Paddling season is almost here!

The weather is warm and the water will soon be too. Get ready now!

Fontana is offering 20% off all paddling accessories with a boat purchase.
This includes paddles, PFDs, cartop racks & carriers, dry bags, safety gear, and more!

Stop by and check out our great selection of Stand Up Paddle Boards and Recreational Kayaks.

Did you know Fontana also offers kayaking classes?
Check out our schedule: http://www.fontanasports.com/misc_content/events

Spring Outdoor Sports Gear Swap

The Fontana Sports Gear Swap is a yard sale of sorts - for all things outdoor adventure related! Fontana Sports will be selling used but working camping, watersports, bike and other outdoor active gear and clothing. All you have to do is drop off your equipment and let our on-site salespeople sell it for you.

EVENT DETAILS: 
Date: Saturday, May 16th, 2015
Time: 1:00 pm – 6:00 pm
Location: Fontana Sports Westside Location – 231 Junction Road, Madison, WI 53717

TYPES OF GEAR THAT CAN BE SOLD: 
Outdoor clothing and outerwear, footwear, tents, sleeping bags, sleeping pads, stoves, water filters, inline skates, headlamps, backpacks, luggage, bikes, car racks, canoes, kayaks, SUP boards, fishing gear, etc. If you have questions about particular items please contact Crystal - cneely@fontanasports.com.

WE WILL NOT ACCEPT: 
Skis/Snowboards (there’s a separate swap in the fall for those), firearms, motorized vehicles, used swimwear, items in poor or unclean condition, most used climbing gear, non-outdoor related clothing items, used helmets and anything else we deem unsuitable.

SELLERS: 
People wishing to sell gear must drop it off between 6:00 pm & 8:00 pm on Friday, May 15th or between 10:00 am & 12:00 am on Saturday, May 16th. Drop off is at Fontana Sports Westside location.

Sellers are limited to 15 items, must determine the price of items they are selling (no “or best offer”) and fill out a sellers slip for each item. Only clean and functioning items will be accepted. Fontana Sports reserves the right to decide not to include items in the sale for any reason. Please call ahead if you plan to sell a large item such as a canoe or kayak so we can plan drop off accordingly.

Sellers receive 85% of the value of the item sold in store credit at Fontana Sports or a check for 70% of the price. Payment will be available at the West Side Fontana Sports starting at 10:00 am Wednesday, May 20th.

If your items do not sell you must pick them up during these hours: 6:00 – 8:00 pm Saturday and 10:00 am to 1:00 pm on Sunday, May 17th. If you do not, they become the property of Fontana Sports Specialties. We cannot make exceptions to this rule.

BUYERS: 
Buyers can only purchase gear during the set swap period. All sales are first come, first serve – no holds. Gear purchased at the sale must be taken home by the end of the day May 16th. Payment must be in the form of cash or credit card. All sales are final and Fontana Sports is not responsible for providing warranty/support for items purchased. All items are sold as is.

SHOPPING FOR SOMEONE ELSE? 
The Swap is a great place to pick up gear for everyone. Prepare yourself by bringing a list with their height, weight, and boot/shoe size.

PRINT THE FONTANA SPORTS SPRING GEAR SWAP FORM

Paddle Fest this Weekend! SAVE BIG!

Spring is in the air! And boy does it feel GOOD! Paddle Fest is this weekend and  you can save 15% OFF ALL canoes, kayaks, and SUP boards! Paddles, Water Sport Accessories, PFD's and car racks  are 15% off too! Stop by and check out all the new boats that have just arrived. They're beautiful and it's making us anxious to get out on the water! Especially with the warm temps this weekend finally!

New this year we are carrying the brand Doyle for SUP's. Pretty sweet foam or bamboo boards. Great for SUP Yoga! Really fun colors too!

We hope to see you this weekend! The sale will be running through Monday, March 16th. Not quite ready for spring? Well we just did Final Markdowns for our Winter Clearance too!

The Summer of Kayaking!

There's always plenty going on here at Fontana Sports, but we wanted to make sure everyone knows about the great kayaking courses we are offering this summer. We've got everything you need so you can feel good about making your kayak purchasing decision as well as being ready to go and feeling safe on the water. Please join us!

July 8^th, 23^rd
August 5^th, 20^th
Sept 2^nd, 17^th

KAYAK DEMO at 5 PM

Marshall Park, 2101 Allen Boulevard, Middleton

Come and try before you buy! Test different kayaks to make sure you get the perfect one for you. Pre-registration required. $20 cost that can be put toward the purchase of a boat. Contact Crystal at 608.662.9711 to reserve your space.

KAYAKING 101 COURSE at 6 PM

Marshall Park, 2101 Allen Boulevard, Middleton

Join us for a 45 minute class that will cover all the basics you need to get out and enjoy the beautiful waters in Madison and beyond. Participants will learn basic paddle strokes, launch techniques, and important safety tips. Expect 15-20 minutes on land and the rest of the class will be on the water. Pre-registration required. $30 cost (includes boat). Contact Crystal at 608.662.9711 to reserve your space.

July 27^th

August 17^th

September 7^th

COMPREHENSIVE INTRODUCTION TO KAYAKING with ACA Certified Instructor Crystal Neely at 9 AM – 12 PM 

Marshall Park, 2101 Allen Boulevard, Middleton

This class is aimed at teaching beginners all the skills they will need to feel confident in their ability and safety while on the water. We will cover equipment, launching, paddle strokes and maneuvering, and basic rescues. This is a 3 hour course, expect the first hour to be on land and the rest on water. Space is limited, for more information or to sign up Contact Crystal at 608-662-9711. Cost $75 (includes boat, paddle, and PFD.)

Visit FONTANA SPORTS EVENTS PAGE for additional events information.

Paddle Fest is this weekend!

 

We are getting excited for Paddle Fest this weekend here at Fontana Sports! We've got all kinds of kayaks, Stand Up Paddleboards (SUP's) and canoes that will be at special prices this weekend only!

 

They'll also be specials on paddle accessories, the camping department and all socks! This event is not to be missed! Did I mention that our Manufacturer Reps will be on hand to help answer paddling questions? They have a vast amount of knowledge and are happy to help.

We are also excited because we will be hosting a talk with Jessie Conaway called Paddling a Freshwater Stronghold: Gitchi Gumi's Apostle Islands. She is a career Outdoor Educator who graduated from NOLS in 1989, earned a master’s degree in Experiential Education in 2006, and is currently engaged in doctoral research about water stewardship with the Lake Superior Ojibwe. Conaway is certified as a kayak instructor and instructor trainer by the American Canoe Association, and teaches paddle sports throughout the Upper Midwest. The talk will take place on Saturday, March 8th at 1 pm at our westside location. We hope you can join us!

Win a KAYAK in the 2014 Beer Bracket!

Which WI beer will prevail? Separate the contenders from the pretenders. Be true to your brew!

Fontana Sports is sponsoring Madison.com’s 2014 Beer Bracket. Play for a chance to win the fabulous GRAND PRIZE from yours truly – a Pelican Pulse 100 X Kayak! Plus, a bunch of other sweet prizes! It's a pretty sweet bracket, so you definitely check it out. Good luck!

Click here to play in Madison.com's Beer Bracket!

Events & Clinics - July 2013

FAMILY CAMPING BASICS
Wednesday, July 10th, 2013 at 6:30pm
Westside Location - 231 Junction Rd., Madison WI
Family camping is a fun and affordable way to take a vacation. Not sure how to get started? Learn what you need to make family camping enjoyable and easy. We will cover the basics including: how to be warm, dry and comfortable, gear and equipment necessities, ideas for fun activities and great local areas to give a try. No experience necessary! This is a free event.

PADDLING BASICS
Tuesday, July 16th, 2013 at 6:00pm
Downtown Location - 216 Henry St., Madison WI
Before you head out on the water, be sure to learn the paddling basics. This class offers you an overview of info on Kayaks & Stand-up Paddleboards. Our expert staff will cover Equipment, Apparel, Trip Planning and Transportation. This class is free.

MAXWELL STREET DAYS
Friday, July 19th, 2013 at 8:00am - 6:00pm
Saturday, July 20th, 2013 at 8:00am - 6:00pm
Sunday, July 21st, 2013 at 10:00am - 5:00pm
Downtown Location - 216 Henry St., Madison WI
Maxwell Street Days are the greatest shopping days of the year in Madison! Enjoy three days of amazing shopping bargains and fabulous food, up and down State Street. Join Fontana Sports for some of our biggest deals of the year! www.MaxwellStreetDays.org

NORDIC WALKABOUT
Tuesday, July 23rd, 2013 at 9:00am
Token Creek County Park, Deforest, WI - Use 6200 Highway 51 entrance. Meet at the first shelter (on right).
Now that you’ve taken the Nordic Walking Intro Course, let’s meet for a real Nordic walk! Join Judith Hutchinson, trained Leki Instructor, for a total-body workout and enjoy a nice Nordic walk outside. Get any questions you may still have about Nordic Walking answered. Please bring appropriate clothing and shoes for walking on gravel. Leki Nordic Walking poles will be provided if needed. Space is limited. Contact Elizabeth at 608.662.9706 to reserve your space. This is a free event.

NORDIC WALKING CLASS
Tusday, July 23rd, 2013 at 6:00pm
Westside Location - 231 Junction Rd., Madison WI
Join Judith Hutchinson, trained Leki Instructor, as she shows you how to turn your walk into a total-body workout. Enjoy a nice walk outside while learning about the physical and mental benefits of Nordic walking. Please bring appropriate clothing and shoes for walking. Leki Nordic Walking poles will be provided. Space is limited. Contact Elizabeth at 608.662.9706 to reserve your space. This is a free event.

XTREME HIKE - The Informational Meeting
Wednesday, July 24th, 2013 at 6:30pm
Westside Location - 231 Junction Rd., Madison WI
The Wisconsin Chapter of the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation will be hosting the 1st Annual XTREME HIKE (XH) on Saturday, October 5, 2013. This is a one-day, 30 mile, fully supported hike on the Ice Age National Trail. XH is an event that challenges people to test their fitness ability and endurance during a one-day hike. The hike is fully supported and is inspiring people across the U.S. to hike until a cure is found. Learn more about the event by joining us for an informal meeting at Fontana Sports or visit http://madison.cff.org/XtremeHike. View printable event flyers: Trail Description

CAMP COOKING BASICS
Tusday, July 30th, 2013 at 6:30pm
Westside Location - 231 Junction Rd., Madison WI
With years of experience to share, we'd like to help you learn how to create easy and fun meals for eating outside. We will cover the basics including: what to bring, gear and equipment necessities, ideas for fun meals and desserts and how to make the most of cooking in the outdoors. No experience necessary! This is a free event.

Visit Fontana Sports Events page: http://www.fontanasports.com/misc_content/events

Launch Sites by SealLine

SealLine, the Seattle-based market leader in all-purpose, portable gear protection products designed for use in challenging outdoor environments released the app Launch Sites, a Paddling.net app that’s loaded with more than 17,000 entry points for kayaking, canoeing and stand up paddling.
SealLine sponsors the iPhone-specific app. Launch Sites provides users with an easy way to find a great place to paddle anywhere. Browse maps nearby to find the closest places to paddle. Each launch point includes information on paddling opportunities, facilities, safety, fees as well as photos from other paddlers. The app is free though some features require a free user account on paddling.net. Other features include the ability to save your favorite locations, share trips with friends via email, Facebook, and Twitter, add new launch points, rate current launches, and add information about any launch point. SealLine makes a wide variety of waterproof portable bags, packs, iPhone cases and accessories. SealLine products are made of the highest-quality waterproof materials, and are manufactured using its unmatched, proprietary RF-welding techniques. SealLine will keep your gear protected in and out of the water.

ABOUT THE SEALLINE BRAND
Seattle-based SealLine is the market leader in all-purpose, portable gear protection products designed for use in challenging outdoor environments. SealLine dry bags, dry sacks, protective cases, packs, duffles and accessories provide essential gear protection for paddle sports, urban commutes, and any outdoor adventure where moisture and dirt are a threat. The majority of SealLine brand products are made in the Seattle, U.S.A. and Cork, Ireland manufacturing facilities. For more information, visit www.seallinegear.com

Paddle Fest, March 8 - 10, 2013

I wanted to make sure to everyone knows about Paddle Fest this weekend! Great deals and tons of new spring/summer products in! I can almost feel the warmth of the sun while kayaking in Wisconsin in late July... even though that seems a ways off, it will be here before we know it! So be sure to take advantage of the great deals this weekend. Deals are offered at both locations, but our wonderful Manufacturer Reps will only be at our Westside location. We hope to see you!