 |
 |
|
|
|
March, 2007
MaCKRO Whitewater Committee News
Compiled by Clayton Cole
March 2007
As you read this the spring canoe and kayak racing season should be in full rip. Hopefully it is with plentiful water in the streams and rivers (not too much ice please) and mild temperatures.
Getting ready to race takes many forms. Some paddlers vacation in Florida for several days or weeks to paddle and even race.
Locally one must find open water. While most Maine lakes, ponds, rivers will remain ice bound into early April there are some options starting in early to mid March. The tidal portions of many Maine rivers open early: try the Union River at the Ellsworth boat launch; the Souadabscook at Vafiades landing on the Bog Rd., Pushaw Stream downstream of Hirundo Refuge on Rt 43 in Hudson, portions of the St George and Sebasticook Rivers can open early. Wherever you may choose to paddle this time of year be extra careful; paddle with a partner, wear a PFD and appropriate clothing, watch out for ice.
Off the water training options include skiing, paddle machines, weight training, swimming and running. I try to get a little swimming and self-rescue training in and always seem to put it to use at some point.
Want to get a leg up on your competition? Running will pay big dividends on the portages at Marsh, Souadabscook and Kenduskeag Stream races. Practice getting out of and into your boat quickly and smoothly. Spend some time scouting the portage route; know exactly where and how you will exit and enter the river. You want your boat to be dry (dump the water out!) when starting a portage; extra paddles, bailers and other gear should be secured before reaching the take out. I find portaging easier and faster with the boat up on my shoulder. Tandem partners can carry the boat right side up with the bow or stern on the shoulder/PFD or upside down (don’t try this if you carry a lot of loose gear in your boat) with the bow and stern decks on the shoulders or with the gunwales on the shoulders. The upside down gunwale carry is a great way to rest your arms on a portage but the bow carrier can not see much so the stern carrier must provide guidance! C1s and kayaks can be carried right side up or slightly on edge on the shoulder. Running or jogging a portage will save 30 seconds to several minutes over walking the same route.
Other preseason preparations should include boat and equipment repair. Why wait until the morning of the first race? Check your boat for necessary repairs: hull damage, loose outfitting, etc. Six foot (no knots) bow and stern lines or six inch grab loops are required on all boats at all races. Adequate flotation is recommended - put an air bag in your boat, they don’t weigh that much and can save a ruined day or boat. Remember to check those bags for leaks too.
Race rules limit bow flotation to three feet. Up to ten additional feet of flotation is allowed behind the bow seat. Bow and stern decks may not exceed 3 feet. Splash strips on the sides may not exceed 1.5" thickness, 1" max on decks. All paddlers must wear coast guard approved pfds at all times during a race. Kayakers must wear helmets at all races. The following class III races require all paddlers wear helmets for safety and insurance requirements: Marsh, Souadabscook, Machias River (Whitney’s Tool Shed), and Lower Dead River.
Our friend Kenny Cushman has accepted a promotion and is moving to Florida! Kenny has been a dominant kayaker (and canoeist) in Maine for over a decade - we will miss you Ken and hope to see you once in a while - lots of people move from Maine but few can stay away. Will his absence shake up the K1 long class? There are several capable kayakers - Fred Ludwig and Jeff Sands to name two - who else might be lurking out there?
Student paddlers have some new opportunities: College students can enter the new OC2 College class at all spring and summer WW races including the Kenduskeag. This class is for two registered college students of any age or gender in a recreational (plastic) canoe. We hope to see more college students enjoying paddling opportunities in safe, organized events with other similar paddlers in comparable canoes.
Younger students are not left out of the fun either: The Souadabscook and Marsh Stream Races offer free registration to paddlers under 16 years! A High School class is offered at the Souadabscook, Marsh, Kenduskeag, and Meduxnekeag races. The New England Slalom Series of nine WW Slalom events in New England offers free racing to children under 10. The Series includes the Kenduskeag Slalom on May 6, the only slalom race in Maine with kayak, decked and open canoe classes. See all of the races and classes at: http://users.bestweb.net/~keech/a-ness.htm
Are you wondering about the 2007 Dead River release schedule? See it at: www.paddleandchowder.org/release.php
Penobscot Paddle and Chowder Society’s Taylor Pellotte Surfathon raised over $18,000 in donations and pledges for the Make-a-Wish Foundation in 2006. The Foundation honored PPCS with a Community Spirit Award to recognize their impressive effort. The race organizers for the Souadabscook (Gary Brooks), Marsh Stream (Dr. Bill Deighan) and Kenduskeag Slalom (Clayton Cole) races donated $1,475 in race proceeds to the Surfathon. We are very proud to be a part of this worthwhile effort in the past and will continue our support for Make-A-Wish in 2007.
The Bangor YMCA will host the 7th Annual Paddle Smart Safety Symposium event on Friday, April 13 from 5-9:30pm. Details at: www.castinekayak.com/paddlesmart.htm. MaCKRO member Jeff Owen has volunteered to bring one or more racing canoes to the symposium for participants to test drive in the pool at the Bangor Y.
The 2007 Race Schedule and all the details is now online at www.mackro.org
Email nick [at] noumbrella [dot] com with your questions, comments and concerns.
Design and Content © 2002 to 2006 No Umbrella