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10th Annual Spring Kickoff South Platte Paddling Trip

This is the 10th edition of the annual spring paddling trip on the South Platte River organized this year by 7 paddling clubs: Rocky Mountain Canoe Club, Poudre Paddlers Club, Rocky Mountain Sea Kayak Club, Canoe Colorado/Western Paddlers, High Country River Rafters, Pike Peak River Runners, and Colorado White Water Association.

Date: Saturday, March 19th, 2011 (snow/rain data: April 2nd).
Two trip choices:
– 9 miles from Evans to Kersey
– 14 miles from Evans to Kuner
Meeting at the put-in at Evans Riverside Park at 9:00 No membership is required. This is an easy, casual, flatwater trip, suitable for novices and families.

For a full information download this flyer.

Traditionally, I am joining this trip by launching at Kersey and paddling the 9 mile upstream river segment first instead of a shuttle. In previous years I tried to setup an informal race on this upstream course with participation varying from one to four paddlers. This year I don’t have any specific plans yet.

If there is any interest I would be happy to paddle from Kersey to Evans in a race mode. The start would be around 7am at sunrise (Mountain Daylight Time). Slower boats could start earlier. The idea is to arrive to Evans between 10 and 11 am and join the group for a relaxed downriver paddling.

Wyoming Outback Challenge Gone …

gallery, news, Wyoming Outback / By Marek

For the last three years Jerry Nyre from Canoe Colorado organized and sponsored (including cash prizes!) this great marathon race on the North Platte River during Memorial Day weekends. The race started at Hot Springs in Saratoga and run 44 miles down the river across a quite remote area to Fort Steele (I-80 boat ramp). It was usually high and fast water and, typically, some headwind closer to the finish.

Thank you Jerry! I had a good racing and spent together with Connie and our dogs three wonderful weekends in Saratoga.

Unfortunately, the Wyoming Outback Challenge will not by organized any more. The organizers were obviously disappointed by a poor participation. Here is what Eric Nyre wrote at Canoe Colorado forum this year as an explanation:

Last year was the last year of the race.
Local racers weren’t interested.
Racers from other parts of the country wanted free loaner boats/ transportation.
We gave it 3 years, and the crowd kept getting smaller. So no mas, we’re paddling the White instead.

I don’t think that Eric is the best person to comment on that event since during these three years he never showed up at the race neither as an organizer nor as a racer.

Canoe and Kayak Racing Magazine – March/April 2010

gallery, news, racing / By Marek

Morgan House, a sprint kayaker, the first US Indoor Kayak Championships, the role of interval training, rest and recovery in paddler’s training cycle by couch Shaun Caven, developments in surfski racing, strength training for racers by Abel Hastings, a preview of the Show-Me-State Canoe and Kayak Marathon, a review of high tech training paddle, Excalibur …

All this and more in the March-April 2010 issue of Canoe and Kayak Racing Magazine.

Missouri Breaks 150 Race Cancelled

news, racing / By Marek

Missouri Breaks 150 Race planned for June 13-13, 2010 (150 miles from Fort Benton to Kipp Recreation Area, Wild & Scenic Upper Missouri River, in two stages) has been cancelled. Race organizers didn’t get a permit from BLM. See some related discussion at RiverMiles.com forum.

Bummer! I just started preparation for three long races on the Missouri River this year. I was even hoping to connect the Missouri Break 150 race with a short visit to Glacier National Park. My plan “B” for the 2nd weekend of June is to use some frequent flier miles and to fly south to photograph Texas Water Safari this year.

2009 Popular Posts in Fitness Paddling Blog

news / By Marek

A dozen of the most popular posts in this blog during last year.

Most popular means with the highest number of readers. These include also articles from the old blog before I migrated to wordpress platform. Some posts need update. The article Is Ultra-Marathon Kayak and Canoe Racing Growing? was written in the middle of 2006 before the first Missouri River 340 race.

1. 14 Tips on Kayak Forward Stroke Dynamics by Mark Zollitsch

2. Tips on Training, Boats and Paddles for Endurance Paddling Races

3. 2009 Rotten Egg Race – Results, Pictures, Handicap System

4. 3 Years of the Missouri River 340 Race

5. 12 Pictures from 2008 Missouri River 340 Race

6. Carter Johnson on Training for Ultra Marathon Kayak Races

7. 13 Tips on Training for Endurance Paddling Races from West Hansen

8. A Simple Suction Cup Mount for Garmin Forerunner 305 GPS

One Year of Kayak and Canoe Racing Magazine

1 Comment / gallery, news, racing / By Marek

Dan Grubbs just released the 6th Issue (January/February 2010) of Canoe and Kayak Racing Magazine. So, it has been already one year. Congratulations!

There is a lot on paddling and virtual racing using ergometers in this winter issue the including incoming US Indoor Kayak Championships in Oklahoma City.

I don’t really have a room of kayak ergometer in my house, so I would have to use it outside … I prefer to drive to the South Platte River for some cold water paddling. Fortunately, the river is still flowing while everything else in northern Colorado is frozen.

You will also find an interview with an outrigger canoe champion, Karel Tresnak, Jr, and more on the ICF women’s canoe program. Rob Bean, my local paddling partner, talks about Passion in the Paddle – how to turn your race into more meaningful experience by using it to raise funds for charity.

Previous issues:
March/April 2009, May/June 2009, July/August 2009, September/October 2009, November/December 2010