Feeding your inner kayaker

Portland, Ore.-based WetDawg.com positions itself as “your daily online water sports fix,” albeit within a niche: sea and whitewater kayaking, windsurfing and scuba diving. News, tips, features and photography are within easy reach; a message board lets you know what’s on the grapevine; and an intriguing “Adventure Finder” button beckons. The site hosts detailed testimonials of hidden gorge descents, reviews the latest gear and displays lovely photography submitted by users. The most voluminous section has useful links to local paddling clubs.

However, the site’s promise fades with a few clicks. The Adventure Finder might be renamed List of All Our Sponsors. The Ask the Pro page is innovative but mostly restricted to whitewater kayaking. The Events page is out of date. Given the dime-store reality behind its superstore facade, Wetdawg.com is probably a stretch for adventure travelers.

-- Emmett Berg