Fury Girl on the slide at Adventure Island.

By Shayne Benowitz

Sweet, sweet summertime. The days of summer are waning as Labor Day Weekend, the last hurrah, is approaching. It’s been an incredible season at Fury in Key West. The weather’s been gorgeous, our guests have enjoyed a host of brand new trips and boats, and we’ve been busy! It’s also been an incredible time on our Facebook and Twitter pages. We’ve hit the 6,000 mark for “likes” on Facebook and every day there’s a ton of interaction with our fans as they post vacation pictures and talk about their trip. It’s almost as good as the real thing day in and day out on the docks at the Westin, the Ocean Key House, and the Historic Seaport.

Parasailing is part of the Ultimate Adventure package.

As usual, we anticipate a busy Labor Day Weekend, so we’re doubling up on the Ultimate Adventure during our two busiest days, Saturday and Sunday September 3-4. In addition to our daily 10am departure, you can rock the Ultimate as an afternoon adventure that includes a sunset sail. Book your 2pm departure and enjoy snorkeling, parasailing, jet skiing, as well as sea kayaking and all the toys at the inflatable water park. Enjoy snacks, an early picnic dinner, as well as all you can drink beer, wine, and champagne. The trip will conclude with viewing the famous Key West sunset before we return to port.

A school of blue tang can often be found snorkeling at the reef!

If you’ve been out with us before, you already know why this action-packed trip is amongst our most popular! It’s also a great value considering two meals are included, as well as a sampling of all the water activities that we offer. Whether you join us on Labor Day Weekend in the morning or afternoon for the Ultimate Adventure or anytime of the year, we’re thrilled to share our love of Key West and it’s beautiful waters with you. Here’s to summer!

Shayne Benowitz is a freelance writer and Fury crew member. For more follow her on Twitter @ShayneBenowitz

The couple who parasails together, stays together! Congratulations Kim & Ronnie!

by Shayne Benowitz

Recently on the parasail boat we’ve had some guests celebrating special occasions. I love talking to our passengers and hearing about what brought them to Key West. For many, it’s just the annual family vacation or a break from school. For others, though, it’s birthdays, wedding anniversaries, family reunions, or an annual girls trip! I love the idea of traveling for a special occasion. It makes life that much more of a celebration!

Johnnie Smith celebrating her 77th birthday!

Last Saturday, Captain Marius and Jumah parasailed Johnnie Smith who was celebrating her 77th birthday! They reeled her out on 600 feet of line with her daughter and they soared through the air at 300 feet. She was so sweet and said that it was an absolute thrill to be up there.

About a year ago, we had an entire wedding party consisting of two newlywed couples reserve a parasail boat to “trash the dress.” This was a trend I had never heard of until then that involves trashing your wedding dress in a creative way after your wedding.

This week, Kim and Ronnie  joined us fresh from the altar in their wedding attire ready to do the same thing. We took them up in the parasail and gave them a nice dip in the water. Kim told us that it was the perfect end to a perfect day and that every bride should “trash the dress” this way! We posted their pix on facebook and got a huge response with lots of “likes” and comments.

We’re happy people think of us when they think of celebrations in their lives. We hope you’ll join us for your next big day!

Shayne Benowitz is a Fury crew member and freelance writer. Follower her on Twitter @ShayneBenowitz

Snorkeling. Courtesy of Fury Fan Karla McAllister White

By Shayne Benowitz

I certainly don’t know how to explain it. I’m no meteorologist after all, and I don’t pretend to be. Somehow, though, while one of the largest winter storms swept the nation, we experienced the most beautiful weather of the season. Clear skies, sunshine, temperatures pushing to 80 degrees…

Yeah, that’s what I call paradise! This weekend, I actually felt a little bad for everyone freezing in the snow while I was on the Key West parasailing boat sweating in the sun. Our year round beautiful weather is definitely why I love living in Key West!

Parasailing. Courtesy of Fury Fan Alicia Leelee Campitelli.

Last week, while I was updating Fury’s facebook page, my newsfeed was filled with winter weather pictures. And let’s face it, they’re beautiful, and certainly not something we get to see down here in the tropics.

I made a call to action and asked you all to share your snowy pictures with us, and of course, our wonderful Fury fans came through. First, mother of the cutest (and only ) parasail crew couple Kenna and Eli posted a picture of Kenna’s brother in snowy Kansas. Henry D. Pawlus directed us to his page full of snowy pix! Amy Nykiel-Bacon posted a picture of her snowed-in front yard and Chris Shields posted a gorgeous picture of a frozen tree branch.

Ice ice baby in Indiana. Courtesy of Fury Fan Chris Shields.

The pictures are a veritable winter wonderland, and you should really check them out on our facebook page. But then I started to get a little cold and realized that we weren’t doing our beautiful Key West weather justice. So again, the fans came through posting dozens of sunny vacation pix aboard Fury!

Sunsets in paradise. Courtesy of Fury Fan Dorothy Such.

Remember, if you’re freezing your little tush off dreaming of diving into the warm, blue waters in Key West, we’ve got some pretty rockin’ contests on our facebook page right now. Enter a sweepstakes for an all-0expense paid trip to Key West and enter our photo contest. We’re giving out prizes every month. Keep the pix coming and see ya soon!

XO,

Fury Girl

Shayne Benowitz is a Fury crewmember and freelance writer. For more travel stories visit her at web.me.com/shaynebeth and follow her at twitter.com/ShayneBenowitz.

Parasailing, courtesy of Fury fan Sheridan Kushner.

By Shayne Benowitz

Dear Fury Fans,

We’ve been doing a lot of reflecting in the New Year. We are so fortunate to do what we do every day on the water in the Key West sunshine. And we know that none of this would be possible without YOU! It’s been so fun over the years meeting people from all over the country and around the world aboard our snorkel trips, our parasail boats, and our sunset cruises, not to mention the Ultimate Adventure!

"It doesn't get better than this!" courtesy of Fury Fan Cathy Pauly.

It’s also been great to keep in touch! We’ve received letters and cards from our dearest fans expressing what a memorable time they’ve had with us. And trust me, those cards hang in the Surf Shack for everyone to see! It’s also a thrill when someone hops on board and says, “Hey, you were the parasail mate last year when we were here!”

When we jumped on facebook and twitter a few years ago, everything changed. Now we can have daily conversations, share pictures and memories, and really keep in touch. It’s like you never left the island (well, sort of!)! From a weeklong conversation about Captain Chuck to amazing fan photos of the powerboat races and more, I’ve been thoroughly entertained!

Celebrating 50th birthday aboard the Commotion with Capt. Chuck, courtesy of Fury Fan Kim Lunsford Schadle

We thought it was about time we gave back to our loyal Fury fans because, well, that’s how we roll! If you haven’t visited our facebook fanpage in a while, you’re going to find some great new features. If, for some silly reason, you’re not already apart of our facebook community, simply “like” our page, and you will immediately be entered into our new fans reward program along with the rest of our fans.

Every month starting in February we’ll select a fan at random for an awesome giveaway. You could win a trip with Fury or sweet Fury swag like crew shirts, hats, and other accessories. Click on the “Win A Trip” tab and fill out the quick form to sign up for our eNewsletter (written by yours truly! Come on, you know you want to!) and you’ll immediately be entered in an all-expense paid 3 day, 2 night trip to Key West with luxe accommodations at the Ocean Key House, spa treatments, dinners, and of course, trips galore aboard Fury!

Honeymooning, courtesy of Fury Fan Julie Carty.

For the more creatively inclined, and I know a lot of you are, we’re also starting a Fan Photo Contest. We already receive awesome pictures from you guys, and now we want to reward one fan every month with an Ultimate Adventure for two just for sending your vacation pictures our way. Check out how the contest works on the “Photo Contest” tab of our facebook page, and keep the pictures coming in!

This is just the beginning of how we want to give back to you, so stay tuned for more offers, deals, and contests in 2011. Oh yeah, and don’t be shy about sharing your Fury love with your friends on facebook (and in real life!). The more the merrier!

"Having a blast on the Ultimate Adventure," courtesy of Fury Fan Daron Blake.

Here’s hoping your 2011 is off to a rockin’ start. We’re certainly enjoying ourselves in Key West. And, of course, we hope to see you down here soon! Next time, maybe it’ll even be on us!

XOXO,

Fury Girl

Shayne Benowitz is a Fury crewmember and freelance writer. For more travel stories visit her at web.me.com/shaynebeth and follow her at twitter.com/ShayneBenowitz.

Sailing to the crystal clear reef.

By Shayne Benowitz

It’s hard to believe, but this time next week it will be the beginning of a long Labor Day Weekend and the official end of summer. I know, I know, don’t get too depressed! No one likes it when summer ends, right? Well, we’ve all got one more weekend to really live it up.

Of course, in Key West we exist in a state of perpetual summer. Maybe you can enjoy Labor Day with us at Fury or maybe we’ll just see you in the fall. Either way, it’s time to toast to the end of a long, hot summer. What have you got planned? Family picnics or BBQs? A quick escape to the beach?

At Fury, it will be business as usual—or perhaps, more than usual. We’re gearing up for a busy weekend of water sports, and of course, we’d love to see you aboard our fleet.

The Ultimate Adventure is by far the most popular trip and the greatest value. It’s the perfect Labor Day package: Key West snorkeling, parasailing, jet skiing, kayaking, inflatable water park, breakfast, lunch, snacks, and all you can drink. That pretty much says it all!

If you’re looking for a quick escape, join us on one of our snorkel trips departing three times daily: 9:30am, 1pm, and 5pm. This is an absolute “Must-Do” in Key West. It would be embarrassing to be this close to the third largest coral reef system in the world and not set out to explore it.

If you’d prefer an aerial view of our island paradise, then the calming thrill of Key West parasailing is for you. Trips depart every hour on the hour from 9am to 5pm. Yep, for some of us that’s the daily grind!

And of course, don’t miss a single sunset while you’re here, and make sure you catch it on the water at least one night. We’ve got a classic champagne sunset sail or a little bit of rock n roll with the Commotion on the Ocean featuring a great live band, appetizers, and margaritas.

Either way, we hope you and your family have a wonderful Labor Day and we hope to see you on the water in Key West soon!

Shayne Benowitz is a Fury crewmember and freelance writer. For more travel stories and a daily dose of what’s cool around the globe visit her Wanderlust Website at http://web.me.com/shaynebeth.

Sky High

by Shayne Benowitz

This week marked another historic moment for Fury Water Adventures as our fifth parasail boat—that’s right, FIFTH!—arrived in Key West early Monday morning. Davey and Justin were the first to greet her, Charlie and I spent a day preparing for her Coast Guard inspection, and Adam and Rob took her on her inaugural trip with a boatload of customers.

Sky High is a beauty in her slip at the Westin next to Fury Flyer and Fly Girl. Her equipment is state-of-the-art with heavy duty tandem and triple bars, brand new harnesses, and some snazzy new parasails. Seating 15, she is the picture of comfort and design boasting the latest in marine technology.

With the addition of Sky High, the sky truly is the limit! Just in time for our busy spring/summer season, there will be even more availability to fly with team Fury! We look forward to showing you and your family and friends breathtaking views of Key West flying high on Sky High!

Shayne Benowitz is a Fury crewmember and freelance writer. For more travel stories and a daily dose of what’s cool around the globe visit her Wanderlust Website at http://web.me.com/shaynebeth.

A view of Fort Zach from the harbor.

by Shayne Benowitz

A stroll along Fort Zachary Taylor State Park and Beach is a pleasure any time of year. Now through April 16 it is also a work of art. When you’re strolling along the shoreline sculptural installations are also a part of the scenery thanks to the annual Sculpture Key West.

On a particularly gorgeous afternoon, Nicole and I decided to take a jaunt down to Fort Zach and check it out. We wound our way past the fort and down a path leading towards the rocky jetties facing west. From this point, we already spotted a few of the installations. The first we approached was a monumental hoop constructed of wood branches by Jonathan Schork. As Nicole and I drew near, we saw that it was created to be a collective memorial. Viewers are invited to use a marker and write a tribute for a deceased loved one on a branch and add it to the hoop soaring towards the heavens. We each took a moment and added our branch to the sculpture.

Jonathan Schork's installation.

We continued towards the water to see an enormous bright yellow “IF” rising from the sand, which was inspired by a Rudyard Kipling poem of the same name. There was a series of three mirrored panels followed by a dream house constructed only as a steel frame resting on the horizon and looking out to sea.

Nicole and I took a moment to rest on the jetties and watch the boats sail in and out of the harbor. Of course, we noticed Fury’s parasail boat tacking, and wondered who the crew might be. Soon we were ready to continue our exploration. There were more installations by the beach and amongst the trees and picnic tables. I really liked “Musical Chairs,” created by Jimmy Wray and his high school students. It was a literal interpretation where chairs were constructed out of horns, drums, and string instruments.

Midway through our journey, we found the Sculpture Key West kiosk and grabbed a map to make sure we saw everything. Nicole proved to be very skilled at spotting hidden sculptures, such as the dumpster with a tree growing out of it.

It was a truly pleasant afternoon convening with art and nature. If you’re looking for a day at the beach, Fort Zach is where any local will send you. This spring, you’ve got an added bonus with Sculpture Key West. Enjoy!

Shayne Benowitz is a Fury crewmember and freelance writer. For more travel stories and a daily dose of what’s cool around the globe visit her Wanderlust Website at http://web.me.com/shaynebeth.

by Shayne Benowitz

If you happen to live in the Cape Coral or Fort Meyers area, then surely you’re familiar with Fox 4’s morning show, the Morning Blend. Well, while you’re home for the holidays, be sure to tune in because it’s Key West week. And what’s a week in Key West without an excursion on the water with Fury?

That’s exactly what host Bill Wood had in mind a few weeks ago when he arrived with his executive producer and camera crew. Captain Scotty and I took them for a spin on the parasail boat for a taste of the excitement 300 feet above the waters of Key West. Then, we shuttled them to Adventure Island with Captain Chuck and crew for the Ultimate Adventure.

I told Bill what the Ultimate Adventure was all about (snorkeling, parasailing, jet skiing, breakfast, lunch, drinks… best time you can have in Key West!). Chuck filled him in on how unique our coral reef ecosystem is. After all, we are home to the only living barrier reef in North America. It’s pretty special and certainly warrants a visit to our little island paradise.

Bill interviewing Fury Girl.

Then, Bill and I went for a spin on the jet ski. All the while his camera crew filmed the action for a segment that will air this week. Remember, if you’re in the Cape Coral or Fort Meyers area, tune in to see all the fun we had. Rumor has it, there’s a big Key West vacation giveaway, so don’t miss out! If you live a little farther away, no big deal, just check out the behind the scenes video on our youtube channel! Happy Holidays!

Shayne Benowitz is a Fury crewmember and freelance writer. For more travel stories and a daily dose of what’s cool around the globe visit her Wanderlust Website at http://web.me.com/shaynebeth.

by Shayne Benowitz

Fury's brand new logo parasail

Yesterday, I worked on the parasail boat with Captain Davey. As I stood at the stern harnessing in a couple of parasailers, I noticed that all four of our boats were zooming around the harbor. I watched as Captain Adam and Julie inflated their parachute on Fly Girl.

To my surprise, I saw a brand new custom parachute with the Fury logo on it in a gorgeous shade of blue.

An original multi-colored parasail in a patriotic theme

Over the years, our parachutes have evolved and this logo chute is the very latest. Our earliest chutes were multi-colored, resembling a beach ball or an umbrella. I have to say, I think those colorful ones are pretty, but you don’t see them very often sailing behind our boats anymore.

Fury's classic smiley face parasail

Today, when Fury is parasailing in the harbor, the sky is dotted with smiley faces in different shades of blue. The newest ones have more detail, like toothy grins and bright eyes. When our customers first notice that the parachute has a smiley face on it, they’re usually surprised and entertained. I always tell them that the chute is smiling because parasailing is fun, not scary!

I worked with Captain Charlie today on Fly Girl and got to handle the new parasail myself. There’s nothing like the feel of brand new waxy lines and the crisp crinkle of a new chute. Once I inflated it and sent a couple of parasailers flying, I really got to admire how great our logo looks flying in the air on 600 feet of line. We’re constantly upgrading and improving our equipment, so come fly the friendly skies with Fury!

Shayne Benowitz is a Fury crewmember and freelance writer working on her debut novel. For more travel stories and a daily dose of what’s cool around the globe visit her Wanderlust Website at http://web.me.com/shaynebeth.

by Shayne Benowitz

This time of year, it is not uncommon for us to fly upwards of sixty people per day on the parasail boats. At least a few people out of that sixty get on the boat and are so nervous about parasailing they have already decided not to try it. Usually the fears people have about parasailing are completely unfounded, and I would like to dispel a few of those worries so that more people can enjoy their time without undue stress.

1. Parasailing is NOT a rollercoaster. Some people get on the boat and are afraid that it’s going to be a thrill ride. Coming from a girl who was afraid of rollercoaster’s until age fifteen, you can trust me when I tell you that parasailing is not scary. The ride is very smooth and relaxing. You feel like you’re just floating in the air and its very peaceful and quiet. No butterflies in your stomach—guaranteed!

2. You are harnessed in securely. Once we clip you into the tandem bar, your work is done. Time and again, customers get ready to fly and are holding onto their straps so tightly their knuckles turn white. It doesn’t take any strength to parasail. In fact, you don’t have to hold onto the straps at all. You’re in there!

3. You don’t have to know how to swim. Aside from a dip in the water—most people swear that’s the most fun part—you’re soaring high above it or you’re on board for a fun boat ride. No swimming ability necessary!

4. Dry take offs and landings. Sometimes we have a customer who parasailed twenty years ago in Cancun or Acapulco (my mother is included in this group) and has terrible memories of having to run on the beach to take off or of having to steer the parachute while landing. At Fury, we have the latest technology to reel you in and off the boat using a mechanical wench so that you take off and land safely from the back of the boat.

The most important thing to remember when parasailing is to just relax and have fun. Rest assured that your captain is a pro and has taken many factors into account before he puts anyone in the air. Hope to see you soon!

Shayne Benowitz is a Fury crewmember and freelance writer who is working on her debut novel. Shayne can be reached at sbbenowitz@gmail.com.