Boats, Bikes, Bobbers, Booths Bountiful

"Sport Show Season" at the DECC

The Northland’s winter weather may have us a bit unnerved, but there is still a place you can go to know that all is still right with the world.

The Duluth Sport Show is already into Day 2 and runs through Sunday.  Throughout the DECC, aisle after aisle and booth after booth, if you can think of it–and it’s for the outdoors–it’s probably there. Of course, not everything is about minnow buckets and campers. Sometimes it’s about the taste.  Sometimes it’s about the pitch.

“So, I’m going to strap this down. Now I usually have to tie this up, tie it around a few times, tie a knot,” demonstrated John Montgomery, the owner and inventor of the ‘Strap Lizard.’ Its goal is to prevent the mess that a pile of ratchet straps can create.

“As I’m driving down the road the knot comes untied, and I’m dragging my tail usually. Not anymore. With ‘Strap Lizard’ you can just wrap it up and you lock it into place. You get to where you’re going, and you unlock it, and you put it back into storage. It’s real simple, that fast. Best part is, it’s made in America,” said Montgomery, as he wrapped up a demonstration he appears to have given once or twice before.

If you feel like celebrating after your ratchet-strap mess is cleaned up, you can reward yourself with a stop at ‘Angry Tomato Salsa.’

“And my signature item is one I call the Italian Olive. I’m an Italian man myself, so I created this one,” explained owner and operator, Dana Steenberg.

“It’s like a salsa married to a tapenade. So, everything a salsa is–plus that medley of olive and Italian seasoning. And I love the versatility behind that one. You can use it with chips or eggs. I really prefer it over pasta or prosciutto, grilled chicken, salmon, shrimp, cottage cheese,” said Steenberg, as he traveled with his visitors along the food map of options.

But if you’re a stick in the mud, and actually want to see some summer gear, there are one or two things for you as well.
This is the show’s 57th year, and it attracts both landlubbers and wannabee nautical captains.

“There’s boats galore, docks galore, RVs, ATVs, UTVs. You name it, it’s here,” said Chris Navratil, the manager of the Sport Show.

“Fishing poles, a lot of fishing accessories are here so come on down. Talk to the manufacturers, take advantage of the show specials. There are over two hundred companies here for this big weekend. This is the place to come and take in all the features that are offered at the show as well,” said Navratil.

Many years visitors had to check the weather forecast for snowstorms, but nothing to worry about this year. The Sport Show runs through Sunday afternoon.