“There are draw prizes to give out and peo- ple have a great time.” Paul German of Deep Cove agrees:“Kayak
racing out here is for young, old, pro, begin- ner alike.We have theme races, long races, short races and multi-sport
ones.They are about friends, food, fun and a little sweat also.”
below: Weekly races draw paddlers of all skill levels who are looking to be social and enjoy summer evenings. The focus is on fun with technique devel- opment and training mixed in.
opposite: Many adventure races now include large paddle sections. Here Chris Christie leads the pack in an epic 20-kilometre beginning to a two-day race.
Most paddlers finish the weekly five- or six-kilometre races in under an hour and many use them as training for longer, 30- to 40-kilometre
races.The 'Round Bowen Island race in June and the BC Championships around Gabriola Island in September both circumnavigate Islands in the Strait of Georgia between Vancouver and Vancouver Island. These races take between two and five hours to complete. Weather conditions are a significant fac- tor in longer races, requiring paddlers to have better preparation and more advanced skills. Bob Vlug, who plans to organize long- distance races on the Bay of Fundy and the St. John River next summer, advises paddlers to wear wetsuits, paddling jackets and fleece.
Accidental mid-race swims are not unusu- al when strong summer winds pick up. But
Hanna of Ecomarine says most paddlers take it in stride.“We've had people dump but with a practiced self-rescue, they can get themselves back in the boat and finish with no problem.” Races feature rescue motor- boats and sweepers to ensure that no one is left
behind.And paddlers are always willing to help a fellow kayaker in distress—it's even a rule in international kayak competi- tion. Kayak races offer safety in numbers and the bonus of a faster learning curve from training and racing with more experi- enced paddlers. The ultimate training goal is the Sea
Kayak World Cup. Held amidst over 180 islands in the province of Manus, Papua New Guinea, the rigorous 10-day event has been held each October since 1998. Last year’s race included 15 teams of four from countries including Costa Rica,Australia and Canada.
N
ow that sea kayak racing is taking off, the expanded pool of competitors is
bringing the sport full-circle, creating a new generation of elite paddlers interested in spe- cialized racing kayaks and paddles. Dave Norona of Vancouver,who spends much of his time competing in adventure
30 Spring 2003
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