Canoe News 2019 USCA Nationals Information and Registration GRBNewman Designs Interview Home-brewed Kayaks! Summer 2019 Vol. 52 No. 2 2 From the Editor: Here in the Midwest, we’ve thawed out and pad- dling racing is well underway—at least when the water isn’t excessive due to all the rains! Like many of you, we’re prepping for the Nationals, and this should be a good one. Our hosts at Warren have gone out of their way to create a superb Nationals experience! See the Nationals information and reg- Executive Committee istration forms in this issue. And be sure to check President: Rebecca Davis out the articles on three people who like to build 6417 23 Mile Rd, Homer, MI 49245 their own watercraft. Plus an interview with GRB- 517-227-4794 [email protected] Newman Designs and their new canoe design that may shake things up in the canoeing world. Vice President: Phoebe Reese 254 East Street, Oneonta, NY 13820 607-435-9921 [email protected] See you at the Nationals! Secretary: Barbara Bradley Keep paddling strong! 101 E Rib Mt Drive, Wausau, WI 54401 715-581-0861 [email protected] Steve Treasurer: John Edwards 1929 Arrowhead Dr. NE, St. Petersburg, FL 33703-1903 727-459-6366 [email protected] Front Cover Photo: General Clinton Canoe Regatta May 24-27, 2019; photo by Audrey Blias. ————————————————————————— Back Cover Photo: Steve Rosenau helping his granddaughter, Kiyah, learn to paddle the Wee Beastie: Canoe News a wood strip canoe he built for her. Editor: Steven Horney/Asst. Ed. Julie Horney 15806 Timberwillow Dr, Huntertown, IN 46748 Disclaimer: Opinions and/or advice expressed in this maga- 260-452-6447 [email protected] zine by individuals, whether or not they are officers of or dele- gates to, the United States Canoe Association, are personal Advertising: Scott Stenberg and do not necessarily reflect the official position of the United 3232 Jugg St , Moravia, NY 13118 States Canoe Association. Publication by the United 315-406-4692 [email protected] States Canoe Association, whether in print, online, or in any other form, does not imply endorsement. Printing and Distribution: Steve Rosenau 105 Waterford Dr., Mt Holly, NC 28120 Canoe News is the official publication of the 704-483-4130 [email protected] United States Canoe Association Supporting a Five Star Program: Camping, Camaraderie, Cruising, Conservation, and Competition ———————————————————— www.uscanoe.com 3 CONTENTS SUMMER 2019 Inside this issue: View from the Bow 5 Rockin’ the Canoe World—GRBNewman Designs 6 Robert Dykgraaf—Kayak Artist 9 Walt Vosicka—Experimenter in Wood 12 Steve Rosenau—Home Built Racer 18 USCA Nationals—Important Information 25 USCA Nationals—Registration Forms 30 USCA Nationals—Lodging Information & Local Events 36 USCA Special Awards Nominations 37 USCA Canoe Instructor Certification 41 USCA Aluminum Nationals—Information 43 USCA Go-Getter Program 44 USCA Membership Application / Renewal Form 45 USCA Officers, Delegates, Chairs, and Affiliates 46 Canoe News Advertising Rates, Policy Notice, & Photo Release 48 4 VIEW FROM THE BOW USCA PRESIDENT REBECCA DAVIS This year the Nationals largest classifications, where have a bit of extra meaning to multiple starting heats are used. me. Now in my second term as Another change is the USCA President, I have had commemorative National more of a hand in the shaping Championship prizes. In the of our organization than in past we have handed out shirts, years past. I am happy that we and while some will still be have been able to accomplish available, we wanted to change some streamlining of the organ- things up a bit and have decided ization, but there are still many to debut a new prize specific to areas we could improve and the 2019 Nationals for this year. modernize. I am excited to FREE YMCA USAGE I’m hoping this will be some- DURING NATIONALS work more closely with our new thing that everyone can use, WEEK! Freestyle paddling members, as and it should also be easier to well as the other new faces that handle for our volunteers as Warren has always been are starting to show up at the well. Nationals. an accommodating host There are other races to the Nationals, and this The biggest change for that are bigger than our event, year is no exception. The the Nationals is that you will be races that are closer to home, Warren County YMCA is awarded based on your age. and competitions that have allowing paddlers to use Overall winners in each hull will more prestige, but there is the facilities for Nation- also be recognized. This will something special about getting simplify the registration process als week if members together for three (or four) days show their USCA mem- and hopefully make the race of racing and camaraderie that slate more intuitive for new rac- bership card at the front really can’t be beat. If you are desk. The facilities in- ers. If you want to only race for one of those that goes to Na- overall recognition, or want to clude showers, pools, tionals only when it is close to and other gym facilities. start in the first heat of your home, think of making the trek hull if you are 60+, simply to Warren, because without you Make sure to check out check that you wish to be our organization can’t exist. awarded only in the overall the newly built Jakes standings on your registration I’m looking forward to Rocks Mountain Bike form. This shouldn’t make any seeing you in August! Trails as well. difference, except in the very 5 ROCKIN’ THE CANOE WORLD—GRBNEWMAN DESIGNS STEVEN HORNEY Ben Schlimmer racing the Concept at the USCA NY Nationals in 2018. Photo courtesy of Bill Amos Photography. GRBNewman Designs has Gene and John Newman are rela- needed a partner for the Rushton existed somewhat quietly in the tively reserved individuals who race in Canton, NY, so I joined shadows of the larger and better- deliberately eschew the limelight, him paddling the recreational known canoe companies for a but I was able to catch up with class. That year they offered number of years. Quietly, that is, Gene by phone recently to discuss money in Canton, bringing in the until the 2018 USCA Nationals, GRBNewman Designs and their pros, which really opened our when they unveiled a canoe de- unconventional C1 race boat eyes to the possibilities in canoe sign with the potential to “rock CN: Gene, thank you for taking racing. After seeing the pros, we the world” of C1 racing in the your time to provide an inter- knew that’s where we wanted to USA! Compared to kayak racing view with Canoe News. How did be. So we bought a Sawyer Super which seems to thrive on con- you get started in paddling and Pro Boat. But then we found it stant rule modification, canoe how did GRBNewman Designs was heavy and not the fastest racing regulations have remained get started? boat on the market. We needed relatively stagnant for a number an upgrade, but it wasn’t easy to of years. But maybe that needs to Gene: In 1969 my brother start- buy a high-end racing canoe; a lot change… ed paddling, and my brother of the paddlers made their own. 6 els and boat mods that don’t work out and/or don’t sell, but fortu- nately those are few and far be- tween. And we still make all of our canoes on the old dairy farm. CN: How did you end up with the name “GRBNewman De- signs” for your company? Gene: GRB stand for Grass Riv- er Boatworks. It started with 4 people and incorporated in the late 1980’s/1990, but then in 2003 the group unincorporated. John and I formed a partnership GRBNewman Concept 1 above; Stinger “winged” C1 to the right. to continue the business and re- The differences are obvious! named it by adding our last name (Newman) to the company name. So we went down that path our- CN: GRBNewman Designs cre- selves. We bought plans from the ated quite a stir at the 2018 US- Minnesota Canoe Association to CA Nationals in NY with a new build our first boat, a wood strip C1 design/proposal. Tell me canoe. Every year we would build about some of your boat designs, a new boat, making modifica- and in particular that new C1 de- tions, seeking to improve our per- sign, the Concept C1. What is formance. your thinking behind the boat? became obvious that carbon was After several years of racing John Gene: I’m the president of the taking over, so we started mold- and I ended up going in different St. Lawrence Valley Paddlers, and ing carbon boats. We introduced directions and we got into other we work really hard to get new one of first carbon boats at the sports: running, biking, etc. John people out paddling. It’s not real- Owego, NY race in the early 90’s. had a bike shop, but then he sold ly that hard to do; you get them in it in the late 80’s and said he fig- We started building canoes be- a canoe and they have a great ured we could make a better ca- cause we thought we could make time! They’ll often come back. noe than [another canoe manu- a better, lighter, faster, canoe. I The hard part is getting them to facturer], so we got back into ca- paddle a lot – usually 5 days a spend the current price of a new noe racing and started building week - so I’m always trying out race canoe (and there aren’t a lot canoes.