Call it the “kayak coast”

 

North Carolina’s coastal waters provide a perfect kayak and canoe angling environment, if you know where to go. With the barrier islands, the Intracoastal Waterway and hundreds of feeder creeks, rivers, inlets, and backwaters, getting the plastic and fiberglass hulls salty should not be an issue. 

Wrightsville Beach has already established itself as a premiere paddleboard location, holding the Carolina Cup, which brings in paddleboard competitors, from all over the world to race around Harbour Island, Money Island or Wrightsville Beach for up to 13 miles.

But this is about fishing, and the same thing that brings the competition brings in the ...more

Whistling kayaker rescued

 

 A man who became lost in the fog while kayaking on Lake Michigan early Wednesday afternoon was rescued by a county marine patrol boat.

 

Police said the 42-year-old man from the east side of the state was visiting the Holland area this week to kayak on Lake Michigan. The man left the Holland pier to kayak south toward Saugatuck when the fog rolled in, and he became disoriented approximately two miles south of the Holland pier.
The man had a cellphone with him, in which he used to call 911 at about 1:20 p.m. Sgt. Cal Keuning of the Ottawa County Sheriff’s Department said a deputy on ...more

Rocky rush to gold

 

Caroline Williams runs half-marathons to get in shape for the real competition: whitewater canoeing.

The Morrisville mother of four brought home a gold medal in tandem canoeing with her paddling partner, Natalie Thomas, during the U.S. slalom Nationals last month. She also scored a silver medal in the singles race.

It’s a fast-paced, wild, crazy-looking sport.

“Most people look at it and think it’s like a Disney World ride,” said Williams, 33, who picked up the sport in high school.

Williams grew up in Pittsburgh, Pa., and started her racing career through the beginners Pennsylvania Cup. She now regularly participates in the New England slalom series, 10 regional races held in the fall and the spring.

In slalom whitewater canoeing, racers navigate a series of “gates,” vertical poles hanging over the water, as quickly as possible. A race typically features between 18 and 25 gates, which are green upstream and red downstream.

Although Williams said she doesn’t train in the water that often because of her commitments as a wife and mother, she stays in shape through cross-training.

In preparation for nationals, Williams skied, ran half-marathons — 13.1 miles — and performed strength-training exercises. She plans to ...more

Kayak for a Kure to help cure diabetes

 

Larry Branson realized it about seven years ago while at a banquet: Something was missing when it came to American Diabetes Association area fundraising in this water-rich community of ocean and rivers.

He knows of locals, like himself, who are avid kayakers, and wanted a paddler-friendly fundraising event.

“You know this is a great water community,” Branson said.

With Branson’s help, such an occasion is now seven years strong.

The seventh annual Hugh H. Armstrong Sr. Memorial Kayak for A Kure includes a 3-mile paddle down the ...more

Kayaking for Guatemala Garbage Dump Kids

 

In mid-July Dr. Deborah Walters, a 63-year-old grandmother, launched a kayaking trip 2500 miles from Maine to Guatemala, solo. No stranger to wilderness, she once camped alone near polar bears on a six-week expedition to the Arctic. Now she's paddling to raise awareness for Safe Passage, an education program for the severely impoverished families who live inside the teeming garbage dumps near Guatemala City.
Dr. Walter's trip has been seven years in the making. "Safe Passage is dear to my heart. I knew I had to get involved," she said.
For example, on August 7 she will land at Center Point in Pleasure Bay in South Boston and will do four presentation events in ...more

20th 'Round the Islands' canoe race is Saturday in Colton

COLTON -- The 20th annual ‘Round the Islands Canoe Race is slated for Aug. 2 at 10 a.m. and will feature a variety of races, fireworks and food.

The Higley Association will sponsor the popular family oriented ‘Round the Islands Canoe and Kayak Race.” Registration will be from 9 to 10 a.m.

The race will begin and end at Brookfield Power’s “Big Rock” picnic area and boat launch off Pine Road. The adult and youth races will take paddlers on a scenic tour of a portion of Higley Flow. The child’s race is one mile in length with the longer race proceeding over a four mile course.

The race is described as recreational with a class for every paddler. There are six classes with more added on race day to ...more

Canoe/Kayak Sprint National Championships at Lake Lanier a reunion of sorts

The Lake Lanier Olympic Venue was buzzing Wednesday morning.

Canoe and kayak paddlers from across the country unloaded their equipment and took to the water to practice as music played. Teenagers, coaches and parents reconnected with familiar faces.

But the real blitz begins Thursday as the USA Canoe/Kayak Sprint National Championships get underway at the LLOV. Teams from Hawaii, California, Washington state, Michigan, Oklahoma, Florida and Washington, D.C., are set to compete alongside the host Lanier Canoe and Kayak Club as the event, which features about 500 paddlers, runs through Saturday.

Then, the Masters Sprint National Championships will be held on Lake Lanier on Sunday.

For many, this national championship is ...more