Thanksgiving, holiday shopping, and our sponsors
Marietta Hitzemann, surfing wahine
November 25, 2009
Thanksgiving is almost here and I’m thankful to be spending another one on the Cape. Last year I got to see whales on the ocean side, hear loons calling to each other on the bay, and taste the best gravy my husband has ever made. Someday I may even be one of those wahines who surfs on Thanksgiving Day.
Thanksgiving is also a good time to say “Yay! Hooray!” to all of our sponsors and to remind all you wahines and watermen that the odds of finding holiday presents that the folks on your list really want increase dramatically when you shop with our sponsors.
Goodies
Chatham Wind and Time, Chatham. What can I say? I love our tide clock. Love it. We bought it from Jerry and Janice at the first annual CCW Movie Night earlier this year and I can’t imagine how we ever lived without it. They also have plain clocks (that is, ones without the tide component), signs of all sorts including custom house number signs, weather vanes, barometers, thermometers, weather instruments…
Forest Beach Design, Chatham. I have lost significant time on the Forest Beach Design web site, paging through all the charms. When my sister turned 50, she was not in the mood for a gag gift like a bouquet of black balloons so I sent her a sand dollar charm. Survey says: sand dollar charm wins hands down over black balloons every time! Seriously, doesn’t your mom deserve a starfish charm?
Gear
Pump House Surf Shop, Orleans. Is there a skater, surfer, or SUP-er on your list? Spend some shopping time at The Pump House and you'll find quality surfboards, skimboards, bodyboards, skateboards, accessories, clothes, and more. From ding repair to snorkeling to beach fashion, they've got you covered. Maybe you’ll even find something for yourself. Stop by the next time you’re grocery shopping in Orleans.
Sailworld, Buzzards Bay. Is there a windsurfer, SUP-er, skier, or mountain biker on your list? In addition to all the fabulous new gear they also have a large selection of new and used windsurfing sails, boards and gear. And maybe there’s someone who loves you but doesn’t understand your addiction to windsurfing and is likely to get you yet another singing fish. This year, see if you can influence Santa’s elves with the Sailworld Holiday Wish Sign Up page.
Green Room, Vinyard Haven. I still haven’t been to Martha’s Vineyard, but a stop at the Green Room is a priority when I do. I won some Green Room schwag in a CCW raffle a couple of years ago – skin care products that I used up immediately. If there’s anyone on your list from the Vineyard, especially a skater or surfer, how about a gift certificate from the Green Room? They’ve got surfboards, skateboards, clothes, accessories…
Yoga, massage, and solar panels
What do the next three sponsors have in common? They’re all sources of green energy.
Body Science Massage, Centerville. Is there someone on your list who just doesn’t need any more stuff? Everyone can benefit from a massage so a gift card from Body Science Massage is a classic for the hard to please. There’s even a treatment that focuses on hands and feet, perfect for someone who stands a lot or for office workers who do too much typing.
Brewster Yoga and Massage, Brewster. If someone you know isn’t on the water year round and wants to keep fit during the winter months, yoga is a great option. Buy someone a class package that they can use to try out a variety of classes: Pilates, Vinyasa yoga, Tribal Belly Dance…
MyGeneration Energy. While it’s unlikely that you’re going to buy someone a solar panel for Hanukah or Christmas it could happen, right? And how about a little something for yourself? Modern solar technology is more efficient and reliable than ever before. Santa would definitely put you on the “nice” list if you had a solar energy generation system!
Lessons and expeditions
Is there someone new in your life, someone who should really join you on the water? Or is it time for your kids to get out there on the water with you? Our next two sponsors are skilled at introducing people to extreme sports.
Petra Kanz, New Jersey. Petra and her crew teach windsurfing and kiting on South Padre Island, Texas in the winter; windsurfing, kiting, and SUP-ing in New Jersey, North Carolina, and Rhode Island during the spring and summer; and make trips on special occasions to the Cape. Petra also teaches land kiting on beach buggies!
Funseekers, Wellfleet. Eric Gustafson and his crew teach kiting, surfing, and SUP-ing in Wellfleet and other locations on the Cape during the summer. They move to Salt Lake City, Utah in the winter where they teach snowkiting and lead back country tours for skiing, snowboarding, and splitboard clinics.
Libations
And let’s not forget the beer. You can always be the hero by bringing some beer to your holiday gatherings so check out what the Wachussett Brewing Company has to offer. Someone once said, “Beer, it’s why we get up every afternoon.” Someone else once said, “Give someone a beer, she’ll waste an hour. Teach someone to brew, she’ll waste a lifetime.”
And one more thing: “Mmmm. Beer.”
Happy Thanksgiving, Wahines. (And many thanks to Liz Patton for santa-ing the sponsors. You rule!)