Submitted by Kylie-Anne Grube
On Tuesday, July 4th, youth from across the city arrived at the North Bay Canoe Club eager to get onto the water. The club enjoyed a week of beautiful weather as new paddlers began to learn the basics of canoeing, kayaking, and water safety, while the more experienced athletes begun their training for the summer’s upcoming regattas.
Numerous paddlers from North Bay and surrounding areas have trained and participated in both recreational and competitive canoeing and kayaking programs that are offered by the North Bay Canoe Club. The club promotes team building, healthy living, and respect for the environment in a friendly recreational atmosphere that enhances the quality of life in the community. It is estimated that in excess of 5,000 local youth paddlers in the city have been introduced to paddling and have trained and participated in various canoeing and kayaking events.
Paddle Campers participated in a week-long day camp that runs throughout the summer, learning the basics of canoe/kayak technique and water safety – and having a lot of fun along the way! Highlights of the week include canoe-over-canoe rescue, excursions to Blueberry Rock, and a visit to the Green Store for ice-cream. Campers finished their week with a fun regatta on Friday afternoon, showing off their new skills in a series of races and obstacle courses.
This week, the Club’s new sprint athletes, participating in the summer long program, were introduced to sprint canoes and kayaks by U13 coaches Jacob Hotten and Justin Smith. “We couldn’t of asked for a better start to the season. The weather was perfect and we’ve had a blast teaching our new paddlers about the sport. We are looking forward to seeing the kids develop their skills and confidence over the summer,” said Hotten.
Athletes with more experience are focused on building their endurance and strength in preparation for upcoming races. North Bay is proud to have been well represented at the Provincial Championships, Olympics, World Championships, National Championships, and Pan American Games over the years by members of the North Bay Canoe Club. Current sprint kayakers, Max Kerrigan and Daniel McColm, are the oldest members of the Sprint Program training as high-performance athletes, holding 8 and 4 years of experience respectively. They just recently finished competing at Ontario Sprint Trials and under the guidance of their coach, Davis Evans, former member of the Senior National Development Team, the two paddlers will be training in preparation for National Championships in August.
However, it wasn’t just the youth that had the opportunity to enjoy the beautiful waters of Trout Lake this week. The Adult Paddling Program also kicked off and will run Tuesday and Thursday evenings throughout the summer. Participants will have the opportunity to try a variety of canoes, kayaks, and SUPS under the instruction of certified coaches. To start the season, paddlers enjoyed a scenic paddle in the Dragon Boat, getting oriented to the lake’s features and geography.
As the first week of training draws to a close, competitive athletes at the North Bay Canoe Club are looking forward to their first regatta of the season. Paddlers from across the province will attend the North Bay Canoe Club’s annual regatta on Saturday, July 15th. The club invites community members to stop by and support our local athletes.
The North Bay Canoe Club encourages you to visit their website, or call 705-476-2030 for more information about their summer programs and corporate opportunities.
