11-year-old Sir Ranulph Fiennes fan completes epic 25-mile kayak journey in aid of Polar Museum

After a string of initial setbacks which forced him to abandon the journey in June, 11-year-old Toby Booth, a Sir Ranulph Fiennes fan from Bishop’s Stortford, manoeuvred 20 locks on an epic 25-mile expedition to the edge of the River Thames in aid of a bid to buy negatives from Captain Scott’s final journey.
Booth was inspired to set off in his Cougar racing kayak after admiring the men of the Heroic Age whose feats of bravery are told at Cambridge’s Polar Museum. But his original foray, from the Harlow Outdoor Centre in June, was thwarted when two of his ...more

Kayak Festival at Ortoire River

Forty competitors have already registered for the races and will paddle different types of kayaks including K1s (Olympic style boats), surf skis, sea kayaks (sit-inside), and single and double sit-on-top kayaks. The race begins at 9 am and it features the long course (14 kilometres) and the short course (seven kilometres).

Last year’s winner John Horsfall is expected to defend his title against seasoned surf ski kayaker, Johan Sydow, as well as athletes, Satyam Maharaj, Sherlon Pierre, Matthew Robinson and Keian Huggins. These sprint athletes attended a ten-week training programme in the ...more

Canoe races Calendar

 

Year	Start Date	End Date	Discipline	Event	Location	Country
2014	18/10/2014	19/10/2014	WILDWATER CANOEING	INTERNATIONAL CANOE RACE PRÜM	IRREL, PRÜM, GERMANY	GERMANY
2014	18/10/2014	18/10/2014	CANOE MARATHON	ADIGE MARATHON	PESCANTINA	ITALY
2014	24/10/2014	26/10/2014	CANOE OCEAN RACING	BREIZH OCEAN RACING	SAINT-PIERRE DE QUIBERON	FRANCE
2014	03/11/2014	09/11/2014	ICF	2014 ICF CONGRESS	WARSAW	POLAND
2014	07/11/2014	08/11/2014	CANOE MARATHON	MARATHON INTERNATIONAL DES GORGES DE L'ARDECHE	VALLON PONT D'ARC	FRANCE
2014	15/06/2015	15/06/2015	CANOE MARATHON	LAHTI MIDNIGHT ULTRA MARATHON	CITY OF LAHTI	FINLAND
2015	31/01/2015	01/02/2015	CANOE SLALOM	OCEANIA CHAMPIONSHIPS	MANGAHAO	NEW ZEALAND
2015	13/02/2015	15/03/2015	CANOE SLALOM	AUSTRALIAN OPEN	PENRITH	AUSTRALIA
2015	20/03/2015	21/03/2015	CANOE SLALOM	SOLKAN 2015	SOLKAN	SLOVENIA
2015	22/03/2015	22/03/2015	WILDWATER CANOEING	MONSCHAU CANOE RACE	MONSCHAU, RUR	GERMANY
2015	27/03/2015	29/03/2015	CANOE SLALOM	MARKKLEEBERG 2015	MARKKLEEBERG	GERMANY
2015	03/04/2015	04/04/2015	CANOE SLALOM	2015 SEGRE CANOE SLALOM CUP	PONTS & LA SEU D'URGELL	SPAIN
2015	04/04/2015	05/04/2015	CANOE SLALOM	47TH ILINDANSKI KAJAK SLALOM IKAS 2015	SKOPJE MAKEDONIJA	FYROM
2015	11/04/2015	12/04/2015	CANOE POLO	CANOE POLO INTERNATIONAL TOURNAMENT	BOLOGNA	ITALY
2015	11/04/2015	12/04/2015	CANOE SPRINT	INTERNATIONAL "TROFEO SPARAFUCILE CITTA DI MANTOVA"	MANTOVA	ITALY
2015	18/04/2015	19/04/2015	CANOE SLALOM	INTERNATIONAL LIPTOV	LIPTOVSKY MIKULAS	SLOVAKIA

...more on canoeicf.com

Roll, roll, roll your boat: Bute hosts kayak workshop

 

Kayak rolling - knowing how to right a capsized kayak quickly and easily while you’re paddling in the open water, without getting out of your boat - is a vital skill for any serious kayaker, although it’s not quite as straightforward as Lesley made it look during her two-day workshop in the waters off Port Bannatyne.

Roddy McDowell of Kayak Bute, who invited Lesley to the island, said: “Rolling is the best form of self-rescue when ...more

Good Times At Lumpy Waters 2014

 

Our class of ten sea kayakers bobs up and down in the swell off the Oregon coast. We’re gathered around Sean Morley — a British police-officer-turned-kayak-surfer, expeditioner and world-renowned instructor — who has been charged with the task of honing our long boat surfing skills in seas that are rough even by the standards of the Lumpy Waters Symposium.

The 104 students and 30 coaches who travelled to this year’s event have split into groups to practice skills ranging from bracing and rolling to sea navigation and advanced rock gardening. For the last 45 minutes, however, our group hasn’t seen a soul. We followed Morley out around a stunning sandstone cape near Pacific City, Oregon and have stopped just outside the surf zone where we plan to practice carving down the faces of waves in our 14- to 17-foot sea kayaks.

“Everyone take a moment to plan your line to shore,” Morley instructs the class of intermediate-to-advanced paddlers. We crane our necks, and try to size up the waves from the seats of our boats. The narrow line of beach periodically disappears behind curtains of white foam. The sound alone is intimidating. “Ask yourself if you feel confident about this landing.”

It’s the first morning of the three-day gathering and my first sea kayak symposium. In fact, it’s one of ...more

Also posted on playak.com

Flint River kayak and canoe ramps up and ready

 

Construction of the kayak and canoe ramps along the Flint River is now complete.

There are three ramps now. One is at the Georgia Power dam, one close to the Flint RiverQuarium and another not far from that at Ray Charles Plaza.

Downtown Manager Sharlene Cannon says this is one project to ...more

De Jonge leads Nova Scotia selections to national paddling teams

Fifteen Nova Scotian paddlers, including Olympic bronze medallist

 Mark de Jonge of Halifax, have been named to 

CanoeKayak Canada’s sprint national teams for the 2014-15 season.

The Maskwa paddler was selected to men’s kayak 200 team on Tuesday.

Windsor’s Ryan Cochrane and Halifax’s Alexander Scott 

were also named to the K200 team.

Other Bluenoses on the national squads include: 

Halifax’s Andrew Jessop and Waverley’s Marshall Hughes (men’s K-1,000)

 Dartmouth’s Benjamin Russell and Waverley’s Craig Spence (men’s C-1,000)

 Jason McCoombs of Dartmouth (men’s C-200)

 Genevieve Orton of Lake Echo, 

Kentville’s Alexa Irvin and Dartmouth’s Sam Hall,

 Hannah Vaughan and Una Lounder (women’s K-500)

 Michelle Russell of Waverley (women’s K-200)

 and Dave Waters of Fox Point (Paracanoe).

CanoeKayak Canada also named a senior development and a ...more

Canoe Kayak Freestyle League

 

On Friday it was the final event of the canoe kayak freestyle league. The same format was run as usual with a jam session of 3/4 people and between 12-15 minutes per jam and then a 45 second run each to finish.  After winning the first 3 comps I felt pretty confident but knew my main rival Ed Weeks had been training hard and it would have been nice for me to take the last win in my last year of junior.
In the Jam I didn’t paddle my just about getting a mcnasty and scraping together I few other moves but I managed to just pull ahead of Ed to take the final win of the ...more 

Also posted on playak.com

Parkway Central junior kayaks to the finish line

 

This is not the average teen’s schedule. But for Parkway Central Junior and United Hebrew congregant Danielle Sartori, it is simply a routine. Monday through Friday, she sits in a classroom,  but on Saturday and Sunday Danielle can be found in her kayak. In her sport, there is no coach, no whistle, no referee; it is a fight to the finish against the unruly white water rapids.
 Growing up, Danielle would go to local pools to practice basic skills. She also competed in races designed for young kayakers. In those races, she often placed very high, which gave her a promising outlook for her future in kayaking. She started paddling in small play boats as a beginner. She bobbed in shallow water while receiving lessons from her father, who is also an avid kayaker. Calm water was ideal for practicing, but Danielle was ready for a challenge once she ...more

Kayak gold medallist faces doping probe

 

Australian Canoeing says London Olympics kayak gold medallist Tate Smith has been provisionally suspended pending an investigation by the Australian Sports Anti-Doping Authority.

Chief executive Greg Doyle issued a statement saying Australian Canoeing is aware of media reports about Smith, who was a member of the Australian team that won the K4 event in London in 2012.

If Smith is found guilty of breaching the World Anti-Doping Agency code, he would reportedly become the first Australian gold medallist to be banned for using performance-enhancing drugs.

Brisbane's Courier Mail newspaper said the 32-year-old Smith tested positive for a banned substance during a training camp in Hungary in July. The newspaper said Smith could lose his London medal and faces a two-year ban which would prevent him defending his title in Rio de Janiero.

The Courier Mail quoted a spokesperson as saying the Australian Olympic Committee is "aware of the investigation and we are following it closely."

The newspaper said Smith had not returned its phone calls and ASADA had issued a statement saying it was unable to discuss operational matters.

Doyle said Australian Canoeing "is unable to make any comment in ...more

Grandmother kayaking to Guatemala to aid kids

 

What could inspire a 63-year-old grandmother to paddle a kayak 2,500 miles on a yearlong trip from Maine to Guatemala?

For Deb Walters, the motivation came from her experiences with residents of a gritty neighborhood perched at the edge of a festering garbage dump in the heart of Guatemala City.

Nearly 10,000 people, including about 1,000 children, live alongside the dump, where they scavenge and recycle trash for a living, and sleep in huts made of scavenged metal, bits of cloth and plastic tarps. They are called guajeros, or ...more

Tampa's Mary Mangiapia aims for kayaking history

 

"I had no choice," said the 28-year-old from Tampa who hopes to be the first woman to complete the 1,500-mile Florida Circumnavigational Saltwater Paddling Trail. "But they were stranded and needed help."

The man and the woman told Mangiapia, who started her expedition Sept. 6 near the Alabama border, that their personal watercraft broke down Monday afternoon. They spent the night on a sandbar and tried to flag down passing boaters all day Tuesday off of Tarpon Springs.

"When I found them that evening they were trying to swim for it," Mangiapia said. "So I helped get ...more

Racer Spotlight: Carter Johnson - surfer, kayaker, record-holder

 
Name: Carter Johnson
Age: 39 on Sunday, Oct. 6

City/State: Sausalito, CA.

Boat: Huki Surf Ski 21 ft.

Race: Extreme Unlimited

Business: Manages a team of software developers for a Wells Fargo Bank.

Family: Single

Race wins/races: 2014 US and Canadian Surf Ski World Cup  

Like to Kayak: Very big waves at some tropical place. I would like to do a tour a week, and spend each week at a different Caribbean Island.

Race Strategy: I haven’t been able to train like I want to for this race. At my age I have to acknowledge I can go as good as I can go, without breaking myself, and know it was the hardest I could have gone.  

How/When, Why did you get started kayaking? First I was a gymnast at Purdue University. I participated in triathlons and road biking and I found that these sports had the adventure I was seeking but not the endurance and strength level. I found all the other sports had one or two but not all three. At the age of 28, I started kayaking and found it to have all three and it ...more

Body of male kayaker pulled from Credit River

 

Peel Regional Police are investigating after a body was pulled from the Credit River in Mississauga on Wednesday.

Officers received calls from two passersby who reported they had seen a body in the river at about 2 p.m.

Police confirmed the body of an adult male kayaker was pulled from the river near Front St. N. and Lakeshore Rd. E. after an overturned kayak was discovered partially floating along the shore.

Police are not releasing the man’s name, but said he was in his 40s. An autopsy is scheduled for Thursday.

According to police, a forensic identification unit, the criminal investigation bureau and a marine unit were at the scene, and officers were actively looking for any surveillance footage that might help the investigation and give officers a timeline of events.

Officers are also urging any witnesses to ...more

Nayaug Kayak and Canoe race set for Oct. 18

 

Organizers are gearing up for the 26th annual Nayaug Kayak and Canoe Race on Oct. 18, and are encouraging boaters of all ages, levels and abilities to take part in the fun-filled day on the Connecticut River.A pancake breakfast, served by the South Glastonbury Fire Department, will begin at 9 a.m., and registration takes place starting at 9:30. The 5- and 8-mile races begin together at 11 a.m. and the family-friendly Fun Paddle (about 1 mile) starts at 12:30 p.m.
The race's organizing committee's treasurer, Joe Damon, said the event typically attracts about 30 participants, but the hope is this year's number will be larger.
"We're hoping to make it bigger," he said. "We're hoping for 50, 60 or 70."
The Nayaug race is one of many sanctioned by the New England Canoe and Kayak Racing Association, and craft of all kinds are ...more

Kayaking offriver/offsea ONROAD !

Yann Huot posted an online video of him paddling down a flooded street in Montpellier Monday. The coastal city received about a dozen inches of rain on Monday — about half of its yearly average. 

 Record rainfall in the south of France enabled a couple of men to kayak down the street.

French resident Yann Huot posted an online video of himself kayaking in the middle of the street in the French city of ...more

Promising Penzance teen paddlers asked to join up with Team England for surf kayak competition

 

Two promising teenage paddlers from west Cornwall are due to join up with the England Surf Kayaking Team this weekend as they face the best of the Welsh, Scots and Irish surk kayakers.
Torran James, from Alverton, has been picked to represent Team England’s junior section in the Home Internationals.
And Jack Williams, from Goldsithney, has been asked to train with the squad and gain valuable experience as he continues to develop as a paddler.
The pair – both members of Penzance Canoe Club who developed their skills surfing at Sennen, Godrevy and Gwenver every weekend – will travel up to the gathering in ...more

Last Chute Out of 2014 and Final Point Standings

 

The last Chute Out of 2014 was held Sept. 25th at the MD Chute. The lack of rain meant that the level would be low, 2.7ft to be exact. That meant that retentive moves would be hard to come by at the MD Chute. The lack of daylight would also force us to get the event started early, which wouldn’t be a problem.

Some folks would be basking in the Gauley afterglow ( I know I was ), and we were not expecting a big crowd due to that and the water level, but seven hardy competitors showed up nonetheless on an overcast, drizzly, kinda fall like day.

We all managed to have a great time and wrapped up the Chute Out Series on a high note. To reward the folks for participating, we had a double round of the raffle, so ...more

A canoeing legend who once wrestled a bear — and won

 

Mike Herbert is a three-time Olympian in sprint kayaking and has won 27 American crowns, but he is just as well-known among his peers as the paddler who once bested a bear with his bare hands.

Call him the Daniel Boone of kayaking. Herbert likes to hunt and prefers wild game for healthy eating. He once ran with the bulls in Pamplona. And he has wrestled and pinned a bear.

Herbert burst on the national kayaking scene in the late ’80s, an athlete who came not from an established canoe/kayak club on the east or west coasts, but from the Ozark Mountains of ...more

American Whitewater Gauley Fest 2014

 

Gauley Fest 2014 has come and gone and once again Kokatat was there to support the event and American Whitewater. Here are few pictures from the WorldKayak Gauley First Timer’s trip. Kokatat has been a WorldKayak sponsor for a number of years and their team paddlers help out as guides for the trip, making a number of peoples first time down the Gauley fun and safe ...more

Also posted on playak.com

Kayak Fisherman Shocked When Bull Shark Jumps Out Of Water To Steal His Fish

 

Angler Jason Downs was fishing from his kayak near Navarre Beach in Florida and reeling in a 10-pound grouper when he was greeted by a bull shark jumping out of the water to steal his catch.

One of the beauties of kayak fishing is how in tune you are with everything; the fight is more exaggerated because the fish drags the kayak around, you’re burning more calories by using your core to keep your kayak afloat, and you’re sitting inches off of the water. It’s all pretty exciting even when there aren’t leaping sharks involved.

AdaptNetwork has the story on Jason Downs:

Kayak fisherman Jason Downs was fishing off Navarre Beach on the Emerald Coast of Florida. He had hooked a 12-pound grouper but was not the only one looking for a fish at the time. A bull shark had also decided that that grouper would make a tasty meal and suddenly leapt out of the water next to Jason’s kayak to attack and devour the ...more

Old School Boaters Celebrate Return of Worlds to U.S.

 

When the Whitewater Slalom World Championships come to Western Maryland Sept. 17-21, 30 miles away in Ohiopyle, Penn., a different set of paddlers, many of them retired slalom racers, will be reminiscing about the good ol’ days on the river. In an event being organized by former racer David Curran, the Old School Boater Gathering is drawing racers from as far back as the ‘60s – even a few who competed in the 1972 Olympics – for a get-together Sept. 20 at Wilderness Voyageurs’ Falls City Restaurant in Ohiopyle at 5 p.m. Beforehand, for those still able to fasten their skirts, there will be an unofficial Yough Loop paddle at 2 p.m. We caught up with organizer Curran for his rationale behind the rendezvous…

Canoe & Kayak: How’d you come up with the idea?

David Curran: The Worlds haven’t been here in 25 years when they were held on the Savage River in 1989. The location is near the Yough, a place many East Coasters cut their teeth learning the sport. So it got me thinking. Since it’s a drivable event, perhaps a bunch of folks would like to get together at a place they have fond memories of: the Yough. Tom Southworth, an Olympian from 1971, told me, “My wife, Nancy, and I met on the Yough! The first time I laid eyes on her she was out in the river below the falls ...more

Extreme kayaker braves Tahquamenon Falls

 

For most people, falling over a rushing waterfall into a river sounds like their worst nightmare, but for extreme kayakers, like 28-year-old Marcelo Galizio from Brazil, it's what they live for.

"This kayak was made for waterfalls and steep creeks," says Galizio.

It's exactly what he is going to need when he rides his kayak over Tahquamenon's Upper Falls. 

"I really love what I do and I get super excited. I've been waiting two months here in the U.P. just waiting for rain, for the water levels to run this waterfall."

Tahquamenon's 51 foot drop poses no threat to Marcelo, who's kayaked over 100 waterfalls around the world in ...more

Kayaking the Katherine River

 

AS I SIP ON MY morning coffee and pore over the day’s headlines, a menacing photograph grabs my eye. A large saltwater croc is lunging from the cover of the NT News. Its enormous mouth is open wide, revealing sharp teeth that hint at the crushing power of mighty jaws. Alongside the image, the ­Darwin-based newspaper’s cover line reads: “Kids use live dogs for croc bait”. I suddenly feel a bit sick. I’m about to embark on a three-day kayaking trip down the Katherine River: was this a sensible decision?

Under normal circumstances, such an image would send me packing. Instead, I rationalise that the ­Katherine is a freshwater river so there won’t be any salties lurking in its depths. Right? I tell myself this again, later in the morning, as I board a coach headed for a popular kayaking spot on the outskirts of Katherine township, about 320km south-east
of Darwin.

Three and a half hours later, after a drive through the lush savannah woodlands of the Top End, I’m met by tour guide Collin Jerram. Clad in ...more

Kayaking for science

 

TYBEE ISLAND, Ga- For 16 years kayak races have been used to raise money 

for the Tybee Island Marine Science Center. 

The staff depend on these local fundraisers to operate on a daily basis.

Debbie Kearney helps organize the Tybee Island Kayak Races. 

She believes in supporting the center that does so much for the community. 

The center is home to dozens of sea critters and hosts a variety of educational programs throughout the year.

Beth Palmer works at the science center. She says the support from the community 

has gone a long way for the last 16 years.

“It’s greatly needed because we have a ...more

The Valley Mill August MD Chute Out: “Do it for the Love!”

 

The August MD Chute out usually has a few things you can count on;

1) low water levels

2) heat and humidity

3) low attendance

This August Chute Out would have one out of three, but a great crowd showed up, with 18 competitors and we had great weather for the end of summer. We had full classes in just about every category; Juniors, K1A, K1B, C1, with the exception of K1w.

With the level being just under 2.9ft, the only play spot would be the good ol’ MD Chute. The spot would be on the very low side of good, but even with it not being “ideal” by any means, there were some impressive moves being thrown nonetheless. Local paddler Jordan Poffenberger (current National and World Champion in C1 managed to get some sweet McNasties out of the feature)

We had a big B-class with six competitors who were also throwin down some nice cartwheels and even going for loops on occasion. The rock was definitely in play, however, so once in a while a nice THUMP would be heard when someone was too far left with that cartwheel or loop, and a chuckle would be heard from the crowd.

In the junior class we had Maddie Kimmel, Tom Dolan, and Kaelin Friedenson. These kids were impressive! Kailin’s score would’ve placed him in 3rd in the men’s B class!

The format called for three 30 second rides, with your two ...more

Grand Isle creates a special place to launch kayaks

 

Responding to a growing trend of kayak use, 

Grand Isle now has a launch that caters to the small boats.

The launch, now considered temporary, is on the back bay, 

beside LSU's new oyster hatchery building on Ludwig Lane.

“Five or six years ago, if you saw a kayak it was crazy. 

When you'd see one you'd say, Whoa, these guys are nuts,” 

said Buggy Vegas, owner of Bridgeside Marina in Grand Isle. 

“Now you see them all summer out here. It has really picked up in the past two years.”

Vegas said the trend was likely spurred by kayak fishing rodeos that 

have grown each year. He noted the ...more

Whitewater kayaking at Stone Valley in Colton during Labor Day Weekend

 

COLTON -- Summer activities conclude in Colton during Labor Day weekend featuring whitewater kayaking at the Stone Valley section of the Racquette River.

The last two of six releases this summer by Brookfield Renewable Energy take place Saturday, Aug. 30 and Monday, Sept. 1. The largest turnout is expected on Saturday when paddlers will be doing timed runs on the class 5 section of the river which begins just below the dam.

Expert kayakers are expected from eastern United States and Canada for the predictable and challenging conditions at Stone Valley on release days. They start around 10 a.m. when the water is at the full release level. Beforehand spectators will see paddlers hiking the trails to check conditions of the river.

On Saturday and Monday, the town’s Tourism & Beautification Committee will have a tent set up and staffed by volunteers at the main trailhead at the end of Riverside Drive just past the fire station. A variety of free information including brochures with maps of the Raquette River and Stone Valley published by Brookfield will be available.

Also DVDs of the Raquette River produced by WPBS, Colton tee shirts and other products will be available to purchase. Nearby, on ...more

Enjoy whitewater tricks at freestyle championships

 

WAUSAU – The Cartwheel and Space Godzilla are just two of the trick moves expected this weekend at Wausau Whitewater Park. Paddlers throughout the Midwest will come to Wausau Whitewater Park to perform freestyle moves this Saturday and Sunday during the Midwest Freestyle Championships.

Spectators are welcome, and seating is available along the course on the east channel of the Wisconsin River. Wausau Whitewater Park is located along River Drive, southwest of the Marathon County Public Library. Most of the action for this two-day event will take place just west of the Marathon County office building and the Hangar Lounge Restaurant & Banquet Hall. Food vendor and restrooms are conveniently located on site.

The kayakers, in their covered boats, will ride the ...more

Community Paddle: Final 2014 event part of Michigan Maritime Celebration on Saturday

 

MUSKEGON, MI – The third and final Community Paddle on Muskegon Lake this summer will launch Saturday, Aug. 16 as part of the revamped Michigan Maritime Celebration.

Paddlers will begin to gather at the city of Muskegon's Harbour Towne Beach on the west end of Muskegon Lake at 9:30 a.m. The Community Paddle will take off from the beach at approximately 10 a.m.

A new Michigan Maritime Celebration kayak race will take place after the approximately hour and a half of paddle on Muskegon Lake right in front of the Harbour Towne Beach.

The Community Paddle and the Michigan Maritime Celebration are events of Muskegon Lake Effect Boating – a promotional group that has been advancing Muskegon Lake's recreational boating for three years. The Michigan Maritime Celebration is Friday through Sunday, Aug. 15-17, and had been called Muskegon Lake Boat Time the past two years.

"This is just one more maritime event at which we can celebrate our blue economy here in Muskegon and across the ...more

Ten years on, Athens 2004 gives Greece little to cheer

 

It was billed as a chance to transform Greece's image abroad and boost growth but 10 years after the country hosted the world's greatest sporting extravaganza there is little to celebrate at the birthplace of the modern Olympic Games.

Many of the once-gleaming Olympic venues which crackled with activity have been abandoned while others are used occasionally for non-sporting events such as conferences and weddings.

At the former Olympic rowing centre in the town of Marathon, which gave its name to the endurance race, stray dogs play among overgrown weeds as a dozen youths train in the water.

Across the city, the former canoe and kayak venue has dried up, and entire banks of spectators' seats have been ripped out.

Just days before the anniversary of the Aug. 13-29 Games in 2004, and as Brazil gears up for the 2016 Rio Olympics, many question how Greece, among the smallest countries to ever host the Games, has benefited from the multi-billion dollar event.

For Greeks who swelled with pride at the time, the Games are now a source of anger as the country struggles through a six-year depression, record unemployment, homelessness and poverty.

Greece has struggled to generate revenue from the venues.

"Celebrate for what?," said Eleni Goliou, who runs a grocery store in the capital. "They spent money they didn't have - our money, taxpayers' money - on a big party. You see any money left for a celebration?" she asked with a shrug.

After failing in a bid to host the centennial Olympics in ...more

In From the Outdoors: Q&A with Diane Gilman

 

OOTHBAY HARBOR — One kayak camping trip to an island off Acadia National Park is all it took. Diane Gilman was hooked.

That was 10 years ago. Now the Woolwich resident leads paddle tours for land trusts, around islands and on the open ocean. From that first kayak trip to her most recent, Gilman has never tired of the Maine coast. On weekdays she runs the Boothbay Region Land Trust office, but come the weekend, Gilman, 61, is a woman who needs a paddle.

When did you start paddling?

The minute I got into a kayak I felt I had died and gone to heaven. I had heard about ocean kayaking in Bar Harbor. So I went with an outfit that did everything for you. Some offer lodging in B&Bs. That wasn’t for me. There was one that camped on islands and that was appealing. There were about eight of us and none of us had much experience. It was five days and so much fun. I went ...more

Mark de Jonge sets world record in kayak race

 

Halifax's Mark de Jonge set a new world record Saturday in the men's K1 200-metre race, as he advances to the final Sunday.

De Jonge won his semifinal race at the 2014 ICF Canoe Sprint World Championships in Moscow with a time of 33.945 seconds.

That breaks the previous International Canoe Federation record by 0.035 of a second. That record was set in ...more

Kayaker caught on deadly conveyor belt

 

Risk, danger, peril and loss are all hand maidens to exploration kayaking. My friend Bruce and I know this only to well.

In 1996, we were exploring and descending what was to become one of the harder whitewater runs in the country. The mysterious Kokatahi River had sat idle while rivers to the north and south of it were becoming world famous.

It was rumoured to be steep and gnarly with some deep gorges and the fact that the track providing foot access, and possible scouting points, to the valley sidles for the most part high along the massive walls.

I had spent a great deal of time hanging out the helicopter door and scouting from 150 metres up. It looked difficult but possible. The general rule of thumb for helicopter scouting is that if it looks like Class IV from the helicopter it will generally be Class V when you get on the water - the Kokatahi looked like class V from the helicopter. But, most things looked possible.

There were two gorges that were shielded by trees. One was very short and mostly looked like a respite from the kilometres of class V whitewater leading down to it, the ...more