CANOE NEWS Racing Tips by Peter Heed Builder Profile: Daryl Remmler / Think Kayaks Paddler Profile: Roxanne Barton Winter 2016 VOL. 49 NO. 4 INSURANCE AVAILABLE For USCA Club Affiliates, Business Affiliates, and Race Sponsors Having a race or cruise? Need Liability and Participant Accident Insurance? Get it from the USCA! A non-profit organization dedicated to serving its members Excellent Coverage & Rates Available For clinics, clubs, river clean-ups, cruises, races, and more Year round club liability coverage Join USCA and have access to the USCA Insurance Program Go to the USCA Website www.uscanoe.com click on USCA Member Benefit - Event Sanctioning & Liability Insurance Contact: Joan Theiss, USCA Insurance Coordinator [email protected] 352-588-9877 2 From the Editor: Welcome to the Winter Edition of Canoe News! Many of us are now looking out on frozen lakes and rivers, doing alternative workouts and think- ing about our return to the water come Spring. Executive Committee Hopefully this edition of Canoe News will give President: Peter Heed you a bit of a lift during your down times, while 581 West Street, Keene, NH 03431 perhaps even helping you plan your strategies 603-209-2299 [email protected] for the next race season. Be sure to read Peter Heed’s racing tips, along with some interesting Vice President: Larry Latta interviews with Roxanne Barton and Think 1188 Broken Bow Ct, Westerville, OH 43081-3262 614-882-1519 [email protected] Kayak’s Daryl Remmler. This year the Alumi- num Nations are coming March 4th and 5th, so Secretary: Joan Theiss no slackin’! 12802 Lake Jovita Blvd, Dade City, FL 33525-8265 352-588-9877 [email protected] Keep paddling strong! Treasurer: John Edwards Steve 1929 Arrowhead Dr. NE, St. Petersburg, FL 33703- 1903 727-459-6366 [email protected] Cover Photo: Top Surf Ski Racer Sean Rice paddling the Think Uno Max (photo courtesy of Daryl Remmler). ————————————————————————— Disclaimer: Opinions and/or advice expressed in this magazine Canoe News by individuals, whether or not they are officers of or delegates Editor: Steven Horney / Asst. Ed: Julie Horney to, the United States Canoe Association, are personal and do 15806 Timberwillow Dr, Huntertown, IN 46748 not necessarily reflect the official position of the United States Canoe Association. Publication by the United States Canoe 260-452-6447 [email protected] Association, whether in print, online, or in any other form, does Advertising: Scott Stenberg not imply endorsement. 3232 Jugg St , Moravia, NY 13118 315-406-4692 [email protected] Canoe News is the official publication of the United States Canoe Association Printing and Distribution: Steve Rosenau 105 Waterford Dr., Mt Holly, NC 28037 Supporting a Five Star Program: 704-483-4130 [email protected] Camping, Camaraderie, Cruising, Conservation, and Competition ———————————————————— www.uscanoe.com 3 CONTENTS WINTER 2016 Inside this issue: View from the Stern 5 Eating Crow 8 Old Kayakers Just Lose a Blade 11 Builder Profile—Daryl Remmler and Think Kayaks 13 Racing Tips by Peter Heed 18 Aluminum Nationals Registration & Information 22 USCA Membership Application / Renewal Form 24 USCA Officers, Delegates, Chairs, and Affiliates 26 Paddler Profile—Roxanne Barton 28 4 VIEW FROM THE STERN USCA PRESIDENT PETER HEED THERE IS SOMETHING this unique place in our hearts - we a special thrill. It keeps you com- all have for paddling a marathon ing back for more! SPECIAL ABOUT OUR SPORT racing canoe or kayak. I suppose that everyone has their own rea- It is the Holiday season. For sons. Yet after more than 40 years There is a unique intimacy to it many paddlers in the northern of competitive paddling, I have all. The close connectedness be- states, this is also the “off season”: come to agree with renowned au- tween hull and water is intense and a time to ski, cycle, run, weight thor and conservationist, Sigurd immediate. Just a short single or train, and pursue other activities. Olson, that there is a certain double bladed paddle makes the Yet many paddlers put on warm “magic” we all experience while racer one with the water, while gear and stay out on the rivers and paddling. transmitting the paddler’s motive power. Your hands get wet and lakes right up until those waters freeze over. Thoughts of the past you literally feel the liquid medium race season and our National “There is magic in the feel of a through which you propel your Championship events remain fresh, paddle and the movement of a ca- hull forward. This is so unlike the and most racers are already starting noe, a magic compounded of dis- more distant sensation one gets by to plan their training and line up tance, adventure, solitude, and rowing with large oars or while potential partners for next season’s peace.” Sigurd Olson. A canoe or letting the wind do the work in races. kayak and a paddle - a basic craft sailing. In paddling, you are “up and a simple tool. Yet, as Olson close and personal” with the ac- knew so well, there is indeed mag- tion, and your connectedness to the Year after year, I observe this ic in the feel of a paddle moving a boat and to the water is part of the same process play out. It is clear canoe or kayak through water. magic. that paddling and racing marathon And if that hull happens to be slen- canoes and kayaks holds a special der and well designed - like our place in all of our lives. We all racing canoes and kayaks - you add I sense that another source of live it and breath it. Our sport the dimension of speed. In relative the “magic” comes from the histor- takes hold of you. It is a passion, terms, you may only be going 6 to ical origins of the boats we race. and once you are exposed to mara- 8 miles per hour, but when you are Paddle any canoe or kayak for any thon canoe and kayak paddling, it out on the water paddling a beauti- distance and you are partaking in is hard to let it go. fully efficient canoe or kayak, if one of the oldest transportation rit- feels as if you are flying. Bringing uals on the North American Conti- a racing canoe or kayak up to nent. These simple yet versatile I often find myself reflecting on speed, watching and sensing as it hulls have undergone surprisingly the source of this special feeling - seems to dance across the water, is few changes from the early Native 5 American and Eskimo designs of on the pavement? Canoe and kay- and kayak racing is the high level centuries ago. Clearly, we are not ak racing is for you. of commitment to good sportsman- the first to feel the magic. ship exhibited by nearly all com- petitors. This was one of the first Another important factor for lessons for me early on in my rac- Marathon canoe and kayak rac- most canoe and kayak racers is that ing experience. Competitors ing is also special in that it pro- the training experience is so pleas- would often come up to me after vides a unique endurance experi- ant and enjoyable. No matter how races and give me valuable sugges- ence where the focus is mainly on many competitions you enter each tions on how to improve my tech- the muscles of the arms, back, and season, the majority of your time in nique or my training. This certain- torso (core), together with the car- the boat will be spent training. ly was not what I had grown accus- diovascular system. Think about We all quickly come to realize that tom to in other competitive sports. it. What other endurance sport re- there is no better way to relax and Canoe and kayak racing is, by and lies exclusively on the upper body get alone with your thoughts than large, a self-coached sport, and for propulsion? The classic endur- to be out in your canoe or kayak on most of the experienced paddlers ance sports such as running, cy- any body of water. It is a life- will tell you that they learned much cling, cross-country skiing, and tri- enhancing activity which provides of what know about racing from athlon combine cardiovascular en- you with an opportunity to be close the advice and guidance of other durance with muscular endurance to nature while experiencing the racers. This “helping your compet- of the lower body, especially the sensory pleasures of gliding itor” attitude is one of the great tra- legs. And even though there is an through a liquid medium. ditions of our sport. It is part of upper body component in cross- the magic. country skiing and swimming, the heavy bulk of the propulsion We all soon notice how differ- chores is carried by the legs. On ent and lovely the world can look As you probably have guessed the other hand, in canoe and kayak from river level. Even when rivers by now, I confess that I’d rather be racing the musculature of the upper and streams flow through residen- out paddling a racing canoe on body is stressed totally and almost tial and urban areas, the perspec- some river than just about anything exclusively for hours on end. This tive from the seat of a canoe or else in the world. Many of my unique sport is, in fact, one of the kayak is so different that the world friends like to kid me by telling me only safe havens for the non- takes on a whole new appearance. that I am just not good at anything running endurance athlete.