S T A N D I N G W A V E S
University students are prime for clubbin’. PHOTO BRENT ELLIOTT
Communi ty • Access Responsibi l i ty • Learning
THE CLUB SCENE NORTH AMERICAN UNIVERSITIES TWO STEPS BEHIND U.K. COUNTERPARTS
IN THE U.K. hundreds of post-secondary kayak club members attend annual inter-university sla- lom, whitewater racing, marathon and canoe polo events sanctioned by the British University Sports Association (BUSA). Including events with more than 30 years’ history, 28 universities participat- ing in last year’s canoe polo championship and BUSA hosting the largest of any U.K. kayak slalom event, the club scene there is dancing along. On this side of the Atlantic, the university club scene is not as upbeat. The McMaster University Kayak Club of Ham-
ilton, Ontario is a rare exception, having found success as a recreational club with a mission to “promote the whitewater lifestyle to the McMaster community.” Like its counterparts in the U.K., they provide beginners’ courses, roll clinics, weekly open sessions, a summer development program and river trips. But until other schools catch up, competitive events remain a distant dream. Kirk Havens, president of the American Canoe
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Association, suggests it’s a funding issue. “A lot of universities recognize kayaking as an intramu- ral sport but it isn’t accepted as a collegiate sport
by the NCAA (National Collegiate Athletics Asso- ciation). Clubs have funding available but it’s not the same available to scholarship-funded varsity sports like football and baseball.” This isn’t the case in the U.K. where kayaking is a fully funded competitive sport and geography isn’t as harsh an obstacle. Despite the hurdles, Havens says bringing in-
ter-collegiate kayak competition to campuses is a priority. In 2007, the ACA organized its first In- ter-University Canoe and Kayak National Down- river Championship and another is planned for 2008. “Almost all of the colleges I have talked to are interested, most of them have equipment, it’s just the ability to pay for travel that is lacking,” Havens says. McMaster’s club president Robertson Gibb
found support and has hope for a vibrant uni- versity club scene in North America. “The rapid success of the club here at McMaster, coupled with the support we’ve received from companies like H20 and Esprit, shows tremendous oppor- tunity to develop the campus kayaking scene.” —Laura Duncan
B O O K R E V I E W
Whitewater in Southwest British Columbia BY CLAUDIA SCHWAB
Whether or not famed New York Tribune editor Horace Greeley first uttered the oft-quoted phrase “Go west, young man” isn’t as impor- tant as the fact it’s still sound pad- dling advice. Times have changed somewhat since the 1890s, and we’re pretty sure young man means everyone, and west refers specifically to the whitewaters of southwestern BC. Let Claudia Schwab’s Whitewater in South- western British Columbia be your guide there; clear and concise, in just 160 pages there is an as-
tonishing amount of detail on 80 rivers and popular play spots. Schwab includes descriptions and comprehensive maps for each run, GPS waypoints, an- nual flow rates, suggestions for multi-day trips, tourist spots and a wealth of local contacts for any further information or supplies you may need. —NE $22.95 Cdn, $19.95 US
www.wetcoastpublishing.com
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