32nd Annual International Sportsmen’s Expo

32nd Annual International Sportsmen’s Expo Offers Bay Area’s Only Outdoor Enthusiast Show January 10-13 At San Mateo County Event Center

San Mateo, California – The 32nd Annual San Mateo International Sportsmen’s Exposition (ISE) brings the best of the outdoors to the San Mateo County Event Center Thursday, January 10 through Sunday, January 13, 2008. The San Mateo ISE is the Bay Area’s only gathering of the year for fishing, hunting and outdoor enthusiasts who want to try and buy gear, meet outdoor celebrities and experts, and research and book travel packages to destinations near and far. From fly-fishing clinics and dog long-jumping competitions, to kayak demonstrations and off-road test drives, outdoor lovers of all ages can participate in a variety of hands-on sporting activities.

“With a wide diversity of outdoor products and services, experts and information not found at any other event in the area all year, the ISE combines an exciting fishing, boating, hunting, off-road, and travel expo all under one roof,” said ISE CEO and President Brian Layng. “At the same time, the show offers a variety of entertainment for experts or newcomers to the outdoors.”

With nearly 400 exhibitors, there is truly something for every outdoors enthusiast at the show, including: fishing tackle and gear; hunting products and gear; outdoor apparel and optics; outdoor gadgets and furnishings; clubs, groups and publications; trucks, trailers and aftermarket products; boats, motors and marine accessories; RVs and campers; and ATVs and motorcycles. But the show’s largest category of exhibitors is travel experts – lodges and resorts, guides and outfitters. This group alone includes more than 200 companies spotlighting outdoor activities throughout California and the West, as well as Alaska, Canada, Central and South America, and even Africa.

Throughout the expo in three special theaters and on multiple stages, top local and national experts will lend their expertise in fishing, camping, survival, photography, cooking, travel and hunting. Apropos for an election year, the ISE will also offer a special presentation on environmental issues affecting sportsmen. Exciting entertainment includes contests and competitions for enthusiasts of every skill level and age. Children can personally experience the spirit of outdoor adventure at the hands-on Youth Outdoor Sports Fair, presented by Western Outdoor News.

Show highlights include:

Interactive Entertainment:

• Off-Road Test-Drive Track, sponsored by Toyota, offers attendees the unique opportunity to try out Toyota’s latest trucks and SUVs on a specially designed off-road track.
• “Lowrance Learning Center” is a complete interactive training area for hands-on clinics in GPS navigation and fish-finding. Guided by Capt. Jack Findleton and pro bass angler Jeff Boyer, participants will take a virtual tour of an Alaska fishing trip, learning how to use gear as they go.
• “Splash Dogs” Jumping Contest now includes a Best-of-the-West series with $1,000 in prize money. Any size or breed of dog is welcome to compete! Winners from the San Mateo stop will qualify to compete for the title at ISE’s Salt Lake City event in March. Register online at www.splashdogs.com.
• NEW: Expanded Western Outdoor News Youth Outdoor Sports Fair now includes hands-on activities from the California Department of Fish & Game. The Fair features a kids’ catch-and-release fishing pond, fly-casting instruction, airgun and archery ranges, lure-making, animal and habitat education, a mountain-man camp, contests, and thousands of dollars of giveaways. Staffed with dozens of experienced guides, the Youth Fair will draw thousands of youth and their families, helping to create the next generation of enthusiastic, informed outdoor participants (Opens Friday, January 11, at 3 p.m. and runs through Sunday, January 13, at 5 p.m.).
• NEW: Movie Premiere of Mike Wier’s “Soulfish,” plus best of Wier’s “Fish Eye” video series. Lake Tahoe-based Wier also created “Trout Bum Diaries,” seen last year on a national film tour.
• Best-of-the-West Distance Fly-Casting Competition with $2,000 in cash prizes. San Mateo is the first stop in the series. Winners will compete for the title at ISE’s Salt Lake City event in March.
• Fly-casting demonstrations and instruction at the fly-casting ponds.
• Fly-Tying Video Theater and How-To Center, where legends and newcomers alike demonstrate favorite patterns and materials either from a stage or one-on-one with the public.
• Kayak demos in the splash pond – Presented by Wind Toys, attendees can learn about various kayak models and techniques.
• Sporting-Dog demonstrations from trainers will highlight various breeds and training styles.

Demonstrations and Presentations:

• NEW: Seminars at the Eastmans’ Journals Adventure Theater. Topics range from survival stories to fly-fishing tropical destinations; taxidermy to wild-game preparation; bird to big-game hunting. Presenters include global-survival expert and author Greg Davenport; author, editor and TV show host Scott Haugen; taxidermist Chris Crabtree; biologist Ryan Mathis; guide, editor and TV show host Chad Schearer; local saltwater fly-fishing guru Dan Blanton; professional photographer Brian O’Keefe; and legendary fly-fishers Bob Clouser, Jack Dennis and Denny Rickards.
• NEW: “Plight of our Fisheries” expert panel discussion – learn the issues and how to support the future of fishing. Mike Aughney of USAFishing.com will moderate and panelists include: Jim Martin, Pure Fishing; Dick Poole, Water4Fish; Dan Bacher, “The Fish Sniffer”; and John Beuttler, California Sportfishing Protection Alliance (Sat., January 12, at 1 p.m., in the Sportfishing Theater).
• Gear and technique seminars by California’s top pro bass anglers at the Ultimate Bass Demonstration Tank.
• NEW: Seminars at the Sportfishing Theater by Northern California’s finest guides, captains and outdoor communicators.
• Food’s on! Learn how to prepare a harvest for the best eating from “Bugle” (Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation) columnist and Bay Area wild-game chef John McGannon.
• “California Outdoor Hall of Fame” annual awards presentation, hosted by local writer and San Francisco Chronicle outdoor columnist Tom Stienstra (Saturday, January 12, at 4 p.m.).

Special Exhibits:

• NEW: World Taxidermy Display, presented by the Bay Area Chapter of Safari Club International.
• NEW: Fishing licenses for sale and expert information available at the California Department of Fish & Game Pavilion.
• A 30-foot-long aquarium filled with living fish found in local waters.
• An outdoor climbing wall that all family members will enjoy (additional charge).
•  Wildlife paintings, sculpture and lifestyle furnishings.

The ISE will take place at the San Mateo County Event Center, located at 2495 South Delaware Street in San Mateo, Calif., 94403. Show hours are: Thursday and Friday from 12 – 8 p.m., Saturday from 10 a.m. – 7 p.m. and Sunday 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. Entrance is $12 for adults and children 12 and younger enter for free. Discount coupons are available at select Long’s Drug stores, Kragen Auto Parts, and Togo’s. Discount coupons and tickets are also available at http://SanMateo.SportsExpos.com. Parking is $7 per car. For more information, visit http://SanMateo.SportsExpos.com.

About ISE
Since 1975 International Sportsmen’s Expositions (ISE) has produced America’s premier adventure-travel, fishing, shooting-sports and boat shows for outdoor enthusiasts at events held during the first quarter throughout the largest western and Rocky Mountain markets. International Sportsmen’s Expositions’ reputation as the industry leader is based on their commitment to presenting a broad spectrum of outdoor recreational opportunities as honorable, quality and conservation-affective pursuits. For more information, visit SportsExpos.com.

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