Hey Folks,
2012 SWKC Canada Day Family Whitewater Camp
The Saskatoon Whitewater Kayak Club would like to invite you, your family, and friends to participate in our 4th annual Canada Day Family Whitewater Weekend. Over the past four years this tremendous event has grown into what is now the only truly family centered and instructed whitewater camp in the west.
Based at the Curson Homestead west of Innisfail, Alberta, participants will have the opportunity to paddle on some of central Alberta’s finest whitewater rivers. Beginner, intermediate, and advanced paddling groups allow participants to choose the level at which they are comfortable and top certified instructors work with you to reach your paddling goals.
Location
Curson Homestead – 25kms west of Innisfail, AB
Dates
Friday, June 29 through Monday, July 2
Instructor to Student Ratio
SWKC strives to maintain a 5:1 ratio so participants have the best possible learning experience
Cost
Individual – $125.00
Family – $125 for the first person; $100 for each additional person
Please RSVP by June 15, 2012 to Jen Kryworuchko at saskwhitewater@gmail.com
Age
All ages welcome
Ability Categories
Beginner:
Has completed an introductory kayak course; No or limited whitewater experience OR uncomfortable on whitewater; No or limited rolling ability
Intermediate:
Some experience on whitewater; Can roll 60% of the time; Willing to push yourself to the next step
Advanced:
Competent on Class II/III Whitewater; Solid roll; Willing to push yourself to excel
What you need
All participants are responsible for their own equipment – see equipment list
Food/Meals
Participants must provide their own food
Group Meals:
Day 2 – Group BBQ at Glennifer Lake South boat launch recreation area
Day 3 – Peter’s Drive-In, Calgary
Accommodation
SWKC Club members will be staying at the Curson Homestead if they choose. There is limited room for additional tenting.
Local Camping includes:
Schedule
Beginner
Day 1
10:00 Little Red Deer River – Site 17 to Green Cottonwood Bridge
14:00 Little Red Deer River – Kelly’s Campground to Little Red Deer Road Bridge
Day 2
10:00 Red Deer River – Dickson Dam to Thompson Ranch
14:00 Red Deer River – Dickson Dam to Thompson Ranch
Day 3
10:00 Kananaskis River – Canoe Meadows to Rafter’s Six
14:00 Kananaskis River – Canoe Meadows to Rafter’s Six
Day 4
10:00 Red Deer River – Mad Mile – Double Ledge to Cartier Creek
14:00 Red Deer River – Mad Mile – Double Ledge to Coal Camp Ledge
Intermediate
Day 1
10:00 Little Red Deer River – Site 17 to Green Cottonwood Bridge
14:00 Red Deer River – Dickson Dam to Thompson Ranch
Day 2
10:00 North Saskatchewan River – Green Bridge to Briarlies
14:00 North Saskatchewan River – Green Bridge to Briarlies
Day 3
10:00 Kananaskis River – Canoe Meadows to Rafter’s Six
14:00 Kananaskis River – Widowmaker to Canoe Meadows
Day 4
10:00 Red Deer River – Mad Mile – Double Ledge to Coal Camp Ledge
14:00 Red Deer River – TBD
Advanced
Day 1
10:00 Red Deer River – Mad Mile – Double Ledge to Coal Camp Ledge
14:00 Red Deer River – S-Bend
Day 2
10:00 North Saskatchewan River – Green Bridge to Briarlies
14:00 North Saskatchewan River – Briarlies
Day 3
10:00 Kananaskis River – Widowmaker to Canoe Meadows
14:00 Kananaksis River – Widowmaker to Canoe Meadows
Day 4
10:00 Red Deer River – TBD
14:00 Red Deer River – TBD
Equipment List
Whitewater kayak appropriate to your learning level – if you require help choosing a kayak please ask
Paddle
Sprayskirt
PFD
Helmet
Wetsuit OR warm layered paddling clothing (neoprene shorts/pants + rash guard)
Rash guard
Paddling shoes
Paddling jacket and/or Drytop
Throwbag (advanced group)
Saskatoon Whitewater Kayak Club will be offering a new set of introductory kayak lessons for families and individual participants!!!! Whether you want to take on the world of whitewater or just want to learn to be safe in a kayak at your cabin, this will be a fun opportunity to get into kayaking in a warm safe environment.
Course runs Tuesday evenings from 7:30-8:45pm at the Saskatoon YMCA
Cost for the course is $60
To register please contact Jen or Barry at saskwhitewater@gmail.com then visit the Programs section of our website to print out a copy of our registration form.
Introduction to Kayaking – Spring has sprung in Saskatoon and it’s time to get ready for the summer lakes and rivers!!! Starting in April, SWKC will be hosting a new Introductory Kayak Course Tuesday nights from 7:30-8:45. This course is a great opportunity for your family members to learn the basics of kayaking and prepare you to take that step into whitewater or give you the skills to be safe on the lake.
Course details and registration to come!!!! Stay tuned!!!!
SWKC Canada Day Whitewater Camp - Canada Day weekend will once again play host to the SWKC Whitewater Camp. This year we will have instruction available for beginner, intermediate, and advanced paddlers!!!
Course details to come!!! Stay tuned!!!
The Saskatoon Whitewater Kayak Club recently had the opportunity to travel to San Marcos,Texas with athletes from Alberta and the USA to take part in a warm-weather training camp. With National Junior Team Selections looming on the horizon and dreams of attending Junior World Championships this was a perfect opportunity to spend some much needed time on whitewater. In all, 12 athletes and 2 coaches made the 3400 km trek to take advantage of the Texas heat and warm water including SWKC athletes Kylie Zirk and Maksym Kryworuchko, and coach Brendan Curson.
Though the drive there and back was long, the river and weather in San Marcos was worth the trip. The San Marcos River is spring fed and therefore is a beautiful 74 degrees year round. Due to the warm temperature, the river is host to hundreds of protected plants and is the perfect sanctuary for turtles and fish of all kinds. The whitewater site is a man-made facility built off an existing weir in the middle of town. Not only is it the perfect spot to practice kayaking, on hot days it is also a local hangout and filled with people swimming in and above the rapids.
Over the 8 days spent paddling in San Marcos, the kids worked on learning and refining new whitewater and slalom racing skills. Most of this time was spent at the whitewater park focusing on technical skills though various dryland workouts were added throughout to week to help build a larger repertoire of exercises they can continue at home. Coaches Brendan Curson (SK) and Mike Holroyd (AB) also organized two race simulations for the kids with local paddlers to give the athletes an opportunity to measure themselves against eachother and other paddlers their age.
When not paddling, the team spent time lounging in the sun and shopping at a local outlet mall. Much time was also spent chasing turtles and taking video and pictures. Each day, a pair of athletes were also responsible for shopping, cooking all the meals, and keeping the house clean. Being a highly competitive group, the daily routine was also made into a competition where meals and cleanliness were judged every night and awarded accordingly. This competition provided some great entertainment and fabulous meals.
One of the highlights of the trip was spending an afternoon paddling downstream from the course to where the river feeds an irrigation canal and drops over a waterfall!! The team stretched the trip over a full afternoon stopping to play at a small ledge, chasing turtles, and finally spending hours doing laps of the waterfall. athletes and coaches alike had a blast running the falls forwards, backwards, and even without paddles!!
The trip proved to be a tremendous success. Every athlete came home knowing they had gained new skills and feeling much more confident about themselves leading into the final training stretch before National Junior Team Selections.
If you are interested in learning to kayak or joining our great competitive program please visit the SWKC website www.saskwhitewater.wordpress.com and check out our upcoming programs and events.
Registration Forms – Community Kayak Instructor Program Course Information
The Whitewater Division of Canoe Kayak Saskatchewan has 3 Community Kayak Instructor Courses planned for March. The deadline for registration is March 12th, 2012.
This is an exciting new course that is ideal for teachers, lifeguards, high school and university students, youth coordinators, cultural leaders, and any one else interested in instructing people interested in learning basic kayak through a fun and safe progression of skills. The program can be taught in a school or at a lakefront. The attached information give you an overview of the course content, as well as information about dates, fees and how to register.
Please feel free to pass along this information to anyone who you feel would be interested.
If you have any questions about the course please feel to contact me or Brendan Curson who is the learning facilitator for the course. Brendan’s contact information can be found in the attached information. If you would like to know about any of the other coaching courses our organization offers please contact me.
Thanks,
Jan
Jan Hanson
