watersports | Outdoors Starts In Here

Fun things to try on the 4th!

The 4th of July is almost upon us, and with that comes planning to make the most out of summer’s favorite holiday weekend. But if you’re like many struggling to make old traditions fun year after year, why not give some new activities a try? There’s tons to do outdoors in the summer in Wisconsin, and Shep’s has all the latest gear to get you on your way to a new favorite outdoor activity. Here’s a few suggestions:

1. Disc Golf: There are disc golf courses popping up all around Wisconsin, and with the start-up cost so low, people of all ages are heading out to throw some discs. Shep’s carries hundreds of discs from Discraft, Innova, and Disc Mania along with bags and other accessories to get new players started and seasoned players restocked.

You can find a local course here –> https://www.discgolfscene.com/courses/Wisconsin

2. Biking: With hundreds of miles of city, country, or forest trails available for biking, Wisconsin is one of the best places to get out on two wheels. And with bikes for people of all ages and abilities, Shep’s is your biking headquarters. Comfort, fitness, or mountain bikes – we have it all, and we have all the accessories available too. Already have a bike? Our skilled mechanic is here to get your bike running smoothly and safely in time for the 4th of July weekend!

Interested in finding a new trail? Start here –> http://dnr.wi.gov/topic/parks/activities/bike.html

3. Water Sports: Living in Wisconsin and being on the water go hand in hand, and even if you’re a seasoned water goer, chances are there’s a new activity you’ve yet to try on our beautiful waterways. Love to kayak? Why not give stand up paddleboaring a try? Are you a local pro on a slalom ski? Wake boarding, wake surfing, and more will give you an awesome new skill to master. Or if you’re simply heading to the beach for a quick dip, Shep’s has a great line of men’s and women’s swimwear from Prana, Patagonia, Roxy, Quiksilver, United By Blue, Kavu, and more! Lastly, don’t forget your Sun Bum sunscreen before you hit the water!

Don’t forget to look and feel great this holiday weekend wearing great new apparel for men and women from Patagonia, North Face, United By Blue, Krimson Klover, Prana, Kavu, Toad & Co, and so many more!

Play Outside on the 4th of July!

What does the 4th of July look like for you & your family? Maybe it’s a sunny day on the lake or a relaxing day in the cabin, fireworks, sunshine, or cookouts. With warm & sunny weather arriving by July (this year, much sooner!), and lake temps comfortable to play in, you’ll need some summer toys. Here’s the thing: July 4th is when the party happens, so you need to prepare BEFORE then! Stop in now and get your gear!

We’ll set you up with anything you need for behind the boat: tubes for the family, wake boards, water skis, wake surfs, or wake skates; completed with life vests, ropes & accessories.

Like water, but prefer to be your own motor? This might be the year to get those kayaks (singles or tandems). Not much beats a day of paddling on a peaceful lake (or for you adrenaline junkies – a river of rapids), and when’s a better time than the present?

If it sounds more fun to spend the weekend roaming the streets of Minocqua, we can help you there too. We have dresses, skirts, denim, tanks, tees, flip flops, purses, and more that will give you something to strut about. Want to bike around? Even better! We can help there too.

If you’re a camping family, look no farther. We can pack your bags with the gear you’ll need to have the best time possible. Need a tent, sleeping bag, hiking shoes & poles, cookware or bug repellant? We have it all, and more.

And, if you’re traveling with your kayaks, bikes, water sports equipment, or just extra luggage, be sure to stop in early to talk about fitting your car with a Yakima rack to carry your toys. We’ll order each part you need for your specific car year, make, and model. It doesn’t take long for it to arrive, but it does take a little forward thinking!

Celebrate the long weekend in whichever way you choose, but be sure you’re ready to make it memorable. Our knowledgable outdoor-loving team can answer any questions you have, give their expert opinion about gear or destinations, and be sure you’re set for the fun.

Wakeboard Package Deals

You know how Shep’s package pricing works from winter: when you buy more than one piece of the whole, you earn a deeper discount. We offer these same package prices on wake boards in the summer. Buy more to save more! We’ve gone ahead and set up some awesome combinations for you to get you up and loving it!

Check out the previews below & stop in to talk to one of our water sports experts. They’ll help you choose the gear that’s best for you.

Not on the water yet? You should be!

As the lakes and rivers in our area continue to warm up with the great summer weather we’ve been having, you might find yourself dusting off your summer watersports gear for another fun season. Today, I thought I’d share a few quick tips for prepping your equipment to ensure a great, hassle-free summer on the water. Also, since we have so much amazing new gear here in our store, I figured I would give you all the details should you find yourself with skis or tubes or ropes that have seen one too many summers.

Before using waterskis, wakeboards, ropes, tubes, or any other watersport equipment, it’s important to clean and inspect them. Bindings and boots should be checked to make sure the screws and bolts holding them to the ski or board are fastened securely, and the boards themselves should have no damage or cracks. When checking the boots, also make sure the rubber, velcro, and lacing systems are in proper working order. As boots age, they become more susceptible to rips and tears. And remember: what was in good working order when you stored them the pervious season might not always fare well through the dry winter storage months, so taking the few minutes to double check your equipment always a safe bet. Lastly, ropes, when either at the end of their life, or not stored properly, can become brittle and break under the high loads placed on them when towing skiers, boarders, or tubes. A visual inspection of your rope is usually enough to reveal any fraying or dry rot that could result in a quick end to a day on the boat.

Hopefully your watersports gear is still in great working order and you can get out on the water soon! If it has seen better days though, or it’s time for an upgrade, Shep’s is the place to come. We stock a full range of waterskis, wakeboards, wakeskates, wakesurfs, tubes, and kneeboards from HO Sports and Hyperlite, as well as all the accessories you could ever need (from life jackets to ropes to repair parts). And thanks to our great HO / Hyperlite rep Rick Skinner, our already experienced, highly-trained staff just received a special two hour training covering all the new gear and latest technologies on all things watersports. Can we help with any questions you might have? You bet we can!

Wake board packages from Hyperlite starting as low as $299.00!

Ski combos from HO priced to move at $179.99!

With sizes in stock able to fit infants to the Incredible Hulk (almost), we’ve got the life jacket you need to look cool and stay safe. Prices start at $39.99.

With specific ropes for waterskiing, wakeboarding, and tubing in stock, and prices as low as $15.99, it’s time to stop using that same old rope for everything. You’ll get better performance and be safer in the process!

Need a tube? We’ve got ’em! From our $79.99 HO Sports Hornet to the four person Extreme XL, we’ve got loads of great choices to fit your budget and family size!

One last thing: now that you have that great new gear, you need to care for it. Our post from earlier this year will tell you everything you need to know!

Insect Repellent – Avoid West Nile with Repel

Mosquito season is upon us, and this year, they’re really making themselves known. According to the Wausau Daily Herald, West Nile virus has been confirmed in our area.

This doesn’t mean you need to lock up the house and stay inside until October. You may be one who works outside, one who loves to hang at the beach, a hiker, a mountain biker, a kayaker or even a soccer league spectator or gardener. Thankfully, protecting ourselves against mosquitos & their illnesses is not that difficult.

We just restocked our shelves with some of the very best insect repellent around. Repel Sportsman & Sportsman Max boasts 20%-40% deet, which should keep us recreational outdoors-people plenty safe from mosquitos, ticks, gnats, biting flies, chiggers & fleas. If you’re swarmed constantly, spending time in the deep woods or swampy areas, you might want to consider Ben’s 100, which contains 98.11% deet. Spray it on & you’ll be protected for up to 10 hours. A third insect repellent option that might interest you contains Permethrin and is for your clothing & gear, not your skin. One application to your clothing, shoes, packs, etc., will keep you protected for two weeks. (Plus, it’s unscented!)

Preparing for the outdoors can be quick and easy. Take a few minutes, be wise, and protect yourself from the risks (think sunscreen & bug spray) so you can get out and stay out! Happy summer!