Welcome to the Nova Scotia Marathon Canoe Association. Having been in existence over 20 years, our
goal is to foster and promote long distance canoe / kayak racing within Nova
Scotia and to liaise with similar like-minded groups within the paddling
fraternity across Canada and indeed the world.
Races vary
in distance and time, and we have classes to accommodate most paddlers and
boats. It is our goal to introduce our
sport to as many people as possible.
Should you be a dedicated racer or someone who enjoys the occasional
recreational race, come out and experience one of our events. We encourage you
to bring your friends....the more the merrier! You will be sure to enjoy the comradery, the competition, the exhilaration and above all the fun of paddling on
our beautiful waterways. We may even add
the odd portage just so you can experience the challenges of days gone by when
our waterways were the major transportation routes across this great land and
the canoe was the craft of choice.
Check out our 2004 Events Schedule
located further along in this newsletter.
You may find out that racing with us is a lot of fun and is 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 tips that will make your
paddling much more efficient and enjoyable.
To hone your skills, we invite you to show up at Lions Beach, at the south end of
Lake Banook, in Dartmouth every Tuesday evening at
6:00 PM for a Marathon Clinic (June 1 - Sept.1). We paddle for a
couple of hours and focus on stroke development, wash riding, buoy turns,
portaging and most importantly, an enjoyable evening on the water. Call me if you need equipment and we will
strive to provide and/or mix and match paddlers to enhance the learning
opportunities.
This summer, we are pleased and proud to host
the Canadian Marathon Canoe Championships on the Dartmouth Lakes from
August 19 - 22. We will use a
variation of the same course that was used to host the World Marathon Canoe
Championships in 2000, a course that was very well accepted by paddlers from
around the world. It is noteworthy and
commendable that all paddlers who belong to the CCA can participate, and
as a result, races are offered for a wide variety of classes, such as APro Boat@, stock, recreational canoes, ocean kayaks, and
ICF canoes and kayaks. Ages range from bantams to masters and given the wide
appeal of the sport, it is not unusual to have paddlers from pre-teens right up
to masters in their 70`s and 80`s competing for fun and status. Although the
event is billed as the Canadian Marathon Canoe Championships, we invite and
encourage paddlers from away to attend, and in fact, our friends from the USA
are always in attendance. Championships are a great place to meet paddlers from
all over and learn
many of the subtle techniques that experienced paddlers have picked up during
years of racing. Mark your calendars for this event and for further information
check out our Web Site: http://chebucto.ca/SportFit/NSMC/index.htm
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 full time members who compete in the sanctioned races.
Points are awarded for participation and placing. At the closing race of the
season, a female and male paddler
of the year are named. The 2003
Female paddler of the year was awarded to Robin McKinnon, from our youth
division, with a total of 180 points. The male award went to Doug Archibald
with 200 points. The NSMCA congratulate these paddlers whom have shown that
perseverance, participation and dedication have their own rewards in
addition to the awarded trophies.
Paddling time is now. Experience for yourself what paddling has to
offer. Feel the music within as your craft glides through dark dancing waters,
feel the exhilaration as you pull to the finish, the accomplishment of
completing a marathon, the comradery of the
aftermath, the friendships for life. See
you on the water !
Keep your paddle wet!
Doug Archibald
President NSMRCA
nsmca@eastlink.ca
Ph 902.883.9759
