Kayak club hits the water running for 2009 season

This year looks good for Kayak Jasper, which is starting up the season with a handy $2,500 grant in its pocket.

The grant, awarded by the Alberta Sport, Recreation, Parks and Wildlife Foundation, will go towards equipment such as helmets, paddles, spray decks and personal flotation devices, all of which will be useful once pool sessions get underway starting on Feb. 20. 

The club was started last year by coach Sean Allen and manager Rebecka Riddell-McKay, who work together to provide instructional programs and courses for kayakers of most ages – 7 years up to adult. A full schedule and program outline is available on the Kayak Jasper website.

At a meeting Tuesday night at Jasper Elementary, the pair outlined information about programs and registration and answered questions from the more than 40 people packed into the elementary school library.

For those interested, the club provides most of the necessary gear, so joining up doesn’t require a huge financial commitment right off. The best move for fence-sitters is to attend a drop-in session at the Jasper Aquatic Centre for $8, where participants have the chance to get a feel for the sport.

Those who decide to join the club can do so for a $25 fee, which covers a membership in the Alberta Whitewater Association and insurance. Pool sessions run until the end of May or beginning of June, when kayakers move outdoors. 

Last year’s highlight was attending the Alberta Summer Games, a biannual event which the club looks forward to attending again next year in Peace River. 

Cam Jenkins, a local father whose four children all took part in the kayak club last summer, said it was an “amazing” experience. “We got so into it, our two youngest got their own kayaks,” he said, adding he took some courses himself as well. “I think the parents had as much fun as the kids did.”

The club is not only looking for new members, but also for a place to store kayaks as Allen and Riddell-McKay don’t live in town. Anyone who can help out should contact the pair.

For more information about programs and courses, or to get in touch with the club, visit www.kayakjasper.ca.