The Cornwall Recreational Whitewater Club

Yesterday morning (July 2nd), we (Zachary, Emily and I) packed up a few small boats along with the Super Star and Emily got dressed as if she would be paddling, water shoes aside as they were still wet from the day before and she thinks that feels gross!
We brought everything to the local day camp in the village of Williamstown and had a small presentation about what type of kayaking we do, where we paddle, the equipment and who and how we teach. We had a few pictures of Zachary and Emily playing in a small hole in Valleyfield, just to show what kids can do.
We showed them the boats they would use and the one their dads would likely use, they thought the Super Star was huge! Of course, next to the Shooting Star and the Fun 1 ½, it is huge!
I described what Emily was wearing, and somehow, got a lot of questions about the whistle. “What if you are under water and cannot use it” “What if you loose it”.
They did have a few questions about kayaking but mostly, they wanted to sit in the boats; so, I stopped talking and 30 kids lined up behind the boats and they all got a chance to sit in them. The kids were from 6 to 12 years old and many of them preferred to sit in the Super Star, much roomier! We had a few kids stay back at the end of the presentation and go back in the boats, with paddles, pretending to be on the water and asking more questions. Too bad the river right across the street from the park is shallow and very muddy at this time of year, it would be great to actually offer those kids the chance to get in the water. Well, maybe we’ll work on that for the future! One of them was very enthusiastic about kayaking and was telling me all about her own kayaking experience, and her pink and purple boat, it was great! Color is important for little girls!
They all got to go home with a CReW sticker and a “Stay Clear Stay Safe” leaflet from OPG and maybe a little curiosity about the world of kayaking.

Sylvie
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Categories : Club paddling and events, Family Paddling, Regional Events

The last 2 weeks havew been a lot of fun meeting people in Valleyfield and in the area as we gear up for the 1st ever Seaway Valley WK Hometown Throwdown.
Last weekend and this week has seen me and the family out at the whitewater park in Valleyfield letting everyone who will listen know that on June 21st (not that far away now) we are having a mom and pop (John and Jane, or any number of other cute descriptions..) amateur Rodeo.

The response has been great from paddlers of all ages and skill levels. Lots of interest from folks everywhere.
We have hear a lot of people say ” but I am not that good” and our answer has been really consistent: “Do you like to kayak? Do you like to play? If so then you are as good as it takes to have fun with us on the 21st”, “Come out and have fun and learn a bit along the way too!”
So, we are forecasting an excellent turn out.
We are also hoping to see a lot of younger kids there. A solid cadet class would make my year!
My son is definitely competing and what do ya know, my Daughter Emily has stepped it up too. She will be entering too (It is starting to come together for her now and she should give her brother a run for his money in no time)
So everyone keeps on practicing and I will make a few more rounds to local clubs and businesses to get as many paddlers out as possible.
See you on the river,

Robert

This year, just like every year past, Sylvie, Zachary, Emily and I loaded up the car and boat trailer and headed out to Palmer Fest on the Madawaska River at Palmer Rapids.
Of Course, just like every other year, we brought with us a great group of friends from the Cornwall Recreational Whitewater Club. We were joined by Cheryl MacGregor, Sean, Adam and Mary Jane Hakvoort.
Scot MacGregor and the good folks at Rapid Media and The Paddlers Co-Op put together another great event.

The clinics were great. This year we were fortunate to be able to take clinics taught by people who many of us consider standards in the kayaking game. Billy Harris, Ken Whitting, Carly Harris, Ryan Whetung, Pikey and so many more.
We worked on Flatwater skills, surf skills, hole riding and creek skills all under the watchfull eyes of our instructors.
Cheryl showed us that she has no fear. Carly and Annie pushed her to do new tricks on the water.
Zachary continues to show us all how to be in control.
Sylvie pushed herself and showed us and more importantly herself, what she can really do. I am very proud of her.
Sean took in the lessons and at the end of the weekend his surf and spin skills showed really significant improvement. Way to go Sean.
Adam learned a lot about river reading and getting down the river his way. Awesome. We will be counting on him one day when we run new and exciting rivers.
Mary-Jane: What can we say about someone who does so much for her kids (and for our Club). Thanks for bringing your boys out with us. They are great kids and we enjoy your company, sense of humor and support very much.
And then there was Emily. Emily really turned it on Sunday afternoon. After 3 kids clinics she clearly wanted more. So Sunday afternoon we brought her eith us to Hass and she joined in a womens only clinic! And guess what? She got on and surfed that afternoon!!! Who hoo! I am even more proud than before
As for me, what do I get out of it? More than I can really express: I improved my flat skills (bow stalls and started towards the helix), got rid of a few bad habits (thanks Billy), learned new hole skills (kartwheels thans to Ryan), improved my boof and got to spend time with friends.
Nothing is quite as much fun as watching Zachary get taught (and worked) by Billy and Pikey. They teach him well and ride him hard (10 second surfs is a limit we will continue to impose!:). Watching my wife improve her confidnece and skills under the watchfull eye of the pros. Wow, it makes me smile inside and out. Seeing Emily take it to the next level with so much entusiasm…
Watching from the sidelines as our club members (all students of mine) move on in their kayaking adventures and taking beyond what they learned in my classes.

So is Palmer Fest just about paddling? No it is also about community.
Evenings with fellow paddlers and instructors, newbies to pro’s and everything in between.
Every year we see folks from other areas and our kids hook up with kids they only see once a year. But whether they meet as strangers or as friends from last year, they all leave as friends and the experience is remembered and held close until next year when we do it all over again.

Looking forward to getting out on the river again soon with everyone,

We are taking the club to Qyuon for an intro to waterfalls this mong Saturday. See you there.

Robert
www.cornwallwhitewater.com
www.asag.ca
www.worldkayak.com/seaywayvalley

The 2008 Level Six Rodeo and river festival held at Bates Island (Champlain Bridge) in Ottawa was a huge success. The weather, water level helped Level 6 and their volunteers put on a fun paddling weekend for the paddlers and spectators.
Lots of people came out to watch and the photographers were all over the place too!
Friends hooking up together to do what they love.

Saturday morning started with the amateur paddlers. CReW members came out and put in a good showing.
Zachary Zwanenburg: 1st place Junior Mens. (stepping it up with a roundhouse and a donkey flip)
Tilly Martin: 2nd place Junior Womens.
Cheryl McGregor: 4th place Womens.
Robert Zwanenburg: 2nd place Masters.

CReW members then got in the volunteer mode and worked the barbecue grill keeping the paddlers and visitors fed with hot dogs, hamburgers and drinks.

The pro categories were really exciting. Everyone was in awe watching them throw helixes, airscrews, donkeyflips, loops, airblunts, backstabs and more!

The CReW members and their families came back to the Zwanenburg home in Ottawa to enjoy a nice meal together and get ton know each other a bit more off the water.
Even the younger members enjoyed spending time with those of us who compete in “masters” categories
The awards in the evening were fun too. Great prizes, good company and a few good drinks as well.

Sunday saw us all back at Champlain enjoying the wave and the clinics offered by volunteers and pros.
Billy Harris did a great job getting our members boats tweaked for their personal fit.
Billy’s adjustments were the key to Cheryl’s success and now she is surfing and spinning!
Mat Hamilton took a bunch of paddlers out on the water to get them surfing or improve their technique.
MEC held a boat clinic and we learned a bit about health issues including protecting your ears, nose and eyes, as well as prevention against tendinitis.

Billy also gave an old guy (me) some a good pointer for my donkey flip and what do you know, it worked! who hooo!

A big thanks to Mat Hamilton who spent time with Emily (my 10 year old daughter) to get her surfing, and a few tips to get Zachary blunting and Sylvie surfing. Time well spent and it worked out for all of them!!!
A final strong tip from Billy gave Emily the extra little tip to get her on the wave (my heart was thumping but off she went!).
Lot’s of smiles and cheering from everyone!

What I enjoyed most about the event: A feeling of family and community!
Amateurs, weekend warriors, pro’s, and families sharing their sport, their knowledge and enthusiasm and looking out for each other.

There are not a lot of places where I would totally entrust the well being of my family to others.
Billy, Carly, Matt and many others have earned that status. thanks.

Thanks Tyler and the gang at Level 6 for making this possible and supporting our program as well!
For sure CReW will be there again with more paddlers, volunteers and competitors next year!

see you on the river soon,

Robert Zwanenburg
www.conrwallwhitewater.com

Despite the Montreal Canadian first game of the NHL Playoffs, Jack’s Pub in Williamstown had a good turnout for the showing of the Green River Race and Night Of The Living Donkey.

On Thursday, April 10th, I got my family together, picked up a selection of Jackson kayaks and headed out to Jack’s Pub (a whole half mile from the house…) with our evening movie selection : The Green River Race and Night Of The Living Donkey.

After setting up and a few stressful moments wondering if the NHL series was going to kill us, our guests started rolling in. By 7:30 we had enough folks in the door (CReW Club members, a few came from the Valleyfield Area, and a few curious locals).

Drinks were ordered, a few meals as well and the Green River Race began.

The movie is excellent. The images are beautiful and the paddling is intense. The paddlers in the group appreciated the technical difficulty and the non paddlers were just in awe!

After a brief intermission and some minor tech glitches the second movie was run. Night Of The Living Donkey has an appeal to the young people in the crowd! We lost the older viewers and non-paddlers but the rest of them enjoyed the selection of play moves and big drops that were shown as well as the fun between paddlers. Heck, even Hee Haw Jones made his impact!

Everyone had a good time and the only question left is when do we do it again. The answer? Sit tight there is more to come.

See you all out on the river and at the next World Kayak Movie Premier in the Seaway Valley Region.