Will Winter Ever End?

We're dreaming of warmer temps, sunny days, and the 34th annual Great Rappahannock Whitewater Canoe Race (GRWCR)! 

This classic Fredericksburg event takes place every year on the first Saturday in June. Races are open to participants of all ages and include both whitewater and flatwater canoeing, kayaking, SUP, and canoe poling competitions.

When: Saturday, June 7th, 2014
Where: Fredericksburg, VA (Old Mill Park)

Online registration will be available in early May, or you may register on-site starting at 7:45 on race day at Old Mill Park.

The GRWCR is part of the ACA's annual Paddle Green Festival--Celebrate the Rapp! This all-day, stewardship-focused festival features environmental education programs, on-water paddling instruction, river clean-ups, and an outdoor showing of the year's best paddling films from around the world (courtesy of the Reel Paddling Film Festival World Tour).

Top 5 Reasons to Attend Paddlefest 2014

This year's CKS Paddlefest is expected to be bigger and better than ever. From May 23-26th, paddling enthusiasts from all over the country will gather in beautiful Buena Vista, Colorado for an action-packed weekend full of outdoor fun!

Here's why you need to check it out:

1. BV Pro Kayaking Rodeo - Watch the best freestyle kayakers from around the world compete in the Buena Vista Whitewater Park in South Main.
2. Gear sales - Get huge savings on the latest gear for 2014.
3. Something for everyone - Are you a flatwater paddler? Kayak fisher? Whitewater enthusiast? Paddlefest has it all. And you may even be inspired to try something new!
4. Evening fun - The fun doesn't stop at sundown. Live music and various film screenings will continue into the night. And the whole event is family-friendly.
5. For a good cause - Registration for CKS Paddlefest supports the Boys and Girls Clubs of Chaffee County and the Buena Vista Optimist Club. 

The ACA is an official sponsor of this event. If you decide to attend, please stop by our booth to say hello! We look forward to seeing you.

Announcing the 2014 Alabama Cup Racing Series!

The ACA is proud to be one of the sponsors of the Alabama Cup Racing Series, consisting of the following events: 

Locust Fork Invitational- February 1-2, 2014

Mulberry Fork Canoe & Kayak Race- March 1-2, 2014

Locust Fork Classic - March 22-23, 2014

Come out and meet other paddlers while testing out your skills! Courses consist of about 25 gates set on class II/III rapids approximately one hundred yards long. Each event also features a raffle, silent auction, food, live entertainment, awards banquet, environmental education, and more. 

Read more about it and register here. See you at the starting line!

When Giving Up Just Isn't an Option

This is a guest post by Natty Cordon, a disabled whitewater kayaker from Bath, England. 

I guess it's not often that people get to achieve their wildest dreams as a result of their worst nightmare. I'm pretty lucky in that respect. 

In 2010, I injured my right leg and my life changed forever. Unable to walk on my leg now, I use elbow crutches to get around. 

Natty having a look at the 70 footer on the Middle Palguin in Chile.

The nightmare for me was seeing people do all of these things that I couldn't do anymore. Up until my accident, I had lived for sports. When that was suddenly taken away, it felt like my body was holding me back from being myself. 

I quickly realized that although I had to learn how to live in a different way, I was still the same person. I needed adventure in my life. I started kayaking. 

My first time paddling on whitewater gave me the sense of adventure and independence I had been longing for. It's hard to me to describe the freedom I feel when I'm on the water. It just feels right. I am no longer defined by my disability. My kayak becomes a part of my body and I can excel.  

Dropping in on the 70 footer on the Middle Palguin.

I didn't realize what I was doing was that different, until people started telling me how inspired they were. I have such an awesome group of paddling friends. I just feel like part of the team. We all help each other to achieve our dreams. I just need a little more help than most people do.

When I first came out of the hospital after my accident, if someone had told me that in a few years time I would be shooting a 70 foot waterfall in Chile and featuring in the same race winners table as Evan Garcia, there's no way I would have believed it. 

I now know that if I whole-heartedly believe in my dreams, anything is possible. 

I can't wait for my next adventure. 

Natty Cordon sustained a life-changing injury in 2010 at the age of 20. Today, she lives for whitewater kayaking, a sport that liberates her from her disability. You can find out more about Natty on her website: www.nattycordonkayaking.com

Want to share your story with other paddlers? Email clloyd@americancanoe.org 

Congratulations to January Kokatat Instructor of the Month, Hunter Yarborough!

Hunter is an ACA certified whitewater canoe and whitewater kayaking instructor. He can be seen paddling and instructing all over Western North Carolina, his favorite place to paddle.

Learn more about Hunter...

The ACA would like to thank Kokatat for sponsoring the Instructor of the Month program. Do you know someone who deserves to be recognized? Submit a nomination here!

Congratulations to December Kokatat Instructor of the Month, Dan Cox!

Dan has been paddling for the past 15 years, and began "messing about in canoes" when he was young. After being inspired by video footage of rafts on the Zambezi River, and after watching whitewater paddling in the Olympics, Dan was hooked on kayaking.

Learn more about Dan's story...

The ACA would like to extend a big thank you to Kokatat for sponsoring our Instructor of the Month program. Do you know someone who deserves to be recognized? Submit a nomination here!

Send us Your Best Paddling Photos

It doesn't matter if you're new to paddlesports, an experienced instructor, or somewhere in between-- the ACA wants to see you in action! 

Upload photos of your latest paddling adventure here, and tell us why you love being an ACA member. 

We'll feature your picture and story on our blog, Facebook page, and/or print publications.

Check out Sundance Kayak School

Founded in 1973, Sundance Kayak School was created for one specific reason: to be the nation's premier whitewater kayak school by offering the most thorough introductory program possible, consistently improving their teaching methods, demonstrating professionalism both on and off the water, and having tons of fun!

Sundance offers both camp-based and lodge-based kayak schools on the Rogue River as well as other rivers around the Pacific Northwest. Whether you're a first-time beginner, or an expert looking to perfect your technique, Sundance courses are ideal for helping you reach your paddling goals. 

The company also offers rowing schools, ACA instructor certifications, and SUP.

Learn more about Sundance Kayak School...

Raff Taff - ACA Pro School

RAFFTAFF, located in the south-west corner of Germany, provides open canoe, sea kayak, swiftwater rescue and SUP skills courses and assessments. ACA Instructor Trainer Raphael Kuner offers instructor certifications as well as trip leading assessments. They are one of the rare places in Europe to get ACA SUP instruction; and due to the fact that Raphael is the one and only ACA swiftwater-rescue instructor in Europe, the only school to get ACA rescue instruction. Besides this, their canoe camp is right in the middle of the Black Forest and their home base is located at the river Rhine. These are perfect places for canoeing, SUPing and kayaking. 

To learn more about this ACA Pro Schools visit www.rafftaff.de or www.americancanoe.org/proschools

REI Outdoor School - ACA Pro School

Ready to launch into a new outdoor activity or advance in one you already enjoy? REI Outdoor Schools can get you on your way! They offer beginning to advanced-level classes and outings in kayaking, rock climbing, mountain biking, navigation, snowshoeing, road cycling, backpacking and more. And you don’t need a lot of equipment to participate: they provide kayaks, bikes, snowshoes, GPS units and other gear. And most importantly, their professional instructors are committed to sharing their knowledge and ensuring an enjoyable experience for every participant.

To learn more about this ACA Pro School visit www.rei.com/outdoorschool or www.americancanoe.org/proschools.

• Atlanta, GA: Atlanta-OS@rei.com
• Boston, MA (New England): NewEngland-OS@rei.com
• Chicago, IL: Chicago-OS@rei.com
• Denver, CO: Denver-OS@rei.com
• Los Angeles, CA: LosAngeles-OS@rei.com
• Washington DC / Virginia / Maryland: DC-OS@rei.com
• Minneapolis / St Paul, MN: Minneapolis-OS@rei.com
• New York – Tri State: NewYork-OS@rei.com
• Portland, OR: Portland-OS@rei.com
• San Diego, CA: SanDiego-OS@rei.com
• San Francisco Bay, CA: SanFrancisco-OS@rei.com
• Seattle, WA – Puget Sound: Seattle-OS@rei.com
• Sacramento, CA – Reno, NV (Sierra): Sierra-OS@rei.com

Conservation Newsroom

Check out the Conservation Newsroom!

The Conservation Newsroom is the newest section on the Stewardship webpage.  Click on the link to check out the new articles relating to NOAA Marine Debris Program, the White River being designated as the second National Blueway, and the Chesapeake Bay Executive Order Report.

Sugar is Sweet

Did you know that ACA members have an exclusive vacation benefit? It's called Sugar Island, in the heart of the Thousand Islands chain on the St. Lawrence River. You may visit any time during the season, but you'll get to know about the ACA--and the "Sugar Islanders"--more by visiting during the annual encampment, this year taking place July 26 through August 9. Prices are very affordable, but you have to be an ACA member to visit.

The beauty of the island is that it's entirely rustic, and about as primitive as you can get when it comes to camping. Still, the islanders know a thing or two about good times, especially the Thursday night pot luck. You're also within a mile or two of shore, where the Misty Islands Resort provides many amenities (and a place to park so you can drive into Gananoque, Ontario, when you need a dose of urban life, or a few groceries).

For beginners, there's plenty of gentle-water coves to explore. Or you can opt to take a lesson in canoe-sailing from a friendly islander. The wildlife is astounding, and I hear the fishing is great, too.

I visited last year with my family, and my oldest daughter keeps asking when we're going back. I'm just about to make a call to reserve a spot.

Happy paddling!

Martin A. Bartels
ACA Executive Director

How we work for you

This has been an inspiring weekend for Americans, but especially so if you live in the DC region (ACA offices are in Fredericksburg, Virginia, about an hour south of DC). 

Regardless of your political persuasion, if you paddle, you're probably well aware of the many issues that combine to create pressure on our recreational waterways. Environmental concerns, world energy needs, and development all influence your experiences in canoes, kayaks, and rafts. It doesn't stop there: motorized boating regulations, navigability, and even Homeland Security concerns all have impacts on where you paddle.

You may not be as aware of the long, proud history of the American Canoe Association in advocacy and stewardship. The ACA works with local paddle clubs to establish water trails that increase paddling opportunities and help protect fragile waterway environments. We work closely with the U.S. Coast Guard and other legislative bodies at the national, state, and local levels to help mitigate the impact of regulations, while keeping our mission of paddler safety as a priority. We work at the federal level to help influence government spending on critical environmental protection initiatives. And, we partner with other like-minded nonprofits around the country to represent the millions of people who love outdoor recreation.

When you support the ACA, you not only support our daily mission and operations. You help make your back yard a better, safer place to paddle.

Happy paddling!

Martin Bartels

ACA Executive Director

New things @ americancanoe.org

ACA staff members are excited about our new website. We've made everything easier to navigate, and raised the profile of some of our great membership benefits. Did you know, for instance, that ACA members have exclusive access to ACA's Sugar Island (pictured above) on the St. Lawrence River? It's an incredible experience, and the local canoe-sailing and kayaking is phenomenal.

We've also added new pages on all of the various paddling disciplines, from surf kayaking to the elegant freestyle canoeing. You can access some awesome videos through that page, too. In fact, keep your eyes open over the next couple of months: freestyle canoeing will be featured on the Discovery Channel program, "Wreckreation Nation" (Tuesdays at 10pm)!

Happy paddling!

Martin A. Bartels

ACA Executive Director 

 

New Year, New Website, New Blog

Welcome to the American Canoe Association Water Blog. We'll take a slightly different approach to the usual blog in the sense that these entries will be written collectively by ACA staff.

For those of you who know us, we hope you'll visit our blog often for event updates, tips, and favorite paddling spots.

For those of you who don't know us, we're located in Fredericksburg, Virginia, along the Rappahannock River. Founded in 1880, the ACA is one of the most enduring outdoor recreation nonprofits--501(c)(3)--organizations around. We work to keep people safe on the water, whether canoeing, kayaking, or rafting. 

There are more than 4,000 ACA-certified paddlesport instructors out there, so odds are if you're interested in the sport there's someone near you who can help you get started. We also support more than 150 Paddle America clubs. Visit the ACA website at www.americancanoe.org for more information and to become a member.

Meanwhile, happy paddling!