NEW! Video of the Month: Surfing on the Ocoee
Beginning in January 2008, we will be bringing you
a new video clip each month featuring a SOAR on the water. If you have any videos or clips that you would like to share, please email them to info@soar1.com. This months short clip features Brian Anderson and Judy Blythe surfing it up and running rapids on Tennessee's Ocoee River. This footage was filmed in July 1993 and was originally part of SOAR's first ( and only! ) promotional video called "It's a Sweet Ride".
SOARs on the Salt
The current issue of Canoe & Kayak's Magazine Special Edition Beginners Guide features an article by Larry Rice on a February 2005 trip down Arizona's Salt River with SOAR owner Larry Laba and two other intrepid paddlers. The adventurers encountered some major rain storms that left the Salt flowing out of it's banks. The actual magazine version has some great photos that the online version does not have. So if you see it on the newsstand, be sure to check it out.
Inflated Spray Dodgers To Be
Discontinued
In the first major structural change to a SOAR canoe,
since its inception, the inflatable spray dodger that has graced the ends of
each SOAR canoe built since 1993 are no more. They are replaced by simple piece
of hypalon stretched and glued across the top of the tubes and upper floor.
SOAR owner Larry Laba felt that a change was in order because he himself rarely
inflates the spray dodgers when he uses his SOAR canoes. When we began
producing the Pro Pioneer in 2003, we did not use
inflatable spray dodger, and we tested several S16s with a wrapped bow
deck.
In addition, 2006 saw a significant rise in
the cost of materials. In order to offset the rising costs of a SOAR canoe, the
elimination of the inflated spray dodger was the easiest target.
No other changes to SOAR canoes are expected.
The S16 model is available only in non-inflated bow /
stern decks. The S12 and S14 are still available with inflated spray dodgers
until early spring when current inventory runs out.
Escalante River article in Canoe
& Kayak Mag Larry Rice's account of our 8 day trip down Utah's
elusive Escalante River is featured in the March 2006 of Canoe & Kayak
Magazine. Rice has been writing for the magazine for over 25 years, and uses
SOARs on many of his international and wilderness river trips.
Adventure Photographers' Online
Galleries Alaska has always had a special allure for outdoor
photographers, and we want to introduce you to three very talented professional
photographers that have used SOARs on recent trips to the far reaches of this
vast continent. They have a lot of beautiful stock photography from around the
world. Enjoy their images of SOARs and beyond!
Adventure Trips If you want to
participate in some exciting river trips in a far flung region of this
beautiful planet, consider booking a trip with one of the following river
adventure companies. They all use SOARs on at least some of their trips. These
are the experts who will ensure that you have an absolutely fascinating time in
lands they know well.
Alaska Downstream in Anchorage, has a fleet of S14s and
S16s to rent to adventurers, fishermen and hunters. Fly into Anchorage, pick up
your SOAR from Jerry Sisemore and head off to your dream adventure. Jerry can
also give you lots of great advice on excellent out-of-the-way places to fish,
and other good Alaska info.
Shadow Lake Expeditions in Whitehorse, Yukon has a new
fleet of S14s and S16s ready for a variety of guided and unguided trips,
fly-ins and 4x4 expeditions into the surrounding areas. Owner Charles McLaren
will offer expert guidance on what kind of trip is best for you.
Ozark Outdoors on Missouri's Meramec River is the place to
go for a relaxing fun SOAR trip. Owner Bear Bass has the largest fleet of SOARs
in the Midwest, and depending on water level, can offer trips on three scenic,
spring-fed rivers.
Canoe & Kayak Magazine Features SOAR
(again)
In the October 2004 issue of Canoe &
Kayak Magazine, there is a great two page photo spread of SOARs at the put-in
for the Gate of Lodore trip. The photo accompanied Alan Kesselheim's
destination article in the magazine. Alan and his wife Mary Pat joined us on a
trip down this permitted section of the Green River in the summer of 2003. The
response to seeing all the SOARs lined up on the beach getting ready for the
launch was great, resulting in a number of sales.
In the same issue, one of our all time
favorite SOAR photos appeared in article by Larry Rice on paddling destinations
on all 7 continents. The photo originally appeared on the cover of our catalog
in 1998.
Look for SOAR to appear in Canoe &
Kayak Magazine, Paddler, Backpacker and other outdoor magazine in
2005.
SOAR's 1st European Distributor
Signs On Kanulager, located in Nurnberg Germany, has become SOAR's
first European distributor. Beginning in late spring of 2004,
Kanulager will receive
their first shipment of SOAR canoes and accessories. They have both S14s and
S16s available for testing, as well as for purchase.
If you are located anywhere on the
European continent, please contact the well informed and friendly staff at
Kanulager.
Andre Edinger and his crew has been
testing their SOARs this spring on rivers in both France and Germany. The
images above are of the crews on the Ardeche and Wiesant
Rivers.
Black Feather Expeditions Offers
International SOAR Trips Black Feather is
Canada's premier outfitter of wilderness river trips, Black Feather Expeditions
is offering guided paddle-your-own trips using their new fleet of SOARs
(Pioneers and S16s). Exciting trips on the San Juan and Green Rivers in Utah,
Nahanni and Natla - Keele Rivers in Canada's Northwest Territories, and
Mongolia's Chuluut River are scheduled beginning as early as
mid-April.
Owner Wendy Grater chose Pioneers and S16s
because they allow more novice paddlers to confidently join and enjoy a Black
Feather river expedition. Forgiving, being easy to paddle, and self bailing
were all important criteria. In addition, Wendy joined me on the Gates of
Lodore run on the Green River last summer. The Green was running at a low 700
cfs, She saw first hand how SOARs handled in low technical water. The Yampa
which joins the Green at Echo Park was churning at 6000 cfs, so Wendy got to
see big water action as well. For good measure, Wendy and I spotted a beautiful
wave to surf, quickly caught an eddy at the top of the small rapid, and then
ferried out and let the wave hold us in a moment of river bliss.
Introducing: The
Pro Pioneer! Our New ‘SOAR on Steroids’
14”
Tubes, 16’ Long Created in collaboration with Alaska Float Hunting
expert Larry Bartlett, the Pro
Pioneer looks like our standard canoe, but has enhanced 14” tubes, a
5” thick floor, and a carrying capacity of well over 1000 lbs! Read
Bartlett’s review after
several extensive hunting trips with the first Pro Pioneer produced by our
factory. Click here for the slide show.
S-14 Top Rated Inflatable in Canoe & Kayak
Magazine Review
In a boat review of nine inflatable
craft titled “Inflation Is a Good Thing” in the March 2003 issue of
Canoe & Kayak Magazine, our S14 received 22-1/2 stars (out of a possible 24
total stars), making it the top ranked inflatable boat. Criteria included
baggage capacity for both solo and tandem, comfort, handling on both whitewater
and flatwater, and details. Read the review
here.
Tackletour.com: Thumbs Up for
Fishermen Tackletour.com is an online resource for fishermen has just
posted a very nice review of SOAR canoes for fishermen. We met Jack Ip and his
crew at the ISE Sportsmens Show in San Mateo, CA. Tackletour.com named SOAR
canoes "Best in Show" for gear. Several weeks later, the whole Tackletour.com
gang showed up at SOAR's offices for a day of steelhead fishing on the Russian
River. Read why SOARs are the best inflatable for
fishermen.
14”
Tubes, 16’ Long