesson from aqualified school. We send people toSailboards Miami on RickenbackerCauseway on Key Biscayne. They'regood instructors and they havegood quality equipment. Its flatwater there which makes it easier,and in two hours they'll have yousailing back and forth."
KITESURFING
The latest craze in extreme sportsis called kitesurfing, in which a personriding a small board similar to awakeboard is pulled along over thewater's surface by a large parafoilkite at the end of strong, thin 20-meter lines.
What's it take to do this sport?
"Aside from the obvious instruction,it takes a moderate level ofphysical fitness and knowledge ofhow the physics of the kite andboard work," said Neuwirth. "Itsactually not too difficult to do andthe learning curve is fast. But, it is adangerous sport and you reallyhave to be careful; some guys havegotten hurt pretty badly."
The danger has not dampenedsales, however. At Water-Play, thekitesurfing section frequently playsinformal host to groups of diehardkiters discussing the merits of variouspieces of equipment.
Water-Play employee Jesse Cors,who has been kiting less than twoyears and quickly risen to be one ofthe top local riders, is happy to doleout information.
"It's the best," says Cors. "I usedto windsurf. I like this better, especiallythe big jumps and air time."
While kitesurfing tends toappeal to the more extreme types,there are a still a number of womenand 40-somethings who've caughtthe bug.
Damian Wright, who teacheskitesurfing through his school EastCoast Kitesurfing, says he's surprisedby how many of his studentsdon't fit the typical extremeathlete profile.
"I've got guys in the there 40sand 50s, women, kids taking lessons.There's a feeling of freedomand excitement in kiting that Iguess is universally attractive,"said Wright.
FOR THE LAID BACK TYPE
OK, admit it. You're a couch potatoand, frankly, you just want to chillout on the lake behind you housewith a cold one and maybe yourfishing rod. Is there a toy for you?
"Of course!" laughs Neuwirth."It's called a paddleboat. They startat $499. How many you want? Wecan deliver tomorrow!"
Quicksplash
Water-Play is located at:
2000 S. Federal Highway,
Fort Lauderdale, FL
Telephone: 954-523-7778
For more information, www.water-play.com