Paddling season is underway for athletes from the Nanaimo Canoe Kayak Club. The club recently hosted the NAIG BC Team Canoe-Kayak Selection Trials and is prepping for a major event called the Rally for Racing in June. (Nanaimo Canoe and Kayak Club)

By Dan Marshall

On the Water

Nanaimo Canoe and Kayak Club provides opportunities for paddlers to enjoy Long Lake

May 14, 2023 | 9:40 AM

NANAIMO — Paddling events have taken place on three consecutive weekends at the Nanaimo Canoe and Kayak Club.

Two open houses at the end of April gave newcomers a chance to get out on the water at Long Lake and the first weekend of May brought the 2023 NAIG BC Team Canoe-Kayak Selection Trials.

NCKC commodore Ashley Rowe said athletes from around the province took part attempting to qualify for the North American Indigenous Games.

“Many of the athletes were from a canoe background and not necessarily kayak so some of them were new to the discipline of that sport. They all did extremely well.”

Local paddler Jacob Seward has been a member of the Nanaimo club for over a year and he had a strong performance at the trials.

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“He did quite well in the U16 event canoe finishing in third place,” Rowe said. “Then for the kayak event he came in first. We’re very proud of Jacob’s accomplishments and he’s a well rounded athlete.”

The top competitive athletes with NCKC are gearing up for some important summer competitions.

Those include an international event in Seattle called the Ted Houk Memorial Regatta slated for June 10-11 and the Canoe Kayak BC Provincial Championships from July 28-30.

Seward along with Thorben Schroeder, Julian Eusanio and Eric Zhang are young paddlers expected to post impressive results with the potential to qualify for nationals in August.

The biggest Nanaimo event of the summer is called the Rally for Racing on Vancouver Island on June 24.

“The idea is for us to have a fun jamboree event and involve the local paddling community whether it be ocean kayakers, paddle boarders, white water canoe kayakers and those of us with our sprint backgrounds at the club.”

Rowe said a planned open house in conjunction with Rally for Racing will give the club a chance to attract new members.

“People from the community can come down and try out some different boats and see the equipment we have at the canoe and kayak club. Maybe we can engage people to join as members or they can take an opportunity to register for our learn to paddle program or one of our summer camps.”

Most of the recreational NCKC programs are underway already and Rowe hopes local schools will book some field trips to Long Lake for Grade 4-12 students.

“Right now with registration for summer camps we’re at over 70 participants. Registration is ongoing and we still have space for full and half days, mornings and afternoons throughout July and August.”

In terms of overall membership, Rowe said ten athletes are signed up as competitive for the season and another 20 paddlers have recreational memberships.

Information on the NCKC and details on club programming is available on facebook and the group’s website.

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