How did you celebrate New Years Day?

Some paddlers got an early start on the paddling season. Here is a sampling of some of this year’s events:

• Michigan:
  Michigan had a 1 and a half mile paddle down the Huron River. This paddling event which has been going on since 1975 was organized by the University of Michigan Raw Strength and Courage Kayaking Club. The temperature for New Years Day was 24 degrees.
• Minnesota:
  St Paul Minnesota had their annual New Year’s Day Paddle down the Mississippi River at Hidden Falls Park. Canoes and Kayaks have participated in this event for the last 15 years with temperature at 23 degrees for the day.
• Chicago:
  For 23 years paddlers have paddled the North Branch of the Chicago River. This year there was over 200 paddlers. The Forest Preserve of Cook County Sponsored this event providing shuttles and portable toilets.
• New Hampshire:
• The Merrimack Valley Paddlers and Friends of the Winnipesaukee River had their annual New Years Day Paddle on the Winnipesaukee River in Tilton, Northfield and Franklin, New Hampshire. Novice and intermediate boaters paddled the Upper Winnipesaukee river and expert boaters paddled the Lower Winnipesaukee river. Paddlers had class III and IV rapids.The purpose of the paddle was to draw attention to the proposal for scheduled water releases for white water paddling during the summer.

Did you paddle on New Year’s Day? Tell us about your New Year’s Day Kayak and Canoe event by leaving a comment on this post.

Dates for the 2009 Paddlefest on the Ohio River have been set: June 26 and 27

Paddlefest is a great paddling event for paddlers of all ages - whether you kayak or canoe - there is even a kid’s expo.  It is also a great way to get to know more about the Ohio River Way and all the work that is being done to promote it as a great place to spend time on the water and to protect it, keeping it clean and safe for generations to come.

Come to Cincinnati to enjoy two days of paddling, education, entertainment, competition and camaraderie.

Registration for the even begins in January 09, so mark your calendars!

For more information on the 2009 Ohio River Paddlefest, please visit the official website at www.OhioRiverWay.org

This just in from the organizers:

New for 2009:

• Expanded boat demo and on-water “Smart Start” classes at Lake Como during the day and early evening at Paddlefest on Friday, June 26.
• Inaugural Ohio River Dragon Boat races on Saturday, June 27 in front of the Serpentine Wall.
• Swim 2009 will take place again next year. In our inaugural year, over 70 participants swam the Ohio River!

If you have an event you’d like us to promote on BornToPaddle.com, please send it to us using our handy contact form: Click here to contact us!

Check out some of the kayak and canoe races and events that are happening all over the U.S.

New York Mayors Cup Kayak Race

New York:

If you live in or around New York City you may want to attend or enter the Mayor’s Cup - New York City Kayak Championship, Sunday, October 19th.

This is an elite 26.7 mile kayaking race around Manhattan Island. This event will draw some of the world’s and the region’s most accomplished paddlers. The course will offer some of the most challenging water in the region.

This event has an elite class and sea kayak class.

• The elite class comprises of nationally ranked and /or highly competitive paddlers.
• Participants for the sea kayak class, need to qualify through regional training centers or meet race participation guidelines.

If your not an experienced racing competitor this race may not be for you, but it sounds like an exciting race to watch. Registration closes Monday, October 13th. There is no race day registration.

Florida:

The 3rd annual Calusa Blueway Paddling Festival will take place between October 25 and November 2nd in Lee County Florida, in the waterfront communities of Pine Island, Fort Myers Beach, Sanibel and Captiva islands, Bonita Springs and Estero, Cape Coral, North Fort Myers, Fort Myers, Alva and Buckingham.

This festival celebrates Southwest Florida’s 190 mile marked paddling trail, The Great Calusa Blueway. Festival goers and paddlers will be able to participate in a wide variety of events and activities countywide. There will be nine days of festivities, including competitive canoe, kayak races, a pro-am kayak fishing tournament, paddling clinics, family activities and more.

Click here to see our dedicated Great Calusa Blueway page.

California:

27th Annual Sea Trek Regatta and ETC Paddle-a-Thon, Saturday October 25, 2008 on San Francisco Bay, is the West Coast’s largest and most popular event of the year. The annual Sea Trek Regatta and Paddle-a-Thon is a challenging day of paddling on San Francisco Bay. The event raises money for Environmental Traveling Companions’ (ETC) accessible outdoor adventure programs. This event has race classes and courses for paddlers looking to race competitively and paddlers who are new to the sport.

Sea Trek Regatta - San Francisco Bay

The Paddle-a-Thon is much like a walk-a-Thon only on water. Paddlers of all abilities are encouraged to recruit family, friends and colleagues to sponsor their paddling miles and in turn support accessible adventures for people with disabilities and inner-city youth.

****REMEMBER*** If you can’t paddle these or any events for any reason, but would still like to participate, you can always volunteer! Many kayak, canoe and paddle events and races are run by small staffs and volunteers, most probably by volunteers alone. So be sure to inquire at any event and lend a hand. It will be appreciated, and its a great way to get family and friends involved too.

Click here to find more information on all these events and their links on our Kayak, Canoe Races and Events page.

Click here to find Places to Paddle in every US state.

Got an event or a great place to paddle that you’d like to promote? Send us the information by clicking here and using our easy Contact Form. We may post it right here on our kayak, canoe and paddle blog!

Kayak the Hudson at NYC Waterfest

Kayak, Canoe, Row and Raft New York City’s Hudson River! Event Date: October 12, 2008.

Riverkeeper, New York’s #1 water protector has put together this fantastic event on the Hudson River to raise awareness about New York City water - the water we play in, the water that surrounds us, and the water that we drink.

Be sure to read all about the events available, get registered and enjoy The Paddle Rally - a day of on the water activities for all kayakers, canoers, rowers, rafters and stand up paddlers.

***The organizers are offering a two for one special on registrations for most events!***

The Paddle Rally will have several events for advanced and beginner kayakers, some require you to bring your own gear, others offer gear if you’re a beginner:
(all information here is re-printed courtesy of NYWaterFest.org)

Poker Run

Play to Win! The Poker Run is a paddle rally that travels to five different locations to draw five different playing cards along the east shore of the Hudson River in the NY Harbor.  At the end of the event your poker run hand is turned in and cash prizes are awarded for the highest and the lowest five card draw poker hands. This is not a race.  Participants travel at their own speed. There is no benefit to being “first” to any of the card stops. Paddling experience is required. This activity allows all intermediate and advanced paddlers to experience the dynamic water of the Hudson River in the NY Harbor. Put in where you want and get to all five stops before 3:00pm. The best route is to get to 79th St. Boat Basin by 10am and paddle south with the current to NCM. North Cove Marina has to be your last stop between 2:00pm and 3:00pm. Check the tides and currents web page for more information. Feel free to call Johnny at 518-424-3986 if you need help.

Time: 10:00am to 3:00PM

Game: Five Card Draw with a $750 cash pot.

Cost: $50, Two for One Special, Includes T-shirt and Gourmet lunch at North Cove Marina.

Card Stops on the Hudson River:

1. 79th Street Boat Basin - start at 10am
2. Pier 96 - Downtown Boathouse
3. Pier 66 - New York River Sports
4. Pier 40 - New York Kayak Company
5. North Cove Marina, last stop between 2:00pm and 3:00pm

How to Play:

* Check the tides and currents and then put in and take out where it is convenient for you. The easiest thing to do is put in either at North Cove Marina or Pier 40 early in the morning and paddle north with current to 79th St. Boat Basin.
* Paddle to 79th St Boat Basin to pick up your bib and draw your first card starting after 10:00am.
* Paddle south to Pier 96, Pier 66, Pier 40 and NCM.
* Draw your last card at North Cove Marina between 2:00pm & 3:00pm.
* High Hands will be ranked in the following order:
o Royal Flush
o Straight Flush
o Four of a Kind
o Full House
o Flush
o Straight
o Three of a Kind
o Two Pair
o One Pair
o High Card

* Low Hand Rules: Straights and Flushes do not count as combinations. Aces count as low, below the twos.

Floating Meditation

Let the dynamic energy of the Hudson River guide you. While meditation normally happens with the body on to the solid ground. Floating Meditationâ„¢ allows the energy of the mind, body and soul to be suspended on water, which covers three quarters of the Earth’s surface. You will not be bounded by the inability to move.  Floating - your intention may guide you in new directions, the energy in the water will move as does the energy through out the world, through out your body.

Allow your spirit to soar while floating on life’s natural moving energy - water.  This program will offer a chance to open your chi in a constant flowing environment.  Join the creator of Floating Mediation in shared meditation as he brings this special journey to NYC. The two hour program includes world class paddling instruction, safety briefing, history of it’s conception and then a simple deep guided meditation. Beginner experience needed.

Recreational kayaks, paddles and life jackets, sponsored by EMS, will be available for those participants that need them.

Location: Hudson River, Pier 40

Times:

* Experienced Paddlers - 8:00am to 10:00am
* Beginner Paddlers - 11:00am to 1:00pm

Distance: 2 miles

Fee: $50 per person. TWO FOR ONE SPECIAL. Includes T-shirt and Gourmet lunch at North Cove Marina. Additional $25 to rent a kayak.

Walk Up Kayaking

Enjoy a free 20-minute sit-on-top kayaking program, provided by the Downtown Boathouse from 9am - 6pm at their Pier 40 or Pier 96 locations. No experience required. The only requirement is that you know how to swim. Registration not required.

Beginner Kayak Lesson

Fundamentals I is designed for the beginner and novice seeking a quick introduction to the foundations of safe and efficient sea paddling. Introduction to the marine environment. Sea kayak safety and design. Basic equipment and use. Kayak fitting and wet exits. Paddling basics of forward, stopping and reversing, sweep strokes, stern rudder, effective bracing. The class is from 9:30am to 12:30pm at Pier 40. Please contact New York Kayak Company for more details and to register for this activity. 800-529-2599

Big Apple Splash!

The Big Apple Splash is a 5-mile raft flotilla down the Hudson River from Pier 96 to Water City, event headquarters at North Cove Marina. Each raft can hold 10-12 paddlers and will be equipped with a certified professional guide. You will only be able to experience this one of a kind rafting adventure in NYC at Water Fest.

Location: Hudson River, Pier 96 to North Cove Marina

Time: 1:30 pm to 3:00 pm

Distance: 5 miles

Fee: $75 per person. Includes equipment, lunch at North Cover Marina and T-shirt.

And don’t forget to visit:  WATER CITY

Featuring live music, great food, wellness and relaxation tents and New York’s leading clean water advocates ready to answer your water questions and challenge you to Take Back the Tap. Located at Battery Park City, New York’s premier waterfront event venue in lower Manhattan overlooking the Hudson River. At North Cove Marina, open 12 - 5pm. This location is also the take out for the Big Apple Splash and the Paddle Rally Poker Run.

There will be a Wellness Tent featuring holistic and well-being education and mini service demonstrations of methods and practices. It is our goal to create an open environment to educate through experience. Take the Tap Water Challenge is an activity that challenges you to taste test NYC’s drinking water vs. all the rest.

Click here for more information or to register for Riverkeepers New York Waterfest.

If you go, let us know!

As always, if you attend any kayak or canoe event, we want to hear from you! Click here to send us a race or event report.

Happy Paddling!

Tennessee River Blueway Canoe and Kayak Race

The BornToPaddle.com team had a great showing (two 1st place finishes and two 2nd place finishes) at the 2008 Tennessee River Blueway Canoe and Kayak Race this past weekend in Chattanooga, TN.

The event, staged by Outdoor Chattanooga, suffered a bit in attendance this year. We can only assume that the gas shortage of middle Tennessee played a large part. Estimated attendance was about 30 paddlers, down from about 50 paddlers last year.

The course was changed this year from a point-to-point to an out-and-back. There were also two courses available this year, a two mile loop and a six mile loop, and a slew of categories. Door prizes included some great looking PFDs courtesy of Rock Creek Outfitters, a local Chattanooga outdoor shop. We were a bit disappointed that there was no paddlers-only raffles, as quite a few paddlers walked away empty handed (unless you call a frisbee or a water bottle a door prize), while spectators and volunteers seemed to do quite well in the give-aways.

Paddler’s did receive a useful mini dry bag and carabiner. First place winners got a certificate and Blueway T-Shirt, second and third placers got a certificate. Everyone enjoyed a free BBQ lunch, and they even remembered us vegetarians - thanks!

For anyone not familiar with kayaking and canoeing opportunities in Chattanooga, this race is a good intro to the area and to the Tennessee River. Chattanooga has done an excellent job with their downtown river area. The river is easily accessible to paddlers from a variety of put-ins and plenty of nearby parking on both sides of the river.

The river itself is quite beautiful from the shore, but to truly appreciate it you need to get in it with your canoe or kayak. McClellan/Audubon Island, in the center of the river closest to Ross’s Landing in downtown, is a great place to pull over for a rest and check out the wide array of bird life. There are several paddling destinations along the river, so day and overnight paddles are possible along the 26 miles that comprise the Tennessee River Gorge. Find out more about the Tennessee River Gorge by clicking here.

Have you paddled Chattanooga or the Tennessee River? Click here to let us know about your trip!