Thursday, April 12, 2007

Canoe and Kayak Racing!




Looking for a different training activity? Need to work on that upper body strength, but not ready to rollerski? Want to just go out and hammer on the water on a hot summer night instead of sweat to death running? How about giving canoe and kayak racing a try!

Every Wednesday evening starting in April and running until ski season, Charles River Canoe and Kayak (CRCK) and the Charles River Paddlers hold informal races starting at CRCK in Newton. Races generally start at 6:30 and a typical Wednesday will have recreational class and racing class canoes, olympic class, open and recreational class kayaks, both singles and doubles. Several local skiiers, including myself, Wes Denering, Mark Jacobson, Tom Clemow, Dan Rabinkin, Aims Coney and Terry Myers race along with a great group of other paddlers, some of whom ski when the river is frozen. The course is approximately 4.9 miles (38 - 60 min. depending on your boat and fitness) and the start is run exactly like our Tuesday night races....start the clock and go at 1 minute, with paddlers self-seeded and self-timed.

If you'd like to try one out come on down! The group is glad to get new people involved. Rent a boat at CRCK if you don't own one. People are great about helping newbies and oftentimes you can catch a ride in someone's canoe if you'd just like to try it out, with some advance warning. I started by canoeing with Wes in his racing canoe a few years ago and am now working up to racing an ICF olympic class kayak......if I can stay upright! They are tippy buggers.......

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