The 2013 Edmonton Boat and Sportsmen’s Show is just over six weeks away. Western Canada’s Biggest Outdoor Show will feature boats, marine products and accessories valued at over $20 million. The Show will feature hundreds of exhibitors and retailers related to the great outdoors. This year’s Show is being held at the Expo Centre, Northlands, March 14-17, 2013. Doors open on Thursday, March 14th at 12:00 noon and will remain open until 5:00 pm, Sunday, March 17th.

If you love the outdoors and all the things that go along with spending time in the outdoors then don’t miss this year’s Edmonton Boat and Sportsmen’s Show. Whether your passion is boating, waterskiing, wakeboarding, fishing, hunting, camping, or riding off road, you are sure to find what you are looking for.

“Every year the Edmonton Boat and Sportsmen’s Show provides Albertan’s with the hope that winter will soon be over and spring is on its way. It is not only the best place to shop and compare prices on boats, fishing, camping, outdoor gear and equipment of every description,” says Laurie Paetz, Show Manager, “but it is also opportunity learn about the local efforts being made in the areas of outdoor education as well as resource and wildlife preservation and conservation.”

Edmontonians will have an opportunity to meet Willie and Korie Robertson, stars of A&E’s Duck Dynasty on Friday March 15th only. Meet and greet sessions take place from 3:00 – 4:30 and 6:00 – 7:30 with Q & A sessions scheduled from 4:30 – 5:00 and again from 7:30 – 8:00.

The Fishin’ Hole’s 35 Hour Fish-Tacular is sure to be a highlight for fisherman and outdoorsmen alike. This is your chance to secure the best prices of the season on rods, reels, tackle and outdoor gear. A perfect opportunity to pick up everything you will need at a great price.

The Kids Fishing Pond offers a unique opportunity for kids under the age of 12 to fish for live trout. Whether it the first time with a rod in their hand or if they are a seasoned veteran there will be squeals of excitement emanating from the Kids Fishing Pond area as young fisherman hook the big one. For a $2.00 donation to the Alberta Fish and Game Association young fisherman can participate in the catch and release program.

Outdoor related travel and adventure tourism is becoming more popular. If it is a weekend away with the girls or a family adventure vacation you will find and excellent variety represented at the 2013 Edmonton Boat and Sportsmen’s Show. You will find everything from West Coast Salmon fishing trips and sea kayaking to fishing trips at remote Saskatchewan Lodges and Northern Alberta Whitetail hunting trips; you will find lots to choose from in the Adventure Travel section of the Show.

If your families’ idea of a great outdoor experience takes you a bit off the beaten path then exposure to off road riding can’t happen soon enough. The Honda Junior Red Rider Club provides children between the ages of 6-12 an opportunity to sign up for a session, receive expert instruction, gear up in the latest safety gear, and take to the track to try out their skills. Where else can your children receive this kind of hands-on experience in a safe and professionally monitored environment?

For the third year running the Edmonton Boat and Sportsmen’s Show will play host to over six hundred Junior High and High school student who will be competing for the title of National Archery in the Schools Program (NASP) Provincial Champions. The winners will go onto compete in the World NASP Championships.
Alberta Hunter Education Instructors’ Association (AHEIA) plays an important role at the Show. They are extremely active in education, conservation and preservation as it related to sportsman’s behavior. Their static and hands on displays along with their hunting and fishing interactive displays and simulators is sure to provide outdoorsmen of all ages with a positive and memorable experience.

One of the features that continues year after year to wow and mesmerize audiences are the Alberta Birds of Prey. This is a one-of-a kind opportunity to not learn about various endangered birds of prey but actually reach out and touch many of them. The information is presented in a very entertaining and manner in a friendly atmosphere. At the conclusion of the presentations, there will be a chance to take pictures with many of these amazing birds.

Learning is a lifelong endeavour and often more easily done vicariously through someone else, especially if that someone is an expert in their field. The Fishing Presentation Pool and the Hunting Seminar Stage will allow show goers to learn from the best. Some of Western Canada’s most highly respected and well-known outdoorsmen and women will be doing presentations on a variety of topics related to hunting, fishing and wildlife. They include such big names as Sandi and Richard Mellon, and Vanessa Harrop and TJ Schwanky from Outdoor Quest TV, one of Canada’s largest waterfowl outfitters Claudio Ongaro, Outdoor Writer, Wildlife photographer Brad Fenson and the team from the Award Winning Hunting Show The Hunting Chronicles. Be sure to check on site for seminar times and topics.