The Yak Shak was an idea amongst friends for many years, and it took until Spring of 2019 to see this new business finally come to life in Pelham, Alabama. Pelham serves as a perfect fit here in the foothills of Oak Mountain State Park which is actually the largest in the state. We are an organization designed from the ground up to enhance the kayaking community while partnering with some of the best brands and professionals in the industry. Our mission is to be an essential destination for top-of-the-line kayak gear and fishing apparel for newcomers to the sport as well as seasoned paddlesport enthusiasts. It takes a network of passionate and responsible individuals to sustain our rivers, lakes, oceans, and waterways, so we also provide access to local events and outings with other members of The Yak Shak community as often as possible!
The scenic mountains of northwest Georgia are the stomping grounds for many friends and family close to our founders, and the city of Dalton aka The Carpet Capital of the World is where it all began to take shape. Countless conversations and late nights were spent dreaming up the perfect kayak fishing destination, but one late night in particular between a core group of buddies in the summer of 2013 would actually lay the foundation used to create the business. Allen Norris along with his lifelong friend Von Hankins created this passion project with Von’s now-wife Olivia, and this was when the name “The Yak Shak” was decided on and the domain was registered with hopes to make it a reality one day down the road. Fast-forward five years later and Allen meets his better half Jessica and introduced her to the exciting sport of kayak bass fishing. It took a year or so, but Jessica and Allen launched The Yak Shak LLC in June of 2019. However, none of this would be possible without the incredible support system of the most amazing people on the planet. Thank you all very much for your continued and steadfast devotion to our team. We will never forget it, and we will never stop giving you our best in return.
Our priorities include advancing the kayaking and kayak fishing communities as well as maintaining an upstanding reputation as paddlesport enthusiasts who take the time to give back to nature while simultaneously enjoying its splendor. We as a company give directly to charitable and prominent organizations within the conservation and outdoor tourism industries. We also provide these types of opportunities back to the customers and members of The Yak Shak community for chances to stay involved as well. Many of our partners and manufacturers have similar programs, so be sure to visit your favorite brands’ webpages to see how you can make an even greater impact.
When it comes to quality, comfort, fishability, style, safety, and value, The Yak Shak aims to exceed expectations with a variety of goods and services offered from the store and online. Please connect with us early and often with questions, comments, concerns, videos, posts, and anything else that can enhance the experience for current and future customers. There are many ways to engage our team, so feel free to reach out to us via email at contact@theyakshak.com or give us a call at (205) 767-3201 anytime!
