November – and of course we still paddle

Katja, Dan & Jodi after a 12km technical workout

Launch of the dragon boats

Our dragon boats have returned to the lake for the month of May. BCKC is again hosting a School Dragon Boat Program this year after a one year break while the lake was dredged. We have over 450 kids registered from 10 different schools.

Thanks to our volunteers Dave, Jim, Dan, Jeff, Kurt, Seb, Nic, Krista, Cindy, Hugh, Diana, Ali and Katja and a whole bunch of rowing parents to help launching the heavy boats today!!!

Eggatta – Apr 16, 2011

First flatwater regatta of the season – the Eggatta in Pitt Meadows. This event was a marathon event with multiple option to choose from: 24km with 6 portages, 16km or 12km without portages. BCKC had a strong showing at the start line:

24km: Jeff, Jim, Nic & Katja in K1, John in surfski, Steve & Dari in K2

16km: Trevor, Seb & Kurt in K1

Officiating: Vicky & Dave

It was a long race – even though the race course wasn’t too bad for current it was quite shallow in sections which made for a relatively slow race overall. The weather was really cold (below 10C) and we had sun, rain and hail while racing. Although I feel worse for the officials. The portages got muddier and muddier as time went on and the water level dropped. Not all of us finished but all tried their best - in the end the 24km race turned out to be 26km. For results and some CKBC pictures go here:  http://canoekayakbc.sportical.com/events/594

Here are pictures Dave took at the up-stream turn:

Spring is here

The dredging of Burnaby Lake is almost done – a couple more weeks for HAZCO to remove the equipment from the lake and we will have the BEST lake in BC, if not Canada, to train on. Our year round programs for the youth and adults are in full swing enjoying the longer days and mostly sunny weekends.

Adult practise on March 27th

Winter Training

While most parts in Canada are covered in ice and snow BC enjoys as usual a wet and warm winter. Mind you we had a few cold days – mainly over the Christmas break – which interrupted paddling for a short while. Sunday was a beautiful paddle day though and coaches Steve and Imre were out for the few harden souls that came out to Deer Lake – Scott, Jeff & Katja.

Warm up

Jeff paddling around the lake

 

Katja practicing edging

 

Scott listening to the coaches on shore

Burnaby Lake access is currently restricted as they finishing up the dredging project. It started in  Sept 2009 and will be finished this spring. No more lily pads choking the lake in the middle of summer and a 2m deep lake all year long. I can’t wait for spring.

But we did have some cold weather were the lakes were frozen. But that doesn’t stop our members from doing stuff outdoors.

John & Ben paddling surfski in Deep Cove

 

Snow shoeing out of Cypress Bowl

 

Cross Country Skiing in Whistler - Mike & John

 

Paddling the Fraser River - Jeff & Katja

Fall is upon us

Now that the season is over, it’s time to do some damage control. Many of our boats got a bit beat up during the season and we organized a Boathouse clean-up and repair day on Oct 24th. Thanks to Jim & Brian for all their fibreglass work; Scott, Trista, Dan, Kit & Katja for repairing and painting war canoe paddles; Dave and Steve to clean up EVERYTHING; Vicki and Trevor A for painting the paddle rack. Also thanks to Hugh, Kurt, Nic and Seb who already had different commitments that day but still made an effort to show up event though most of the work was done.

Pacific Cup – Oct 2/3, 2010

The sprint season ended as it started – with a regatta in Maple Ridge – “Pacific Cup”. This event is only for the young (Midget or below) and young at heart (Masters). Clubs from all over the lower mainland as well as Washington, USA and Calgary came out. The weather could not have been better. It was a mix of sun a clouds but quite warm for Oct 2/3. A whole bunch of us went to compete: Diana, Marlene, Katja, Trista, Jodi, Steve, Dari, Hugh, Dan, Ali, Scott, Brian, Trevor, Paul and Eric. Grant (Fort Langley) joint us once more for team boats. We put in many crews for mens, womens and mixed boats. A great two days of racing. Pictures can be found here: http://picasaweb.google.com/krade1709/PacificCupOct02032010 and here: http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/sredir?uname=sara.hezarkhani&target=ALBUM&id=5526902806340511921&authkey=Gv1sRgCJvq-a213oXNIQ&feat=email