May Club Meeting: Monday, May 18Th, 7 P.M. at the JCC Whitewater
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Newsletter of the Rhode Island Canoe/Kayak Association V ol. XXXII, No. 5 May, 2009 May Club Meeting: Basic Flatwater Monday, May 18th, 7 p.m. at the JCC Paddling Course Kristin Van Wagner: Narragansett Bay Research Would you like to improve your flatwater paddling skills? The RICKA Flatwater Kristin Van Wagner, Education Directions to the Jewish Group will be holding a Basic Flatwater Coordinator for the Narragansett Bay Community Center, Paddling Course on Sunday, June 14th at Research Reserve based on Prudence 1:00 pm. During this 3-hour class, Island, will speak to RICKA about 401 Elmgrove Ave., Providence: paddlers will learn the basic strokes and some of the cutting-edge ecological maneuvers necessary to control their From Rt. 95 Southbound: take Exit 24 & research that her organization is boats on flatwater. Basic rescue tech- turn left onto Branch Avenue. (From Rt. 95 conducting in the Bay. The Reserve is Northbound take Exit 24 & turn right onto niques will also be covered. The class will part of a national program, funded Branch Ave.) Cross North Main Street at take place at Stump Pond in Smithfield through NOAA and the coastal states, the lights and continue up the hill (past and will be free for RICKA members. that is promoting research, education, Kentucky Fried Chicken). Cross Hope St. Please contact Bill Luther and stewardship in our nation’s and continue one block to the end at Morris [email protected], Erik Eckilson estuaries. Kristin will also focus on Ave. Go left, then immediately right onto [email protected] or Cheryl Thompson important things we can all do at Sessions St., then down the hill to Elmgrove Cameron [email protected] for home to protect the watersheds in Ave. The JCC will be across the street. Park additional information. which we live. in the lot or on the street. handle self rescues (wet exits) and Whitewater School already know the basic strokes. Previous Museum offers kayak moving water experience is a plus. Class building course The RICKA Whitewater Group will hold a size is limited. Class II Whitewater Kayak School on Participants must provide their own Essex, MA - The Essex Historical Society June 20 and 21, 2009, taught by ACA equipment including a whitewater kayak, and Shipbuilding Museum is offering a certified whitewater instructor Mike Rock. sprayskirt and helmet. Recreational kayak building course May 2-9, 8 a.m. to 4 It will be free for qualified RICKA mem- kayaks are not allowed in this class. Go p.m., at the Waterline Center, 66 Main St., bers. to www.woonsocket.org/school.html to Essex. Class size is limited to six students. In this course, participants will learn and register. For more information, contact Instructor is Rick Eliot. Students will build refine the techniques needed to paddle in Erik Eckilson ([email protected]) with their own kayaks, custom-designed to meet class II whitewater. After a review of the any questions. their particular interests. The finished kayak basic strokes on flatwater, we will head to is a work of art, ultra light (30 pounds or the river to work on eddy turns, peel-outs less), durable, and beautiful. and ferries. We will also cover river New England River All tools and materials are provided; no reading and basic river safety. Release Schedules prior carpentry skills required. Tuition is To participate in this course you must be $1,200, or $1,100 for students, school can be found on the RICKA Whitewater a current RICKA member. While this is a teachers and husband-wife twin boats. For page. To view them, go to www.ricka.org beginner whitewater course, it is not for information, visit and click on Whitewater. novice paddlers. You must be able to www.essexshipbuildingmuseum.org . Serious paddlers hit the river At the finish line, Holyoke residents Peter B. Bevan and Andrew T. Shanahan pulled their canoe from the water and described getting Monday, April 20, 2009 caught up on a rock, and experiencing some other misadventures. By JIM DANKO, The (Northampton) Republican “We just clipped the boulder, and we went under,” Shanahan said. HUNTINGTON - A day after the more festive race brought out Bevan and Shanahan said it was their first time taking part in the hundreds of casual canoeists and kayakers, the serious paddlers pro-class race. They did not immediately know how well they did. got down to business on the Westfield River. “Unless someone died, we came in last,” Shanahan said, laughing. On Sunday, 53 boats - mostly teams of two - competed in the 56th Meanwhile, earlier in the day at the starting line, Mark A. Zippin, of annual Westfield River Wildwater Races under sunny skies and Monson, was preparing to put his canoe into the water with his seasonable temperatures, said Jeffrey M. DeFeo, of Chester, race race partner, Robert E. Richardson, of Ellington, Conn. chairman. “This is our second year doing it,” Zippin said. “We’re in a cheap, DeFeo said Saturday’s shorter race included 256 boats, beating last $200 canoe. This is a canoe made for ponds.” year’s record 252. The hilltown event is the oldest whitewater race Zippin said some of the racers use $1,000-plus canoes. He admitted in America. he was not expecting to win the race. “We had a great forecast all week and that helps,” DeFeo said just “We’re looking forward to it,” he said. “We don’t come here to win. before getting in his boat at the starting line. “Yesterday’s race is We come here to have fun.” more of a festival atmosphere. Today is more professional ... It’s much more difficult. We don’t encourage people to do this.” It’s not just the participants who enjoyed the river action. People could be seen all along the bucolic route, watching and cheering The 12-mile race, which starts at Knightville Dam and ends at Wornoco Dam in Russell, offered plenty of challenges even for the the boaters. more experienced participants, who had to maneuver several class “It’s a nice day, and it’s fun to see them,” said Charles S. Emerson, three rapids and a couple of class fours. The race has a time-trial of Southampton. start, in which racers start in one-minute intervals. Coming out on top were repeat winners Joe Shaw of Worthington and John Kazimierczyk of Richmond, N.H., who finished with a time The Rhode Island Canoe/Kayak Association (Rhode Island of 1:19:06. Charlie Brackett, of Fitzwilliam, N.H., and Brent Lyesiuk, Canoe Association, Inc.), although safety conscious, can- Orange, came in second place, with a time of 1:20:19. not guarantee your personal safety in club activities. You The first place, mixed team winners were Doug Howard, of are responsible for the adequacy of your own skills, train- Townsend, Vt., and Lisa Tambussi, of Montgomery. ing and equipment when engaging in or attending RICKA activities. A PFD—worn as intended by the manufacturer— Several cash prizes were awarded, ranging from $500 for first place down to $50 for lesser wins. is a requirement for all RICKA trips. EXECUTIVE BOARD TO ADVERTISE IN THE PADDLER Next meeting: Wednesday, May 27 @ 7pm Send an mail to: [email protected] for rates, sizes and details. PRESIDENT: Bill [email protected] The PADDLER is published monthly except December by the Rhode Island Canoe Association, Inc. It is mailed VICE PRES: Terry [email protected] from Providence on the Thursday 2 1/2 weeks preceeding SECRETARY: Barbara [email protected] the third Monday. It is not available by subscription, but TREASURER: Charlie Larocque, CPA....401-822-5425.. [email protected] FLATWATER: Cheryl Thompson Cameron..401-647-5887.. [email protected] is included in the cost of membership in the Association. WHITEWATER: Erik Eckilson.. [email protected] EDITOR: SEAKAYAK: Carleen McOsker... [email protected] Caryl Salisbury COMPETITION: Position open 401-245-1890; email: [email protected] SAFETY & ED: Cat [email protected] 419 Maple Avenue, Barrington, RI 02806 CONSERVATION: Position open PUBLICITY: Jim Cole..................401-377-1033.... [email protected] MEMBERSHIP: WEBMASTER: Alan August.......401-725-3344... [email protected] Jim Cole LIBRARIAN: Position open 401-377-1033; email: [email protected] MEMBERS-AT-LARGE: PO Box 163 Mike [email protected] Wood River Junction, RI 02894 Bill [email protected] Mark [email protected] Benn Thompson.....401-647-5887.. [email protected] PRINTED ON RECYCLED PAPER 2 Directions to River Bend Farm: From Leader: Mark Roberts, FLATWATER Rt. 146 North or South: Take the exit for [email protected] 401-533-1883 cell. Rt. 16 East. Follow Rt. 16 East for about Trip is suitable for all. The water will be Late cancellations & changes to three miles into downtown Uxbridge. At still cold, so suitable cold water paddling trips will be posted on the Flatwater light turn right and immediate left, to gear is suggested. Bring a lunch. Message Board. Please check before continue on Rt. 16 East. After light, Winnapaug Pond is a great place for a gentle paddle. The pond is best for leaving for a trip. continue to second left. Turn left onto Oak Street. Proceed north on Oak Street paddling in the spring and the fall when If you would like to sign up for the e-mail for about 1.5 miles, staying right at fork Jet Skis are less common. The pond is list, send an e-mail to by school.