It is the 27th of January and after several weeks of very cold weather and lots of snow I awoke to a light drizzle with heavy rains forecast. It is our January thaw and thoughts turn to paddling. Although I was skiing on the river yesterday, within weeks I will have the canoe out and once again be plying the waters of the Shubenacadie.

For me the early season consists of evening paddling and weekend tripping; a great way to work out lazy muscles, rejuvenate the mind, and get ready for our upcoming marathon canoe racing season.

The Nova Scotia Marathon Canoe Association is a group of canoeists and kayakers who love to race their boats over long distances. Races vary in distance and time and have classes to fit most paddlers and boats. It is our goal to introduce our sport to as many paddlers as possible. Should you be a dedicated racer or someone who enjoys the occasional recreational race against a couple of buddies, come out and experience one of our events. You will be sure to enjoy the camraderie, the competition, the exhilaration and above all the fun of paddling on one of our beautiful rivers or lakes. We may even add the odd portage just to make you feel like an explorer of days gone by.....the true marathoners who had deadlines to keep before ice up. Check out our events schedule located further along in this newsletter. You may find out that racing with us is a lot of fun and a sport that you may wish to pursue.

It is said that the first canoe race occurred shortly after the second canoe was built! Now there are races all over the world and as part of the Canadian Canoe Association you will find that our sanctioned races are well organized with safety being of paramount importance. Drop by one of our events and talk to some of the paddlers, try out a canoe and experience the difference between various models. Even if you do not intend to be a racer you will pick up a number of tips that will make your paddling much more efficient and enjoyable. If you are in the Dartmouth area on July 10, 17 or 24 drop by the south end of Lake Banook at 6:30 in the evening and try out a variety of canoes and kayaks. The Banook Canoe Club is celebrating its 100th Anniversary and wants you to share in their celebrations. There will be competent instructors in attendance.

The summer of 2002 was a banner year for Nova Scotia marathon paddlers. We were well represented at both the United States and Canadian Nationals with our paddlers often placing high in the standings. We are particularly proud of our youth who brought home Bronze, Silver and Gold. Further on in the newsletter you can read more on this excursion which took our paddlers to Hanover New Hampshire and Wallaceburg Ontario.

Nationals are a great place to meet paddlers from all over North America and learn many of the subtle techniques that experienced paddlers have picked up during years of racing, and speaking of years I have met marathon paddlers from the age of 3 to 83. If you would like to attend the Nationals but find travelling to distant destinations prohibitive, then you are in luck as the Nova Scotia Marathon Canoe Assoc. plan to host the Canadian Marathon Canoe Championships in Dartmouth Nova Scotia during the summer of 2004. Keep your eye on this website for further information.

The website is a great spot to find out about our association and what is going on in Nova Scotia and elsewhere. Race results along with pictures tell the stories of our major events. Contact names and links to other informative sites allow you to keep in touch and in the know.

Each year the NSMCA maintains a point system for all its fulltime members, adult and youth, who compete in the sanctioned races. Points are awarded for participation and placing. At the closing race of the season, the Fred Lynch Memorial Canoe Race, a female and male paddler of the year are named. The winners for the 2002 season were Ashley McKinnon with a total of 170 points and Justin McKinnon with 210 points. Our congratulations go out to these paddlers whom have shown that perserverence, participation and dedication have their own rewards in addition to the awarded trophies. Ashley and Justin, long time members of the association, represent our youth contingent. They hail from Liverpool and paddle out of the Mersey River Canoe and Camera Club. The McKinnons are regulars at all our races and it is such dedication on their part and that of all our other active members that make belonging to the NSMCA a pleasure.

The rains have stopped and the cold has returned. February signals that winter is still here, however the sun says spring is close at hand. The time is nigh to get the gear ready, wax the canoe, lube the sliders and loosen up the joints.

See you on the water,

Doug Archibald
President NSMCRA