Round Bowen Race June 8, 2008

The legendary Round Bowen Race. 32km open ocean racing around a little island in How Sound just north of Vancouver. Besides winds, waves and current, paddlers have to watch the wake coming of the ferry to Vancouver Island. It was tough race this year. Temperatures were below normal and didn't get over 10C I think. A couple from California complain bitterly about never having to race in such cold conditions before - wimps. Nevertheless 7 BCKC members battle the cold, the wind and waves and participated in the race. Masters Jeff & Katja, John & Ben in double surfskis and Chris and Jim in singles surfskis did the long race (32km), while juniors Sebastian and Nicolas braved the rough water in a trainer K2 in the short course (10km). It was one of the more choppy days we had out on this course for some time. Some boats flipped, a few never finished the race but Jeff & Katja had one of their best races and finished 3rd only 20 sec behind the first boat finisher, a double surfski with TNR paddling buddies Mike & Paul in it. Fastest time was 2hr38min07sec breaking last years record by 51sec. To read up on Jeff's race strategy go to: http://surfskibc.wordpress.com/page/2/. Full results can be found here: http://roundbowenchallenge.com/results.html

Just after the start - boats are still close together - and ferry waves as well sa wind waves made for a fun battle.

Jeff & Katja on the west side of the Island after we managed to get through the rough stuff without problems. At this point we were in 5th place closing on to #4 and #3 fast.

Jim in front of Jodi & Colleen in another surfski double. He also got through the rough section but as we heard afterwards with a lot more cursing.

Fort Langley Marathon May 10

As every spring Fort Langley Canoe Club hosted their Ft Langley Classics Long Distance Regatta. Usually they do offer some shorter races (10-12km) for the sprint kayaks while marathon canoes from the Isalnd or the US paddle the 20km long course. This year all the kayakers were getting each other hyped up about paddling the long course which including a short portage and a sharp turn in a tiny creek. First only BCKC paddlers Kiran, Kristin, Katja, Jeff Chris, Jim & John signed up for the grueling long course but the other clubs were falling into line pretty quickly which made it a very interesting race. The Fraser river current always add to the fun as well. BCKC member Emily opted on the shorter course - which is a wise decision being in a C1.

Burnaby Long distance Regatta April 13

This year Burnaby again hosted a long distance Regatta in the spring. This is the best time to paddle. Temperatures finally start coming up, the sun was shining down on the paddlers and the lake isn't overgrown with weeds yet.


Jim and Sky (FLCC) partner in the K2 6km fun race (fun means teams have to be either female/male or experienced/beginner or kids/oldies crews).

BCKC Kiran and Sebastian in the same race.

The father and son award went to Mike Fitzmaurice and Cam

Many of the BCKC members came out to either compete or help out with the Regatta! From left to right in front kneeling: Darrell, Kamal, Heide, Katja, first rowstanding: Connor, Ron, Debbie, Jim, Kiran, Lynn, Rebecca, Emily, Vicki, Sara, Sebastian, second row: Dave, Satnam, John, Jeff, Nicolas, Kristin. Where is Hugh!? He was helping as well

BCKCers car pooling Johnny style

On Sunday February 17 BCKCers John, Chris, Katja and Jeff loaded up our surfskis to participate in a race in Nanaimo.
Check out http://members.shaw.ca/surfskibc/SSBCmaster.html for a report on the event...complete with video clips of the race.

BCKCers on skis

On Saturday February 16 BCKCers took to the trails of the newly developed Callaghan Ski area, to be used at the 2010 Winter Olympics. A big thanks to John for organizing the trip and to Sigge's Sport Villa for giving the group a discount on their transportation/rentals.
Apparently by the end of the day everyone was skating along like a pro and a good time was had by all.

BCKCers dominate FCRCC Dueling Hearts

On Sunday BCKC padders competed in the Dueling Hearts race hosted by False Creek Racing Canoe Club. The 5km course started in Alder Bay heading east into False Creek to pass under the south end of the Cambie Street bridge then around a marker in the bay just north of Science World returning under the north end of Cambie St. bridge then around a marker before crossing the channel to return to the finish in Alder Bay.
Of the 3 heats run during the event, heat 2 was the focus of the kayakers. It is interesting to note that 8 of the 11 heat 3 competitors were BCKCers. From right to left in the picture are Johnathan (FCRCC), Kiran (BCKC), Jeff (BCKC), Chris (BCKC), Jim (BCKC), Nathan (Nanaimo), John (BCKC), ? (FCRCC), Kristen (BCKC), Rebecca (BCKC) and Katja (BCKC).
I think everyone could feel the effects of not having paddled as much as we would have like to before taking on the challenge of this race. With Burnaby Lake having been frozen for the past 6 weeks, only those of us who get out on the ocean in surfski have managed to continue at least some on water training during the last month's icy weather conditions. Rumour has it the ice is breaking up now that the weather has warmed...those torential rains are actually good for something.
Thanks Ken and your team of volunteers for putting on this event...would be nice to see more FCRCC paddlers come out to support their home event.
Check out the following link for full results and photos.
http://www.fcrcc.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=433&Itemid=2

Sunday winter Paddle Dec 09

It has been unusually cold so far this winter and we were again driven off the lake due to it being partially frozen. But lucky us - there is always the ocean to paddle on. While the younger athletes resort to running (coach's orders), the masters crowd jumps into their ocean going crafts for a nice Sunday paddle out of Deep Cove into Burrard Inlet. BCKC members Jeff, Chris and Katja were joined by Ben and Sean.

After the paddle Chris has to try out his dry suit and practice a rescue:

BCKC AGM and Award Night Nov 25

Finally the long season is over and everyone is settling in into winter training in the cold and rain and dark so it is time to reflect back to the events of the summer and honor the athletes and volunteers that put in so much effort in making BCKC one of the best clubs to be a member of. But before the fun would begin we "had" to have our AGM to select our new board of directors. Welcome back Jeff Raymond as Commodore, Hugh Alley as Vice Commodore and Dan Bisalputra as treasurer und good luck to the newby on the board, Heide Eden as secretary. Thanks for volunteering!!!!!
Once done with business we first rewarded ourself with a potluck dinner where all members stepped up in bringing so much excellent (if not always the healthiest) food - before we entered the fun part of giving away awards. Besides giving out the "serious" awards like best team boat of the year (Kiran & Rebecca in K2), best volunteer (John George), commodores award for outstanding contributions (Dave Nosella) and main sponsor (Westbeach - Micky McDonald) our Coach Lynn takes a lot of pride in giving out the "fun" awards. And for sure the members enjoy the entertainment. Below a few examples (more pictures to be posted soon):

Dancing King - Jim (only because Lynn doesn't like his music)

Don't test the ice - Kiran (because it just doesn't get cold enough to freeze solid EVER!!!)

Had to paddle her K1 on the big open ocean - Kristin (and paid for it)

Most nostalgic car - john (well some think it must the the nostalgic value that make him drive that "thing") Our young stars - Eric and Tess (for JUST being kids)

No wake allowed - Katja (because any ripple makes her fall out of her to tippy K1)

Someone else likes swimming better - Rebecca (and Krista thought it would be a second award for Katja)

Afterwards the high performance sprint athletes thanked their coach Lynn, sub coach Dick and masters training partners (which they now all beat) for a great year of encouragement and support:

Lighthouse Park Nov 18

One of those beautiful sunny fall days we don't get many off here on the westcoast. Blue skies and flat calm conditions made for a really relaxing 17km surfski paddle out from Ambleside to Lighthouse Park. BCKC master Chris, Darrell, Jeff and Katja were joined by local paddlers Reid and Paul.

And while the masters play on the ocean some of the keen juniors (Kiran & Kristin) are running around Burnaby lake followed by an easy paddle on the same. Guess who had more fun!

Saturday Practices Nov 17

Finally it's weekend again and Burnaby Lake was busy -two sprint practice session were held on the lake today. The younger athletes had the early shift and Kiran, Kristin, Rebecca, Emily and Connor were joined by Elliot and Jordan from Fort Langley Canoe Club for a paddle and weights workout. Afterwards the master showed up for an hour long technique paddle. Besides the rain we had a good turnout with Jeff, John, Gary, Chris, Darrell, Caroline, Jackie and Katja. The only ones complaining about the rain were our two Coaches Lynn and Sara (FLCC) - I am sure they would have rather joined us on a paddle rather than sitting still in the coach boat and just watch.

While the younger athletes are getting ready for their weights (above: Kiran and Kristin)
the master make their way out onto rainy Lake Burnaby (below: &Coach Lynn ,Chris & Gary and Darrell).

Adam visits BCKC Nov 14

Olympic gold medalist Adam VanKoeverden visited Burnaby Lake on Wednesday morning and most of our junior athletes, as well as some athletes from Fort Langley & Maple Ridge, took the opportunity to paddle with the champ. Kiran, Rebecca, Emily, Connor, Kristin, Jim, Maggie, Elliot & Jordan were surrounding Adam in the red K1 (centre image).

Another Ocean Day Nov 11

After we spend Saturday training in K1's on Burnaby lake enjoying a nice sunny morning (with no pictures), the weather turned "normal" on us over night and Sunday welcomed us with strong winds and rain. Nevertheless we had a large group of 11 surfskis and 2 sea kayaks joined together for a late morning ocean paddle.

BCKC members Jeff, Darrell, Daryl, Ben, John, Chris D, Heide (SK) and Katja were joined by local padders Sean, Chris N, Martin and Sean (SK) as well as Jerome who visited us from Victoria. Jerome is probably the one to blame that so many of us now enjoy ocean racing - before he moved to Victoria some couple years back Jerome was the star paddler on the Tuesday Night Races out in Deep Cove (a weekly race serious throughout the summer) and we all wanted to be as fast as him.

Everyone was bundled up in winter paddling clothes ranging from wet suits to dry suit as you can see below with Chris and Darrell warming up.

After we left the protection of Stanley Park, it was hard work crossing from Ambleside over to False Creek with the wind was gusting into our faces.

BC Long Distance Champs Pitt Madeows Nov 3

Nov. 3 was the BC Long Distance Champs at Pitt Meadows Paddling Club.
It was arguably the worst race day that the current team has ever seen.
It was wet, windy, and COLD all day and Rebecca, Kristin, Kiran
and Jim spent much of the day between races sitting in Jim's truck with
the heater on. Conor and Emily were hanging out around the propane
heater under Burnaby's tent. Besides the cold and rain, the tide in the
river was very low, so consequently it was narrow, and several racers
bottomed out on the turns. Finally, the outhouse had been taken away,
so there was no bathroom. Thank goodness for a Ridge family's camper
trailer and hot tomato soup! Despite all that, the Burnaby athletes did
well. Kiran and Rebecca came 2nd and 3rd in the 2k and 1st and 2nd in
the 6k. Conor came 1st in both his races, Emily came 3rd in both races,
and Kristin came 2nd in both of her races. Jim came 5th in his 2k. The
only master who came out was John, and he came 1st for Masters men.
Congratulations to all who braved the conditions to race!

Fall in Vancouver Oct 28

Now that's what we are always talking about. Steady rain, light breeze and small chop. Fall is here! After a week of sunshine we are back to the "normal" weather. So a bunch of us BCKC athletes went for an extended surfski paddle on Sunday. What else would you do on a day like this? Jeff, John, Katja, Ben, Daryl, Darrell and Chris (our newest BCKC member) were joined by local paddlers Rod, Corky & Sean for a 1.5hr paddle out of Deep Cove. A strong current pushed us out towards Second Narrows Bridge and we had to hug the shore coming back in to avoid it.

CKBC Award Night Oct 27th

CKBC held it's 3rs Annual Fall & Award Banquet this year in beautiful Harrison Hot Springs. As every year Burnaby athletes and parents participated in large numbers: Kiran, Satnam, Kamal, Rebecca, Hugh, Connor, Debbie, Ron, Emily, Katja, Jeff & John. This year the Sprint Canoe and Kayak devicison of CKBC welcomed it's newest members from Whitewater BC and Martahon Canoeing BC. Guest speakers were John Edwards (CKC Domestic Programs Director) and Dave Freeze (Mental Trainer) and we managed to fill nearly 9hrs of conference with good presentations and discussions. In the evening we were rewarded with an excellent buffet during which the 2007 awards were presented. The following BCKC Athletes received awards: Kiran Basra (Team BC Kayak & High Performance Group A), Rebecca Alley (Female Migdet Athlete of the Year & High Performance Group A) , Emily Philipps (Team BC Canoe & High Performance Group B), Connor Wollbaum (Team BC Canoe & Junior Development Group), Ben Fast (Master Men B of the Year), John George (Master Men A of the Year) & Katja Rademacher (Master Woman A of the Year) - see pictures below including Coach Lynn missing Ben since he didn't attend.

Besides rcognizing althletes, CKBC also thanked the many volunteers and administrators. Here is a list of all the BCKC parents & atheletes that were awarded or honorably mentioned: Dave Nosella (Silver Award for officiating), Debbie Wollbaum (picture left) & Vicki Nosella (shared Bronze Award for officiating), Ron Wollbaum (above the norm efforts in officiating), Lynn Dagenais (Regional Coach Vancouver), Kamal Basra (Treasurer CKBC) and Jeff Raymond (Athlete Rep CKBC).

Gig Harbor Long distance regatta Oct 20

Coach Lynn took her performance athletes all the ways down south past Seattle to attend Gig Habor's long distance regatta. The Gig Harbor Canoe and Kayak Racing Team held a 10 km race on Oct. 20th. There was also a 5 km race for the younger paddlers. Burnaby was
well represented at the event, with all of its junior paddlers going:
Rebecca, Kiran, Kristin, Emily, Conor and Jim. The race had a mass
start, with about 150 or more paddlers, then the first 90 degree turn
was about 100 metres away. Several people went swimming but all the
Burnaby paddlers managed to stay up! After that, the race settled into
a nice pace. Everyone was able to spread out and complete their 10 km
uneventfully. Only in Gig Harbor would you race 10 km on a 1000m course
with 4 turns. One of the "bouys" was a fishing boat anchored in the
harbor! After the race, the athletes dried off and warmed up and went
to enjoy their free salmon burgers at the Donkey Chum Festival, and
receive their awards. Kiran placed second in her age category, and
Rebecca was third. Kristin placed first overall for girls, and Emily
and Conor came first in each of their age categories for canoers. Good
job everyone!

US Surfski Champs Sept 29/30

Paddling is not just flatwater racing! And if you ever want to try another paddling discipline surfski is fun and the US Surfski Champs are probably the best place to race. You get to start next to the best paddlers in the world like Lewis Laughlin from Tahiti, Oscar Chalupsky from South Africa, Greg Barton from the US and Barry Lewin from South Africa. There were many more people from all over the world (http://www.surfski.info/content/view/524/147/). So for us this is not about winning this is about watching really great surfski paddlers show us how it could be done. Saturday featured a long (17miles) and a short course (6miles). The long course goes underneath the bridge and into the open ocean - really need ocean experience her to finish. Jeff did it though and finsihed strong in the middle of the pack. The short course goes out into the bay near Alcatraz - the more mellow water for "everyone". Katja competed in the short course. The great thing about that race was that Katja raced neck on neck with 2 other women for almost the whole race and we all finished seconds apart. Sunday featured a Doubles race (8miles) and a relay. Katja and Jeff competed in the doubles race starting right in between those top 4 paddlers mentioned above - that alone was worth the trip!!!!!!!

The finish line in San Francisco, Crissy Field

Mass start of over 100 paddlers

Katja and Eva racing against the cruise liners and each other

People finishing up the long course. Beside winds, waves and currents, the freighters are a real threat out there on the race course (you cross the shipping lane twice!!)

LEWIS Laughlin winning the long course. And look at his big smile - he is such a great and humble person.

Jeff coming in from his race - still looking around for freighters

Jeff crossing the finish line

The start of the doubles race - Katja and Jeff riding the wash of Oscar and Greg on our left and Barry and Lewis on our right for the first 30 sec.

Bantam/Masters Champs

Ridge Canoe & Kayak Club held their annual Bantam & Master Championship on Whonnock Lake on a chilly but almost dry weekend in Sept (22/23). As usual BCKC was represented by a whole bunch of paddlers. Athletes Tess, Eric, Taylor, Queena, Jones and Alex were competing in the Bantam and younger races while Heide, Vicki, Joanna, Katja, Jeff B., Jeff R., Daryl, Darrell, Ben, John, Trevor, Dave, Micky and Dan raced in masters A&B races. As a support team we had Lynn, Kiran, Rebecca, Connor and Jim - mostly keeping the chairs and blankets warm.

BCKC Masters War Canoe with cox Jim

Vicki's (seat 4) first K4 200m race ever!!!! Partnered with Heide, Joanna & Katja

Daryl & Max practicing for 2020

Lynn & Chantry keeping the blankets warm with John trying to steel some heat

Trevor before his first K4/kayak race ever!!!! He and his team stayed dry!!

The MASTERS/Oldies: Darrell, Ben, Dan, John, Micky, Katja

The Youngens: Taylor (athlete), Kiran (keeping the blanket warm), Tess (athlete), Rebecca (keeping the blanket warm)

Eric and partner in K2

Dave - safety boat driver at every regatta. Thanks for volunteering over and over again :-)

Tess and Taylor in K2

BCKC at Nationals in Ottawa

Coach Lynn and her mum watching the races

Kiran, Rebecca, Clara & Katie in Midget Women K4 1000m

Connor in Midget Men C1 6000m

Jim (blue boat) in Juvenile Men K1 1000m

Dan & Frid at Canmas Men K2 200m

Katja & Jeff after Canmas Mixed K2 200m (Bronze)

John at Canmas after Men K1 200m

Dan, Virgina, Katja & Jeff at Canmas in Mixed C4 200m

Congratulations to TEAM BC

Congratulations to TEAM BC coming home with 8 Gold, 11 Silver and 10 Bronze medals from the Western Canada Summer Games 2007 in Edmonton. 3 BCKC members represented BC at the games, Kiran Basra, Emily Phillips and Conor Wollbaum. All of them came back with medals. Top picture above shows Kiran (far right) with her K4 team winning Gold in the K4 1000m. Below, Emily Philips (far left) with her C4 team achieving a Bronce medal in the 500m race. Conor (bottom picture far left) also achieved Bronze in the C4 500m. For the complete listing of all the results go to http://teambc.org/sport/roster/?5 Well done everyone!!!

Coach Lynn has done a great job preparing her athletes for the 2007 racing season. Watch out for the BCKC results at the Canadian National Sprint Canoe & Kayak Championship and Canadian Master Championship in Ottawa Aug 22-26