It's paddling season

The sap may be flowing, but so are the rivers. It's whitewater season for those of you who have the gear and skills.

John Holyoke previews the canoe and kayak racing season in the Bangor Daily News. Cold-water paddlers get competitive Saturday:

March 29, St. George River Race, Searsmont, 11 a.m.
April 5, Passagassawakeag Stream Race, Waldo, 11 a.m.
April 12, Souadabscook Sprint and Souadabscook Stream Race, Hampden, 8 a.m. and 11 a.m.
April 13, Marsh Stream Sprint and Marsh Stream Race, Winterport, 9 a.m. and noon.
April 19, Kenduskeag Stream Canoe Race, Kenduskeag, 8 a.m.

I'm not a whitewater guy but some of my best friends are. I'm waiting for the ocean to warm up a few degrees. In the meantime, I have to make do with pool sessions and paddle shows. Jeff Strout gives the heads up on several shows in the BDN:

The Jersey Paddler's Paddlesports Show will be held March 28-30 at the Garden State Exhibit Center in Somerset, N.J.
The Kittery Trading Post’s Paddle Sports Show at the University of New Hampshire in Durham is April 4-5.
The eighth annual Paddle Smart Safety Symposium at the Y on Second Street in Bangor is April 12.
The Sea Kayak Safety Symposium at Cape Elizabeth is April 19 (details to come)

The show in Durham is usually worth the trip. There's nothing like standing in the middle of a room full of kayaking gear. And I usually find someone who hasn't heard all my stories. Plus I usually hear a few good ones.

The pool demos are a mixed bag. Most are geared toward the absolute beginner. But I find a couple good tips out of the trip. It's good to see how other people play.

And for the rest of you

Ken Allen previews the State of Maine Sportsman's Show this weekend. If you love the outdoors and staying dry, you're bound to have fun.