YOLO board competitions fun for the entire family

Location: WaterColor Boat House, 5 p.m.

The YOLO Stand Up Paddle Series Family Day events offer a chance for family members to get out on the water and paddle together. Everyone is welcome from novice to advanced paddlers and children are able to try paddling on their own and/or ride on parent’s boards. The races are very casual and include events like parent/child races, sibling relay races and individual child races divided by ages. The event is interactive and the children are allowed to suggest races and board activities.

$25/child which includes race jersey and no charge for parents. Fun starts at 5 p.m.

For more information, go to www.yoloboard.com

Posted under Outdoor Family Fun, paddle/surf/boat

Stand-up paddleboard races, art show, free concert and silent auction will benefit South Walton Fire Department Junior Lifeguard Program

YOLO Board announces details of the 2nd Annual YOLO Board Seaside Celebration scheduled from Tuesday, September 14th to Saturday, September 18th in Seaside, FL.  The celebration planned includes five days of Stand-Up Paddleboard (SUP) inspired activities ranging from a Seven Mile Elite Race and a Three Mile Recreation Race with over $5,000 of prizes awarded for each race, a SUP inspired Art Show, a free concert, equipment demos and a Silent Auction Fundraiser to benefit the South Walton Fire Department Junior Lifeguard Program.   Special celebrity SUP guests will include Nikki Gregg and Chuck Patterson.  The family-friendly event is open to the public.
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Posted under Outdoor Family Fun, paddle/surf/boat

Watch 15-year old surf and stand-up paddle boarder phenom Slater Trout race with the SoWal Lifeguard team

Slater Trout (www.slatertrout.com) will make a guest appearance at the YOLO Board Stand-Up Paddle Series Race Three Event on Friday, June 25th at Baytowne Marina at 5:00 p.m.

Originally from the Northwest Florida Gulf Coast, Slater currently resides in Maui and is a celebrated up-and-coming waterman who can be seen on national competition circuits.  Recent accolades include winning the Gulf Coast Stand Up Paddleboard Championship in May 2010, winner of the  Sunset Beach Trials event at the first contest of the Stand Up World Tour Sunset Beach, Hawaii, 2010 and earning several titles at the famed Duke’s Ocean Fest.

Named as the ‘2nd Fastest Stand Up Paddler in the World’ at the 2009 Rainbow Sandal’s Gerry Lopez Battle of the Paddle Race, Trout will race on the SoWal Lifeguard YOLO team in the Elite Division of the YOLO Board Stand Up Paddle Series (www.yolorace.com).

Posted under Outdoor Family Fun, paddle/surf/boat

Spring on Econfina creek. ©Lori Ceier/Walton Outdoors

Not only our most valuable water sources, spring fed waterways provide extraordinary adventure

Some of the most beautiful places to explore Northwest Florida are along our spring fed waterways. These creeks, streams and rivers provide incredible recreation and eco tourism along with the valuable drinking water our communities rely on.

Florida boasts more than 700 springs, with close to 40 in the Walton, Holmes, Washington and Bay counties. Blue Springs in Jackson County feeds into the Choctawhatchee River and is Florida’s 12th largest spring with 122 million gallons per day discharge. Holmes Creek has more than a dozen springs and is the largest tributary into the Choctawhatchee River. The Gainer Springs Group on Econfina Creek (including springs locally known as McCormick and Emerald) is the most significant, measuring a first magnitude flow of 114 million gallons a day (mgd).  Econfina creek feeds into Deer Point Lake which is the major source of water supply for Bay County.

Karst diagram courtesy U.S. Geological Society

What are springs?
Springs are portals where water in the earth’s aquifers, rises to the surface and escapes into our streams, lakes and coastal waters.  There are two general types of springs in Florida, seeps (water-table springs) and karst springs (artesian springs). The springs in Northwest Florida are karst springs. Karst topography is a landscape created by groundwater dissolving into sedimentary rock such as limestone. This creates landforms such as shafts, tunnels, caves, and sinkholes. The Dougherty Karst Plain underlies our area.

What is a spring classification?
Springs are most often classified based upon the average discharge of water. Individual springs exhibit variable discharge depending upon rainfall, recharge and groundwater withdrawals within their recharge areas. One discharge measurement is enough to place a spring into one of the eight magnitude categories.  However, springs have dynamic flows.  A spring categorized as being a first-magnitude spring at one moment in time may not continue to remain in the same category. This can result in a spring being classified as a first magnitude spring at one point in time and a second magnitude at another.
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Posted under Birding, Eco tourism adventure, Environment, Kayak/Canoe, Nature, Outdoor Family Fun, Parks, paddle/surf/boat

A view to Eastern Lake from the Cassine trail. Lori Ceier/Walton Outdoors

Enjoy stand up paddle board fun as you explore a coastal dune lake

Looking for a YOLO board adventure? It will now be available 7 days a week on Eastern Lake off of Scenic Hwy. 30A.

Located behind the Old Florida Fish House, YOLO Adventures launch their tours and rentals at the double-decker dock on the lake.

Justin Nichols will be your guide as you explore the landscape of a South Walton coastal dune lake. Paddle around the north side of the lake and you can get a view of the native flora along the water’s edge.

Paddle to the northwestern side of the lake and take a hike along the Cassine Trail in the Point Washington State Forest. Explore the forest and enjoy both upland and wetland natural habitats abundant with wildflowers, pine trees, scrub oaks, hickories and magnolias, just to name a few.

Justin Nichols will be your eco guide. Lori Ceier/Walton Outdoors

Paddle to the south end of the lake and explore the coastal dune lake outfall that flows into the Gulf of Mexico. Enjoy viewing a variety of fresh and saltwater fish that inhabit the lake and watch the shorebirds.

Activities available:
• Eco tour
• YOLO board rentals
• Introduction to stand up paddle boarding
• YOLO Yoga classes
• Paddle Fit classes

YOLO Adventures is open from 10 a.m. – 6 p.m. 7 days a week. For more information, go to http://www.yoloboard.com or call 850-622-5760

Posted under Nature, Outdoor Family Fun, paddle/surf/boat

YOLO racers navigate a buoy turn on Oyster Lake during 2009 race. Lori Ceier/Walton Outdoors

Series will kick off first race on May 13th at Eastern Lake

YOLO Board LLC announces that Destin Real Estate Company, a leading real estate agency serving the Emerald Coast, will be the presenting sponsor of the 2010 YOLO Board Stand-Up Paddle Series.  The race series consists of a series of five relay races that will take place from May to August at various area locations, and three ‘Family Day’ competitions scheduled throughout the season to coincide with the races.  Race paddlers vie for the champion title “2010 YOLO Board Cup Series” to be awarded after the final race in August to the overall winners of three divisions—male, female and elite paddlers.

Scheduled race dates (weather permitting) are at 5 p.m. May 13th at Eastern Lake, June 3rd at the WaterColor Boathouse, June 25th at Baytowne Marina, July 15th at Eastern Lake and August 19th (location TBA).  Family Days will be held on May 16th at Eastern Lake, June 6th at the WaterColor Boathouse and July 18th at Eastern Lake.  A one-time race entry fee is $200 per relay team ($50 per person for all five races) and a one-time entry fee of $50 per person for all three Family Day events.  Complimentary 2010 signature performance race jerseys will be provided for each participating team and YOLO boards will be available for use at each race event.  All events will be run on stock 12′ and under surf-type stand-up paddleboards.

YOLO Board is currently seeking race teams and sponsors for the highly anticipated annual event.  Those interested in participating are encouraged to sign up early.  For more information, contact 850.622.5760 or visit www.YOLOBoard.com.  All events are free and open to the public.

Posted under Outdoor Family Fun, paddle/surf/boat

A YOLO board first for Chain of Lakes. Lori Ceier/Walton Outdoors

A first for YOLO on Chain of Lakes

YOLO boarders, kayaks and canoes enjoy a beautiful day on the Chain of Lakes near Ebro, Fla.

John Savage, the owner of the launch area on the lakes said it was the first time he had seen stand up paddle boards.

The old growth cypress trees are an in abundance along these lakes which are tributaries of the Choctawhatchee River.

For related story about exploring the Chain of Lakes,  Click here

Posted under Kayak/Canoe, paddle/surf/boat

A scenic view of Peach Creek. Photo courtesy Joan Vienot.

Four-mile paddle offers views of native flora and fauna

Located in the historic Point Washington area of Walton County, Peach Creek offers a pleasant paddle exploring nature.

The enjoyable, four-mile journey takes you along a wetland forest shoreline of TiTi, red maple, and slash pine trees along with highbush blueberries and saw palmetto. Coastal water birds such as pelicans, gulls, cormorants and seagulls are abundant along with raptors such as osprey and swallow-tailed kites. You might also discover an alligator or two along the way.

Parking and launch area is located at the north end of CR 395. Limited parking is available along the county easement area on each the side of the road.
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Posted under Birding, Kayak/Canoe, Nature, paddle/surf/boat

Sand dunes along the outfall on Camp Creek Lake. Lori Ceier/Walton Outdoors

Recreational activities abound on these rare coastal dune lakes

Walton County Florida is well known for its beautiful beaches and great fishing. Less known to those that have never visited the area, are the unique and scenic coastal dune lakes that dot the coastline along the area’s beach dune systems.

Nestled along Scenic Highway 30A, Walton county’s coastal dune lakes are rare geological features that only occur in the Florida Panhandle, Madagascar, Australia, New Zealand and the northern Pacific coast of the United States.

Streams, groundwater seepage and rain are the sources that feed the coastal dune lakes. Storm surge creates intermittent connections to the Gulf of Mexico, called outfalls. This periodic connection empties lake water into the Gulf, and, depending on tides and weather, salt water and organisms from the Gulf flow back into the lakes. Read More…

Posted under Eco tourism adventure, Fishing, Nature, Outdoor Family Fun, Parks, paddle/surf/boat

YOLO racers navigate a buoy turn on Oyster Lake during 2009 race. Lori Ceier/Walton Outdoors

First race slated for May 1, new Family Day division added to the popular event

SANTA ROSA BEACH – YOLO Board LLC announces the dates and locations of the 2010 YOLO Board Stand Up Paddle Series that will kick off on May 13th at Eastern Lake.  The race series consists of male and female division four-member teams along with a new Elite Co-Ed Team division (3 guys, 1 girl) of experienced paddlers competing in a series of five relay races that will take place from May to August at various area locations.  Race paddlers vie for the champion title “2010 YOLO Board Cup Series” to be awarded after the final race in August.  A new addition to the 2010 series are three ‘Family Day’ competitions scheduled throughout the season that allow family members to compete as teams in lighthearted, fun-filled races designed for all ages.
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Posted under paddle/surf/boat