tried to run a sea kayak race in the early 1990s.“About ten years ago we introduced some coastal kayak racing but the interest was not there,” he said. Sea kayak racing is now finding its legs in Canada partly due to the phenomenal growth since the mid-‘90s of adventure rac- ing—multi-stage,multi-sport races like the famous Eco Challenge. Canadian adventure races like the Mind Over Mountain series on Vancouver Island or the cross-Canada sea2summit races all feature sea kayak sec- tions, drawing out more sea kayakers for training paddles and competition. Kayak racing on the East Coast revived in the form of multi-sport, according to Vlug. Multi-sport races pave the way for


kayak-only races.Many adventure racers excel in the trail running or mountain bik- ing events but have never kayaked. Sea kayak races give novice paddlers and aspir- ing adventure racers a field for training and competing over longer distances—typically eight or ten kilometres for shorter races and over 20 kilometres for longer ones.


L


ast summer in B.C., a race series spon- sored by Necky Kayaks helped launch


sea kayak racing into the mainstream. The Necky Race Series included two weekly


evening sea kayak races from April through August that regularly drew up to a hundred Vancouver-area paddlers. The races were hosted by downtown


Vancouver’s Ecomarine Ocean Kayak Centre and the Deep Cove Canoe and Kayak Centre, which organized its first race four years ago. Ecomarine also hosts the


Mostly you'll see single and double ocean kayaks but German says there are also out- rigger canoes as well as some serious kayak racers using surf skis or one of the new longer racing kayaks. On Vancouver Island, the Ocean River


Sports Paddling Club hosts two races—the 17-kilometre Island Iron Race and the shorter Bridges Race, which takes most


We have theme races, long races, short races and multi-sport ones. They are about friends, food, fun and a little sweat.


annual, 10-kilometre B.C. Marine Trails Ocean Kayak Marathon. Deep Cove race organizer Paul German


says the weekly races are becoming more popular every year as adventure racing rais- es the profile of competitive kayaking among recreational paddlers.“In the first year we had maybe 20 people out,” he said. “This past summer the Ecomarine races were drawing about 40 racers while the more competitive Deep Cove ones regular- ly saw a hundred or more.” “The races are open to anyone and we


are seeing people of all ages and abilities,” said German.“Anything you can paddle is allowed to be used in this race.”There are no restrictions on boat length or weight.


paddlers under half an hour to complete. The races traditionally attract outrigger paddlers, but race director Rosemary Henry is seeing an increase in participation by kayakers. The trend in sea kayak racing is toward fun and fitness rather than elite competi- tion. A big part of the draw at B.C.’s week- ly Necky races is the social atmosphere, offering kayakers a chance to meet new paddling partners and enjoy a good work- out without the pressure of a serious race event. Clarke Hanna, race organizer for Ecomarine, says they are promoting their races as much for fun as for fitness. “Usually we meet at a local pub for dinner and a beer after the race.” says Hanna.


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