Win Tickets To The Toronto Boat Show!

North America’s largest indoor boat show returns to the Enercare Centre from January 18 – 27, 2019 with an impressive fleet of 1200 boats of various brands ranging from 6 ft. – 60 ft., as well as the latest in marine accessories to hit the marketplace for sale. Spanning more than a million square feet of show space, some of this year’s new programming highlights include the Toronto Indoor Wakeboard Championships featuring world class riders competing for cash prizes; fly fishing instruction in the world’s largest indoor lake; remote-controlled sailboats on the lake reminiscent of Central Park; and the Royal Canadian Air Force’s exhibit of a CH-146 Griffon Search and Rescue Helicopter, where visitors can meet the first responders, pilots and technicians who help keep our waters safe, and get a rare up-close tour inside the iconic yellow helicopter.

In its continued commitment to boater education, the Toronto Boat Show annually offers 250 free seminars and workshops throughout its 10-day event for visitors of all interests. New this year is the introduction of Women’s Day on Sunday, January 20, a full-day separate ticketed event that invites women to gain hands-on learning to further their boating skills and gain the confidence when it comes to boat ownership and taking the helm.

This year will mark the 20th anniversary of the Preview Day VIP Experience where visitors get advance access to shop the show while supporting the Toronto Boat Show’s boating charities. Preview Day has raised over $835,000 to-date, and takes place Friday, January 18 (2pm – 8pm).

Back by popular demand, the Toronto Boat Show will offer its $5 after 5pm Weekday single admission ticket, and free parking after 5pm on weekdays. For more information, go to www.torontoboatshow.com.

2019 Toronto Boat Show Highlights:

NEW! Royal Canadian Air Force CH-146 Griffon Search and Rescue Helicopter – Meet the men and women who operate the CH-146 Griffon Search and Rescue (SAR) helicopters, one of which will be displayed on-site. Come talk to the pilots, flight engineers, and SAR technicians of 424 Transport and Rescue Squadron and members of Joint Rescue Coordination Centre Trenton to learn more about the Royal Canadian Air Force’s preparedness for aeronautical and marine SAR missions, and what boasters can do to prevent SAR callouts.
NEW! Toronto Indoor Wakeboard Championships and Daily Wakeboard Shows – Professional and amateur wakeboarders will converge at the Toronto Boat Show to compete at the Indoor Wakeboard Championships for cash prizes. This world class event takes place closing weekend of the show with qualifiers on Saturday, January 27 and finals on Sunday, January 28. Plus, watch pro-wakeboarders each day before the closing weekend as they present Winter Wakefest “Grease” and the waterski show “Light It Up” daily on The Lake!
NEW! Fly Fishing – It’s fun, exciting, and surprisingly easy to do! Fly fishing is for everyone, even with no fishing experience. Join the award-winning Franklin Club pros who have over 200 years of experience combined, competing internationally with the Canadian Fly Fishing Team and winning the World Casting Championships. Participants will learn how fly casting works, along with how to fish and retrieve the flies – in the world’s largest indoor lake.
NEW! Remote-Controlled Sailing Regatta – Large remote-controlled sailboats compete on the indoor lake in the Boat Show’s first ever, weeklong regatta series. Watch as these miniature boats race around a floating course, and to make it more realistic and challenging, they will have to navigate in simulated wind conditions powered by giant fans.
NEW! Formula One Race Boats – F1 race drivers Mark Major and Rusty Wyatt, both representing Canada will share what it feels like when Mercury-powered tunnel boats hit speeds of 130 MPH with G-Force turns. See the only Moore Hull F1 racing boat from France in North America, and a US built Revolution Hull on display at the Boat Show.
NEW! Aged to Perfection: 100-year-old boats – The Antique & Classic Boat Society’s mission is to protect, preserve and promote our Canadian heritage of vintage watercraft from mahogany wood boats to classic fibreglass runabouts and ski boats. Stop by to learn more about Canada’s rich boating heritage and the rare grand old boats of the Muskoka’s and beyond.
NEW! 60-ft Princess Yacht – Step on board one of the finest yachts in the world, and one of largest boats to be featured at the Toronto International Boat Show in recent history. Pride Marine Group will proudly display an impressive 60-ft Princess yacht, which arrived from Europe to make its Canadian debut at the Show.
NEW! Women’s Day at TIBS (Jan. 20) – The inaugural Women’s Day will offer a full day of boating seminars and guest speakers designed to educate and inspire female boaters in a friendly and supportive environment where women can feel comfortable to ask questions and learn from each other. There will be an opportunity for attendees to mix and mingle with fellow female boaters, and ask questions in a friendly environment.
Women’s Day Keynote – Bestselling author and avid boater Deb Cantrell shares her journey and love of living afloat. Her presentation entitled Build Your Confidence – Maximize Your Fun! is both relatable and inspiring, having embarked on an ambivalent love affair with boating 28 years ago when her husband, Jim, announced out of the blue that he’d like to “sell everything and sail away.”
NEW! Intro to Stand Up Paddleboarding, SUP Yoga, and Freestyle Kayaking on The Lake – From the basics to race maneuvers and yoga poses, SUP enthusiast Daryl-Lisa Oldham will share how easy it is to begin a life-long love of standing up paddleboarding, with demos on The Lake. Also, five-time Team Canada athlete Joey Hitchins, known for paddling some of the world’s most challenging whitewater rapids and kayak surfing 30’ waves, will demonstrate the sport and showcase a breathtaking repertoire of loaded tricks. Both athletes will also be available to meet and chat with visitors at Mariner’s Marketplace G413 & G535.
World Championship Indoor Sea Flea Races – The coolest single-person hydroplane boats, often DIY-constructed, and powered by a small motor. Compact, colourful and fun to race, these creative boats that were hugely popular in the 70s will be making a big splash on the Lake!
Lake Activities – The world’s largest indoor Lake is the perfect setting to enjoy FREE boating activities from pedal boat, kayak and canoe boat rides to wakeboarding lessons from the experts at Boarder Pass.
SUP Polo – Stand up paddleboarding (SUP) continues to grow in popularity because it is fun, accessible, and always evolving. From SUP fitness, SUP yoga to SUP competitive races, the world of paddleboarding has taken on new forms including the latest trend being showcased at the Boat Show that combines water polo, lacrosse and paddleboarding. SUP Polo has emerged as the newest way to have fun on the water and get in a great workout. Come watch as teams compete in the exciting sport demonstrations held on the Lake.
250 FREE Seminars – The Toronto Boat Show offers the most comprehensive line up of education and free daily seminars for boaters of all interests. Learn from boating enthusiasts, marine experts, ocean racers and sailors who will share their incredible adventures including Behan and Jamie Gifford (known for their decade-long global sailing venture and SailingTotem.com) and Bob Bitchin and Jody Lipkin (Amazing Cruising Lifestyle, Cruising Outpost Magazine).
Hundreds of NEW Products: More new products are launched at the Toronto Boat Show than anywhere in Canada, making it the premier destination to get a first look at what’s new in the boating industry. Visitors can shop among thousands of marine accessories at the Mariners Marketplace and get summer-ready with outdoor gear, toys and décor at Cottage Country; or browse from over 1,200 boats and talk directly with over 550 exhibitors who are on hand to provide knowledgeable product information.

Check us out on Facebook (click HERE!) to win 2 tickets to the Toronto International Boat Show on January 18 -27, 2019. All you have to do is LIKE Puslinch Today on Facebook, and LIKE and SHARE the Boat Show post!

The Toronto Boat Show [www.torontoboatshow.com] runs from January 19 to 27 at the Enercare Centre which is at Exhibition Place. Kids under 16 are free, these tickets are for adults only.
It’s a really big shoooo asEd Sullivan would say, so you’ll need lots of time if you are going to see everything!

This will be something like my 20th show so I got the hang of it! Here are a few friendly tips or ‘how-to’ do the Boat Show – to make sure you have an enjoyable trip.

Weekdays are better – If you can, come on a weekday. Fewer crowds and the exhibitors are generally speaking less grumpy.
Drive only if you must. There are buses and streetcars or the GO that will take you right to the entrance. Parking is really expensive! And the winds whip right off the lake, freezing your hands so you can’t put money in the meters. It’s not a pleasant sight!
If you must drive, I would recommend arriving early paying a bit extra for the underground parking at the Enercare Centre. That way you can leave your coats and boots in the car.
The show is not warm. If you are using the coat check or leaving your coats in the car, men need a sweater, but I would recommend that the women wear a sweater and a light jacket.
Leave your stilettos at home! This show is over two football fields long and you are walking on carpeted cement. Comfy shoes. AND ones that are easy to slip on and off if you plan on going on the boats. Only sock feet or boat shoes on boats.
Bring your own food. Food at the show is expensive, limited and awful!!! I do recommend the lemonade and a package of beer nuts. Show restraint with the beer nuts they are addicting.
Finally, take some time and check out the website and scope out what you want to see. The Lake is pretty impressive (we defrost the Ricoh centre and fill it with water) and offers an assortment of on-the-water opportunities. There are 500+ exhibitors, over 250+ seminars you can see and if you know ABSOLUTLEY nothing about boating, head over to the Discover Boating Centre – start there!

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