Canoe News Vol 40 Issue 3 December2007 by Gareth Stevens

CANOE NEWS Nov 2007 Vol 40/3

Left: Emily Hazel â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Barton Cup Champion in both C1 and K1, USCA national champion in the K1 Junior Woman marathon, and C1 Girl Juvenile Sprint Champion: Ms Hazel had a busy week at the USCA Nationals in Warren this year.

December

Vol 40 Issue 3

CANOE NEWS Photo ÂŠ 2007 by Derek Farr/ Warren Times Observer

The leading news magazine for all paddlers throughout North America

In this issue: 2007 Warren Nationals Results and Reports Youth Encouragement Award: Marc Gillespie Paddler of the Year: Tom Walton

Also in this issue: Marc Gillespie on Working With Youth

and Karl Vogel on An Old Dugout

US $5.95 CAN $6.95

Main photo caption and credit: see Contents page (page 3).

#550090 #550190

• Made of 100% Nylon • Velcro Closure; one size fits almost all Dragon - White #220052 Dragon - Black #220053 ZRE - White #220050 ZRE - Black £220051

#550290

• Adjustable • Floating Neoprene Strap • Impact/Scratch Resistant • 100% UV Ray Protection • Meets ANSI Z80.3 Specifications • Five different lens colors to choose from

#550390 #550490

The POWER CURVE has a strong carbon shaft and blade with an attractive wood T-grip that completes a lightweight performance package for competition, recreation, or serious technical playboating. The curved blade features a refined dihedral shape that is smooth, stable, and predictable in the water and provides a solid catch for maximum power and efficiency. The shaft is oval in section with a gradual taper and has a matte finish. The thumb index in the T-grip can be readily engaged for an even higher level of control awareness and finesse.

This new IDBF 202 Spec paddle is approved, registered and licensed by the IDBF. Made of 100% carbon fiber/graphite/epoxy.

! HOT #440020

#990019

Discounts available for team orders.

Manufacturer of

Contact your nearest ZRE Dealer TODAY! Or, Call Us for a FREE Color Brochure.

242 Lockwood Hill Road Mt. Upton, NY 13809 Phone: 607•563•2487 Website: www.zre.com Fax: 607•563•1303 E-Mail: zaveralb@zre.com

Contents Hut! — Larry Liquori . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 Advice From the Vice — Ken Gerg . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 Scouting Ahead — John Edwards . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5

Canoe News

Short Strokes — Gareth Stevens . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5

Serving canoers and kayakers

The First Race Flyer of the Year — from South Carolina’s Jim Normandin . . . . . . . . 5

Official Publication of the

Stock Canoes – Help Ken Gerg Help USCA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5

United States Canoe Association

Medals, Medals, Medals — Matty Walter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5

✰ Competition ✰ Conservation ✰ Cruising ✰ Camping ✰ Camaraderie

Beware Your Comfort Level as Your Skill Increases — Steve Rosenau, Safety . . . . . 11

Supporting a Five Star Program

www.uscanoe.com Canoe News

Advertising and Editorial Gareth Stevens, Editor PO Box 56, Hubertus, WI 53033 home (262) 628-9991 cell (262) 853-5453 nawal@ticon.net Thanks to Lucy H Moore Stevens for proofreading, and to Janet Perry for editorial help. For advertisements, articles, and photo submissions: — please email Editor for advice on preferred formats.

USCA Officers Executive Director John Edwards 1929 Arrowhead Drive St Petersburg, FL 33703 (727) 823-8000 canoechamp@aol.com

USCA Nationals Reports — Gareth Stevens, Sarah Tompkins, Ann DeBrouwer, Peter Heed . 7-10 USCA Warren Nationals Results Page Guide . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11 USCA Warren Nationals Results and Articles . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12-79 2007 Paddler of the Year: Tom Walton — Priscilla Reinertsen & Gareth Stevens . 24-25 2007 Youth Encouragement Award: Marc Gillespie — Judy Jeanes . . . . . . . . . . . . . 80 Working With Youth — Marc Gillespie . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 80-81 The Hunt for That One Missing Old Dugout in Florida — Karl Vogel . . . . . . . . . . . . 82 Business Affiliates . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 83

USCA Membership Application / Renewal Form . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 84 USCA Delegates & Officers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 84-85 USCA Committees & Chairs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 86 Disclaimer: Opinions and advice expressed by individuals in this magazine, whether or not they are officers or delegates of the United States Canoe Association, are personal, and do not necessarily, therefore, reflect the official position of the United States Canoe Association.

USCA is Proud to Support:

President Larry Liquori 79 Locust Drive Kings Park, NY 11754 (631) 361-9548 (h) (631) 269-9696 (w) (631) 766-9903 (c) uscapres@uscanoe.com Vice President

Ken Gerg PO Box 247 Emporium, PA 15834 (814) 486-1691 joken2@zitomedia.net Secretary Joan Theiss 12802 Lake Jovita Blvd Dade City, FL 33525 (352) 588-9877 hjtheiss@juno.com Treasurer Kathy Edwards 1929 Arrowhead Drive St Petersburg, FL 33703 (727) 823-8000 canoechamp@aol.com

Main cover photo: C2 Mixed Open team Dana Henry (bow) & Susie Morris pass the C2 Standard Mixed team of Sarah Price (bow) & Larry Harrison in the final stretch of the Saturday marathon races on the Allegheny River by Betts Park in Warren, PA.

RIVERS UNLIMITED

The Waterkeeper Alliance

President’s Message

Vice President’s Message

Hut!

Nationals if for nothing else, the outstanding camaraderie. On a personal note, I would like to thank Jim Genkos for slowing down in the C1Veteran class when I capsized in the refinery rapids. It was so gracious of him to let me pass him. Was there some unspoken agreement among all the C1 Veteran paddlers to have someone let me beat them, and this year it was Jim’s turn? For those who missed it, there were 15 capsizes on Friday, 6 on Saturday, and another 15 on Sunday. Since I have swum there twice, I am approaching Collen Moore’s unenviable record of three (in one race) from a few years ago. Fortunately for her, her learning curve is such that she keeps the open side up nowadays. Maybe I should try that too. Another milestone worth noting, did you see how many K1s there were in that big start? How long before K1s outnumber C1s? Although it was quite nice to see so many K2s, I don’t think K2s will outnumber C2s in my lifetime. Well campers, hope to see you all on a river somewhere, but it’s more likely you’ll see me in physical therapy, trying in vain to rebuild broken parts.

. . . . . .Larry Liquori, President, USCA We have just put the final wraps on our highly successful 2007 Nationals. I have to rate this as one of my most enjoyable Nationals in the 20 years I have been racing Nationals, despite the fact that my personal performance was somewhat lacking this year. Yes, the competition was great. The classes were fiercely contested in marathon, sprints, orienteering, and even biathlon. Youth participation was awesome. More important to me, however, was the amazing camaraderie. The local Warren newspaper had a nice article (reprinted here on pp 14-15) featuring Jason Quagliata. In it the article writer quoted Jason as saying one of the things he likes about Nationals is seeing so many friends he hadn’t seen in so long. Notice he didn’t concentrate on his outstanding performance, or his upcoming international competitions, or how far he had come in just a few years of paddling, but on his friends. I spoke to another competitor who lives not too far from Warren. She kept telling me how much fun she was having and how much being with all her wonderful friends meant to her. The biathlon is about camaraderie as much as it is about competition. The post event party is one of the highlights of Nationals for the biathletes. Bob Bradford hosted his annual pasta dinner, Teresa Stout hosted at least three parties at her palatial compound, and I am sure there were many other social affairs. It even appeared that the canine attendees had a great time. There is a good chance that my paddling career is over due to injuries. However, when possible, I still plan to attend

Advice from the “Vice” . . . . . . . . . . . Ken Gerg, Vice President If you went to Warren, PA to paddle the USCA Nationals and did not have a good time – sorry – you were at fault!

Sure, we had some early week down pours but the weather sure got better as the marathons started. I am no doubt prejudiced, but what a great course! Virtually every canoeing challenge you could expect in marathon canoeing except maybe a portage, and Jim Decker has told me many times – “if you want a portage, let me know”. He has a great one laid out through the Hospital’s front yard. Let’s not push him!

Mark your calendars for 2008!

Think about it, deep water, shallow runs, hard upstream current, clockwise and counter clockwise buoy turns, a challenging riffle and for this day and age, nice clean, clear and cool water.

USCA Canoe & Kayak Nationals Aug 5-10, 2008: Elkhart County, IN 6 days of Sprint, Orienteering, & Marathon

From what I saw the camping areas were more than adequate and the convenience of the Holiday Inn and Super 8 are hard to beat. Betts Park is certainly a great facility.

USCA Aluminum Nationals September 27-28, 2008: Bastrop, TX

Sure, I wish it were closer to all of our members, but I drove to Peshtigo, Wisconsin last year and enjoyed the venue very much. I am not making any comparisons. Anyone who wants to take on the daunting challenge of hosting the USCA Nationals not only needs and deserves our support, but also our appreciation and admiration.

Mark your calendars for 2009! USCA Canoe & Kayak Nationals Aug 11-16, 2009

Bids for hosting both 2009 Nationals will be reviewed at USCA’s Annual Meeting in Tarpon Springs, January Canoe News, December 2007

I don’t know how many of you were there at the close, but Warren wants us back in 2009 and I for one sure feel we are missing the boat (canoe/kayak as it were) if we don’t take them up on their gracious offer. Thank you Warren, PA for a GREAT Nationals.

Scouting Ahead

5. A length of 14-16 feet would work. 6. An over the stern rudder. 7. Weight of no more than 30lbs. 8. Fiberglass construction would suffice. 9. Both ends would be enclosed with a sufficient open cockpit to allow high kneeling. 10. Attachments for amas and auks. 11. Self-bailer in the cockpit area. The main premise for this boat would be to allow a club the ability to have 1/2 the number of boats they need at present to accommodate canoe and kayak options. On top of that they would only bring 1/2 number of boats to the races as well. Once the paddlers got to the ability to use an existing craft they could move beyond that class with the purchase of their own boat or the club would have those types of boats to use. I feel very strongly about this issue. I also value the efforts of Dave D and others who see the advantage of designing this boat. The USCA’s involvement would be to be able to use that specification as a separate class providing the clubs use the newly designed boat the way we think it would be used. If anyone has the time to put the ideas down on paper and then as a prototype let me know. I would like the USCA to contribute towards this development and production in a manner appropriate with its charter as an educational organization. — John Edwards

. . . John Edwards, Executive Director It was good to see the number of young paddlers as well as the diverse numbers of kayakers at this years Nationals. The USCA is better off having such a wonderful group of people participating at our Nationals. But having the new paddlers show up is just a start. Getting them to be permanent members willing to pitch in and continue to help shape the future for the USCA is an elusive hurdle we must strive to help them over. The USCA extended family is what keeps us going stronger and longer than any energizer bunny. We need to keep these new paddlers in our organization as well as encouraging others to join their ranks. Extending our helping hands enables the newcomers to feel welcome and when they leave the competition they remember an experience that is hard to duplicate anywhere in any sport. Marathon racing is a solitude sport. Going to races allows us not only test our capability but to get together with people that we may not have seen for a year or in some cases many years. Dave Diget and other youth club organizers need to be commended in their tireless volunteer efforts working with young paddlers. We must take the time to listen to their needs and if possible extend our expertise and support to help solve some of the inherent problems associated with club development and nurturing beginning paddlers. Money is always in short supply. Designing a craft that could help keep the overall costs of club development could be a major step in bringing back clubs to paddle sport. This brings me to the “one boat” spec design. There seems to be some confusion with the idea and I’d like to see if I can clarify the proposal and idea. 1. There would be no changes to the existing classes at the USCA Nationals. 2. A new “spec boat” class would be added which would be used for all 4 of the following classes; the Kayak, sit down C1, high kneel C1 and outrigger C1. Any of these could be used with or without the rudder being deployed. 3. This spec boat would be designed for a paddler up to about 100 lbs and the boat would have an open cockpit allowing for a person to use the boat as a kayak with one seat arrangement or a canoe with another arrangement. The boat would allow for a High Kneeler and with an attached ama an Outrigger C1. 4. Based on measurements taken this year at the sprint venue using a kid that weighed 45 lbs up to a paddler at 110 lbs, we figured a width of 19-20 inches at the 2-3 inch waterline would be sufficient. Photograph copyright ©2007 by Will Arts (David & Lynda Williams)

Canoe News, December 2007

Short Strokes

Matty Walter Rants Again

Short Strokes – from the Editor and his Pals: News in Brief . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Gareth Stevens et al

The race calendar – the first flyer received: I hope to have some extensive detail - at least for the early part of the season, in the next issue of Canoe News, but to start with here’s info from the very first race flyer I have received: Jim Normandin’s wryly-named 12 Mile Canoe & Kayak Race, which is, in fact a set of approximately 7-mile long races, will take place at “12-Mile Park” in Clemson, SC. Race date is April 19. Contact Jim at (864) 863-7457 or 7400, or paddler98@aol.com.

Stock Canoes - Need Help for Indiana!

Medals, Medals, Medals

As Ken Gerg rightly points out (page 55), the introduction of stock canoes as a Demo event at Nationals was not intended merely to swell and dilute the over-large number of USCA classes, but rather to draw stock canoe paddlers to USCA – to bring in new blood! Unfortunately, the success this year was modest, and dilutive. Every one of the 15 paddlers in the stock canoe events were pre-existing USCA members, and very nearly all of them paddled C1 and/or C2 or C2 Standard in previous years, so switched to stock canoes this year. Ken Gerg: “I was somewhat disappointed but remember: it took some kayak classes a long time to reach their potential. I feel if we eventually reach the right people, the Stock Canoe will help us introduce USCA marathon paddling to more potential new members.” So, for this to work as intended, we need to publicize the event to people who are not current USCA members. Please help Ken achieve this. Contact him at (814) 486-1691 or joken2@zitomedia.net. Stock canoe paddlers, note for Indiana: Specs for the C2 Stock: Included in this class are hulls similar to the Jensen 18. There are minimal concave lines in the hull and no concave lines in the gunwales. Maximum length is 18’6”, no minimum weight. Minimum width at 4” waterline is 15% of length (33 5/16” for 18’6”). Tumblehome max is 1” per side. All NYMCRA specifications apply. The current C2 Stock list includes Wenonah’s Jensen 17, Jensen 18, Sundowner, Minnesota ll, Odyssey, Escape and Escapade; GRB’s Traveler 17’5”, Traveler 18’6” and Monarch; Mad River’s Lamoille and Horizon and Bell Canoe Works’ Northstar, Northwind, Northwoods and Savage River Works’ Susquehanna. Specs for the C1 Stock: Maximum length is 17’0”. Tumblehome not to exceed 3.5” per side. No minimum weight. The current C1 Stock list includes: GRB’s Classic and Classic XL; Wenonah’s Advantage, Prism, Encounter and Solitude; Sawyer’s Summer Song, DY Special and Shock Wave; Savage River’s Otegan (with modification) Bell’s Magic; and Mad River’s Independence.

Another in the occasional rants from Matty Walter, fictional, long-time USCA grouch, & not the Editor of this Rag.

Canoe News, December 2007

I saw in this year’s Nationals that y’all had classes for the older paddlers in the 60 – 69 and 70 – 79 classes. I guess that was because some folks feel it’s not fair to paddle against others with such obvious advantages. Well, let me offer a suggestion: how ‘bout having a class for those who are retired and therefore have more time to train than the working stiffs? It doesn’t seem fair that someone who has all week free to train should be in the same group as someone who doesn’t get home from work ’til after dark. And maybe a class for those have more paddlers in their areas than those who don’t? Being able to train with (and against) other paddlers is certainly an advantage. Heck, if we look hard enough, we might be able to come up with enough reasons for classes so ever’body can get themselves a medal. Wouldn’t that be nice? Of course, poor Priscilla would have to ask the USCA for gas money because she’d be carrying a ton and a half of medals to Nationals. My point, if you can’t see it here, is that splitting classes too finely dilutes the value of the medals. Looking at this year’s numbers, it doesn’t seem like having these classes split attracted a whole lot more paddlers than before. After you’ve been racing for a while, actual medals become almost meaningless. It’s more the memories and knowing that you took Xth place in the 200X Nationals and had a great (or lousy) race that year. Lookit having fewer class splits and more people will stick around for the medal ceremonies too, cuz they’ll be much shorter. My 2¢.

Editor’s note: Canoe News welcomes constructive debate on this and other current USCA topics.

USCA Nationals 2007 in Warren, PA: Introduction

USCA Nationals 2007 in Warren, PA

You’ll see many thanks to Jim Decker and his team at the Warren County Chamber of Business and Industry (WCCBI) in many of the accounts you’ll read, and I add mine: Thanks again, Jim, and thanks to all the volunteers who helped you. Thank you also to all the racers – young paddlers and old, newbies and veterans, fast and less fast – who have sent me exciting, entertaining, and thoughtful accounts of their week’s experiences. I share them here, alongside the results of the races themselves. For a start, take a look on the next page at Sarah Tompkins’ account of her week and some of Peter Heed’s reflections, printed in this introduction – then enjoy all the accounts by participants that accompany the results. As in the two previous visits to Warren, the Warren Times Observer did a wonderful job of covering the event. Photos and stories from their great team (Derek Farr, Bryan Ferry, and intern Colin Kyler) appear in this issue of Canoe News*. Their support of and enthusiasm for our National Championships is typical of the general welcome and attitude from Warren County and why we have come back again and again to this stretch of the Allegheny River and Chapman Lake. [*A full collection of these photos – seven galleries with a total of 1075 photos. Start with cu.timesobserver.com/pages/gallery. php?gallery=296765 - and then substitite the last six digits with these gallery numbers, in turn: 785, 778, 779, 780, 796, 803.

Third Time was a Charm . . . Just Like First and Second Time. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Gareth Stevens Everyone I heard from in the weeks following Nationals in Warren had a good time at this year’s event! Yes, not everything went right all the time for everyone, but the overwhelming takes on the week were along the lines of: • “Thank you, Warren, for a great week of racing.” [See page 38] - Ted Cramer. • “The town of Warren made us all feel welcome, and the course was perfect.” [See page 58] - Del & Vicki Cummings. • “As always Warren serves up both on and off the water.” [See page 42] - Karen Simpson. • “I had the coolest Nationals ever. I mean, how often do you get to surprise everyone and beat Calvin and Andy when they are in the same boat?”[See also pp 36, 50 & 69] - Matt Streib. • “Chapman State Park was lovely, I camped there for four nights and loved the place. After the first night I found (and fixed) the hole in my air mattress and things once again exponentially improved. It’s hard to believe that some years ago I slept right on top of the ground without a pad, even when sober. And the BBQ was really good on Saturday after noon.” [See also pp 9 & 67] - Ann DeBrouwer.

Paddlers ready! – Norm Ludwig, USCA Competition Chair, fires his starting pistol, we calculate, for the 1,423rd time at USCA Nationals over the past 20+ years . . . give or take . . .

Below: The C1 Man Senior start on Friday, Jim Short nearest to camera, then Bill Anderson, Wayne Gregory, Eric McNett, Joe Johnson, Tony Bond, Jim Dipelesi, David Hunter, and Paul Dyka.

Below: K1 Unlimited & K1 Touring start: closest, Richard Libby, then Elmore Holmes, Craig Impens, Dan Nemeth, Karl Vogel, David McAdoo, Melissa Schmidt, Sonja Gilman, and a whole bunch of others . . .

Canoe News, December 2007

USCA Nationals 2007 in Warren, PA: Sarah Tompkins Note also, that the awesome collection of 1500+ photos taken by USCA’s official photographic team of Dave & Lynda Williams (Will Arts Photography] can be viewed at www.willarts.com/gallery/index.php?cat=20 .] Sarah Tompkins, MI, is one of the “Kalamazoo kids” — a delightful bunch of young paddlers, a reflection of and a credit to their coach (Dave Diget) and their supportive families. Here is how Sarah’s week went. (I feel a special kinship with Sarah: I, too, tipped in each of my three marathon races . . .)

“My sister and I ended up flipping three times! If it weren’t for Emily and Nathalie’s spill we would have been miles behind them. Anna and I ended in third after a well-fought race. Emily and Nathalie came up to me afterwards saying, “You guys would have killed us if you didn’t flip!” which I thought was a funny thing to say. “The next day we battled it out in our kayaks. We scratched our boats, scraped our rudders, and best of all I took another spill! This time the rescue team was there, they blew their whistles and threw me a rope. They got me back in my boat so fast it was almost like I didn’t flip. I finished the race paddling on one side because my rudder was badly bent.

A Week Packed With Good Sport

. . . . . . . Sarah Tompkins, Michigan

“So I started preparing for the C1 race determined not to flip. My start was very good, as Emily Hazel and I battled it out for second following closely behind Ruth Sayger in first. During the first mile I was closely drafting Ruth – and Emily was not far behind me. Then suddenly Emily Hazel shot up from behind and passed for a commanding lead. I don’t even know what happened, one second she was next to me giving me a cheerful “Hi, Sarah” then the next she was gone. In the next few miles I paddled hard, trying to catch up with her, but she was just too good.

“When I first came to Warren I was so very excited to spend another week paddling and having fun with my friends. I started off the week doing the biathlon with my sister Anna Tompkins and good friend Jaclyn Stone. We ended up doing very well and came in third for our age group. “On Thursday I started my sprints, regardless of the pouring rain. I did very well, and had fun racing back and forth to make it to my sprints, which seemed to be back to back. On Friday my sister and I paddled together in the C2 marathon. We had a great start. We were dominating, and what seemed to be miles ahead of our friends and teammates Emily Hazel and Nathalie Hanson. We were doing so well until we hit the rapids.

“When I came to the last few miles near the rapids I saw the other (much more experienced) paddlers pass through with ease. I had already flipped here in my past two marathons. I thought to myself, “I can do this. I have already spilled here before. I

Heartfelt thanks from all the members of USCA to all the sponsors and volunteers from Warren County who helped make the 2007 USCA Nationals in Warren possible.

Terry and Mendy Castor, cheering on their children, JD Jones and Sosha Jones at Youth Sprints. Big thanks to Terry for his photos, some of which appear in this issue.

Sponsors: The Warren County Commissioners Kersey and Associates Donors: Wal-Mart Shurfine of Warren Jones GM Dealership Thorne’s Bilo The City of Warren. Volunteers: Jim Nelles Cathy Anderson John Kersey and Associates Tom and Roxanne Fadale Joe Sprentz Amber Hunter Patty and Kerry Gern Chris Snyder Pam Bova

Ian Shattuck Zach Robertson Dr. Dan Casamento Joy Johnson Robin Reed Dorothy Hvozda Laurie Crossley Pat Shine Bob and Sue Benner Ines Nelson Bill Jones Brent Jones

Canoe News, December 2007

USCA Nationals 2007 in Warren, PA: Ann DeBrouwer The Double-bladed Set

can make it through my last marathon without flipping.” So I picked up my speed, hoping to zoom through the left side of the rapid. I paddled fast, but the current started turning my bow to the left. I quickly switched sides and began to paddle backwards on the right. That made me lose my balance, and I fell in. “Oh well,” I thought, “I tried.” The rescue team helped me up, asking if I was OK, and sent me on my way. “Since I’d taken a spill, I decided to finish as strong as I could. When I came around the final turn I put her into high gear. I finished the race; that was all that was required of me. My family was so proud that I never gave up, despite my continuous spills. I was proud of myself, too. I came to Warren to paddle hard, but most importantly to have fun. Though I didn’t think it was fun the first few times I fell in, I got over it. Overall I had a great time, and can’t wait to take it on next year. “Here is an interesting extra I enjoyed during the week! “I met with Pamela Boteler and learned how to high kneel paddle. It was so much fun and I have found a real interest in it. In fact, the first week in October I am going to Washington, DC to train with Pamela and maybe even compete. Its a real workout, and takes extreme balance and core strength. But I have fallen in love with it. My friends Jacyln Stone and Nathalie Hanson have also found a real interest in it, and may be competing too. “Thanks so much!”

. . . . Ann DeBrouwer, ON, Canada: The double-bladed set found themselves with a healthy serving of companionship to partake in the challenges of the Allegheny River at this year’s Nationals. Numerous surf skis, open water racers, ICFs, downriver, touring and sea kayak models appeared from such far reaches as Tennessee and Florida to tackle the course. Full classes of kayaks also competed in the sprint events earlier in the week held at Chapman Lake. It was a good experience to line up at the start of the race, two deep and a dozen across, to wait for the starter’s gun. Saturday’s K2 races were well attended with several competitors in men’s and women’s teams, as well as numerous mixed teams competing in the Men’s category. It isn’t fun until something goes wrong, and this year’s slingshot ride out of the K2 in the whirlpools just before the finish line is right up there in life’s best moments, and reinforces the rule that it is more than twice the fun to share a swim with a friend. Famous last words, like “do we really need that spray skirt”, “let’s just run this, it’s ch*%$#@it”, “where did the water go?”, “I can’t make this thing turn!”, and “next year I’ll lose 20 lbs and the boat will plane perfectly, you’ll see!” … are all distant memories. So kayakers, buff those hulls now, it will only get better next year in Indiana. [More from Ann on page 67.]

Sarah Tompkins’ swim at the Flare Rapids. See her account of this and her whole week, above.

A familiar sight to paddlers at the Flare Rapids, a member of Warren’s Swift Water Rescue Team watches as Mark Wendolowski and Adrian McKenna approach.

Sarah Tompkins was so not alone in swimming. Here, USCA’s Camaraderie and Co-Youth Chair Judy Jeanes flips with Gary Krapf on the same morning.

“Keep your feet up!” a rescue team member tells a hapless canoer clings to his boat, round side sideways in the Flare Rapids.

Canoe News, December 2007

USCA Nationals 2007 in Warren, PA: Peter Heed And from Peter Heed: “Warren is a good ‘comfortable’ venue – maybe a little too comfortable, as some newcomers to the races had a hard time getting information on the course, buoy placement, etc. “Generally, though, the comments were positive especially concerning the course. The “double loops” enabled participants to “stay in touch” with the race – both those in front and behind. The buoys were always fun opportunities to gain or lose time. The first loop presented some strange – but enjoyable – strategic quandaries: once headed back upstream, do you stay in the middle, in the eddy of the island, as the organizers hoped? Or do you hug the eddies of the right–hand shore and cut beneath the island at the last minute? “During the weekend I observed racers try it both ways with no clear consensus on what really was best. Bottom line: most people decided to stay with their competition – and that meant going up the right shore! “Although there was less than a huge turnout in some classes, it was good to see so many new faces (the great Kalamazoo kids!) and the return of some we have not seen for many years – eg Roland Muhlen! “Roland truly is one of the great paddlers – a blast from the past

– and it was heartwarming to see him back into it. Does anyone else recall the now famous Roland Muhlen incident at the ‘82 Nationals in Doniphan, Missouri on the Current River? Mad River Canoes had recently come out with a marathon canoe, and company reps. brought a trailer full for people to try. They even had a little demonstration/reception one evening. While explaining how “incredibly strong” the new core material allegedly was, the representatives turned a canoe upside down on the ground and invited “anyone” to stand on it. We all sort of looked at each other, wondering if they were serious – all of us except Roland – who jumped right up on the canoe! And then promptly crashed through to the ground, leaving a hole about a foot around in the canoe bottom!! We all gasped – and then started to chuckle! Roland just stood there, right in the hole, with that old “sorry about that” grin. A classic moment. Needless to say, canoe sales were a little slow! [More from Peter: on the C2 Women marathon races, p 48; on the C2 Men marathon races, p 53.

Support women and girls in paddling! Buy a Paddle Like a Girl T-Shirt! $15 for any shirt/$5 P&H Profits go to paddling programs for and by women and girls.

Women’s sizes M, L & XL (13” to 16” shoulder width — form fitted) Men’s sizes L & XL (few!) Infants’ sized 12mos/24” long Call or write Janet Perry with your order (include how many you want, the size(s) & where to send your order): (630) 584-6931 or Janet Perry, 24 Roosevelt St, St Charles, IL 60174

Canoe News, December 2007

Safety Corner

Nationals Results: Page Guide

Beware Your Comfort Level as Your Skill Increases

USCA Nationals Results: Where to Find ’em: SPRINTS, BIATHLON, YOUTH SPRINTS, ORIENTEERING, OUTRIGGER

. . Steve Rosenau, USCA Safety Chair The 2007 Warren, PA USCA Nationals competition is over with no known injuries. That’s a good thing. However, the Warren Flare Rapids challenged many of us: more than 20 paddlers swam during the weekend, including at least one sea kayaker, myself.

Adult Sprints . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12-17

I was suddenly slowing down in the rapids to prevent bumping the unlimited kayak I was stern wake-riding, trying to turn away as his boat slewed sideways, when a wave hit from the side. I braced twice and ran out of paddle. The next thing I knew I was holding onto the boat cockpit, reaching it from under water, pulling myself to the surface and floating down river. Three minutes later I was back the saddle, chasing.

National Run Paddle Biathlon . . . . . . 26-27

Was I ready? Partly. My PFD was bungeed onto the boat, my flotation belt was on me- recent lake tests show it keeps me at the surface without lungs full of air. With lungs inflated, several inches of my head are above water with the added flotation. Like many low-body-fat athletes, I sink like a rock without any flotation. Fully inflated lungs just slow the descent. Knowing this, the risks, and my responsibilities to my family, I choose to wear my cut-down flotation at all times. There was plenty of help if needed and shore was nearby. The current was swift and re-entry difficult until I was out of the rapid and near the shoreline. The water was refreshing, not shockingly cold. No problem under the conditions. As we progress in skill level, our confidence increases, leading to risk theory. Risk Homeostasis Theory maintains that, in any activity, people accept a certain level of subjectively estimated risk to their health and safety, in exchange for the benefits they hope to receive from the activity. The theory states that when a person engages in any activity, they are constantly maintaining the risk level they are comfortable with, regardless of safety precautions.” We may think we are in control, but a freak wave, a broken seat or paddle shaft, or a rock hidden one inch below the surface, could tip the odds to the other side. If conditions are bad, survival becomes dicey. Mitigating the risk can be paddling with others, wearing proper clothing for immersion, maintaining adequate food and water, wearing a PFD if cold and alone, having a whistle, and/or floatation in the boat. Performing yearly boat inspections can make the difference- the best time is about a month before the big race. Inspecting the seat sliding rails, bolting, carbon epoxy joints, paddle, paddle shaft, rudder cables and cable joints, can make the difference between no event and being wet and late getting home. The harder the part is to inspect, the more it should be inspected. Take the time and make the effort to inspect those hard to reach seat supports or rudder cables. See you next year, August 5-10 2008 in Indiana. Photographs copyright ©2007 by Will Arts (David & Lynda Williams)

Adult/Youth Sprints . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18-19 Canoe Orienteering . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20-23 Youth Sprints . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28-33 Outrigger . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34-35 MARATHON: C1 Unlimited Demo . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25 C1 Man . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36-41 C1 Stock Canoe Demo . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40 C1 Woman . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42-43 Barton Challenge Cup / C1 Junior . . 44-45 C2 Men Junior, C2 Women Junior . . 46-47 C2 Women . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48-49 C2 Men . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50-55 C2 Stock Canoe Demo . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 55 C2 Standard Men . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 56 C2 Man / Junior, C2 Man / Youth . . . 56-57 C2 Mixed . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 58-59 C2 Standard Mixed . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 60-61 K1 Touring Man / K1 Touring Woman . . . 62-63 K1 Unlimited Man . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 64-65 K1 Unlimited Woman . . . . . . . . . . . . . 65-66 K1 Downriver Woman . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 68 K1 Downriver Man . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 69 K2 Unlimited Men / K2 Unlimited Women 70-72 K1 Sea Kayak Man . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 73 K1 Sea Kayak Woman . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 74 K1-ICF Man . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 75 K1-ICF Woman . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 76-77 Barton Challenge Cup / K1 Junior . . 78-79 Canoe News, December 2007

USCA Nationals 2007: ADULT SPRINTS

Adult Sprints Tuesday, August 7 and Thursday, August 9, 2007

. . . . . Bill Corrigan - Sprint Chairman The 2007 USCA National Sprint Races were held at Chapman State Park, the same location as 2003 & 2005. The Tuesday Adult and Adult/ Youth Sprints were moving along with six races completed, when the sound of thunder was heard in the valley, causing everyone to leave the course. After a long and intense thunderstorm, the races were postponed until 7:30 Thursday morning. Thursday dawned foggy and overcast. When the races finally started things seemed to go smoothly with spats of light showers and bright sunshine. Just after noon the rain started very hard – so hard that I did not hear the thunder. I did hear the park ranger give the order for everyone to get off the lake, on the radio. The next day I was talking to John Edwards at the finish line in Betts Park. He said the rain was pounding so hard on the tarp at the finish line he could not hear me on the radio. After the storm was over and a waiting period with no lighting, the Youth Sprints resumed. We completed the Adult & Adult/ Youth Sprints and held all the Youth Sprints on Thursday. Additionally, we had outrigger canoes with paddlers with disabilities interspersed between Adult and Youth sprints. Despite the bad weather, I think everyone had a good time at the 2007 USCA National Sprint Championship races. We all owe Jim Decker and his Warren volunteers a big Thank You, for the registration and finish line timing. All the USCA volunteers at the sprints, from those passing out boat numbers to those handing out awards deserve our thanks.

C1 Woman Master 1 Colleen Moore (ME) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 02:55.18 2 Karen Simpson (ON) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 03:03.48 3 Pam Fitzgerald (MY) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 03:04.49 4 Judy Jeanes (PA) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 03:04.98 C1 Woman Veteran 1 Jan Whitaker (NY) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 03:19.77 2 Dede Ulbrich (MA) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 03:25.49 3 Priscilla Reinertsen (NH) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 03:35.81

Emily Wright, C1 Woman Open sprint champion.

Colleen Moore, C1 Woman Master sprint champion.

Getting to the Sprints on Time . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .a note from Gareth Stevens An early-morning crash gave a morning-long headache to motorists Tuesday. A tractor trailer operator fell asleep at the wheel at about 5:40 am. The resulting accident forced the closure of Highway 6 on Warren’s east side for about five hours. And THAT sabotaged the efforts of many USCA racers heading for Chapman Lake State Park. My wife Lucy and I toured the countryside for an hour (including a visit to Tidioute) in an attempt to find a back way. We eventually encountered a another lost convoy of five or six cars that included Jason Quagliata, Marc Gillespie, Ted and Lois Cramer & others. We all eventually made it, albeit along different routes, hurtling at speed along country roads, paved and unpaved. The stress helped nicely to get my heart rate up for the races. Race Results: Abbreviations: US states, plus ON (Ontario, . Canada) and VIC (Victoria, Australia) C1 Woman Open 1 Emily Wright (NY) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 03:16.54 2 Nathalie Hanson (MI) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 03:44.31 3 Colleen Robinson (NY) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 04:25.90 4 Dawn McCracken (PA) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 04:59.96

Canoe News, December 2007

Right to left, 2nd through 4th C1 Woman Masters: Karen Simpson, Pam Fitzgerald, and Judy Jeanes.

Dede Herlihy, 2nd C1 Woman Veteran.

2007 Nationals: ADULT SPRINTS C1 Man 1 Matt Rudnitsky (NY) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 02:45.37 2 Cody Brown (AR) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 02:53.10 3 Ryan Stephens (IL) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 03:07.31 4 Ben Josefik (IL) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 03:07.79 5 Brian Storch (MI) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 03:24.32 6 Matt Swinehart (MI) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 03:48.38 7 Brian Cunningham-Rhoads (MI) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 04:00.20 8 Sam Knoechel (MI) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 04:30.12 9 Logan Hughey (MI) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 04:45.73 C1 Man Master 1 John Edwards (FL) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 02:36.55 2 Randy Bailey (PA) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 02:40.16 3 Roy Zweeres (FL) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 02:41.92 4 Del Cummings (CT) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 02:42.43 5 Guy Flatley (CT) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 02:49.96 6 Don Walls (AR) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 02:54.30 7 Doug Pennington (MO) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 02:57.09 8 John Hazel (MI) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 03:00.05 9 Dave Impens (NJ) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 03:02.72

John Edwards, C1 Man Master sprint champion, four to five seconds ahead of Randy Bailey and Roy Zweeres.

Matt Rudnitsky, this year’s C1 man sprint champion, and Cody Brown leave the rest of the C1 Man field behind.

C1 Man Senior 1 Ralph Vincent (VT) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 02:46.25 2 Tom Walton (MA) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 02:46.54 3 Ted Cramer (IA) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 02:47.94 4 James Dipelesi (NY) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 02:49.07 5 Gareth Stevens (WI) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 02:52.55 6 William Anderson (ME) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 02:56.84 7 Jim Short (MO) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 02:57.83 8 Gary Mullen (PA) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 02:58.36 9 Mark McAndew (VT) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 02:59.02 10 Tony Bond (VIC) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 03:16.49 11 Robert Galbraith (VA) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 03:21.09 C1 Man Veteran: Heat 1 1 Stan Machacek (ON) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 02:57.01 2 Tom Thomas (IN) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 02:58.60 3 Bob Bradford (MI) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 03:03.65 4 Alec Davis (NY) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 03:05.71 5 Bill Robinson (NY) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 03:06.36 6 Michael Johnson (MT) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 03:07.95 7 Roger Henry (NY) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 03:08.78 8 Roland Muhlen (OH) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 03:09.15 9 Glen Vandewinckel (NY) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 03:16.32 C1 Man Veteran: Heat 2 1 Nick Lyesiuk (MA) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 03:02.21 2 Greg McMorrow (ME) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 03:02.47 3 LaVerne Young (FL) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 03:03.85 4 Bob Allen (MA) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 03:06.58 5 Larry Liquori (NY) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 03:07.27 6 Richard Ulbrich (MA) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 03:08.93 7 Dale Krapf (PA) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 03:25.13 8 Donald Browning (IL) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 03:34.51 9 Phil Cole (NH) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 03:34.95 C1 Man Veteran: Final 1 Stan Machacek (ON) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 02:48.86 2 Tom Thomas (IN) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 02:50.43 3 Nick Lyesiuk (MA) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 02:52.82 4 Greg McMorrow (ME) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 02:55.13 5 LaVerne Young (FL) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 02:55.70 6 Bob Bradford (MI) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 02:56.30 7 Bob Allen (MA) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 02:57.03 8 Bill Robinson (NY) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 02:57.81 9 Larry Liquori (NY) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 02:58.43 10 Alec Davis (NY) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 03:03.28 C1 Unlimited Man (Demo) 1 Lloyd Reeves (CA) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 03:01.36 2 Robert Galbraith (VA) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 03:27.74

Left to right: C1 Man Veterans Bob Bradford , Nick Lyesiuk, Stan Machacek, Bill Robinson, and Tom Thomas. Top and right photographs copyright ©2007 by Will Arts (David & Lynda Williams); center above copyright ©2007 by Terry Castor; immediately above copyright ©2007 by Derek Farr/Warren Times Observer

Lloyd Reeves, first C1 Unlimited Man Demo.

Canoe News, December 2007

2007 Nationals: ADULT SPRINTS K1 Woman Open 1 Kaitlyn McElroy (ME) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 02:25.76 2 Melissa Schmidt (SC) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 02:36.43 3 Emily Wright (NY) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 02:46.10 4 Alicia Wendolowski (MA) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 03:10.38 5 Nathalie Hanson (MI) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 03:20.91 6 Dawn McCracken (PA) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 03:48.41 K1 Woman Master 1 Sonja Gilman (IN) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 02:54.22 2 Susan Williams (PA) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 03:09.79 K1 Woman Senior 1 Georgette Goonan (CO) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 03:28.06 2 Linda Volpe (PA) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 03:34.10 K1 Woman Veteran 1 Kathy Kenley (NJ) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 03:16.21

K1 Man Open: Heat 1 1 Holm Schmidt (SC) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 02:09.31 2 Griffin Williams (MI) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 02:16.93 3 Mark Wendolowski (MA) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 02:20.76 4 Elmore Holmes (TN) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 02:24.72 5 Brian Storch (MI) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 02:50.90 6 Tim Gorey (OH) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 03:06.37 7 Logan Hughey (MI) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 03:32.19 K1 Man Open: Heat 2 1 Jason Quagliata (NY) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 02:01.40 2 Craig Impens (NJ) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 02:08.30 3 Josh Quintel (MI) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 02:26.40 4 Ryan Stephens (IL) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 02:30.50 5 Paul Gruber (PA) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 02:53.80 6 Brian Cunningham-Rhoads (MI) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 03:09.50 7 Jabe Walters (PA) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 03:27.40 8 Sam Knoechel (MI) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 03:32.88 9 Vaughn Taylor (MI) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 03:59.30 10 Oliver Taylor (MI) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 05:18.40 K1 Man Open: Final 1 Jason Quagliata (NY) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 02:06.16 2 Holm Schmidt (SC) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 02:10.41 3 Craig Impens (NJ) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 02:12.40 4 Griffin Williams (MI) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 02:23.24 5 Mark Wendolowski (MA) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 02:23.72 6 Josh Quintel (MI) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 02:38.07 7 Ryan Stephens (IL) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 02:43.21

Kaitlyn McElroy, K1 Woman Open sprint champion.

Quagliata chases speed, goals at USCA Nationals . . . . . .Derek Farr, Sports Writer, Warren Times Observer

Melissa Schmidt, K1 Woman Master sprint champion.

A First Nationals . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Susan Williams Lewonski 2007 was my first Nationals. My first race was the K1 Women Master sprints. The other women looked really intimidating. As I was warming up, I heard the announcer, “Would you please come join us on the starting line?” I looked around. All the other women were lined up, waiting for me to get there. Oops! The first twenty strokes of the race felt great but then I wobbled the boat. My stroke quickened, I felt awful. Even Judy Jeanes, the canoer, looked at my stroke and knew it was awful. Approaching the 250 meter marker, my mind told me to settle down. My second 250 meters was phenomenal. I paddled the Javelin like it was meant to be paddled. Sonja Gilman had put two boat lengths on me in the first 250 meters. In the second 250, I held her. I crossed the finish line feeling awesome. But then the pain set in. I swear I hurt worse after 500 meters than I hurt after the 70 miles of the Clinton. There are simply no fast twitch muscles in my body. The good thing about sprints is that the recovery time is quick, in about an hour I was feeling just fine, and I had won a silver medal in my first sprint ever!

Canoe News, December 2007

It’s an art of synchronicity between human and boat; a tranquil pursuit where the mind, body, and spirit relax into a melodic harmony of paddle and water. A lazy day on the lake or a mid-summer float down the scenic Allegheny comes to mind. Rochester, New York resident, Jason Quagliata sees canoeing and kayaking differently. For him, it’s about speed and he works endlessly to chase the goal of being the fastest man on the water. During Tuesday’s rain-out of the USCA sprint race events at Chapman State Park, Quagliata spent some time huddled in a rain shelter talking about his passion. Quagliata looks like a typical athlete except for one notable difference. His wiry physique is topped with enormously wide shoulders forming a paddler’s characteristic V-shaped upper body. With nearly zero body fat, and short blonde hair, Quagliata is easy to pick out of a crowd, unless that crowd is at the USCA National Canoe and Kayak Championships. “I have a whole group of friends I see once a year,” he said from a dry spot in the shelter. “So we’re all here to get rained on.” In truth, they are here to compete in a variety of boats and classes. Kayaks, where the paddle has two blades, are one type of boat, and canoes, where the paddle has one blade, are another. Sounding like a bowl of alphabet soup, the four main class divisions are C1 (one person canoe), C2 (two person canoe), K1 (one person kayak), and K2 (two person kayak). Quagliata races kayaks and canoes in one and two person classes for both the sprint events (500-meter races) and marathon races (just over 22 miles), but his best discipline is the kayak. In June at the National Team Trials in Stone Mountain, Georgia, Quagliata and teammate Reid Hyle qualified in the K2 marathon

2007 Nationals: ADULT SPRINTS for the International Canoe Federation World Championships in Györ, Hungary September 8th and 9th. Since marathon is not in the Olympics, the international championship is the sport’s apogee. Quagliata wasn’t born with a paddle in his hand. In fact, he has only been paddling since 2001; prior to that, he was a competitive distance runner who could post a 4:13 in the mile. Then one day in April 2001, he tore his ACL* playing soccer. “I didn’t want to have the surgery and be out for the whole summer,” he said of his transformation into paddle sports. “I was probably burned out with running anyway, and this gave me a shot at competing at a different level.” The level he competes at is very high, but it wasn’t always that way. Competitive sprint kayaks are long and narrow. The 20 pound, carbon/Kevlar crafts are 18 inches wide and 17 feet long, and they require a tremendous amount of balance to keep upright. “The first day I got into a race boat, I fell into the water 30 times,” he said. “I used to think paddling 100 meters was great.” Practice and persistence changed that. Now Quagliata races almost every weekend during the summer. Traveling from Georgia, to Houston to Wisconsin and to New York, he puts miles on his kayak as well as his truck. He has even traveled to Australia and Spain to take part in races. But racing isn’t always the glory of competition. Quagliata trains relentlessly during the paddling season to keep in shape and improve his performance. “We start training in February,” he said. “We’re out there in the snow.” From the nearly-frozen creeks of New York, his routine is an unstoppable grind of weight lifting, running, paddling and conditioning for one to three hours a day. With other teams from southern states who can paddle twelve months out of the year, the bitter Empire State cold cannot stop him from training. “You have to be on the water by March no matter what the weather.” Complicating Quagliata’s training schedule is his job. As a sales manager, he spends a lot of time in his truck traveling between Rochester and Boston. “My kayaks go everywhere with me,” he said. “And I stay at hotels where I know where the water is.” In the five years he has been racing competitively, his diligence has paid off. He has first place finishes in 25 races. He qualified twice for the national team in K2. He won the 2006 national downriver kayak class. He placed second in 2003 at Nationals in K1. This weekend is no different. Quagliata has his sights set high, hoping for a top finish in the K2 with his partner Hyle, a top five finish in the canoe classes, and a victory over his K2 teammate in the K1. “Sunday should be a great race,” he said diplomatically. “If (Hyle) beats me, I would appreciate his effort.” The international race in Hungary is just a month away. Since the airlines frown upon a 17 foot-long piece of checked luggage, Quagliata had to buy a kayak from Europe and ship it to the race. After the competition, he will ship it back to the states where he can expect to see it again sometime in 2008. Before any of that, Quagliata will be here in Warren making miles on the Allegheny, and if all goes well, an observant spectator will see him hammering down the river at the front of the pack in a human-powered torpedo. *Editor’s note: ACL: The anterior cruciate ligament is one of the four major ligaments of the knee. The ACL can be torn during sudden dislocation, twisting, or hyperextension of the knee. Injury to the ACL is common in sports like soccer, football, skiing, and basketball where repeated heavy, jarring, and sometimes awkward blows to the knee occur. It rarely happens in paddling . . . Photographs copyright ©2007 by Will Arts (David & Lynda Williams)

Jason Quagliata, USCA K1 Man sprint champion for 2007.

Holm Schmidt, 2nd in the K1 Man sprint championship.

Craig Impens, 3rd in the K1 Man sprint championship.

Griffin Williams (#2) and Mark Wendolowski, 4th and 5th in the K1 Man sprint championship.

Canoe News, December 2007

2007 Nationals: ADULT SPRINTS K1 Man Master 1 Ron Kaiser (PA) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 02:24.84 2 Brad Beckwith (PA) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 02:25.40 3 Daniel Nemeth (NJ) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 02:44.80 K1 Man Senior 1 Lloyd Reeves (CA) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 02:34.00 2 Jacob Rabatin (OH) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 02:50.14 3 Guy Gilman (IN) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 02:50.17 4 Robert Galbraith (VA) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 03:13.10 K1 Man Veteran 1 Tom Jones (MA) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 02:41.76 2 Bob Dean (FL) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 02:42.80 3 Jerry Patton (PA) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 02:56.30 4 Doug Keiper (Fl) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 02:56.80 5 Irvin Claar (PA) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 03:08.40

C2 Women Open 1 Holly Reynolds (NY) / Emily Wright (NY) . . . . . 02:40.69 2 Ruth Sayger (AR) / Nannette Krapf (PA) . . . . . . . 02:43.71 3 Nathalie Hanson (MI) / Emily Hazel (MI) . . . . . . 02:57.34 4 Kaitlyn McElroy (ME) / Karen McElroy (ME) . . 03:12.03 5 Dawn McCracken (PA) / Linda Volpe (PA) . . . . . 04:16.65 C2 Women Master 1 Karen Simpson (ON) / Colleen Moore (ME) . . . . 02:42.50 2 Vicki Cummings (CT) / Pam Fitzgerald (NY) . . . 02:47.32 3 Teresa Stout (PA) / Judy Jeanes (PA) . . . . . . . . . . 02:54.20 4 Kiran Cunningham (MI) / Debra Hazel (MI) . . . . 03:35.64 C2 Women Veteran 1 Joan Henry (NY) / Jan Whitaker (NY) . . . . . . . . . 03:17.00 2 Priscilla Reinertsen (NH) / Dede Herlihy (MA) . . 03:20.00

Ron Kaiser edging Brad Beckwith for the K1 Man Master sprint championship.

Holly Reynolds (bow) & Emily Wright, C2 Women Open sprint champions.

Lloyd Reeves, K1 Man Senior sprint champion.

Colleen Moore (bow) & Karen Simpson, C2 Women Master sprint champions.

Bob Dean, 2nd in the K1 Man Veteran sprint championship.

Jan Whitaker (stern) paddling with Joan Henry (off photo), ahead of Dede Herlihy (bow) & Priscilla Reinertsen in the C2 Woman Veteran sprint championship.

Canoe News, December 2007

Photographs copyright ÂŠ2007 by Will Arts (David & Lynda Williams)

2007 Nationals: ADULT SPRINTS C2 Men Open 1 Cody Brown (AR) / Matt Rudnitsky (AR) . . . . . . 02:36.00 2 Ben Josefik (IL) / Ryan Stephens (IL) . . . . . . . . . 02:54.54 C2 Men Master 1 Del Cummings (CT) / Paul Dyka (CT) . . . . . . . . . 02:37.75 2 Guy Flatley (CT) / Randy Bailey (PA) . . . . . . . . . 02:39.94 3 John Edwards (FL) / Tony Bond (VIC) . . . . . . . . 02:43.00 4 Jim Short (MO) / Doug Pennington (MO) . . . . . . 02:47.33 5 Roy Zweeres (FL) / LaVerne Young (FL) . . . . . . . 02:50.76 C2 Men Senior 1 Ralph Vincent (VT) / Mark McAndrew (VT) . . . . 02:44.04 2 Ted Cramer (IA) / Gareth Stevens (WI) . . . . . . . . 02:46.91 3 James Dipelesi (NY) / Larry Liquori (NY) . . . . . . 02:47.58 4 Greg McMorrow (ME) / William Anderson (ME) 02:51.94 5 Phil Cole (NH) / Tom Walton (NH) . . . . . . . . . . . 03:04.09 C2 Men Veteran 1 Michael Johnson (MT) / Bob Bradford (MI) . . . . 02:45.01 2 Nick Lyesik (MA) / Stan Machacek (ON) . . . . . . 02:45.43 3 Roger Henry (NY) / Alec Davis (NY) . . . . . . . . . 02:46.49 4 Bill Robinson (NY) / Dick Ulbrich (MA) . . . . . . . 02:48.81 5 Tom Thomas (IN) / Bob Allen (MA) . . . . . . . . . . 02:49.73 6 Glen Vandewinckel (NY) / Don Browning (IL) . . 03:04.16

C2 Mixed Open 1 Matt Rudnitsky (NY) / Emily Wright (NY) . . . . . 02:39.19 2 Kaitlyn McElroy (ME) / Tom Walton (NH) . . . . . 02:55.99 C2 Mixed Master 1 John Edwards (FL) / Joanna Faloon (ON) . . . . . . 02:34.17 2 Del Cummings (CT) / Vicki Cummings (CT) . . . 02:37.80 3 Stan Machacek (ON) / Karen Simpson (ON) . . . . 02:42.35 4 Dede Ulbrich (MA) / Richard Ulbrich (MA) . . . . 02:52.03 5 Bob Bradford (MI) / Priscilla Reinertsen (NH) . . 02:52.43 6 Randy Bailey (PA) / Teresa Stout (PA) . . . . . . . . . 02:52.88 7 James Dipelesi (NY) / Judy Jeanes (PA) . . . . . . . 02:54.61 8 Joan Henry (NY) / Roger Henry (NY) . . . . . . . . . 02:56.44 9 Nannette Krapf (PA) / Dale Krapf (PA) . . . . . . . . 02:57.55 10 Roy Zweeres (FL) / Colleen Moore (ME) . . . . . . 02:58.56 11 John Hazel (MI) / Debra Hazel (MI) . . . . . . . . . . 03:12.56 12 Lorraine Lindstrom (IL) / Donald Lindstrom (IL) 03:24.66

Above: John Edwards (bow) & Joanna Faloon, C2 Mixed Master sprint champions. Below: Vicki (bow) & Del Cummings, 2nd in C2 Mixed Master sprints.

Above: Paul Dyka (bow) & Del Cummings, C2 Man Master sprint champions for 2007. Ted Cramer (bow) & Gareth Stevens chase Ralph Vincent (bow) & Mark McAndrew, who take the C2 Men Senior sprint championship by almost three seconds.

The C2 Men Veteran sprint championship: right to left, Stan Machacek (bow) & Nick Lyesiuk, Dick Ulbrich (bow) & Bill Robinson, champions Mike Johnson (bow) & Bob Bradford, Alec Davis (bow) & Roger Henry, Tom Thomas (bow) & Bob Allen, and Glen Vandewinckel (bow) & Don Browning.

Photographs copyright ÂŠ2007 by Will Arts (David & Lynda Williams)

Canoe News, December 2007

USCA Nationals 2007: ADULT/YOUTH SPRINTS

Adult/Youth Sprints Tuesday, August 7 and Thursday, August 9, 2007 Abbreviations: all US states except ON (Ontario, Canada) and VIC (Victoria, Australia). C2 Woman / Fledgling I 1 Briana Fitzgerald (NY) / Pam Fitzgerald (NY) . . 03:47.33 C2 Man / Fledgling I 1 Vaughn Taylor (MI) / Roy Zweeres (FL) . . . . . . . 02:54.74 2 Glen Vanderwinckel (NY) / Annie Ripton (NY) . 03:05.06 3 Laverne Young (FL) / Oliver Taylor (MI) . . . . . . . 03:06.06 C2 Woman / Fledgling II 1 Kelli Anthony (PA) / Judy Jeanes (PA) . . . . . . . . . 03:21.52 C2 Man / Fledgling II 1 Guy Flatley (CT) / Sam Knoechel (MI) . . . . . . . . 03:00.11 2 JD Jones (MO) / Gareth Stevens (WI) . . . . . . . . . 03:03.13 3 Logan Hughey (MI) / John Hazel (MI) . . . . . . . . . 03:03.85 4 Bill Robinson (NY) / Trent Robinson (NY) . . . . . 03:04.43 5 Kelli Anthony (PA) / Mark Anthony (PA) . . . . . . 03:07.27 6 Martin Kratka (IL) / Milan Kratka (IL) . . . . . . . . 03:29.37

C2 Woman / Bantam 1 Colleen Moore (ME) / Sosha Jones (MO) . . . . . . 02:59.48 2 Robert Simpson-Spook (ON) / Karen Simpson (ON) 03:04.63 3 Nannette Krapf (PA) / Matthew Simpson (ON) . . 03:18.26 C2 Man / Bantam 1 Guy Flatley (CT) / Brian Cunningham-Rhoads (MI) 03:05.16 2 Milan Kratka (IL) / Tomáš Kratka (IL) . . . . . . . . . 03:21.05 3 Eric Lindstrom (IL) / Donald Lindstrom (IL) . . . . 03:26.93 C2 Woman / Juvenile 1 Jan Whitaker (NY) / Emily Hazel (MI) . . . . . . . . 03:05.21 2 Wynn Reeves (CA) / Priscilla Reinertsen (NH) . . 03:24.83 C2 Man / Juvenile 1 Gareth Stevens (WI) / Brian Storch (MI) . . . . . . . 02:58.75 2 Donald Browning (IL) / Jeff Lindstrom (IL) . . . . 03:13.66 3 Milan Kratka (IL) / Tomáš Kratka (IL) . . . . . . . . . 04:01.25

Briana (bow) & Pam Fitzgerald, C2 Woman / Fledgling I sprint champions.

Brian Cunningham-Rhoads (bow) & Guy Flatley, C2 Man / Bantam sprint champions, followed by Tomáš Kratka (bow) & Milan Kratka and Eric Linstrom (bow) & Donald Lindstrom.

C2 Man / Juvenile sprint champions Brian Storch (bow) & Gareth Stevens and C2 Woman / Juvenile sprint champions Jan Whitaker (bow) & Emily Hazel.

C2 Woman / Fledgling II sprint champions Kelli Anthony (bow) & Judy Jeanes.

Left to right: Sam Knoechel (bow) & Guy Flatley, C2 Man / Fledgling II champions, then Trent (bow) & Bill Robinson, Logan Hughey (bow) & John Hazel, and JD Jones (bow) & Gareth Stevens.

Canoe News, December 2007

USCA Nationals 2007: ADULT/YOUTH SPRINTS

Colleen Moore (bow) & Ruth Sayger, C2 Woman / Junior sprint champions.

Matt Anthony (bow) & Judy Jeanes, 2nd in the C2 Woman / Junior sprint championship.

C2 Woman / Junior 1 Ruth Sayger (AR) / Colleen Moore (ME) . . . . . . . 02:46.82 2 Matt Anthony (PA) / Judy Jeanes (PA) . . . . . . . . . 02:53.03 3 Nathalie Hanson (MI) / Pam Fitzgerald (NY) . . . 03:06.65 4 Amanda Hazel (MI) / Lorraine Lindstrom (IL) . . 03:35.01 5 Debra Hazel (MI) / Kristin Lindstrom (IL) . . . . . . 03:56.70 C2 Man / Junior 1 Griffin Williams (MI) / John Edwards (FL) . . . . . 02:40.20 2 Matt Anthony (PA) / Randy Bailey (PA) . . . . . . . 02:42.58 3 Don Walls (AR) / Thomas Sayger (AR) . . . . . . . . 02:45.63 4 Tom Walton (MA) / Josh Quintel (MI) . . . . . . . . . 02:48.32 5 Alex McAndrew (VT) / Alex Schultz (VT) . . . . . 02:50.17 6 Roy Zweeres (FL) / Matt Swinehart (MI) . . . . . . . 02:54.88 7 Andrew Line (PA) / Gary Mullen (PA) . . . . . . . . . 03:00.53 8 Paul Gruber (PA) / Miranda Gruber (PA) . . . . . . . 03:14.65

Nathalie Hanson (bow) & Pam Fitzgerald, 3rd in the C2 Woman / Junior sprint championship.

The C2 Man / Junior sprint championship: from right to left, champions John Edwards (bow) & Griffin Williams, Matt Anthony (bow) & Randy Bailey, Gary Mullen (bow) & Andrew Line, Tom Walton (bow) & Josh Quintel, Don Walls (bow) & Thomas Sayger, and Matt Swinehart (bow) & Roy Zweeres.

Tom Walton (bow) & Josh Quintel chase Don Walls (bow) & Thomas Sayger, fourth and third respectively in the C2 Man / Junior sprint championships.

Matt Anthony (bow) & Randy Bailey, 2nd in the C2 Man / Junior sprint championships. Photographs copyright ÂŠ2007 by Will Arts (David & Lynda Williams)

Canoe News, December 2007

USCA National Canoe Orienteering Championships 2007

The Third Warren USCA Canoe Orienteering Championship . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Aims Coney With the third visit of the USCA Nationals to Warren in five years, finding a fresh venue for Orienteering was a challenge. In 2003 the event started downtown, went upstream on the Allegheny and Conewango Rivers and finished downstream at Betts Park. In 2005 the site was the Tidioute area about 30 minutes south of Warren but what to do in 2007? From a satellite view, the Kinzua Reservoir looks good, but it is just too big to have meaningful route choices. A course there would have to cover a route of about 25 miles! After studying the satellite photos some more, we concluded the best choice would be to start at Betts Park and finish downstream at Buckaloons, the confluence of Brokenstraw Creek and the Allegheny. Buckaloons is a federal campground and the site of a significant Native American village visited by French explorer Celeron de Bienville in 1749. In fact, anthropological excavations indicate that Buckaloons was inhabited by Senecas at least as early as 1300. This stretch of river contains four clusters of islands including one huge one, Meade Island (see historical sidebar, right), which has been excavated for gravel leaving a man-made lake in the center. The other concern, besides choosing a location, was water level. In 2003 the Allegheny was so high that the Army Corps of Engineers held back flow at the Kinzua Dam to make the river safe enough for racing. But, in 2005 we had the opposite condition and the water was so low that orienteering competitors found themselves wading even in mid-river. It

Canoe News, December 2007

looked like 2007 would be a repeat of 2005 but perhaps with a few inches more. Tuesday, the day before the orienteering race, was mapping and course setting day. In 2005 I’d been lucky enough to have mapping and orienteering expert J-J Coté along but this time I was on my own. I’d created a base map from satellite photos but now had to go along and correct it and at the same time hang the orienteering markers. I set off in my C1 with a big bag of markers and a sheaf of draft maps to write up corrections. It was a gray morning and at the last minute I decided to bring my broad-brimmed rain hat. Thirty minutes later, as I pulled up on the shore of enormous Meade Island, I heard the first crackle of thunder. Within a few minutes a sprinkle began and the thunder had moved closer so I settled in to wait it out. The thunder continued and the rain increased. As I sat near the shore for an hour and forty minutes, soaking wet but with a thankfully dry head, I watched gusts rip across the surface and slowly, very slowly, the river started to creep up. Finally, the thunder edged away to the east and I was able to get underway again although the rain was still falling. Writing map corrections with my red pencils was a problem because they smeared in the wet and I had to be terribly careful not to rip the paper. But, those corrections were critical because the fuzzy satellite pictures had left out a lot of detail and many of the between island channels turned out to be dry. Eventually I made it down to Buckaloons with 14 control markers hung and about a hundred map edits to make when I got back to my computer. That evening, as I worked on the map in my hotel room, I was

USCA National Canoe Orienteering Championships 2007 vaguely aware that a big storm was lashing the window and I worried that I’d learn in the morning that the race had been called off because of more thunder. But, at dawn the rain was gone and the early fog gave promise of a beautiful day. I spent the morning readying the start area and it wasn’t until thirty minutes before start time that I took my first look at the Allegheny — it was up over a foot! What yesterday had been a sluggish, clear water river was now muddy brown and

ripping along. This meant those island channels would now be paddleable and it would be a much faster course than I’d planned. It also meant that with that strong current choosing the correct side of an island was critical because it would be almost impossible to paddle up the other side. Finally, after all the preparation, it was time to turn the course over to the competitors. The start was on the grassy field at Betts Park. Every two minutes a team was handed their maps, had a minute to study them, and then would grab their boat and head to the embankment and disappear. The first control location was only 40 meters from the start but posed a tricky route choice. It was on the far side of a thin island and between the island and Betts Park was a narrow channel. Some people put their boat into the channel, paddled downstream and back up the other side. Others left their boat on the far side of the channel, crossed the island, and returned to their boat. Those who simply carried their boat across the narrow island seemed to have the easiest time. All of this activity provided great amusement to spectators on shore but

The Meade Island Culture Hard to believe, but there was civilization on Meade Island before USCA Orienteers got there . . . The following is an abstract from a paper given by Stanley W Lantz, at a meeting of the Society for Pennsylvania Archeology in 2004: The Meade Island Culture, A Complex Early Late Woodland Occupation of the Middle Allegheny River Valley: “The Meade Island Culture was named after an island in the Allegheny River near Warren, Pennsylvania. It was the dominant Early Late Woodland occupation of the Middle Allegheny River Valley from the mouth of the Conewango Creek in Warren, down river to the confluence of French Creek at Franklin and perhaps beyond. Radiocarbon dates range from circa AD1000 to AD1300 or in calendar years from AD1050 to AD 1320. This range within excavated occupations; confirm a pattern of abandonment and reoccupation. The culture exhibits complexity, with domestic structures comparable to those of the Monongahela to the south, however, surface and subterranean features are duplicated in the immediate upriver Allegheny Iroquois occupations. Furthermore, many ceramic attributes are similar to the Fort Ancient and Whittlesey Traditions of Ohio. Also, a degree of ceramic form is recognized with Monongahela.” — So, now you know. Map and photograph copyright ©2007 by Aims Coney

Seth & Stephen Miller, overall winners of the 2007 USCA Canoe Orienteering championship at control point #8.

Canoe News, December 2007

USCA National Canoe Orienteering Championships 2007

Orienteering

Wednesday, August 8

C1 Man 1 David Hunter (NY) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1:24 2 Robert Galbraith (VA) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1:59 K1 Woman 1 Linda Volpe (PA) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1:48 2 Georgette Goonan (CO) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2:08 K1 Man 1 Daniel Nemeth (NJ) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1:36 2 Irvin Claar (PA) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2:06 C2 Women 1 Kaitlyn McElroy (ME) / Karen McElroy (ME) . . . . . . 1:44 C2 Man 1 Stephen Miller (MA) / Seth Miller (MA) . . . . . . . . . . . 1:09 2 Randy Bailey (PA) / Mark Anthony (PA) . . . . . . . . . . . 1:18 3 Tom Walton (NH) / Phil Cole (NH) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1:36 4 Brian Storch (IL) / Matt Swinehart (IL) . . . . . . . . . . . . 1:49 C2 Mixed 1 Tammy Josefik (IL) / Ben Josefik (IL) . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1:16 2 Jennifer Pennington (MO) / Doug Pennington (MO) . . 1:25 C2 Woman / Youth 1 Brian Cunningham-Rhoads (MI) / Kiran Cunningham (MI) 2:11 C2 Man / Youth 1 Donald Browning (IL) / Jeff Lindstrom (IL) . . . . . . . . 1:30 2 Milan Kratka (IL) / Tomáš Kratka (IL) . . . . . . . . . . . . 1:33 3 Eric Lindstrom (IL) / Donald Lindstrom (IL) . . . . . . . . 1:54

Tom Walton (bow) & Phil Cole paddling ahead of Mark Anthony (bow) & Randy Bailey.

was invisible to the competitors still waiting their turns. Once the last starters, Steve and Seth Miller, were underway, I rushed to the boat launch at Starbrick, about midway through the course. I was happy to see first starter Bobby Galbraith still in the lead and safely through Meade Island and the first half. Then, in the distance I could see a string of more boats and the Millers coming up fast so I began to paddle hard downstream to catch the action at control 8. Control 8 was in a channel through an island. When mapped the optimal route would be to carry over a short gravel bar into a quiet lagoon but by race time the gravel bar was underwater. Some teams went downstream and back up making for an interesting photo opportunity with boats facing both ways, a condition that rarely occurs in a conventional canoe race. A number of boaters then portaged over the island on their way to number 9, but the best route was probably to simply paddle around. The leg that I was most anxious to watch was from control 10 to 11. 10 was in a small island cluster just downstream from the upper end of a much larger island. The temping route was to just keep going downstream, then go back up to 11 and all but one team did that. But, the better choice was to battle upstream to reach the south side of the large island and then float easily down with the current. Only the Josefik team did that. Everyone else had a really tough time getting through the narrow, shallow stretch below 11 and ended up leaving their boats and wading upstream through shin-deep water. As I watched the parade of waders, along came Tammy and Ben from the other direction and they never even had to get out of their boat. That one good move is probably why they had 2nd best overall time.

Canoe News, December 2007

Georgette Goonan reaches control point #12.

Bobby Galbraith competing in the Canoe Orienteering event.

Ben (bow) & Tammy Josefik, winners of the C2 Mixed division, came in with second best overall time. Second photograph from top copyright ©2007 by Aims Coney; the other three copyright ©2007 by Brian Ferry/Warren Times Observer

USCA National Canoe Orienteering Championships 2007 Action at control #8: Ben heads back to Tammy waiting by their boat on the left, Mark Anthony leaves Randy Bailey in their canoe, Milan & Tomáš Kratka paddle in beside Don Browning & Jeff Lindstrom.

The hard ways to get to control #11: Kaitlyn McElroy abandons her mother and runs through the shallows while Doug & Jennifer Pennington wade thigh-deep and other contestants head in various directions.

Left: Linda Volpe, K1 Canoe-O class champion, and right: Brian Cunningham Rhoads (bow) & Kiran Cunningham, C2 Woman / Youth champions

The final three controls were a fairly easy zigzag across the river and were placed to maximize appeal to spectators up on the route 62 bridge. A lot of cheers went up from the shore as the last racers punched control 14 and sprinted across the river to finish. With the unexpected high water, times were fast. Steve and Seth Miller found all 14 controls in only an hour and nine minutes. Close behind were the Josefiks at 1:16 followed by Randy Bailey and Mark Anthony at 1:18. Thanks are in order to David Hunter who helped with setup and compiling results and to Steve and Seth Miller who went back out later and collected the control flags. And, very special thanks to Jim Decker who provided transportation and timing, as well as negotiated permission from the owners of Mead Island to use their mid-island lake. In 2008 our venue shifts to Elkhart County, Indiana. Don Browning has graciously agreed to be the local coordinator and we look forward to working with him. Top two photographs copyright ©2007 by Aims Coney; the other two copyright ©2007 by Brian Ferry/Warren Times Observer

An Orienteer’s Appreciation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . David Hunter Aims Coney put on a tremendous effort by setting up the course the day before in the rain and lightning. The course started at the finish line park and went down river about six miles to Buckaloons campsite. The race lasted between an hour and two hours, depending on your navigating and paddling abilities. I got to the third from last control just about the time the fastest C2 boat did and we had to search around for ten minutes until one of us found the control under water attached to a stick. The river had come up so much over night that it was submerged. I think that orienteering could easily grow into a bigger event if it were more fully explained to the whole paddling crowd. It reminds me of the first 10 miles of the 70 miler, when we go as fast as we can without missing any turns. A good website to learn more about the sport is www.geocities.com/canoeo.

Canoe News, December 2007

Outstanding Paddler of the Year 2007: Tom Walton

Outstanding Paddler of the Year Award 2007: Tom Walton

The National Run Paddle Biathlon Tom volunteered to put on a non-USCA-championship event, a biathlon, during the 2002 USCA National Championships in Hanover, NH. He has planned and presented the event annually ever since. Because of the atmosphere he generates for the event, and his emphasis on the importance of participation and sharing the fun of sports competition, the popularity of the biathlon has grown to make it one of the premier events for kids and adults alike. The biathlon has grown every year, and the 2007 Warren Nationals just saw it exceed 50 participants. Tom’s pre-race meeting-come-pep talk and the awards ceremony following the event are filled with laughter and recognition. Some further background to Tom Walton’s involvement in paddle sports and sports competition in general.

Tom Walton, 2007 Outstanding Paddler of the Year, “moved and proud as punch to receive the honor and to be placed in such high company as those who have gone before.” Tom Walton was presented with the Outstanding Paddler of the Year Award for 2007 at the final awards ceremony of the 2007 USCA Nationals in Warren.

Tom’s canoeing career began in the late 1970s in paddling on local NH rivers with his wife, Debbie, and with Peter Heed. At this time, Tom also began coaching junior high and high school kids in several sports: hockey, softball, cross country running and skiing, wrestling, weight training soccer ,you name it, as an adjunct to his job as a public school teacher in Concord, NH.

Eligibility: Any USCA member who has made a significant contribution toward the sport of canoeing through USCA within the current year is eligible for nomination. Also, the selection will be based on the individual’s mental attitude, fellowship, spirit, sportsmanship, compassionate understanding and contribution to the promotion and growth of the amateur canoeing cause either on a competitive or noncompetitive basis. It is suggested that this award not be given to anyone posthumously.

Tom Walton grabs his C1 and sprints for the finish in “his” race: the Philip H Soule Nationals Run Paddle Biathlon, named by Tom for our fondly missed friend Phil Soule, who personified enthusiastic participation and sportsmanship.

Here is the Nomination for Tom Walton to receive USCA’s Outstanding Paddler of the Year Award, submitted to the selection committee by Priscilla Reinertsen and Gareth Stevens: Tom Walton’s contribution to the sport of canoeing within the current year has been (a) the masterful direction of the USCA’s single fastest growing event during Nationals Week, the “unofficial fun National Run Paddle Biathlon championship.” and (b) his continuing demonstration of a great mental attitude, an unwavering commitment to fellowship, fun, and good sportsmanship, and a sound understanding that these are what really matter in our activities as an association. Further, he fully satisfies the last suggested qualification for a nominee by being very much alive.

Canoe News, December 2007

Tom talked up Orienteering this year, “an event that is every bit as inclusionary and fun as the Biathlon. Aims Coney is passionate about what he does and the result is a crazy and zany good time. I never in the world thought I could do Orienteering (a perfect example of self-limitation).” Above, Tom enjoys some time with Phil Cole, his partner in Aims’ Canoe Orienteering championships. Bottom photograph copyright ©2007 by Brian Ferry/Warren Times Observer; top two photographs copyright ©2007 by Will Arts (David & Lynda Williams)

Outstanding Paddler of the Year 2007

C1 Unlimited Marathon (Demo)

Tom’s paddling career ratcheted up in the early 1980s when he also joined up with Phil Cole and Priscilla Reinertsen and started hitting the racing circuit. Tom’s partners frequently included local youngsters that he recruited to give paddlesport a try. Tom trained and raced with great vigor. Always encouraging athletic participation in the spirit of fun and good sportsmanship, Tom organized canoe races on the Contoocook River and supported road races and local triathlons.

C1 Unlimited Marathon (Demo) C1 Unlimited Marathon (Demo) - Wednesday, August 8 1 John Edwards (FL) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1:03:51 2 Roy Zweeres (FL) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1:07:43 3 Tony Bond (VIC) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1:14:03 4 Lloyd Reeves (CA) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1:14:23 5 Karl Vogel (FL) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . no time

John Edwards reported that overall the paddlers liked the course, which was an upstream run from the regular finish line to the big rapids and then straight back to the finish.

Kids at school referred to him as TW. He remembers the names of most of the kids he has had in school and on teams which now reach into the many many hundreds, nay, thousands. He has a warm personal relationship with, and is very supportive of, athletes of all ages. For all these reasons, we unreservedly nominate Tom Walton to receive the Outstanding Paddler of the Year Award for 2007. There can be few, if any, who deserve it more. Tom’s response to the award appears in the write-up to the National Biathlon Championship, next page.

Brian Storch, Tom Walton and Jim Decker share a laugh at the USCA Canoe orienteering championships.

Above: John Edwards heading for a win in the C1 Unlimited Demo race. Below: Karl Vogel ran into trouble, but participated nonetheless, in an old-style Olympic canoe.

Mark your calendars for 2008! USCA Canoe & Kayak Nationals Aug 5-10, 2008: Elkhart County, IN 6 days of Sprint, Orienteering, & Marathon

USCA Aluminum Nationals September 27-28, 2008: Bastrop, TX

Mark your calendars for 2009! USCA Canoe & Kayak Nationals Aug 11-16, 2009

Bids for hosting both 2009 Nationals will be reviewed at USCA’s Annual Meeting in Tarpon Springs, January

Tom paddling bow for Kaitlyn McElroy in the C2 Mixed sprints where they came second. Bottom photograph copyright ©2007 by Will Arts (David & Lynda Williams); the other two copyright ©2007 by Brian Ferry/ Warren Times Observer

Canoe News, December 2007

Philip H Soule National Run Paddle Biathlon Championships

2007 Philip H Soule National Run Paddle Biathlon Championships

Iron Woman 1 Kaitlyn McElroy (ME) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0:34:26 2 Emily Hazel (MI) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0:40:34 3 April Haight (KY) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0:44:33 4 Alicia Wendolowski (MA) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0:44:53 5 Natalie Hanson (MI) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0:48:43

Wednesday, August 8, 2007

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Tom Walton If I could leave any legacy behind, it would be to play...to participate...to get off of the sideline and into the fray. I’m afraid that we limit ourselves too much in life thinking that there is “no way that we could do this or complete that.” The Biathlon is a perfect example of an event that is eminently do-able by anybody. We cheer one another on for showing up, participating and having fun. I want the Canoe News readership to know that everyone, who is in town on Wednesday of Nationals week next year, should give it (Biathlon) a try and see what this fun is all about. If you simply can’t run, or do not wish to run, we’ll hook you up with a runner and make it a Tin-Person event. Conversely, if you want to run only, we’ll find you a new friend who wants to paddle. C2 Tin Men 1 Beetle Bailey (PA) / Jeff Hutton (PA) . . . . . . . . . . . 0:31:41 2 Ralph Vincent (VT) / Mark McAndrew (VT) / Alex McAndrew (VT) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0:33:56 3 Erik Van Dis (MI) / Matt Swinehart (MI) . . . . . . . . 0:39:39 4 Matt Simpson (ON) / Robert Simpson-Spook (ON) 0:47:01 5 Logan Hughey (MI) / Sam Knoechel (MI) . . . . . . . 0:49:57

C2 Tin Men Master 1 Ron Kaiser (PA) / Bobby Galbraith (VA) . . . . . . . 0:41:03 2 Don Lindstrom (IL) / Don Browning (IL) . . . . . . . 0:45:46 Iron Man Open 1 Griffin Williams (MI) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0:31:37 2 Josh Quintel (MI) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0:36:23 3 Brian Storch (MI) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0:36:31 4 Jim Dipelesi (NY) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0:37:29 5 Andrew Line (PA) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0:40:18 6 Jeff Lindstrom (IL) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0:41:00 7 Aaron Vidusek (IL) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0:44:00 C2 Tin Women 1 Judy Jeanes (PA) / Janet Perry (IL) . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0:40:32 2 Sarah Tompkins (MI) / Jackie Stone (MI) / Anna Tompkins (MI) . . . . . . . . 0:44:01 Iron Woman Master 1 Georgette Goonan (CO) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0:47:51 2 Linda Volpe (PA) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0:51:13 C2 Tin Mixed 1 Ariel McNett (ME) / Eric McNett (ME) . . . . . . . . . 0:34:24 2 Wynn Reeves (CA) / Lloyd Reeves (CA) . . . . . . . . 0:36:29 3 Priscilla Reinertsen (NH) / Larry Liquori (NY) . . . 0:39:01 4 Nannette Krapf (PA) / Dale Krapf (PA) . . . . . . . . . 0:39:55 5 Tricia Heed (NH) / Nick Lyesiuk (MA) . . . . . . . . . 0:40:50

Tom Walton, director of the race – and participant, too – gives his pre-race rules and pep- talk.

Transition: run to paddle. Right to left: Josh Quintel, Kaitlyn McElroy, Ralph Vincent & Mark McAndrew, behind them Jeff Lindstrom, with Dave Diget watching closely.

Left to right (except those obscured to view): Aaron Vidusek, young man, Georgette Goonan, young man, Brian Storch, Jim Dipelesi, Emily Hazel, Bobby Galbraith, young man, young man, and Josh Quintel.

Nationals coordinator Tave Lamperez, with Lloyd Reeves on the bank to the left, Bill Anderson top right.

Canoe News, December 2007

Philip H Soule National Run Paddle Biathlon Championships Iron Man Master 1 Brad Beckwith (PA) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0:34:02 2 Dwight Blease (ME) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0:34:56 3 Tom Walton (NH) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0:35:00 4 Gareth Stevens (WI) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0:36:54 5 Don Walls (AR) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0:37:12 6 Peter Heed (NH) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0:39:16 7 Gary Mullen (PA) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0:39:54 8 Bill Anderson (PA) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0:41:09 9 Tave Lamperez (IL) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0:42:12 10 Tom Jones (MA) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0:43:58 11 Irv Claar (PA) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0:48:30

Randy Bailey, paddling his second loop to victory for his team in the C2 Tin Men division.

Don Walls paddling hard, heading to 5th Iron Man Master

Brad Beckwith, Iron Man Master champion of the NationalsRun Paddle Biathlon.

Kaitlyn McElroy, C1 Iron Woman champion, comes in to shore for the sprint portage to the finish line.

Trish Heed, flying in the C2 Tin Mixed division. Left to right: Peter Heed, Larry Liquori & Priscilla Reinertsen, and Andrew Line transition to the final portage dash. Right, Linda Volpe, recovering from it!

Photographs copyright ÂŠ2007 by Will Arts (David & Lynda Williams)

Canoe News, December 2007

USCA Nationals 2007: YOUTH SPRINTS

Youth Sprints Thursday, August 9, 2007 Abbreviations: all US states except ON (Ontario, Canada) and VIC (Victoria, Australia). Note: youth ages are given as at midnight 12/31/2006 as this determines their age division at the 2007 Nationals. C1 Fledgling I (250m) 1 Vaughn Taylor (MI) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 02:35.20 2 Annie Ripton (NY) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 02:56.41 3 Oliver Taylor (MI) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 03:35.55 4 River McDuffie (NC) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 03:48.39 C2 Fledgling I (250m) 1 Oliver Taylor (MI) / Vaughn Taylor (MI) . . . . . . . 02:28.30 2 Annie Ripton (NY) / Briana Fitzgerald (NY) . . . . 02:37.20

C1 Fledgling II (250m) 1 Sam Knoechel (MI) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 02:21.19 2 Logan Hughey (MI) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 02:26.59 3 Claire Stout (PA) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 02:31.72 4 JD Jones (MO) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 02:33.03 5 Trent Robinson (NY) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 02:37.13 6 Hallie Miller (MA) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 02:37.89 7 Kelli Anthony (PA) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 02:44.00 8 Caroline Miller (MA) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 02:58.44 C2 Fledgling II (250m) 1 Sam Knoechel (MI) / Logan Hughey (MI) . . . . . . 02:04.33 2 Claire Stout (PA) / Matthew Simpson (ON) . . . . . 02:21.83 3 JD Jones (MO) / Trent Robinson (NY) . . . . . . . . . 02:22.28 4 Hallie Miller (MA) / Caroline Miller (MA) . . . . . 02:27.77

Oliver (bow) & Vaughn Taylor, USCA C2 Fledgling I sprint champions.

In first place (nearest camera), Sam Knoechel (boat #3) leads Logan Hughey (on right), then Hallie Miller, Claire Stout and, far left, Kelli Anthony.

Vaughn Taylor, C1 Fledgling I sprint champion.

In fourth place, JD Jones leads Trent Robinson and Kelli Anthony, while Matt Anthony on safety patrol looks on.

Annie Ripton, 2nd in the C1 Fledgling I championship.

In C2 Fledgling II, JD Jones (bow) & Trent Robinson are just ahead (at this point) of Matthew Simpson (bow) & Claire Stout.

Canoe News, December 2007

Photographs copyright ÂŠ2007 by Will Arts (David & Lynda Williams)

USCA Nationals 2007: YOUTH SPRINTS C1 Bantam (250m) 1 Brian Cunningham-Rhoads (MI) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 02:03.66 2 Jackie Stone (MI) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 02:07.08 3 Sosha Jones (MO) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 02:08.97 4 Robert Simpson-Spook (ON) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 02:15.55 5 Matthew Simpson (ON) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 02:26.08 6 Calvin Miller (MA) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 02:26.76 C2 Bantam (250m) 1 Jackie Stone (MI) / Brian Cunningham-Rhoads (MI) 01:50.64 2 Martin Kratka (IL) / Tomáš Kratka (IL) . . . . . . . . 01:52.57 3 Robert Simpson-Spook (ON) / Lauren McNett (ME) 02:02.27 4 Matthew Simpson (ON) / Claire Stout (PA) . . . . . 02:58.60 C1 Girl Juvenile (500m) 1 Emily Hazel (MI) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 03:15.84 2 Anna Tompkins (MI) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 03:34.58 3 Addie Miller (MA) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 04:24.00

C2 Girl Juvenile (500m) 1 Anna Tompkins (MI) / Emily Hazel (MI) . . . . . . . 03:05.32 2 Wynn Reeves (CA) / Ariel McNett (ME) . . . . . . . 03:14.65 C1 Boy Juvenile (500m) 1 Jeff Lindstrom (IL) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 03:18.69 2 Brian Storch (MI) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 03:27.75 C2 Boy Juvenile (500m) 1 Brian Storch (MI) / Jeff Lindstrom (IL) . . . . . . . . 03:01.92 2 Martin Kratka (IL) / Tomáš Kratka (IL) . . . . . . . . 03:36.01 3 Addie Miller (MA) / Calvin Miller (MA) . . . . . . . 04:06.23

Ariel McNett (bow) & Wynn Reeves. who took 2nd place in the C2 Girl Juvenile sprint championships.

Brian Cunningham-Rhoads, C1 Bantam sprint champion.

In second and third positions in the C1 Bantam sprint championship: Jackie Stone and Sosha Jones. Jeff Lindstrom (bow) & Brian Storch, C2 Boy Juvenile sprint champions for 2007.

Martin Kratka (bow) & Tomáš Kratka. 2nd place in the C2 Boy Juvenile sprint championships.

Canoe News, December 2007

USCA Nationals 2007: YOUTH SPRINTS C1 Woman Junior (500m) 1 Ruth Sayger (AR) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 03:10.58 2 Sarah Tompkins (MI) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 03:33.11 3 Nathalie Hanson (MI) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 03:40.04 C2 Women Junior (500m) 1 Ruth Sayger (AR) / Ashley Partridge (AR) . . . . . 02:53.58 2 Nathalie Hanson (MI) / Sarah Tompkins (MI) . . . 03:04.90

Ruth Sayger, C1 Woman Junior sprint champion.

C1 Man Junior (500m) 1 Joshua Quintel (MI) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 02:51.59 2 Griffin Williams (MI) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 02:51.87 3 Matt Anthony (PA) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 02:58.99 4 Daniel Donovan (NY) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 03:02.64 5 Eric Van Dis (MI) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 03:04.49 6 Aaron Vidusek (IL) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 03:05.62 7 Steven Diller (MD) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 03:06.25 8 Mike Rosecky (MD) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 03:19.30 9 Chris Tompkins (MI) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 03:26.02 10 Andrew Line (PA) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 03:27.23 11 Matt Swinehart (MI) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 03:48.57 12 Brian Cunningham-Rhoads (MI) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 04:05.07 13 Thomas Sayger (AR) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 05:24.95

Josh Quintel (on the right ) and Griffin Williams on the left, neck and neck, followed hard by Matt Anthony, Daniel Donovan, Aaron Vidusek, Steven Diller & Mike Rosecky.

Sarah Tompkins, 2nd in C1 Woman Junior championship.

Josh and Griffin still fighting for position (Matt and Daniel losing a little ground). Ruth Sayger (bow) & Ashley Partridge, C2 Women Junior sprint champions.

In one of the closest finishes of the day, Josh Quintel edges Griff Williams by 0.28 of a second to win the 2007 USCA C1 Man Junior sprint championship.

Nathalie Hanson (bow) & Sarah Tompkins, 2nd in the C2 Women Junior sprint championship.

Canoe News, December 2007

Photographs copyright ÂŠ2007 by Will Arts (David & Lynda Williams)

USCA Nationals 2007: YOUTH SPRINTS C2 Men Junior (500m) 1 Joshua Quintel (MI) / Griffin Williams (MI) . . . . 02:33.71 2 Steven Diller (MD) / Mike Rosecky (MD) . . . . . . 02:37.05 3 Daniel Donovan (NY) / Matt Anthony (PA) . . . . 02:44.12 4 Eric Van Dis (MI) / Chris Tompkins (MI) . . . . . . 02:48.85 5 Jeff Lindstrom (IL) / Aaron Vidusek (IL) . . . . . . . 02:54.31 6 Matt Swinehart (MI) / Alex McAndrew (VT) . . . 02:56.78 Thomas Sayger (AR) / Zachary Waters (AR) . . . . . . . . . dnf C2 Mixed Youth (500m) 1 Ruth Sayger (AR) / Thomas Sayger (AR) . . . . . . 02:47.83 2 Griffin Williams (MI) / Nathalie Hanson (MI) . . . 02:50.60 3 Matt Anthony (PA) / Miranda Gruber (PA) . . . . . 03:00.23 4 Eric Van Dis (MI) / Anna Tompkins (MI) . . . . . . . 03:03.20 5 Emily Hazel (MI) / Jeff Lindstrom (IL) . . . . . . . . 03:03.96 6 Chris Tompkins (MI) / Sarah Tompkins (MI) . . . . 03:05.40 7 Brian Storch (MI) / Jackie Stone (MI) . . . . . . . . . 03:13.06 8 Wynn Reeves (CA) / Josh Quintel (MI) . . . . . . . . 03:18.60 9 Matt Swinehart (MI) / Ariel McNett (ME) . . . . . . 03:26.30

K1 Woman Junior (500m) 1 Sarah Tompkins (MI) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 02:51.20 2 Emily Hazel (MI) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 02:54.80 3 Nathalie Hanson (MI) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 03:14.20 4 Jackie Stone (MI) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 03:34.80 K1 Man Junior (500m) 1 Griffin Williams (MI) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 02:21.23 2 Joshua Quintel (MI) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 02:28.15 3 Brian Storch (MI) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 02:41.74 4 Jabe Walters (PA) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 02:50.77 5 Chris Tompkins (MI) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 03:06.16 6 Tomáš Kratka (IL) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 03:16.33 7 Sam Knoechel (MI) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 03:37.55 8 Martin Kratka (IL) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 03:48.73 9 Logan Hughey (MI) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 03:59.16

Mike Rosecky glances over at Josh Quintel (bow) & Griff Williams as he and Steven Diller pace them, with Daniel Donovan (bow) & Matt Anthony in third.

Sarah Tompkins battles through the rain to win the K1 Woman Junior sprint championship over Emily Hazel in second place. Thomas Sayger (bow) & Ruth Sayger lead Nathalie Hanson (bow) & Griff Williams to win the C2 Mixed Youth sprint championship. In the photo behind them are (left to right) Jackie Stone (bow) & Brian Storch, Jeff Lindstrom (bow) & Emily Hazel, and Miranda Gruber (bow) & Matt Anthony.

Griffin Williams, in a tour de force sprint, wins the K1 Man Junior championship by a clear six and a half seconds.

Canoe News, December 2007

USCA Nationals 2007: YOUTH SPRINTS

Two families, one passion at USCA Nationals By DEREK FARR Sports Writer, Warren Times Observer It’s not often that athletes compete against each other and then literally find themselves in the same boat, but for two girls, and two families, that’s exactly what happened Thursday at Chapman State Park. The Kalamazoo Canoe and Kayak Club is in town to take part in the USCA National Championship events this week. On board are two families that bring to the competition two sets of daughters who have their sights set on the prize. John and Deb Hazel of Kalamazoo, MI watched both their daughters compete in last year’s National Championships in Wisconsin. Amanda, now 17, and Emily, now 15, brought home three first-place and three second-place medals in last year’s event. Scott and Patrice Tompkins, also of Kalamazoo, saw their daughter Sarah, now 17, gather three second-place medals in the 2006 competition. The Tompkins and Hazel rivalry was further intensified this year when Anna Tompkins,13, decided that she wanted to compete in the races. Conventional wisdom suggests that the two families must have an icy relationship. Surely they wouldn’t want to give up their secrets of success. Like an on-water cold war, perhaps civil discourse with false smiles and friendly gestures would be appropriate, but nothing more. This is the Nationals after all. Not so much.

Right: Emily Hazel, paddling furiously to win the C1 Girl Juvenile sprint event with Anna Tompkins coming second. Behind Anna, Addie Miller paddles to third place. Left: John Hazel sits with Emily and paddling friend Jeff Lindstrom.

Dave Diget, founder and coach for the Kalamazoo Canoe & Kayak Club, watches the Youth Sprints intently. Dave won USCA’s Youth Encouragement Award for 2006.

Canoe News, December 2007

Anna got the idea to race in this year’s event from watching her older sister compete in last year’s Nationals. In the C1 race, the older Tompkins, Sarah took second behind the older Hazel, Amanda, and Sarah’s other two second-place finishes were in C2 races where her teammates were the Hazel girls. As confusing as it sounds, it only makes sense that this year Anna – the younger Tompkins – and Emily – the younger Hazel – would be competing against, and with each other. But ask them what they would rather do, win a race, record a personal best time, or hang out with friends, and they will both tell you, hang out with friends. Not to say that the competition isn’t serious. Head coach Dave Diget works with the team four times a week from the icy months of March (it’s Michigan, remember) through paddle season’s culmination at the National Championships to refine their technique and strength. In 2005, Diget brought two competitors to Warren for the Championships. Two years later his team numbers more than 20. “(The parents) tune into their kids and the kids are tuned into the sport, and the band starts playing,” he said while watching two of his young athletes in a race. Diget means business and his team knows it. When Diget needed smaller paddles for little athletes (some as young as two), he and John Hazel developed a technique for making kids’ paddles using nothing more than a fishing pole, balsa wood, fiberglass cloth and epoxy resin. He even built a folding canoe from a sassafras tree. His commitment shows. The Kalamazoo team is rarely absent from the top of the podium in youth events. Diget’s goal is nothing short of excellence. And that brings us back to Emily

USCA Nationals 2007: YOUTH SPRINTS

Anna Tompkins, paddling to second place, C1 Girl Juvenile

Anna Tompkins reaches for a paddle from Nathalie Hanson, while Chris Tompkins fixes a number to a canoe.

Hazel and Anna Tompkins in their C1 race. This year, the two faced each other head-to-head in the C1 500-meter sprint race. Hazel has one year of paddling experience, and two years of world experience over Tompkins, but Hazel is smaller, appearing to be lacking in Tompkins’ power. A starting pistol sounded and both girls dug in to the glassy water. One hundred meters into the race, Hazel pulled in front of Tompkins for a commanding lead. A minute later, Hazel crossed the finish line and in a moment that should be a lesson to every athlete, everywhere in the world, she immediately turned around and yelled words of encouragement: “Come on Anna!” Anna took second and the Kalamazoo club had done it again. But the day was not over for the two. Their next race was the C2 and both girls paddled their way to victory in the event. Finally they switched partners and grabbed boys for a 500-meter mixed C2. By the time it was all over, the two athletes had sprinted, at full throttle, a mile. Some parents walked around groups of kids who were busy congratulating each other on a good race. Other parents stood in a stoic observance of their children’s ability to race 1,500 meters while maintaining an ability to energetically talk, in detail, about every single one of the day’s events. Hazel, the shyer of the two teammates, stood by her boat watching the commotion on the beach. Earlier in the day she begrudgingly admitted that she would rather win than be beaten by Tomkins. Standing on the beach with young athletes swarming around her, Tompkins knew exactly what she would say if one day she beat Hazel. “I would tell her good job.” The two plan to race next year at the Championships as well. Center spread photograph and second from top right copyright ©2007 by Derek Farr/Warren Times Observer; others copyright ©2007 by Will Arts (David & Lynda Williams)

Paddling full tilt, Anna Tompkins and Emily Hazel win the C2 Girl Juvenile sprint championship.

Anna and Hazel, recovering, paddling gently to shore after their C2 Girl Juvenile win.

Canoe News, December 2007

USCA Nationals 2007: OUTRIGGER SPRINTS SPRINTS

The 2007 National Outrigger Canoe Sprint Championships . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Jan Whitaker The spirit of Aloha and the spirit of Ohana (family) were evident at USCA’s 2007 Outrigger Canoe Sprint Championship for Paddlers with Physical Disabilities and Outrigger Sprint Championship for Youth. The mettle of many paddlers was tested by an early morning start of races carried over from Tuesday or a long drive to Chapman State Park followed by a downpour of rain, but nothing seemed to dampen the spirits of the paddlers or spectators. Two teams of paddlers from Heritage Christian Services and TIES (Together Including Every Student) competed in the Exhibition Outrigger Canoe Sprints. The evenly matched teams raced side by side, ending in almost a dead heat. The paddlers with intellectual and/or physical disabilities focused on their race despite a deluge of rain, demonstrating their ability and determination and proving that the sport of outrigger canoeing provides fun, fitness and friendship.

National Outrigger Canoe Sprint Championship for Paddlers with Physical Disabilities Two teams of paddlers, organized by Cape Ability Outrigger Ohana, Inc, a chapter of Disabled Sports USA, competed in the USCA Championship Race for Paddlers with Physical Disabilities, helping to pave the way for inclusion of the sport in Paralympic Games. CAOO was pleased to have two new USCA paddlers join our Ohana, Karen McElroy and Lucy Stevens. Teams were composed of paddlers with spinal cord injury (paraplegia and quadriplegia), cerebral palsy, visual impairment, multiple sclerosis, post stroke impairment, hip disarticulation

and amputations. The paddlers cast aside wheelchairs, prosthetic limbs, crutches, canes and all thoughts of disability. CAOO Team I finished first in the 1000-meter race, but every paddler was a winner. As the two teams posed for the postrace photo, smiles were evident. So too, was the feeling of accomplishment. These paddlers raced, not only for personal achievement, but also to inspire, educate and motivate others to provide paddle sport opportunities for people with disabilities and to encourage people with disabilities to participate in paddle sports.

National Outrigger Canoe Sprint Championship for Youth Four teams competed in the Outrigger Sprint Championship for Youth. One team was composed of paddlers from TIES (three youth paddlers with intellectual disabilities and two student helpers) and two youth paddlers who volunteered to join the team, Ariel McNett and Wynn Reeves. TIES and Friends placed fourth. The awards ceremony began at 4 pm at the conclusion of a very long day. The outrigger classes were the last to receive awards; in the spirit of Ohana, the USCA family stayed and applauded the accomplishment of paddlers in all classes. Due to a shortage of medals, only youth who placed first and second in the outrigger canoe classes were awarded medals until… one mother recognized a need and decided to take action. Debra Hazel, who had experience working with youth with intellectual disabilities and understood their joy in receiving awards, collected donated medals from Emily Hazel, Brian Storch, and Jeff Lindstrom and presented them, along with her medal, to the TIES paddlers. This quiet and sincere act of sportsmanship went unnoticed by many people but deeply touched the hearts of those involved. Surely, we can all be proud of the spirit of Aloha and the spirit of Ohana that was demonstrated by our USCA Ohana of paddlers and spectators. Mahalo (thank you.)

The championship teams, hulls left to right, paddlers from back to front: Jan Whitaker BLUE David Peasley Karen Simpson GREEN Lucy Moore Stevens Quentin Llop TEAM Rebecca Lloyd John Eichner TEAM Tom Hagerty Augusto Perez Jo Rapchick David Halter Karen McElroy Tammy Jopson Susan Beck Deb Marcuccilli Beth Taylor

Canoe News, December 2007

USCA Nationals 2007: OUTRIGGER SPRINTS

My First Nationals as a Competitor . . . . . . . . . . . . . Lucy Moore Stevens When Gareth told me that Priscilla Reinertsen had asked if I would agree to take a spot in the Outrigger Canoe Sprint Championship for Paddlers with Physical Disabilities, I had the reaction he expected: “Oh, no. That’s not for me.” Never mind that I had told Priscilla just last evening that I hadn’t forgotten her offer to get into a boat with me at some point in the future. (But perhaps I had meant the distant future….) True, I would feel secure in a craft that definitely would not spill us out. These eight-seater outriggers are actually two four-seaters lashed together with a pair of stabilizing beams running along both sides: as stable as a canoe can get. But faced, suddenly, with the chance to have “paddle in hand,” I felt reluctant. And then there was Priscilla, offering to walk me to where Jan Whitaker was sorting lists and answering questions. “Okay. I’ll do it!” I heard myself saying, and before I could retreat, Jan was smiling and grasping my arm in a gesture of thanks. Back at our hotel, with a grin on my face, I was telling Gareth and our friend Tave Lamperez, “In the time it would take either of you to call a hut, I went from being uncomfortable and feeling a bit out of place here at Nationals to feeling just the opposite!” “Yeah, I’m part of a team now. I won’t just be looking on. I’ll be racing! I guess that means I’m a full-fledged paddler, doesn’t it? Just like you guys.” Excitement had overtaken me, snuffing out that little bead of anxiety I sometimes feel when I’m about to do something I’ve never done before. My teammates and I met up with plenty of time to spare for getting acquainted and for sorting our gear before our boats would pull up for us along the water’s edge: Yep, we’re a unique troupe. Some of us might require special paddles or a custom-built seat; a few need hoisting into the boat, an experience made possible by the marvelous assistance of a few strong and completely fantastic volunteers. I will be in the second of the two races. Shortly after the two boats are loaded with team-members for the first race (an Exhibition race – see Jan’s account opposite page), the rain intensifies. Karen McElroy and I are standing at the water’s edge ready to cheer, but gradually we realize that we are becoming completely soaked. And what about the folks in the boats? Well, they’ll keep going unless the wind gets too fierce or we see lightning. Karen and I head for, then squeeze under, the one tent – there is standing room only and we hear a rumble of thunder. No lightning, but someone said we will now have to wait for 15 Portrait of Lucy Moore Stevens copyright ©2007 by Will Arts (David & Lynda Williams); top right photo copyright ©2007 by Derek Farr/ Warren Times Observer

The heavens opened up on the Exhibition race between the Heritage Christian Service and the TIES (Together Including Every Student) teams, but they stood the test – and had fun. thunder-free minutes before we can assume that the schedule for the next race (our race) will proceed on time. Meanwhile, the first heat is done and the teams, thoroughly drenched, are heading in to shore. And “good heavens,” the sun is breaking through the clouds! Twenty minutes later, I am one of the last to get into position at the back of the green boat, left side. Karen Simpson will be our steersperson with Jan Whitaker steering the blue boat. In the race, the steerspersons keep us on course, they do not contribute paddle power. That job is ours alone! Our team has “elected” Dave Halter to shout out our stroke rate. He will call the “hut” on every tenth stroke. Someone (Norm, was that you?) either fired the gun or gave us a serious shout and . . . we’re off! I am thrilled by the speed. We are tearing across the water, but . . . what’s this? Our opponents are doing the same! In fact, they’re ahead! We have to work harder! Wow…I am going all out now, my upright paddle plunging down into the water over and over again, harder and harder. We don’t slow one bit, but all keep pace with Dave’s counting. Are we gaining on them? When we finally cross the finish line, and the green team comes across in a powerful second place, no one seems unhappy. This opportunity has been pretty grand for all the paddlers on both teams . . . . And who says you have to come in first to win?

Outrigger Results:

Thursday, August 9

2007 Outrigger Canoe Sprint Championship for Paddlers with Physical Disabilities: 1000 meters. 1 Blue Team . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7:36.65 2 Green Team . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8:22.72 2007 National Outrigger Canoe Sprint Championship for Youth: 500 m. The two fasted teams of the four teams that raced were: 1 Blue Team from the second heat . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2:48:47 2 Green Team from the second heat . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3:01:12

Canoe News, December 2007

USCA Nationals 2007: MARATHON

USCA National Canoe & Kayak Marathon Championships

C1 Marathon – Games in the Lead Pack . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Matt Streib

(and Marathon Demo Races)

C1 Man (Open to Grand Vet Divisions) Note: ON = (Ontario, Canada) and VIC = (Victoria, Australia). C1 Man - Friday, August 10 1 Calvin Hassel (NE) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 Steve Rankinen (PA) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 Marc Gillespie (NY) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 Matt Streib (IN) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 Jason Quagliata (NY) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 Jeff Rankinen (PA) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 Allen Limberg (WI) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 Matt Rudnitsky (NY) - First under 24 . . . . . . . 9 John Sullivan (MI) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 Brent Lyesiuk (MA) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11 Gary Krapf (PA) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 Ross Flemer (NY) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13 Ted Lutz (NY) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14 Terry Kent (NY) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15 Michael Gregory (ON) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16 Ben Josefik (IL) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Calvin Hassel leading Steve Rankinen by a length and a half at the upstream downtown buoy.

1:45:23.35 1:46:12.06 1:46:36.92 1:46:48.00 1:49:17.36 1:49:20.05 1:49:57.09 1:50:36.57 1:51:06.68 1:51:34.96 1:55:16.32 1:55:47.47 1:56:21.23 1:59:51.48 2:09:22.69 2:10:53.28

I had a solid C1 race on Friday. I could feel the effects lingering from the AuSable Marathon but I think Calvin was suffering more since he got sick during the Marathon*. It was a stiff field this year with some guys moving up a notch compared to previous years. I elected to start near Calvin, figuring that if I could stay with him I would eventually be in the lead pack. It worked well. We started on the right and merged left toward center after the first riffles. I don’t remember who was over there with us; I was just concentrating on making sure I was not left behind. When we merged, Steve Rankinen was also there, along with Terry Kent and Jason Quagliata, I think. Marc Gillespie was back a bit, he must have gotten in some traffic from the start. During the long straight, coming off the start, Steve and Calvin seemed to want to test each other a bit so I caught a big fat wave and hung on. Terry and Jason dropped off but Gillespie got the big diesel all wound up and finally caught us way down a bit before the left turn to head towards the island above the first set of buoys. Marc didn’t rest much when he caught us and then started taking the lead on a regular basis. I just tried to conserve energy by riding and making sure I didn’t get caught in a bad position going through the buoys. Coming off the buoys Marc was strong and Calvin seemed to be a bit flat. He even dropped back to the second and third stern waves at times. A couple times when Calvin was back I took the lead briefly to give Marc a rest and see if we could work over Calvin some. Steve was also showing a bit of stress during this time since he was always on the stern wave instead of the side and occasionally he would also drop back to the second stern wave. This went on all the way from the top buoy down past the rapids to the railroad bridge. Then Calvin took the lead going up the creek and decided it was time to make his move. I should have known he was either faking the stress or that he would recover in time for the finish. I should have conserved more energy by riding and refusing to take the lead. Anyway, I was poorly positioned for the buoy to turn up the creek and went wide just as Calvin decided to make his move. I was fourth at the top creek buoy and was watching Calvin doing his imitation of a vapor trail. He dropped Steve and kept the hammer down all the way to the finish. Coming out of the creek I managed to pass Marc and blew a lot of energy thinking I could catch Steve. I ran out of steam by the last buoy and Marc left me between there and the finish. I did get a second wind but Marc had too much on me to get him by the finish. So, as Andy has learned a few times in C1, even if you think you have Calvin on the ropes, he will usually come back to bite you. *Editor’s Note: The AuSable Marathon – 120-mile non-stop race held in Michigan barely two weeks prior to the USCA Nationals. Andy Triebold and Matt Rimer won in 14:48:55, with Matt Streib and Steve Corlew on their tail, just 38 seconds behind. Calvin Hassel, paddling with Bill Torongo, came 8th in 15:38:34.

Canoe News, December 2007

USCA Nationals 2007: MARATHON

Marc Gillespie, with a broad grin, with Matt Streib close behind at the last buoy.

C1 Man Master 1 John Edwards (FL) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 Del Cummings (CT) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 John-David Mathieu (ME) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 Tom Ellsworth (MA) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 Doug Howard (VT) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 Randy Bailey (PA) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 Roy Zweeres (FL) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 Guy Flatley (CT) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 Dwight Blease (ME) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 Donald Walls (AR) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11 Doug Pennington (MO) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 Steve Stoddard (PA) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13 Ryan Andrews (PA) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14 Tave Lamperez (IL) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15 Dave Impens (NJ) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16 Stephen Miller (MA) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17 John Hazel (MI) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18 Seth Miller (MA) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Michael Gregory heading for 14th place in the C1 Man Open race.

1:52:29.52 1:53:34.87 1:55:08.94 1:55:21.28 1:57:00.82 1:57:02.24 1:57:30.94 1:59:56.22 2:02:49.46 2:03:28.13 2:03:36.53 2:04:09.80 2:04:31.49 2:04:38.07 2:04:50.80 2:05:41.96 2:06:22.90 2:08:40.04

Dave Impens, 15th C1 Man Master.

Rounding the final buoy (the upstream downtown buoy), Del Cummings trails John Edwards, 1st and 2nd positions in C1 Man Master. Ahead of them both is Doug Howard.

Randy Bailey rides Roy Zweeres heading downstream while Ralph Vincent heads up, in the downtown Warrren loop.

Doug Howard finished a blistering 27 seconds ahead of John Edwards, widening his 4 second lead at the final buoy. Sadly, Doug was penalized 5 minutes for not having a safety whistle.

It happens . . . Seth Miller took a spill under the railroad trestle downtown Warren, losing precious minutes and places. Photographs copyright ÂŠ2007 by Will Arts (David & Lynda Williams)

Canoe News, December 2007

C1 Man Senior Marathon Championship C1 Man Senior - Friday 1 Joe Johnson (MI) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 Eric McNett (ME) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 Bruce Lee (NY) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 Paul Dyka (CT) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 David Hunter (NY) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 John Hollands (MI) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 Bill Kostra (PA) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 Ralph Vincent (VT) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 Peter Heed (NH) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 Ted Cramer (IA) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11 Tom Walton (NH) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 Wayne Gregory (ON) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13 Larry Frederick (FL) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14 William Anderson (ME) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15 James Dipelesi (NY) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16 Jim Anderson (IN) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17 Gareth Stevens (WI) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18 Tony Bond (VIC) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19 Jim Short (MO) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20 Willa Turner (PA) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21 Randy Flament (PA) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22 Gary Mullen (PA) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Some Thoughts on the C1 Senior Marathon

1:51:54.91 1:52:05.94 1:52:08.84 1:53:45.07 1:54:48.33 1:56:55.51 1:56:57.25 1:57:47.19 1:58:32.55 1:58:32.76 1:58:34.58 1:59:18.30 2:00:03.58 2:00:04.58 2:00:14.68 2:00:29.42 2:00:41.55 2:02:56.35 2:03:02.42 2:03:04.45 2:03:32.93 2:13:01.77

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . David Hunter The field was very strong and quite deep in my age group. Taking it from the beginning of the race, the start was very poorly done with the starter out of control of the racers from the beginning. Some of us felt that there were problems with a few racers getting a jump at the start. The rolling start idea doesn’t work very well because there are always those who try to take advantage. After we got going the whole race was pretty much of a grind the whole way. The shallow course was a challenge to us all and it seemed to work out the same for everyone. There weren’t any dramatic position changes except for Paul Dyka losing third place to Bruce Lee by going around the second red buoy at the first loop. Has anyone figured out why that buoy was there anyway? The first five boats were pretty close at that point with Lee getting ahead of Dyka at that point and me catching up to Dyka. Eric McNett and Joe Johnson were staying together in the front, while the other three of us were pushing hard to catch up to them.

Paddling Around (All the Way Around) With Peter Heed . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Ted Cramer I had a really great time at the Warren Nationals. The C1 race was interesting. I rode wake with Peter Heed and Tom Walton till the first set of buoy turnarounds. They were 3-4 boat lengths ahead of me and as we approached the bridge I was able to catch them again. As we entered the whirlpool my bow was a foot behind Peter’s stern. Peter decided to do a 360º and I thought to myself, “I am not going to do that.” However, there must of been a rope attached to out boats because my boat followed his and did a 360º, too. Peter said, “That was so much fun – let’s do it again!” From there we were side by side most of the way to the finish. There was never a dull moment, paddling beside Peter. We finished 9th and 10th. In the C2 Senior division Gareth Stevens and I decided to do a snail census, but still had a great race. Thank you, Warren, for a great week of racing.

From there it stayed the same through the standing waves and around the next loops and on to the finish. I think it would have been a great added touch to have had a portage somewhere in the middle of the course just to add some spectator appeal.

On the upper line, Stephen Miller, leading Bob Bradford and Steve Stoddard. Below, Eric McNett, closely trailed by Joe Johnson, with Doug Pennington following their course.

Peter Heed, telling Tom Walton to watch out for that Iowan, Ted Cramer , coming up fast behind them . . .

Canoe News, December 2007

Ted Cramer, straining to hear what Peter Heed is telling Tom Walton, just ahead . . .

C1 Man Veteran Marathon Championship Paul Dyka, 4th C1 Man Open

Roland Muhlen takes a very respectable 3rd place in C1 Man Veteran 1 on his return to the USCA Nationals after many yearsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; absent.

C1 Man Veteran 1 & C1 Man Veteran 2 - Friday, August 10 These divisions were run together, so reported together. 1 Tom Thomas (IN) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1:54:35.36 2 Edward Sayre (PA) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1:54:54.90 3 Roland Muhlen (OH) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1:55:01.24 4 William Ellsworth (MA) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1:55:06.01 5 Gene Bennett (IN) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1:55:10.33 6 Bob Bradford (MI) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1:55:28.35 7 Stan Machacek (ON) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1:56:47.22 8 Charlie Bruno (PA) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1:57:51.35 9 Nick Lyesiuk (MA) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1:58:08.85 10 Bob Allen (MA) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1:58:11.43 11 Bill Robinson (NY) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1:58:45.59 12 Greg McMorrow (ME) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1:59:38.19 13 Gary Aprea (NY) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1:59:43.71 1 Richard Ulbrich (MA) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1:59:44.47 14 Bob Fisher (NY) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1:59:57.47 15 Jim Roberts (MA) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2:00:39.09 2 Alec Davis (NY) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2:00:56.86 16 Ralph Scofield (MI) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2:01:22.79 3 Michael Johnson (MT) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2:03:00.49 17 Larry Liquori (NY) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2:05:50.15 4 Edward Sharp (VA) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2:06:20.07 18 Jim Genkos (NY) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2:06:31.91 5 Frank Tinsley (IN) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2:08:22.65 6 Terry Streib (IN) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2:10:15.29 19 Bill Hill (MI) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2:14:19.52 7 Charles Baker (MA) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2:29:44.02 8 Gary Braught (PA) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2:30:48.42

Bill Ellsworth, about 4.5 seconds behind Roland, about the same ahead of Gene Bennett, came 4th in C1 Man Veteran 1.

Dick Ulbrich, first C1 Man Veteran 2, just under a minute ahead of Alec Davis.

Nick Lyesiuk riding Charlie Bruno in downtown Warren. Charlie stayed ahead to come 8th, pulling away to 17.5 seconds ahead of Nick at the finish line. Photographs copyright ÂŠ2007 by Will Arts (David & Lynda Williams)

Alec Davis, 2nd C1 Man Veteran 2, a solid 2 minutes ahead of Mike Johnson.

Canoe News, December 2007

C1 Man Grand Veteran Marathon Championship C1 Man Grand Veteran 1 & C1 Man Grand Veteran 2 - Friday These divisions were run together, so reported together. 1 Dan Karig (NY) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2:03:56.53 2 LaVerne Young (FL) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2:04:06.85 3 Glen Vandewinckel (NY) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2:06:13.23 4 Ed Hahn (IL) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2:15:08.82 5 Fred Zeien (IL) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2:15:11.40 1 Robert Gillings (MI) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2:16:35.87 2 Phil Cole (NH) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2:18:31.41 6 Donald Browning (IL) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2:18:52.68 3 Thor Ronemus (OH) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2:18:55.71 4 Mike Fremont (OH) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2:27:32.40

Dan Karig, 2007 C1 Man Grand Veteran 1 champion.

Ed Hahn, 4th C1 Man Grand Veteran 1.

USCA founding father Thor Ronemus, paddling to 3rd place in the C1 Man Grand Veteran 2 championship. C1 Stock Canoe Man (Demo) - Friday 1 David Thomas (NY) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 Jeff Shenberger (PA) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 Mark Anthony (PA) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 Bob Snook (PA) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Racing

Canoes

2:05:10.00 2:06:57.89 2:12:05.93 2:17:00.40

David Thomas, on his way to winning the inaugural C1 Stock Canoe Man Demo race.

• High quality, high performance, custom-built racing canoes • The latest space-age technology • Extremely light weight, stiff, durable lay-ups

Crozier Racing Canoes W2079 Highway 64 Marinette, WI 54143

Phil Cole, 2nd C1 Man Grand Veteran 2, paddling ahead of Jeff Shenberger, 2nd in the C1 Stock Man Demo race.

Ph: (715) 735-9763 Fax: (715) 735-5460 E-mail: erccrc@cybrzn.com Canoe News, December 2007

Phil Cole

88 and still paddling

Upper photo: Phil Cole paddling C1 Grand Veteran 2. Lower photo: Mike Fremont & Phil Cole, Grand Vet 2 C2 Champions (trophy donated by Ken & Joanne Gerg).

Didn’t win, but 14-mile race was ‘easy’ BRIAN FERRY Staff Writer, Warren Times Observer Phil Cole took second in his category at this year’s USCA National Marathon championships. He paddled his canoe the full length of the 14-mile course in about two hours. Friday’s marathon was “nice, cool and easy,” Cole said. But, unlike in past national championships, Cole didn’t come in first. “I’m getting back into the game,” he said. He didn’t compete at the national championships last year. And, as the saying goes, he’s not getting any younger. He’s been in competitive canoeing for 30 years. And the younger guys are starting to beat him. There aren’t many older guys and there aren’t any categories for older guys. Cole is 88 years old. He competes in the grandmaster veteran division for those over 80. “I’m the oldest guy here,” Cole said. “When they first made the 70 (and older category) I was 80 and I was beating everybody,” he said. He was national champion “several times.” “I was beating the old guys, but now they’re not old enough,” Cole said. Although Cole started canoeing 30 years ago, that’s barely one third of his life. “I never knew what a canoe looked like until after I retired,” he said. “Most of my life I was a physicist working on nothing related to physics — electrochemical batteries.” “I worked for the US Navy as a civilian,” he said. “I never worked for anyone else.” The physicist’s background helped him understand some of the forces at work between water and boat. “It helps me with lots of things,” he said. But, when his working days were over, he found something else to do. “My daughter came home with an Old Town Tripper (a recreational canoe),” Cole said. “She said, ‘we’re going down to the races.’” His first canoe experience was a race. “We started competing the first day,” he said. And the fatherdaughter team came in fifth out of 15 recreational teams in the three-mile event. The success came quickly. “For 10 years we had the fastest boat in that race,” Cole said. The race was held in Cole’s hometown, Contoocook, NH — a perfect place for a canoe race. Contoocook means graceful, beautiful river, he said. Cole plans to keep canoeing competitively until he’s 90. Then? He’ll keep right on going. “I’m going for 120,” he said. “I’m going to make it.” What makes him think so? “Exercise,” he said. “You’re gonna live as long as you exercise.” Although he talked about an easy race on Friday, he came clean and admitted there were some spots when the ride wasn’t as comfortable as it might have been. “My arm cramped,” he said. “Then my hands cramped. I got over that then both arms started to cramp.” Much longer and his hands would have been unable to take switching the paddle from hand to hand. “The main thing that kept me going was a couple guys ahead of me,” he said. Although he couldn’t catch them, he was staying with them. On Sunday, Cole will be back on the Allegheny in a canoe with a younger Top photograph copyright ©2007 by Brian Ferry/Warren Times Observer; bottom photograph copyright ©2007 byWill Arts (David & Lynda Williams)

guy — 85-year-old Mike Fremont. There will be 173 years between the two men in that boat. And 173 years of canoers, even if it’s more than two people, is a lot of good years. “These people, they’re the best group,” he said. “Everybody’s nice, everybody is brother and sister here.” Of course, it’s a competitive event, so there’s some fire in the group. “Being brothers and sisters means we fight sometimes too,” Cole said.

Canoe News, December 2007

C1 Woman Marathon Championships (Open through Veteran 2) C1 Woman (Open to Vet 2 Divisions) Good Golly Miss Holly C1 Woman (Open, Master, Senior, Veteran 2) - Sunday, Aug 12 (award for first age 24 or younger) 1 Gloria Wesley (MA) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1:54:17.73 2 Holly Reynolds (NY) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1:54:29.69 1 Master - Colleen Moore (ME) . . . . . . . . . . 1:54:56.25 2 Master - Cindy McNett (ME) . . . . . . . . . . 1:56:57.57 1 Veteran 2 - Beth Schluter (WI) 1:58:52.10 3 Master - Pam Fitzgerald (NY) . . . . . . . . . . 2:00:08.20 4 Master - Lisa Bainey (PA) . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2:11:03.91 1 Senior - Karen Simpson (ON) . . 2:04:24.71 3 Sarah Price (PA) - First under 24 . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2:08:31.05 2 Senior - Patricia Heed (NH) . . . . 2:09:45.00 4 Kristie Nichols (PA) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2:13:29.39 5 Master - Ellen Ellsworth (MA) . . . . . . . . . 2:14:35.04 6 Master - Kim Greiner (NY) . . . . . . . . . . . . 2:16:25.75

A Great Opportunity to Paddle with the People I have Grown to Respect and Continue to Learn From . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Karen Simpson As always Warren serves up both on and off the water. The C1 Woman race is a race I always know I am going to get a mixture of happenings in....This year was not different. The start of the race had Holly and Gloria pulling up front ...I dropped in behind Pam who dropped in behind Colleen and Cindy and Beth... Then there was a bit of an eye opener when I looked up as we neared the 1st turn buoy and I saw Holly swimming and suddenly there was Holly back in the boat hammering back down the river...it was such a flash that I needed to check at the end with her just to know that it wasn’t a rodeo trick she had been practicing on. The race in my mind for me was to keep on Pam and to ride a bit but as in previous rides my boat decided to exchange phone numbers with the divers in the white water and I had to swim. The outcome was that Pam and the ladies were too far to get back up with and so I simply got to exchange greetings with a couple of kayakers. The day was hot and I had a dip in the boil near the end... the men’s crews were up there and I had a front seat to their battle. The ladies’ C1 has and always will be a reason to get out in my black boat on those early mornings before I go into work and it feels good to just be there and play. P.S. It really is nice to have such a nice shirt and to be allowed to have the trophy for the year.* *Editor’s note: the reference is to foreigners – yep, Canadians included – being eligible for championship recognition: this year’s Nationals is the first following the rule change. An excellent change (in my unbiased British opinion).

Canoe News, December 2007

Went Swimming

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Holly Reynolds I thought this could be my year. But alas, Gloria Wesley isn’t going to just hand over the trophy… so I knew I had my work cut out for me. A few minutes into the race, in a series of riffles, for the first time in my life, I dropped Gloria. I heard Errol Schluter on the bank telling me to “put the hammer down” or Gloria was going to get back on my wake. Unfortunately, that didn’t matter, since through the first set of buoy turns I made a strategic error (going into the current WAY too early), Gloria easily caught up to me. At the upstream turn something even more rookie happened — Good Golly Miss Holly…went swimming. And away went Gloria. Marc Gillespie had taught me how to jump back in my boat, as long as I could empty the water out, so I tried to keep my cool and tried to touch bottom. With my tippy toes I could, so I emptied the boat and tried to jump back in. However, I hadn’t practiced in a long time, and somehow ended up in my boat backwards. GO FIGURE! And right over the other side I went and out the door went any “cool” I might have still had, and there goes Colleen Moore, and Cindy McNett. My race may have been over but, being a stubborn little girl, I was going to get back in that boat in the middle of that river in that current if it was the last thing I did. The next try I had it. Now I was in 4th place (overall) and didn’t exactly have my race face on. It seemed to take me a very long time to decide that I could still pick people off. Right around the upstream venture up the creek, I decided that I might be able to catch Cindy, and as soon as I put my mind to it, I gained on her quickly and passed her in the creek. I then started to time myself against Gloria. Only 1 minute, that’s not so long. Well, maybe I can catch Colleen. On the upstream stretch through the town I gained on Colleen fairly quickly and on the last stretch I finally caught her. With the most inspirational words of encouragement, Colleen told me my race wasn’t over, I could still catch Gloria. Well if Colleen believes I can do it, maybe I can! With only less than half a mile of racing left I gave it everything I had. I was gaining on Gloria. Popping the boat around the last sweeping corner I made a good deal of time on her. Going full steam ahead, all I had just wasn’t enough. Gloria beat me by 12 seconds. But I can’t complain at all. I overcame a catastrophe, and was able to pull my head together enough to get back in the race instead of paddling home like a wounded puppy, for that I’m proud. Gloria said, “Holly, we all know that had you not fallen in, you would have won this race.” I’m not sure of that, but I am sure that staying IN your boat is part of the race. Great race ladies! See you on the water next year.

C1 Woman Marathon Championships (Open through Veteran 2)

Gloria Wesley, followed by Betsy Bellario in K1 Sea Kayak.

Beth Schluter, champion C1 Woman Veteran 2.

Holly Reynolds, second C1 Woman Open.

Pam Fitzgerald, third C1 Woman Master.

Collen Moore, champion C1 Woman Master.

Lisa Bainey, fourth C1 Woman Master.

Cindy McNett, second C1 Woman Master.

Karen Simpson, champion C1 Woman Senior.

Photographs copyright ÂŠ2007 by Will Arts (David & Lynda Williams)

Canoe News, December 2007

Barton Challenge Cup, C1 Man Junior & C1 Woman Junior

The Barton Challenge Cup & C1 Man Junior & C1 Woman Junior Marathon Championships (For the Barton Challenge Cup & K1 Man Junior & K1 Woman Junior Championship, see pp 78-79) C1 Woman Junior (Short course) - Sunday, August 12 1 Ruth Sayger (AR) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1:30:48.97 2 Emily Hazel (MI) Barton Challenge Cup winner 1:32:20.16 3 Sarah Tompkins (MI) Barton 2nd place medal . . 1:35:56.92 4 Nathalie Hanson (MI) Barton 3rd place medal . . 1:42:41.26 5 Anna Tompkins (MI) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1:46:21.19 6 Jackie Stone (MI) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2:00:00.83 C1 Man Junior (Short course) - Sunday, August 12 1 Griffin Williams (MI) Barton Challenge . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Cup winner . . . . . . . . . . . 1:20:03.00 2 Joshua Quintel (MI) Barton 2nd place medal . . . 1:23:53.95 3 Matt Anthony (PA) Barton 3rd place medal . . . . 1:25:05.73 4 Aaron Vidusek (IL) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1:28:30.56 5 Daniel Donovan (NY) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1:29:01.04 6 Eric Van Dis (MI) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1:31:16.70 7 Jeff Lindstrom (IL) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1:34:55.35 8 Brian Storch (MI) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1:38:37.97 9 Chris Tompkins (MI) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1:41:25.63

Sarah Tompkins, 3rd C1 Woman Junior.

The Barton Challenge Cup is awarded to the fastest overall man and woman junior in both C1 and K1 classes, who have previously qualified by competting in one or more Barton Challenge Qualifying Races held in various states over the previous year. See page 78 for the K1 results.

Ruth Sayger, USCA C1 Woman Junior national champion.

Nathalie Hanson, 4th C1 Woman Junior.

Anna Tompkins, 5th C1 Woman Junior.

Emily Hazel, Barton Cup C1 Winner, and 2nd in the C1 Woman Junior championship.

Jackie Stone, 6th C1 Woman Junior.

Canoe News, December 2007

Photographs copyright ÂŠ2007 by Will Arts (David & Lynda Williams)

Barton Challenge Cup, C1 Man Junior & C1 Woman Junior

Griffin Williams, national champion and Barton Cup winner.

Daniel Donovan, 5th C1 Man Junior.

Joshua Quintel, 2nd C1 Man Junior.

Erik Van Dis, 6th C1 Man Junior. Jeff Lindstrom, 7th C1 Man Junior.

Matt Anthony, 3rd C1 Man Junior.

Aaron Vidusek, 4th C1 Man Junior. Photographs copyright ÂŠ2007 by Will Arts (David & Lynda Williams)

Brian Storch, 8th C1 Man Junior.

Canoe News, December 2007

C2 Men Junior and C2 Women Junior Marathon Championships

C2 Men Jr & C2 Women Jr

C2 Men Junior - Friday, August 10 1 Joshua Quintel (MI) / Griffin Williams (MI) . . . 2 Daniel Donovan (NY) / Matt Anthony (PA ) . . . 3 Steven Diller (MD) / Mike Rosecky (MD) . . . . . 4 Brian Storch (MI) / Thomas Sayger (AR) . . . . . 5 Jeff Lindstrom (IL) / Aaron Vidusek (IL) . . . . . . 6 Eric Van Dis (MI) / Chris Tompkins (MI) . . . . . 7 Matthew Swinehart (MI) / Jackie Stone (MI) . . . C2 Women Junior - Friday, August 10 1 Ruth Sayger (AR) / Ashley Partridge (AR) . . . . 2 Nathalie Hanson (MI) / Emily Hazel (MI) . . . . . 3 Anna Tompkins (MI) / Sarah Tompkins (MI) . . . 4 Wynn Reeves (CA) / Ariel McNett (ME) . . . . . .

1:17:14.29 1:20:23.39 1:23:25.68 1:23:34.48 1:23:52.47 1:24:17.15 1:48:38.69 1:25:13.85 1:29:16.44 1:29:57.32 1:35:34.59

Thomas Sayger (bow) & Brian Storch finished in 4th position in the C2 Men Junior marathon championship.

Josh Quintel (bow) & Griff Williams give photographer David Williams a wave, as they pass under a downtown bridge on their way to the C2 Men Junior championship.

Jeff Lindstrom (bow) and Aaron Vidusek finished 5th.

Above: Daniel Donovan (bow) & Matt Anthony in a solid second place in the C2 Men Junior marathon championship. Below: Mike Rosecky (bow) & Steven Diller in 3rd place.

Chris Tompkins (bow) & Eric Van Dis finished 6th.

Canoe News, December 2007

Photographs copyright ÂŠ2007 by Will Arts (David & Lynda Williams)

C2 Men Junior and C2 Women Junior Marathon Championships

Ruth Sayger & Ashley Partridge on their way to winning the C2 Women Junior championship (with Bill Anderson in C1 in the background). Below: Nathalie Hanson (bow) & Emily Hazel heading for second place.

Above: Anna (bow) & Sarah Tompkins paddling to third place in the C2 Women Junior marathon championship. Below: Ariel McNett (bow) & Wynn Reeves, paddling to take fourth position in the C2 Women Junior race.

C2 Mixed Junior - Saturday, August 11 1 Ruth Sayger (AR) / Thomas Sayger (AR) . . . . . 1:19:40.81 2 Ashley Partridge (AR) / Mike Rosecky (MD) . . 1:23:10.22 3 Anna Tompkins (MI) / Matthew Swinehart (MI) 1:35:29.34

Thomas Sayger (bow) & Ruth Sayger, minutes from winning the C2 Mixed Junior marathon championship.

Anna Tompkins (bow) and Matthew Swinehart, in the final stretch of the C2 Mixed Junior marathon, where they are heading for 3rd place. Top left photograph copyright ÂŠ2007 by Terry Castor; all other photographs copyright ÂŠ2007 byWill Arts (David & Lynda Williams)

Mike Rosecky (bow) & Ashley Partridge, racing to second place in the C2 Mixed Junior marathon.

Canoe News, December 2007

C2 Women Marathon Championships

The 2007 National C2 Women Marathon Championships:

(Open, Master, Senior, Veteran 1) Those C2 Women! . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Peter Heed Of note during the first day was the women’s C2 competition. A great race, with good tactics being utilized throughout. We had top “young teams” like Holly Reynolds and Emily Wright – and superb “mature teams” like overall winners Joanna Faloon and Beth Schluter! A spectacular win for the marvelous and stunning master ladies — which highlights one of the unique and wonderful things about the sport we all love: you can still be competitive and successful much longer than in most endurance sports. It also highlights the fact that large C2 fields are hard to come by in women’s divisions. Nationals are a special opportunity for women to race against women in large fields of competitors.

C2 Women, Open, Master, Senior, Veteran 1 - Friday, August 10 (award for 1st team both age 24 or younger) 1 Senior Joanna Faloon (ON) / Beth Schluter (WI) . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1:53:16.30 1 Open Holly Reynolds (NY) / Emily Wright (NY) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1:53:21.11 2 Open Kate Ellis (MN) / Emily Peterson (MN) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1:53:55.10 1 Master Colleen Moore (ME) / Cindy McNett (ME) . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1:54:24.49 3 Open Amy Solak (MI) / Gloria Wesley (MA) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1:56:24.90 2 Master Nannette Krapf (PA) / Judy Jeanes (PA) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1:58:59.36 3 Master Lisa Tambussi (MA) / Sue Morris (NH) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1:59:15.36 4 Master Pam Fitzgerald (NY) / Vicki Cumings (CT) . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1:59:57.59 1 Vet 1 Priscilla Reinertsen (NH) / Dede Herlihy (MA) . . . . . . . . 2:02:34.38 4 Open Kaitlyn McElroy (ME) / Miranda Robinson (NY) - 1st < 24s . . 2:02:41.19 2 Senior Sandy Superchi (MA) / Trish Heed (NH) . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2:02:46.11 2 Vet 1 Joan Henry (NY) / Jan Whitaker (NY) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2:03:16.70 5 Open Sarah Price (PA) / Lisa Bainey (PA) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2:05:23.61 5 Master Janet Perry (IL) / Becky Burris (AR) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2:15:56.41

Emily Peterson (bow) & Kate Ellis, 2nd in the C2 Women Open marathon championship.

Joanna Faloon (bow) & Beth Schluter – Senior champions and fastest overall in the C2 Women marathon championship.

Colleen Moore (bow) & Cindy McNett, C2 Women Master champions, and fourth overall.

Holly Reynolds (bow) & Emily Wright, C2 Women Open champions, rounding the final buoy.

Canoe News, December 2007

Amy Solak (bow) & Gloria Wesley, third place C2 Women Open, and fifth overall.

C2 Women Marathon Championships

Judy Jeanes (bow) & Nannette Krapf, second place C2 Master Open, and sixth overall.

Dede Herlihy (bow) & Priscilla Reinertsen, C2 Women Vet champions, chased by 2nd place Seniors Trish Heed (bow) & Sandy Superchi.

Susie Morris (bow) & Lisa Tambussi, third place C2 Women Master, and seventh overall. Vicki Cummings (bow) & Pam Fitzgerald, fourth place C2 Women Master, and eighth overall.

Sarah Price (bow) & Lisa Bainey, fifth place C2 Women Open.

Miranda Robinson (bow) & Kaitlyn McElroy, fourth place C2 Women Open, and tenth overall. Teresa Stout (bow) & Carol Culbertson, C2 Standard Women. C2 Stock Canoe Women (Demo) - Friday: no participants C2 Standard Woman 1 Teresa Stout (PA) / Carol Culbertson (NH) . . . . . 2:24:48.53 C2 Standard Women Master - Friday: no participants Photographs copyright ÂŠ2007 by Will Arts (David & Lynda Williams)

Canoe News, December 2007

National C2 Men Marathon Championships The 2007 National C2 Men Marathon Championships: (Open through Grand Vet 2) C2 Men, Master & Senior - Sunday, August 12 (award for first team both age 24 or younger) 1 Marc Gillespie (NY) / Matt Streib (IN) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 Calvin Hassel (NE) / Andy Triebold (MI) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 Jeff Rankinen (PA) / Steve Rankinen (PA) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 Matt Rudnitsky (NY) / Dana Henry (NY) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 Bob MacDowell (MA) / Sean Jennings (MA) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 Allen Limberg (WI) / Brad Bauer (WA) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 Del Cummings (CT) / Brent Lyesiuk (MA) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 Senior - Jim Larsen (MI) / Joe Johnson (MI) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 Ray Trudgeon (MI) / Matt Meersman (IN) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 Ross Flemer (NY) / Gary Krapf (PA) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 Senior - Peter Heed (NY) / Jeff Schultis (NY) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 Master - John Edwards (FL) / Eric McNett (MA) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 Randy Bailey (PA) / Alex Kostra (PA) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 Senior - Robert Zuber (MA) / Alex Sabo (MA) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 Master - Michael Malick (VT) / Doug Howard (VT) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 Senior - James Dipelesi (NY) / Larry Fredrick (FL) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 Master - Ray Bauer (OH) / Tom Ackemeyer (OH) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 Senior - Ralph Vincent (VT) / Mark McAndrew (VT) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 Master - Don Walls (AR) / Dale Burris (AR) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11 Cody Brown (AR) / Sam Perkins (AR) - First Under 24 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 Senior - Ted Cramer (IA) / Gareth Stevens (WI) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 Senior - Dan Tracy (NY) / Ron Reed (NY) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 Master - Stephen Miller (MA) / Seth Miller (MA) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 Michael Gregory (ON) / Wayne Gregory (ON) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 Master - Janet Perry (IL) / Tave Lamperez (IL) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

From the Winning Stern . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Matt Streib In the C2 Men open I had about as much fun as you can hope for. We started on the right again near Andy & Calvin. I think the Rankinens were near us also, but Dana Henry & Matt Rudnitsky shot out of the left side like a kayaker being chased by an angry canoer (just teasing). Marc & I made sure we were with them when we all merged so we could ride the speedsters. It is kind of a blur but I think Rankinens were back for a while and we were trading off riding on Dana & Matt and Calvin & Andy. Above the buoy island Rankinens caught up and then during the first tour of buoys they fell back a bit. Dana & Matt had fallen off coming into the buoys. At the top buoy Andy & Calvin were leading with Marc & me riding their side wake on the inside of the turn. They didn’t give us much room so I just stuck the bow on their gunwale figuring it would scrape the buoy off the side of their boat and to the correct side of our boat for the turn. It has often worked in the past but this time I blew the turn and stuck the buoy directly ON our bow so we had to back off the power while Marc shoved the buoy to the proper side using his paddle. I’m just glad it stuck instead of going to the wrong side — that would have made us back up to make the turn legally. I’m pretty sure we shortened the course a bit because I don’t see how the buoy could have stayed put with all the force we applied to it. Anyway, Andy & Calvin got anywhere from 5 to 10 boat

Canoe News, December 2007

1:36:58.94 1:37:57.40 1:40:21.18 1:40:56.08 1:42:07.12 1:42:30.36 1:42:36.80 1:43:39.64 1:44:21.65 1:44:52.78 1:45:47.15 1:46:09.47 1:47:51.85 1:48:07.92 1:48:38.78 1:49:03.10 1:49:07.72 1:49:43.54 1:51:01.87 1:51:38.99 1:52:20.80 1:53:00.12 1:53:26.07 1:54:25.20 1:56:40.23

lengths on us due to the blown turn (depending on who you talk to) and they had turned on the turbos to try to keep us back there. Luckily, Marc and I seemed to have a bit more speed up to that point and we were able slowly to reel them in. We caught them before the big island above the bridge upstream from the rapids. Coming into the rapids we took the lead so I could run the line I wanted instead of running the risk of being pushed through the big stuff or following through on their stern. We came to the creek buoy together and took the lead going upstream but Andy & Calvin seemed to struggle a bit in the shallows so we managed to have a few boat lengths on them by the time we were out of the creek. I was pretty excited at that moment but it was short lived since those tough guys reeled us in before the last set of buoys. Lucky for us they blew the lower buoy and we got a few boatlengths on them there. Then we made a bee-line for the shore over by the hospital. They seemed to struggle in the shallows again. We pulled out to at least 10 boats lead by the top buoy then hightailed it back across the shallows/suck water in front of the hospital which again allowed us to lengthen our lead – and it was all out to the finish. This time there were enough shallows to keep them from reeling us in but you never know how it would have ended if there had been another mile of deep water to the finish. I’m sorry we couldn’t stay for the awards but Dane* really increases our travel time and we were not home till after midnight. [*Editor’s note: Matt and Mandy Streib’s new son]

National C2 Men Marathon Championships Calvin Hassel (bow) & Andy Triebold, second place C2 Men Open .

Marc Gillespie (bow) & Matt Streib, C2 Men Open champions. Dana Henry (bow) & Matt Rudnitsky, fourth place C2 Men Open .

Steve Rankinen (bow) & Jeff Rankinen, third place C2 Men Open .

From the Winning Bow . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Marc Gillespie We’d been in the boat twice ever, Canton, and the 70 miler in 2004. But both Matt Streib and I felt we had some unfinished business and could go better. So the third time we were physically in the boat together, was at Warren on Sunday in the Men’s C2 Race to face one of the fastest teams ever, Andy Triebold and Calvin Hassel, and you know what they say, the third time’s a charm. Prior to the race, Matt, having won National Championship with both Andy and Calvin before, thought we had a decent shot at upsetting the favorites. On Saturday evening after the races, we decided to use Matt’s Savage River boat that he had paddled to a close second place finish at AuSable with Steve Corlew, and that was the extent of our preparation. Race day – Matt Rudnitsky with his partner Dana Henry, got off to his third straight rocket start of the weekend. Matt Streib and I covered the move, and were soon joined by Calvin and Andy and then finally Steve and Jeff Rankinen. As far as how the race went in general, the Allegheny is a classic Pennsylvania river with long slow relatively deep pools, followed by fast moving riffles one to two feet deep. The general strategy for this type of course is to cruise the pools conserving energy, and to sprint the riffles. That’s the way that the race went, with the first several riffles being spent testing speed with neither of the top two teams being able to pull away from each other. By the first set of buoy turns Andy and Calvin and we had opened a gap on the third and fourth place teams, as we set a fast pace to the upstream buoy. At that point, Andy and Calvin executed a near perfect buoy turn leaving Matt and me almost no room to cut on the inside. As a consequence we Photographs copyright ©2007 by Will Arts (David & Lynda Williams)

nearly missed making the buoy turn and had to pull our canoe upstream against the current to make it. This cost us 8-10 boat lengths, at which time Andy and Calvin went very hard to try to get away. I said to Matt, “It’s now or never,” and we spent the next ten minutes catching back up to Andy and Calvin. Once we caught them, Matt started a friendly banter with Calvin, which went something like this: “Hey Calvin, your boat’s bobbing up and down a lot. If you were smoother, we might not have caught ya. Look at my partner, how smooth he is. Ya know, he makes tapes to show people how to paddle better.” Calvin, always a man of few words, just kind of looked at Matt with a less than amused face and we started taking turns pounding the riffles again. It was dead even until we got onto Conewango Creek and it appeared that Matt and I had a slight advantage in that type of water. But Andy and Calvin did catch us by the downstream buoy turn in the city. As we turned the buoy to head upstream, Matt and I somehow found it in ourselves to turn it up a notch and picked up probably 15 to 20 seconds in the shallow upstream portion by the hospital. With that much of an advantage as we turned the top buoy and headed for home, it would have been difficult to make up the time. So it’s in the books, I’ve been racing Nationals since 1976 and finally after 31 years I have won a C2 Open men’s title. Just as an aside, Matt Streib has already informed me that next year it’s going to be the two Matts from Indiana, Streib and Meersman, as the team to beat. So I told him, I’m bringing my own Matt to Nationals next year, Matt Rudnitsky. By the way, what’s up with all these fast Matts? More on this later.

Canoe News, December 2007

National C2 Men Marathon Championships

Sean Jennings (bow) & Bob MacDowell, 5th C2 Men Open.

Ray Trudgeon (bow) & Matt Meersman, 8th C2 Men Open, and 9th overall.

Al Limberg (bow) & Brad Bauer, 6th C2 Men Open.

Gary Krapf & Ross Flemer, 9th C2 Men Open, and 10th overall. Jeff Schultis (bow) & Peter Heed, 2nd C2 Men Senior and 11th overall.

Brent Lyesiuk (bow) & Del Cummings, 7th C2 Men Open.

Joe Johnson (bow) & Jim Larsen, C2 Men Senior champions, and 8th overall.

Canoe News, December 2007

John Edwards (bow) & Eric McNett, C2 Men Master champions, 12th overall.

Photographs copyright ÂŠ2007 by Will Arts (David & Lynda Williams)

National C2 Men Marathon Championships

C2 Men Open, Master, and Senior Combined – A Great Thing! . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Peter Heed The C2 Men day was hot, and the river’s suck waters seemed to be wearing everyone down. The great thing was that the organizers agreed to combine the ! Otherwise, there would have been few boats in each race and little competitive opportunity. This race was fun and tough! The cement water right after the start was always challenging – and our race was no different. Joe Johnson and Jim Larsen immediately showed themselves as the class in the Senior field – as they quickly dropped us and the other Senior teams. Joe and Jim stuck with many of the super open teams. I was able to convince Jeff Schultis to go in bow with me and come on out to race. I still recall being in awe when Jeff and Bob Zaveral won the Pro Class at the 70-Miler in the early 1980’s! Jeff did a fabulous job – especially for someone who almost never paddles bow! One of us “stern men” had to do it! After a tough start, we kept jumping waves, trying to attack at every opportunity that presented itself. We managed to catch and pass a few good boats, taking second to Joe and Jim. Of interest – especially to the “mature set” – is that the first two Senior teams beat all the C2 Master. And the winners of the C2 Masters – John Edwards and Eric McNett – were really Seniors who moved up to compete with the younger guys! In the end, a fun time was had by all. We all look forward to meeting next year in Indiana.

Michael Malick (bow) & Doug Howard, 2nd C2 Men Master and 15th overall.

Jim Dipelesi (bow) & Larry Frederick, 4th C2 Men Senior and 16th overall.

Randy Bailey (bow) & Alex Kostra, 10th C2 Men Open and 13th overall.

Ralph Vincent (bow) & Mark McAndrew, 5th C2 Men Senior and 18th overall.

Sam Perkins (bow) & Cody Brown, first under 24, 11th C2 Men Open and 20th overall.

Canoe News, December 2007

National C2 Men Marathon Championships C2 Men Veteran 1 & Veteran 2 - Sunday, August 12 1 Tom Thomas (IN) / Bob Allen (MA) . . . . . . . . . 1:47:11.44 2 William Ellsworth (MA) / Gary Aprea (NY) . . . 1:48:55.08 1 Vet 2 - Roger Henry (NY) / Alec Davis (NY) . 1:49:20.37 3 Roland Muhlen (OH) / Greg McMorrow (ME) . 1:49:03.54 4 Nick Lyesiuk (MA) / Ed Sayre (PA) . . . . . . . . . . 1:51:21.83 5 Bill Robinson (NY) / Charlie Bruno (NY) . . . . . 1:51:28.66 6 Michael Johnson (MT) / Bob Bradford (MI) . . . 1:52:45.69 7 Dale Krapf (PA) / Jim Genkos (NY) . . . . . . . . . . 1:54:48.14 8 Larry Liquori (NY) / Jim Roberts (MA) . . . . . . 1:57:29.84 C2 Men Grand Veteran 1 & Grand Veteran 2 - Sunday 1 Daniel Karig (NY) / Herm Botzow (NH) . . . . . . 1:54:17.10 2 Ken Gerg (PA) / Laverne Young (FL) . . . . . . . . . 1:58:56.91 3 Glen Vandewinckel (NY) / Don Browning (IL) . 2:02:47.72 1 Grand Vet 2 - Mike Fremont (OH) / Phil Cole (CT) 2:08:44.42

Charlie Bruno (bow) & Bill Robinson, 5th C2 Men Veteran 1.

Tom Thomas (bow) & Bob Allen, C2 Men Veteran 1 champions.

Mike Johnson (bow) & Bob Bradford, 6th C2 Men Veteran 1.

Roland Muhlen (bow) & Greg McMorrow, 3rd C2 Men Veteran 1.

Jim Genkos (bow) & Dale Krapf, 7th C2 Men Veteran 1.

Nick Lyesiuk (bow) & Ed Sayre, 4th C2 Men Veteran 1.

Larry Liquori (bow) & Jim Roberts, 8th C2 Men Veteran 1.

Canoe News, December 2007

Photographs copyright ÂŠ2007 by Will Arts (David & Lynda Williams)

National C2 Men Marathon Championships C2 Stock Men (Demo) - Sunday 1 Bill Turner (PA) / Jim Anderson (IN) . . . . . . . . . 2 John Diller (MD) / Ken Gotsch (PA ) . . . . . . . . . 3 Mike Rosecky (MD) / Steven Diller (MD) . . . . . 4 Mark Anthony (PA) / Teresa Stout (PA ) . . . . . . 5 John Koenig (PA) / Will Koenig (PA ) . . . . . . . . 6 Gary Myers (OH) / Norm Skinner (OH) . . . . . . .

1:53:29.88 1:58:19.12 1:58:32.30 2:01:19.05 2:03:06.43 2:08:04.35

The Stock Canoe Demo

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Ken Gerg

Herm Botzow (bow) & Dan Karig, C2 Men Grand Veteran 1 champions.

LaVerne Young (bow) & Ken Gerg, 2nd C2 Men Grand Veteran 1.

Regrettably it did not do as well as I had hoped, BUT there were some very bright spots. Initially I was approached by a husband/wife team paddling a 3x27 canoe (Pro Boat) and they told me that last year they got started in a stock canoe and hoped that the turn out this year did not discourage the effort. Secondly, part of the winning team (Jim Anderson) from Indiana told me there are lots of stock canoes in his state and he would personally help promote the class at next year’s Nationals. Please keep in mind that introducing the stock boat is intended to help grow the ranks of USCA, not swell our classes. It is meant to get new people in the sport in a canoe they feel comfortable paddling. This fall at the Adirondack 90 Miler I handed out a flyer to introduce the many stock paddlers to our organization and the idea of paddling/racing a stock canoe. And we need to do more. By the way, take a look at the times – these boats are not exactly “slugs”.

Bill Turner (bow) & Jim Anderson, 1st C2 Stock Men Demo.

Glen Vandewinckel (bow) & Don Browning, 3rd C2 Men Grand Veteran 1.

Ken Gotsch (bow) & John Diller, 2nd C2 Stock Men Demo.

Canoe News, December 2007

C2 Standard Men Open & Master; C2 Man/Junior; C2 Man/Youth Roy Zweeres & Tony Bond just a few seconds ahead of Doug Pennington & Jim Short – 2nd & 3rd C2 Standard Men master.

C2 Standard Men - Sunday, August 12 1 Larry Harrison (NY) / Allen Nichols (NY) . . . . . 1:52:03.96 1 Master - Gene Bennett (IN) / Frank Tinsley (IN) 1:52:47.14 2 Steve Stoddard (PA) / Bill Kostra (PA) . . . . . . . . 1:53:48.95 2 Master - Roy Zweeres (FL) / Tony Bond (VIC) 1:54:02.22 3 Master - Doug Pennington (MO) / Jim Short (MO) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1:54:05.59 3 Jim Goochee (PA) / Ron Kaiser (PA) . . . . . . . . . 1:55:00.89 4 Guy Flatley (CT) / Quincy Ascyue (MA) . . . . . . 1:55:50.66 4 Master - Ray Thiel (CT) / Tom Walton (NH) . 1:56:16.38 5 Terry Pontius (IN) / Skeet Craig (IN) . . . . . . . . . 1:56:53.04 6 Craig Impens (NJ) / Dave Impens (NJ) . . . . . . . 1:57:39.98 5 Master - Darrel Cockman (NC ) / William McDuffie (NC) . . . . . . . . . . 1:59:39.40 6 Master - Alicia Camp (NY) / Dave Knapp (NY) 2:00:45.99

C2 Man / Junior - Saturday, August 11 (Awards for first 3 Junior Women - but there were none!) 1 Matt Anthony (PA) / Randy Bailey (PA) . . . . . . 1:50:22.58 2 Tom Walton (NH) / Josh Quintel (MI) . . . . . . . . 1:51:08.94 3 Roy Zweeres (FL) / Erik Van Dis (MI) . . . . . . . . 1:51:20.65 4 Steven Diller (MD) / John Diller (MD) . . . . . . . 1:53:38.34 5 Gareth Stevens (WI) / Aaron Vidusek (IL) . . . . . 1:54:46.90 6 Andrew Line (PA) / Gary Mullen (PA) . . . . . . . . 2:01:34.85 C2 Man / Youth - Saturday, August 11 (Awards for first three youth ages A: 5-7, 8-10, B: 11-12, C: 13-14) 1 Devann Benson (IN) / Matt Meersman (IN) C . . 1:20:22.71 2 Donald Browning (IL) / Jeff Lindstrom (IL) . . . 1:29:03.74 3 Glen Vandewinckel (NY) / Annie Ripton (NY)A 1:29:27.97

Randy Bailey (bow) & Matt Anthony, C2 Man / Junior champions.

Larry Harrison (bow) & Allen Nichols, 4th C2 Standard Men. Tom Walton (bow) & Josh Quintel, 2nd C2 Man / Junior.

Gene Bennett (bow) & Frank Tinsley, C2 Standard Men Master champions.

Steve Stoddard (bow) & Bill Kostra, 2nd C2 Standard Men.

Canoe News, December 2007

Roy Zweeres (bow) & Erik Van Dis, 3rd C2 Man / Junior.

C2 Man/Junior; C2 Man/Youth

Reflections on the C2 Man/Youth Championship and the 2007 Nationals . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Glen Vandewinckel The 2007 Nationals are now a thing of the past. They brought much joy and memories for all young and adult paddlers and the supporters of the canoe races. I really enjoyed this yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s C2 Man/Youth marathon paddling event with my eight year old daughter Annie Ripton. Annie and I have been racing since she was four years old. It has been a pleasure to watch Annie improve in her paddling and develop her drive for competition. Annie and I paddled the short marathon this year and I was really impressed with her handling the bow through the Flame Rapids. As every year I enjoy seeing the Fledgling 1 & 2 classes. These young paddlers are all winners for it shows in their determination and sportsmanship I would like to give special thanks to Dave Diget for his introduction of the many youth paddlers in the canoeing sport. Keep up the good work Dave, the USCA needs more youths to keep the sport of canoe racing going for years to come.

Gary Mullen (bow) & Andrew Line, 6th C2 Man / Junior.

Matt Meersman (bow) & Devann Benson, C2 Man / Youth champions.

John Diller (bow) & Steven Diller, 4th C2 Man / Junior. Jeff Lindstrom (bow) & Don Browning, 2nd C2 Man / Youth.

Glen Vandewinckel (bow) & Annie Ripton, 3rd C2 Man / Youth.

Aaron Vidusek (bow) & Gareth Stevens, 5th C2 Man / Junior. Photographs copyright ÂŠ2007 by Will Arts (David & Lynda Williams)

Canoe News, December 2007

National C2 Mixed Marathon Championships

C2 Mixed Marathon Championship The C2 Mixed Marathon C2 Mixed - Saturday, August 11 (award for first team both age 24 or younger)

Matt Rudnitsky

1 Andrew Triebold (MI) / Amy Solak (MI) . . . . . . . . . . 1:40:09.75 2 Calvin Hassel (NE) / Gloria Wesley (MA) . . . . . . . . . 1:40:56.28 3 Holly Reynolds (NY) / Marc Gillespie (NY) . . . . . . . 1:41:52.38 4 Matt Rudnitsky (NY) / Emily Wright (NY) . . . . . . . . 1:45:54.71 5 Dana Henry (NY) / Susan Morris (NH) . . . . . . . . . . . 1:46:30.36 6 Judy Jeanes (PA) / Gary Krapf (PA) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1:48:49.74 7 Emily Peterson (MN) / Brad Bauer (WA) . . . . . . . . . . 1:49:29.40 8 David Hunter (NY) / Kaitlyn McElroy (NY) . . . . . . . 1:51:49.34 9 Allen Nichols (NY) / Kristie Nichols (PA) . . . . . . . . . 1:52:02.54 10 Alex McAndrew (VT) / Miranda Robinson (NY)* . . . . 1:57:42.36 11 Sam Perkins (AR) / Becky Burris (AR) . . . . . . . . . . . 2:00:31.41 * first under 24 C2 Mixed Master - Saturday, August 11 (awards for first teams both age 50-59, and 60 or older)

Emily and I led the race for the first five minutes. After that it was all Marc and Holly, Calvin and Gloria, and Andy and Amy. Those three boats made the race and we were far enough behind that it didn’t matter. Those six deserve an awesome congratulations on the extreme effort that they put out – and pounded the competition with.

1 Allen Limberg (WI) / Kate Ellis (MN) . . . . . . . . . . . . 1:42:51.11 2 John Edwards (FL) / Joanna Faloon (ON) 1st 50-59 1:43:26.26 3 Eric McNett (ME) / Cindy McNett (ME) . . . . . . . . . . 1:45:47.98 4 Liz Johnson (MI) / Joe Johnson (MI) . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1:46:42.94 5 Jim Larsen (MI) / Beth Schluter (WI) . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1:47:52.14 6 Doug Howard (VT) / Lisa Tambussi (MA) . . . . . . . . 1:47:54.37 7 Del Cummings (CT) / Vicki Cummings (CT) . . . . . . 1:48:51.15 8 Stan Machacek (ON) / Karen Simpson (ON) . . . . . . . 1:49:45.36 9 Pam Fitzgerald (NY) / Tom Ellsworth (MA) . . . . . . . 1:50:33.42 10 Priscilla Reinertsen (NH) / Bob Bradford (MI) 1st 60+ 1:50:34.37 11 Ross Flemer (PA) / Kathy Grimes (NY) . . . . . . . . . . . 1:50:42.40 12 William McDuffie (NC) / Lynne McDuffie (NC) . . . . 1:54:38.92 13 James Dipelesi (NY) / Joan Henry (NY) . . . . . . . . . . 1:54:49.85 14 Dede Ulbrich (MA) / Richard Ulbrich (MA) . . . . . . . 1:55:05.11 15 Nannette Krapf (PA) / Dale Krapf (PA) . . . . . . . . . . . 1:57:24.35 16 Janet Perry (IL) / Tave Lamperez (IL) . . . . . . . . . . . . 1:58:25.67 17 Michael Malick (VT) / Sandy Superchi (MA) . . . . . . 1:59:08.40

A Great Time at Our First Nationals Vicki & Del Cummings We had a great time at our first Nationals. With all of the races, the week went by in a blur. By Sunday, the river was pretty familiar. The town of Warren made us all feel welcome, and the course was perfect. It was challenging, with shallows, current and upstream legs, but you didn’t have to worry about bashing your boat. We caught a lucky break in the mixed race when at the hospital we were able to draft Calvin and Gloria for about a minute. They had already done their loop and were heading to the finish – we had yet to start our loop. Too bad the photographer didn’t get that picture. We had fun and will be back!

Calvin Hassel (bow) & Gloria Wesley, the second C2 Mixed Open team, pass Sarah Price (bow) & Larry Harrison in C2 Standard Mixed.

Canoe News, December 2007

National C2 Mixed Marathon Championships

Andy Triebold (bow) & Amy Solak, C2 Mixed Open champions.

Al Limberg (bow) & Kate Ellis, C2 Mixed Master champions.

Marc Gillespie (bow) & Holly Reynolds, 3rd C2 Mixed Open.

John Edwards (bow) & Joanna Faloon, 2nd C2 Mixed Master.

Matt Rudnitsky (bow) Emily Wright & , 4th C2 Mixed Open.

Eric (bow) & Cindy McNett, 3rd C2 Mixed Master.

Alex McAndrew (bow) & Miranda Robinson, 10th C2 Mixed Open, first under 24.

Joe (bow) & Liz Johnson, 4th C2 Mixed Master.

Bottom left and second from top right photographs copyright ÂŠ2007 by Derek Farr Warren Times Observer; all others copyright ÂŠ2007 by Will Arts (David & Lynda Williams)

Canoe News, December 2007

National C2 Standard Mixed Marathon Championships C2 Standard Mixed - Saturday, August 11 1 Colleen Moore (ME) / Greg McMorrow (ME) . . 2 Larry Harrison (NY) / Sarah Price (PA) . . . . . . . 3 Jim Goochee (PA ) / Lisa Bainey (PA) . . . . . . . 4 Ethel Ringle (IN) / Jim Anderson (IN) . . . . . . . . 5 Teresa Stout (PA) / Ray Trudgeon (MI) . . . . . . . 6 Mike Guenther (CO) / Tracy Guenther (CO) . . . 7 Tammy Josefik (IL) / Ben Josefik (IL) . . . . . . . . 8 Linda Collins (OH) / Keith Collins (OH) . . . . . .

1:53:54.46 1:56:43.17 1:58:56.13 1:59:22.41 2:04:30.54 2:07:01.40 2:07:08.25 2:08:18.95

Ray Trudgeon (bow) & Teresa Stout, 5th C2 Standard Mixed.

Greg McMorrow (bow) & Colleen Moore, C2 Standard Mixed champions.

Mike (bow) & Tracy Guenther, 6th C2 Standard Mixed. See the story of this flip and rescue on the opposite page.

Jim Goochee (bow) & Lisa Bainey, 3rd C2 Standard Mixed.

Tammy (bow) & Ben Josefik, 7th C2 Standard Mixed.

Ethel Ringle (bow) & Jim Anderson, 4th C2 Standard Mixed.

Keith (bow) & Linda Collins, 8th C2 Standard Mixed.

Canoe News, December 2007

National C2 Standard Mixed Marathon Championships

‘Only part we worry about’

under 18 must wear a life jacket for safety, but they do little to mitigate submerged hazards that threaten anybody who touches Swiftwater rescue team keeps eyes on Flare the bottom of the river. In any river with strong currents, large rocks, downed trees, and man-made obstructions line the river Island Rapids bed. If a swimmer decides to stand up in the current, his/her DEREK FARR Sports Writer, Warren Times Observer foot can get wedged among those obstructions creating foot Believe it or not, canoe and kayak racing has a lot in common entrapment, and that’s Shine’s worst case scenario. Shine’s with NASCAR. Both sports are about speed. Both use rescue crew knows all of the dangers. It’s part of their job, but it expensive, state-of-the-art equipment, and both have wrecks. On is key that they perform rescues without obstructing the race. the oval track, rescue crews arrive at a wreck in duty pickups. Armed with fire extinguishers, the crew’s primary job is to keep “Our main goal is not to interfere with the racers,” Shine said the drivers safe. On the river, a rescuer’s chariot is a rubber raft from the water’s edge. “We must be able to slip in and out, mounted with a 50-horsepower outboard motor. Armed with and turn upright, distressed canoes that have overturned.” In throw ropes, their primary job is the same — keep the racers addition, the team must be gentle with the overturned boats. safe. This year’s Daytona 500 of canoe and kayak racing, the Most of the canoes and kayaks are made from an expensive USCA National Championships, had many volunteers laboring blend of composite and Kevlar, which means they are light behind the scenes, but one group of volunteers was wearing and fragile. One false move with a swamped boat could result wetsuits and helmets. The swiftwater rescue team. “Basically in the destruction of a $3,000 craft. Preparedness and training this event couldn’t be held without us,” said Pat Shine, Glade are fundamental to an assertive, yet delicate rescue. To do this, Water Rescue Team member and Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Shine and his team set up before the first racer arrives. Rescue Commission Swiftwater Instructor. The Allegheny River is team members line both sides of the river, communicating unique for many reasons, but for canoe and kayak racers there with hand signals as Shine positions 16 men and three rafts is one particular element that is anomalous. The river has a throughout the rapid. rather large rapid. The Flare Island Rapids rears its turbulent As the first kayaks broke the horizon, the team was set. The head in front of the United Refining plant. It is particularly large team was more than a bunch of ordinary guys. On Saturday, for the Allegheny River and unmatched in marathon kayak and Shine’s team was composed of members of the Greensburg Fire canoe racing. During this year’s event, around 10 percent of Department and Swiftwater Rescue Team. Six of the 16 were the boats flipped in the rapid, and it was Shine and his teams’ swiftwater instructors. Among the crew were respondents to the World Trade Center, Flight 93, and the Quecreek miner rescue. responsibility to look after every swimmer. “This is probably the most dangerous part of the river,” Shine If you’re in trouble, it would be hard to find a more able group said looking across the rapid’s pulsating waves. “It’s the only of rescue workers anywhere in the world. The first few waves of part we worry about.” The danger is multi-fold. Racing canoes canoers and kayakers made it through the rapid without incident. and kayaks – the kind used for the USCA – are built for flat water. “Come on! Dig it in! Go!” Shine and his team shouted to the The boats’ sides (gunwales) are low so even small waves can passing paddlers. Then the C2 mixed teams (two-person canoes crash into the boat. They are also very unstable. Sitting in a with a man and a woman paddling) reached the rapid. Tracy and Mike Guenther of Monument, Colorado, were holding on to fifth place in their division. They entered the rapid a bit too far left. As they angled their boat to the right a current caught their starboard gunwale and tipped them over. Whistles blew and the rescue team members focused their attention on the swimmers. “Keep your feet up!!!” they yelled repeatedly. “Keep your feet up!!!” Shine, at the helm of the safety boat, motored to the overturned canoe and its paddlers. In a matter of seconds they took control of the boat and stabilized the situation. “I was impressed how quickly they were there and telling us what to do because your first instinct is to stand up,” Tracy Guenther later said. “I don’t flip very often and they were right there every step of the way.” The scene was repeated by five a sideways 16-20-foot kayak or a 18-foot canoe. When the eddy more boats. Each time, Shine’s team was instantly present to help with the rescue. By the end of the race the tally stood: six catches a boat’s edge, the party and the boat are over. At this point the racers are tired, cold, and wet. Sometimes a overturned boats, eight swimmers, and zero incidents. Every paddler ends up underneath the capsized boat. Other times the wrecked paddler returned to the race. swimmer and the boat drift in opposite directions. But the end Shine’s crew had done its job. “If you want an example of their result is the same: an athlete and his/her equipment is thrust into efficiency,” Mike Guenther recalled, “we only lost one place an uncontrollable environment. USCA rules require that each after tipping our boat,” The Guenthers finished the race in 6th participant must carry a life jacket on board, and all paddlers place. racing boat is like balancing on a two-by-four. What’s more, the boats are designed to go straight. In swiftwater it is like driving a school bus on a NASCAR road course; quick turns to avoid trouble are nearly impossible. More than the equipment, the paddlers add an element of danger as well. By the time a racer has reached the rapid, he/she has paddled, at full-steam, for nearly nine miles. When racers reach the rapid, they are battling exhaustion, and an unscheduled outof-boat experience can be overwhelming. Finally, the rapid poses its own danger as well. The waves at the beginning of the rapid can push a craft off course. Half way through the rapid, a large eddy juts out from the left shore. This eddy creates cross currents that can put thousands of pounds of pressure on

Canoe News, December 2007

National K1 Touring Man & K1 Touring Woman Marathon Championhips

The 2007 National K1& K2 My Debut at Nationals . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . John Redos, Jr. Marathon Championships .This year’s Nationals was my first — and only my second K1 Touring Man - Friday, August 10 1 Jim Goochee (PA) - 1st 50-59 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 Ed Leszek (OH) - 1st 60-69 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 Steve Rosenau (NC) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 Will Smith (PA) - 1st 40-49 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 Bob Dean (FL) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 John Redos, Jr (NJ) - 1st under 24 . . . . . . . . . . 7 Jacob Rabatin (OH) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 David McAdoo (NY) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 Joe White (OH) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 Leon Mosher (PA) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11 Paul Gruber (PA) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 Mike Wolfson (NY) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13 Robert Galbraith (VA) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . K1 Touring Woman - Friday, August 10 1 Sonja Gilman (IN) - 1st 40-49 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 Kathy Kenley (NJ) - 1st 60-69 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 Linda Volpe (PA) - 1st 50-59 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

1:54:00.84 1:54:14.41 1:55:28.19 1:56:38.29 1:57:04.12 1:59:57.97 2:00:08.72 2:02:00.68 2:02:14.00 2:02:29.31 2:02:33.43 2:04:02.39 2:12:01.76 2:02:11.40 2:17:44.94 2:27:59.64

Jim Goochee, K1 Touring man champion, and first over 50.

Ed Leszek, 2nd K1 Touiring Man, and first over 60.

kayak race ever. My dad has been canoeing and kayaking for many years, so he got me interested in this sport. He has two racing kayaks, a Thunderbolt and an EFT. He raced in the Unlimited class, while I raced in the K1 Man Touring Class. I grew up going to these races, but it was a completely different experience to actually be a part of it all as a paddler. I had been training all summer with my dad in preparation for this race, but I knew that the people I’d be racing against would have years of experience over me. So my goal was just to finish the race, and not be the last one to cross the finish line. After the first five minutes of the race, I was surprised to see that I was in the middle of the class and most of the boats in front of me were from the Unlimited class (the mass start). So I found someone that I thought was a little faster than me to wake and hoped for the best. The course had a bit of everything, from a Class II rapid to water that was no more than five inches deep. My dad has raced here many times before; he told me the basics of what I needed to know, but hearing is nothing like experiencing. There were some buoy turns that were confusing, and the big question of which way to go around the island; but nothing beats crossing the finish line knowing you exceeded your expectations. The best thing of all was how proud my father was of me. He thought I would do well, but I did not expect Norm Ludwig to come up to me after the race and tell me I had finished sixth overall in my class. Not only did I finish sixth overall, but also I received a gold medal for being top finisher under the age of 25. I was 16 when the race took place, and I was the youngest K1 Touring marathon racer by 8 years, so I am hoping to hold my streak for the next eight years! The Nationals was a great experience for me, and I will continue to kayak and train for future races in the coming years. Everybody there was like family, and not too many people experience the sense of community that we paddlers have.

Bobby Galbraith, 13th K1 Touring Man.

Canoe News, December 2007

National K1 Touring Man & K1 Touring Woman Marathon Championhips

K1T Man medal winners, left to right: Steven Rosenau , Ed Leszek, Jim Goochee, Bob Dean, and John Redos, Jr.

Sonja Gilman, leading Paul Gruber and Joe White around the upstream downtown buoy.

Kathy Kenley, 2nd K1 Touring Woman, first over 60.

Ride and Be Ridden

Linda Volpe, 3rd K1 Touring Woman, first over 50.

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Sonja Gilman It was in 2003 that I first raced at Nationals on the Warren course. It was my fourth race ever. I was encouraged to attend by Terry and Jan Streib. They told me I could come in the top five or maybe even win it. Terry had been training me all summer by letting me ride his wake. I’d chase him up and down the river and he would run me under tree branches. When he heard me get tangled he’d look back to make sure there wasn’t an accompanying splash and we’d take off again. Under his advisement, for my first Nationals race, he recommended that I find someone’s wake to ride. I start my races sprinting as fast as I can, and did so at my first Nationals. So, I found myself in 2nd until this woman came up from behind. She was paddling a little faster than me so I jumped on her wake. I stayed with her as long as I could – a little over half the race. That was Pam Browning. I’ve since learned the trick to staying ahead of her: get her into a K2, and paddle in front. What does this all have to do with this year’s K1 Touring race? I guess it’s paybacks. This year I didn’t find a wake to ride but I had plenty of men riding my wake! In fact, one guy rode my wake most of the race. As we were approaching the Refinery waves I picked the line I had practiced and hit it just right. Just as I was coming off the last wave and thanking God for getting me through it, I heard a thud. I thought I’d hit a rock, which was strange. Next thing I knew, I was spun out in the eddy and this guy was apologizing for running over me. I think the 180º did cost me a couple of minutes, but I still won my class. Photographs copyright ©2007 by Will Arts (David & Lynda Williams)

Made in the USA

West Side Boat Shop Options Available Bulkheads & Hatches 3 Rudder Types or No Rudder Weight 32 lbs. — Length 19’ 4” — Width 20” 4’ Waterline at 18”

E.F.T. — often the fastest touring kayak at the USCA Nationals West Side Boat Shop 7661 Tonawanda Creek Road Lockport, NY 14094 (716) 434-5755

westsideboatshop.com

og l ta 00 a C 1. $

Canoe News, December 2007

K1 Unlimited Man Marathon K1 Unlimited Man - Friday, August 10 (award for first in age classes 40-49, 50-59 and 60-69) 1 Reid Hyle (FL) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1:37:03.86 2 Craig Impens (NJ) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1:44:51.00 3 Ron Kaiser (PA) - 1st 40-49 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1:46:54.70 4 Brad Beckwith (NY) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1:47:39.97 5 Richard Libby (VA) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1:47:53.83 6 Elmore Holmes (TN) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1:47:55.83 7 Mark Wendolowski (MA) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1:48:27.46 8 Leon Mosher (PA) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1:49:37.29 9 Adrian MacKenna (DC) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1:50:50.41 10 John Redos (NJ) - 1st 50-59 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1:51:25.01 11 Lloyd Reeves (CA) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1:52:16.43 12 Holm Schmidt (SC) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1:53:06.27 13 Daniel Nemeth (NJ) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1:54:57.39 14 Karl Vogel (FL) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1:57:03.30 15 Douglas Bushnell (NY) - 1st 60+ . . . . . . . . . . . . 2:00:59.56 16 Tom Jones (MA) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2:04:08.76 17 Jerry Patton (PA) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2:04:37.08 18 Rick Eliot (VT) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2:05:09.06 19 Joseph Carta (CT) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2:06:21.51 20 Gary Ballina (PA) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2:07:51.59

Ron Kaiser, 3rd K1 Unlimited Man marathon.

Voyage of the Froudekiller . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Adrian Mackenna, Naval Architect On Friday I raced in the Unlimited K1 marathon. For this race I was excited to paddle my boat the “Froudekiller”, which I and my friend Rich Libby (who also competed in the race) built in the basement of my row house in the inner city of Washington DC. I was excited because it is an experimental design that I came up with in college. The boat has a bulbous bow and a wavepiercing cutwater design that I was sure would cheat physics and allow me to utterly destroy the competition and emerge victorious at the end of Friday’s race. Unfortunately I think I spent too much time in the basement, and not enough time paddling, and therefore did not achieve my anticipated glory and fame. Early in the race Holm Schmidt and I lost the peleton, and ended up paddling most of the race together, until his boat filled up with water in the rapids, and we hit the shallow water of the inlet, where Holm’s now 400 pound surf ski proved to be stubborn. The white bulbous bow of the Froudekiller stealthed though the finish line in 9th place.

Craig Impens, 2nd K1 Unlimited Man marathon.

Canoe News, December 2007

Elmore Holmes leading Mark Wendolowski round the last buoy, 6th and 7th respectively in the K1 Unlimited Man marathon.

Richard Libby, 5th K1 Unlimited Man marathon.

Leon Mosher, 8th K1 Unlimited Man marathon.

K1 Unlimited Man Marathon

John Redos, 10th K1 Unlimited Man marathon.

2th Karl Vogel, 14th K1 Unlimited Man marathon.

Adrian MacKenna in the “Froudekiller”, 9th K1 Unlimited Man marathon.

Doug Bushnell, 15th K1 Unlimited Man marathon.

Lloyd Reeves, 11th, K1 Unlimited Man marathon.

Tom Jones, 16th K1 Unlimited Man marathon.

Daniel Nemeth, 13th K1 Unlimited Man marathon.

Rick Eliot, 18th K1 Unlimited Man marathon.

Canoe News, December 2007

K1 Unlimited Woman Championship

I Eyeballed My Competition and Wondered, “What Was I Thinking?”

K1 Unlimited Woman - Friday, August 10 1 Melissa Schmidt (SC) - 1st 40-49 . . . . . . . . . . . . 1:54:47.19 2 Pam Browning (MA) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1:59:36.26 3 Ann Debrouwer (ON) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2:07:52.83 4 Anita Allen (FL) - 1st 50-59 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2:09:05.24 5 Susan Williams (PA) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2:13:40.10 6 Georgette Goonan (CO) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2:33:00.16 - Cindy Vogel (FL) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . dnf

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Susan Williams Lewonski

Melissa Schmidt K1 Unlimited Woman champion (and first over 40).

A New Kind of River . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Melissa Schmidt I had a good experience at Warren. The river was not the kind of river I have ever paddled in. I train and have only raced on deep water venues. While I am accustomed to a current in our river we do not have white water. The shallows and the Class IIs were difficult for my personal paddling technique. I’d have to say the Class IIs were both a high and low point for me. I flipped there on Sunday. It was totally my fault as I took a very bad line. The rescue swimmers were the high point. They not only grabbed me and my boat but also my beloved shoe that fell out of the boat. It was funny because the rescue boat came up river with a guy at the bow yelling – “I have your shoe ma’am” – all this while the other two swimmers emptied my boat and held it for me while I got back in and settled and went on my way. Talk about being treated like a princess. It was great and I lost maybe 2 or 3 minutes on my time at most. I also have Jason Quagliata and Reid Hyle to thank - they stopped their boats at the top of that section when they saw me go over so the rescue guys could get me out of the way without too much interference. Good Luck in Hungary guys! It was also fun for me to watch Emily Wright paddle her way to an awesome time in the Open Women’s class. Her performance was very impressive and I hope to read/hear about future accomplishments of hers. It would be really great if Emily continues in ICF sprint/marathon competition the US needs strong representation in ladies’ competition and she showed she could be a force to be reckoned with. This is the true joy of Master’s level paddling - watching the young paddlers (USACK senior level competitors) develop into strong athletes and to see what they are capable of achieving on a national and/or international level.

Canoe News, December 2007

K1 Unlimited Women marathon. I eyeballed my competition and wondered, “What was I thinking?” No one puts boats on their cars and drives from Ontario, Colorado, California, Florida, Maine, etc, thinking that they’re going to lose. I paddled my V10 Sport surfski. At the first set of buoys, the upstream leg is suckwater. My only consolation was that everyone else was having as much of a slog as I was, or at least I hoped they were. As the C2s passed me I remembered why my boat is called a “surf” ski. I had a blast drafting their big rolling wakes. I drafted Holly Reynolds & Emily Wright, and then Colleen Moore & Cindy McNett. In the Refinery Rapids, I chose the center line, right through the biggest, meanest wave train. Wave trains are downright fun in a surfski. Right after the rapids I spotted Teresa Stout and Carol Culbertson in their C2, they said something about stopping for ice cream. Looking at their smiles and their body language, you could tell that they were having a blast paddling together. As I rounded the buoy turn in Conewango Creek, I was thankful that Ron Kaiser had cut down my rudder for racing. My venturi drain hit before my rudder hit, so I had a split second to avoid the worst of the rocks. The final upriver slog of the day felt like someone had poured cement in the course. Scratching and clawing I made my way upstream and breathed deeply as I turned. I was ten minutes from my first Nationals marathon finish. I proudly accepted my 5th place medal.

Susan Williams, 5th K1 Unlimited Woman.

K1 Unlimited Woman Championship

My K1 Unlimited Race, Guy Gilman Floating and Swirling, . . . and Advice to Gary Ballina . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Ann DeBrouwer Specifically, K1 unlimited race . . . well! I never sparked that day and never felt I really got the boat to flow. You could say I was a bit on the rag that day, and would be absolutely on the mark. I think my start was pretty good but my race kinda ended at 500m to 1 km. I really needed a few big guys behind me to chase me with sticks to kick some life into my strokes. Anyways, I was not too far behind Anita (Allen) from Florida when she ground out really hard in the shallows. I knew I could take her then, so I took advantage and was able to keep a margin on her. She was in very good shape on that race and paddled better than I did – but she made a mistake.

Anita Allen, 4th K1 Unlimited Woman, and first over 50.

I got through those stacks (I had a spray skirt so I just went right through and kept off the eddy), and missed the whirlpool at the end by following some current crossing on skiers’ right. Oops, paddlers’ right. Fast Forward, K2: I had a lot more snap & kick the next day and felt I raced 100 % better but that’s how it goes. Then we swam. I saw a nice K2 pair ahead of us in a slick racing K2 run through the swirls and I tried to find a good route through . . . changed the plan at the last minute and paid for it . . . next thing I knew I got punted to the right and SPLAT! before I could even let out a good yelp (and you know everything I do can be heard for many miles). I came up with spray skirt and bag of water and water tubes everywhere. The funniest was Guy (Gilman) floating and swirling in all this current with shock in his eyes, his glasses still on, and all that hair making him look like a really bewildered drowned rat. Well, that was it and I laughed and laughed and then laughed some more as we poured Niagara Falls out of his K2. Fast Backward: Back to my K1 race in Unlimited . . . I think Gary (Ballina) stayed with me for company and because I kept hollering at him to keep his ass cheeks even (he likes to paddle lopsided, but he really does have two cheeks the same size). You don’t get insulted by strangers like that every day, so I think he stuck by to see if I could shut up long enough to really paddle a race. Melissa (Schmidt) smiled and passed me early in the race with her very beautiful technique. After around the first third of the course Pam Browning came up behind and she passed me, very much in a comfortablelooking rhythm and cruising Ted Van Dusen’s Mohican steadily along. From there on in I saw their backs except for the twirlarounds when I could see faces and say hi. I don’t think I ever saw the two of them pull up to each other for a good duel. Photographs copyright ©2007 by Will Arts (David & Lynda Williams)

Georgette Goonan, 6th K1 Unlimited Woman.

Mark your calendars for 2008! USCA Canoe & Kayak Nationals Aug 5-10, 2008: Elkhart County, IN 6 days of Sprint, Orienteering, & Marathon

USCA Aluminum Nationals September 27-28, 2008: Bastrop, TX

Mark your calendars for 2009! USCA Canoe & Kayak Nationals Aug 11-16, 2009

Bids for hosting both 2009 Nationals will be reviewed at USCA’s Annual Meeting in Tarpon Springs, January Canoe News, December 2007

K1 Downriver Woman Marathon Championship Holly Roseberry’s K1 Downriver Race . . . . . . . . . . . . . Betsy Arnold Holly L Roseberry never kayaked in her life, and yet, she is the real winner of the Women’s K1 Downriver Nationals race in 2007. Holly was more than a friend, she was more like the big sister I never had. We were living in Gainesville, Georgia, the Olympic venue for canoeing, kayaking, and rowing. She was my neighbor, colleague, confidant, and friend. A devoted nature lover, Holly knew the names of every tree, wildflower, and bird we ever saw hiking in the North Georgia mountains. Holly encouraged me when I stumbled into kayaking. “Yes, you have 3 children, they’re precious, but go do something for you.” And I did. She cheered me from a distance when I began racing in 2004. She loved my competitive spirit. And, Holly had entered her own race. She fought ovarian cancer for six and a half years As Holly was fighting for her life in Atlanta, GA, I was racing in Indiana. She knew that I attended Nationals in 2006 and that I was disappointed with my time. Through winter training I would email her when we saw eagles, osprey, or cranes. In spring, I wrote to her about the bluebells that lined the shore of the Tippecanoe River. This summer, when I saw a tiny fawn drinking from the Wabash River, I knew Holly’s time was near. I don’t think she got to read about the mother deer; she was too ill. I could not attend the services which were held for Holly. I still had three precious children, and a brand new job. I wasn’t even sure I could make it to Nationals this year. It seemed selfish. Yet, when I saw the Allegheny Mountains, so like Holly’s beloved Smoky Mountains, I knew I had done the right thing to come. The color that represents ovarian cancer is teal. I awoke at 3: 42 am on race morning. At Perkins I was the first breakfast customer, and met the last dinner customer! We chatted. I asked him where I could buy a permanent marker. “Bi-Lo is open. Try there,” he replied. So I headed for Bi-Lo, hoping for teal, but not expecting. In fact, as I was reaching for a black Sharpie, I spotted the miniature teal green Sharpie in a four-pack hanging one row higher up. At the race start, Guy Gilman took the time to write Holly’s name, birth date, and death date on my left arm, my control hand, the hand closest to my heart. His wife, Sonja, took a photo (see above). When I saw the mist on the green mountains, I knew Holly was with me. When I hit the green water flecked with white foam, I knew I could do it. The race course was still damp with mist when the gun went off. My blade hit the water with an extra burst of energy, for Holly. The beauty of the clear water flowing over the rocky bed was not lost on me as I raced. The camaraderie and competitiveness of the other paddlers was not lost on me either. We shouted encouragement to each other as we made the turns. Half way through the race the sun put in a belated appearance. It was a beautiful setting, a glorious day, and a privilege to be able to compete . Thank you to everyone who made the 2007 Nationals possible. For me, it will always be a joyful memory of a special friendship. As I crossed the finish line, I could almost hear Holly say, “You did it, girl!” Holly L Roseberry died on July 29, 2007.

Canoe News, December 2007

K1 Downriver Woman - Saturday, August 11 (award for first in age classes 40-49, 50-59 and 60-69) 1 Betsy Arnold (IN) - 1st 40-49 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2:04:44.84 2 April Haight (KY) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2:17:39.78 3 Linda Volpe (PA) - 1st 50-59 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2:20:15.81 4 Amanda Dalton (OH) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2:48:03.57

Above: Betsy Arnold, K1 Downriver Woman champion, and first over 40.

Above: April Haight, 2nd K1 Downriver Woman.

Above: Linda Volpe, 3rd K1 Downriver Woman , and first over 50. Below, Amanda Dalton, 4th K1 Downriver Woman.

K1 Downriver Man Marathon Championship

K1 Man Downriver Fun . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Matt Streib In the Downriver Kayak, I started on the right again and Craig Impens had a blazing start off to the left but his boat was a big disadvantage in the shallows and by the time we came together he dropped back due to the riffles. From there on out I just went into time trial mode to get to the finish as efficiently and quickly as possible. I did pull a little trick at the first buoy set and after turning the lower buoy I veered all the way right back to the eddies along shore to make my way up to the island (river left bank if you are looking downstream). It seemed noticeably faster than going up the middle and I took note that Craig and Elmore seemed to turn the lower buoy about the same, then parted ways with Craig going up the middle and Elmore following my line. I didn’t see the outcome at the top buoy but Elmore seemed to be putting it to Craig by coming up the eddy. Talking to Craig after the race, he indicated that Elmore did in fact make significant time there but Craig made the decision to go up the middle due to the poor shallow water performance of his boat. Note to Craig for the 2008 Nationals in Elkhart County: we intend on having a course with plenty of shallows and weeds (although you will always be able to miss the weeds by paddling around them). So, Craig, bring the right boat for shallows and hone those skills for next year!

K1 Downriver Man - Saturday, August 11 (award for first in age classes 40-49, 50-59 and 60-69) 1 Matt Streib (IN) - 1st 40-49 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1:35:50.37 2 Elmore Holmes (TN) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1:48:28.60 3 Craig Impens (NJ) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1:51:29.83 4 Mark Wendolowski (MA) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1:56:21.02 5 Adrian MacKenna (DC) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1:57:33.75 6 Ralph Scofield (MI) - 1st 60-69 . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1:57:42.47 7 Ryan Stephens (IL) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1:58:19.97 8 Daniel Nemeth (NJ) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2:03:30.92 9 Doug Keiper (FL) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2:07:19.39 10 Tim Gorey (OH) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2:11:16.83

Mark Wendolowski, 4th K1 Downriver Man.

Adrian MacKenna, 5th K1 Downriver Man. Matt Streib, K1 Downriver Man champion, and first over 40.

McKenna’s Nationals, Part Deux

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Adrian McKenna Saturday I geared up to give it another go in K1 Downriver. Matt Streib started off like it was a 500 meter race. After the initial scramble I found myself in 5th place, with a boat just in front of me. After climbing a colossal downriver boat wake, I used the shallows to bring my boat up on plane and sprint over the hyper-shallow areas. The rest of the race was very tight. Mark Wendolowski slipped by me after the rapids putting me back to 5th. The end of the race was shallowish water, but just deep enough that the boat wasn’t going to come up on plane: it felt like paddling through mud. At this point the leading K2s started to overtake us like freight trains. 300 meters before the finish, I realized that two other downriver paddlers were close. I dug in and sprinted as fast as my stubby downriver boat would let me, and finished 5th by a hair.

Canoe News, December 2007

National K2 Unlimited Marathon Championships K2 Unlimited Men - Saturday, August 11 1 Jason Quagliata (NY) / Reid Hyle (FL) . . . . . . . 1:28:19.92 2 Holm Schmidt (SC) / Melissa Schmidt (SC) . . . 1:39:30.04 3 Ron Kaiser (PA) / Lloyd Reeves (CA ) . . . . . . . . 1:39:50.91 4 Bill Baker (MA) / Dave VanDorpe (MA) . . . . . . 1:39:55.33 5 Richard Libby (VA) / Cyndi Janetsko (VA) . . . . 1:43:46.10 6 Bob Dean (FL) / Anita Allen (FL) . . . . . . . . . . . 1:48:05.10 7 Sven Jonsson (KY) / Caroline Jonsson (KY) . . . 1:49:35.10 8 Guy Gilman (IN) / Ann DeBrouwer (ON) . . . . . 1:53:27.90 9 Don Maistros (OH) / Danny Broadhurst (OH) . . 1:57:51.81 10 Rafael Reyes (KY) / Marcelo Gonzales (KY) . . 2:32:00.96 11 Michael Jonsson (KY) / Hayden Gonzalez (KY) 2:46:41.67 K2 Unlimited Women - Saturday, August 11 1 Sonja Gilman (IN) / Pam Browning (IN) . . . . . . 1:51:10.62 2 Susan Williams (PA) / Kathy Kenley (NJ) . . . . . 2:04:16.93

Jason Quagliata & Reid Hyle set a blistering pace in K2 Unlimited Men, and finish an impressive 10+ minutes ahead of 2nd place.

The Story of Karl, Ron, Lloyd, and the Beast . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Ron Kaiser It started out last year after the K2 event in Wisconsin. Karl Vogel asked me if I could take the Beast back to PA with me because he thought he might do the General Clinton in May 2007. I said I could, and then he asked if I might be interested in racing with him in Warren. I knew Karl was a good kayaker and would be training for the event. My only dilemma was I never know where I will be working from one days to the next. So I told Karl that I would, but I couldn’t say how good of a shape I would be in. He was willing to chance it, so we agreed to team up. It was Thursday after the sprint, we go out in the Beast as Karl calls it – a 26-foot long monster as I call it – but it really is deceivingly fast!!! I say to Karl I am having a tough time reaching the foot brace up front, and we might be better with him up front because he most likely won’t like my stroke rate as I figure he knew what rate would make the kayak respond the fastest. And sure enough, we team up rather well after about 30 minutes in the water and that was mostly my challenge trying to slow my rate down to match Karl’s. But then we raced the day before and Karl had something in his back pop out of place during the race and it was rather painful looking to say the least. So then Karl asks Lloyd Reeves to team up with me, and I, knowing Lloyd for a while now, am fine with that – he also is a great paddler for anyone to team up with in my mind. And of course Lloyd wants me in the front of the Beast because I am more familiar with the river than he is. So here we go back to square one and I can’t reach the stupid foot bar or rudder again. So Saturday morning Karl, Lloyd and I are trying to come up with some way for me to reach the foot bar/rudder. After a while, Karl and Lloyd at about the same time both think of a nylon strap, and we try it. It seems to be a good answer. It looks and feels right as I sit in the kayak, so WOO-LA we are ready to race! Well, the race goes off and we bring the Beast up to speed

Canoe News, December 2007

Holm & Melissa Schmidt stay ahead of Ron Kaiser & Lloyd Reeves, finishing second with with 21 seconds to spare. and all is good! And we are holding are own, firmly in fourth place, and then of course, as we all know, nylon does stretch out over time, and it does. Slowly but surely I slide back in the seat and my legs are now mostly out of the game and so, therefore, my control of the rudder is not so great. But with all this Lloyd is able to match me in timing and power phase. After a while we are starting to close up the gap that the 2nd and 3rd place teams have put on us and we get ready to make our move. The 3rd place team goes right after the last bridge and I know the water is good on the right side and faster line there if you know where it’s at! We shoot past the team — and then we find, probably the only rock in this stretch of river. We hit and it pops the rudder up half way and now I can’t steer the kayak at all! We are back in fourth place again and if the rudder isn’t fixed we are going to fall back more, with a mile or plus to go yet. And like an acrobat Lloyd hops out of the kayak and knocks the rudder back down and jumps back into the kayak – all in over waste deep water. Now I am impressed! And off we go on a tangent to catch the third place team. I don’t know if they don’t see us coming or not, so we cut off the inside line heading toward the finish line and throw on about a six hundred meter sprint, and once that Beast is up and climbing to speed it holds it very well. Lloyd and I did manage to pass those guys and take third place. It was a fun paddling class and I hope in future Nationals we can get a mixed class as well, as there was a lot of interest in it this year.

National K2 Unlimited Marathon Championships

Ron Kaiser & Lloyd Reeves spur the Beast, just enough and despite rudder problems to edge Bill Baker & Dave VanDorpe into 4th place, but by less than 5 seconds.

Sven & Caroline Jonsson coming up behind Betsy Arnold in the Flare Rapids.

Ann DeBrouwer & Guy Gilman, missed a soaking in the rapids, but made up for it in the whirlpool near the finish. Bill Baker & Dave VanDorpe may not quite have snagged third place, but they had a solid 4th by almost 4 minutes.

Ann DeBrouwer & Guy Gilman, still having way too much fun as they enter the final stretch to the finish and 8th place.

Richard Libby & Cyndi Janetsko, medal in 5th place in the K2 Unlimited Men’s National championship.

Abandoned by My Wife, and Soaked by My Partner, the K2 Unlimited Men’s Race was the Highlight of this Year’s Nationals . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Guy Gilman

Anita Allen and Bob Dean take 6th place in the K2 Unlimited Men’s National championship. Right column, top two photographs copyright ©2007 by Derek Farr/ Warren Times Observer; all other photographs copyright ©2007 by Will Arts (David & Lynda Williams)

The highlight of this year’s Nationals for me was racing against so many K2s. We have been trying to encourage kayakers to participate in K2. My wife Sonja and I have raced several times together this year in Illinois, Indiana, and Pennsylvania, but Sonja put me out the boat to race with Pam Browning in the Women’s division at Nationals! So, I raced with Ann DeBrouwer from Canada in the Men’s division. Although, we didn’t medal, we still had great fun battling back and forth with Pam and Sonja. We got ahead of them when they spun out at the Flame. We thought we had them until we fell out at the whirlpool near the finish. The Warren course isn’t really ideal for ICF boats but the challenges sure made it a fun race.

Canoe News, December 2007

National K2 Unlimited Marathon Championships

Danny Broadhurst & Don Maistros head into the final mile of the K2 Unlimited Men marathon, to take 9th place.

Susan Williams & Kathy Kenley, 2nd in the K2 Unlimited Women marathon.

The K2 Unlimited Women Marathon Championship . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Susan Williams Lewonski

Rafael Reyes & Marcelo Gonzales, 10th in the K2 Unlimited Men marathon championship.

Michael Jonsson & Hayden Gonzales, 11th in the K2 Unlimited Men marathon championship, run the rapids.

Sonja Gilman & Pam Browning, K2 Unlimited Women marathon champions on the final stretch.

Canoe News, December 2007

K2 Unlimited Women marathon. As all tandem partners should do, Kathy Kenley and I thoroughly discussed our race strategy: “make it to the finish line and stay upright.” We also had a contingent plan: “swim the boat to shore, empty it out, and keep going.” Many people commented on our uniforms. We had neon bright yellow and orange jerseys and orange and white hats. Pam Browning and Sonja Gillman had cool matching uniforms too, but ours were much more blinding than theirs. For most of the time I didn’t know exactly where I was on the course, I just focused on Kathy’s shoulders. I discovered that the suckwater at the first upstream slog goes much faster when you have someone else to help you pull the boat. I told Kathy when we got to the Refinery Rapids that I was not looking anywhere but at the NRS symbol on the back of her jersey. That logo is now permanently etched into my corneas. I felt the boat go faster and presumed we had entered the pushy water before Dante’s Inferno. I felt the boat suddenly drop downwards, and presumed that we had descended into the Portals of Hell. I felt a little bit of water hit my right thigh. I heard the rescue guys yelling, “You got it! You’re doing great!” I didn’t look but I presumed Kathy had taken us down the shoulder of the waves, being that I felt rock solid. Then a C2 passed us, yelling loudly, “You girls are awesome going down the center of the wave train like that.” On the way upstream toward the last buoy turn to the finish, we saw Pam and Sonja headed downstream. Kathy said, “OK, once we round the final buoy, we’ll make our move on Pam and Sonja.” This caused me to crack up laughing because once we rounded the final buoy, Pam and Sonja would already be at the finish line. At the end of what I called the never ending final turn to the finish, I said, “Look pretty for the spectators” and we dug in for our finish. I realized a dream of being good enough to paddle Nationals with my coach, my mentor and, most importantly, my friend. We each brought home a silver medal for our K2 race.

National K1 Sea Kayak Man Marathon Championships K1 Sea Kayak Man - Sunday, August 12 (award for first in age classes 40-49, 50-59 and 60-69 1 Steve Rosenau (NC ) - 1st 50-59 . . . . . . . . . . . . 1:49:19.42 2 Ed Leszek (OH) - 1st 60+ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1:50:46.85 3 Alexander Jinks (NY) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1:52:35.97 4 Dan Murn (NY) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1:53:39.28 5 Jacob Rabatin (OH) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1:54:22.90 6 Joe White (OH) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2:00:44.60 7 Terry Streib (IN) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2:01:42.17 8 William Woodruff (VA) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2:01:47.49 9 Steven Schwinn (IN) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2:05:05.53 10 Jerry Patton (PA) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2:05:46.78 11 Mike Miller (PA) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2:06:52.36 12 Robert Dunkleberger (PA) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2:07:16.50 13 Mike Caudill (OH) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2:07:36.51 14 Irvin Claar (PA) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2:10:02.77

Dan Murn, 4th in K1 Sea Kayak marathon championship.

Steve Rosenau, K1 Sea Kayak Man champion.

Jacob Rabatin, 5th in K1 Sea Kayak marathon championship.

Ed Leszek, 2nd in K1 Sea Kayak marathon championship.

Joe White 6th in K1 Sea Kayak marathon championship.

Terry Streib, 7th in K1 Sea Kayak marathon championship, with William Woodruff just a few seconds behind him.

Alexander Jinks, 3rd in K1 Sea Kayak marathon championship. Photographs copyright ÂŠ2007 by Will Arts (David & Lynda Williams)

Canoe News, December 2007

National K1 Sea Kayak Woman Marathon Championships K1 Sea Kayak Woman - Sunday, August 12 (award for first in age classes 40-49, 50-59 and 60-69) 1 Anita Allen (FL) - 1st 50-59 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2:02:12.39 2 Betsy Bellario (IL) - 1st 40-49 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2:04:22.43 3 Cyndi Janetsko (VA) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2:06:08.71 4 Alicia Wendolowski (MA) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2:11:08.43 5 Dawn McCracken (PA) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2:17:53.98 6 Ethel Ringle (IN) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2:24:17.07 7 Karen Dearfield (OH) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2:33:37.53

Dawn McC • Betsy B • Alicia W • Anita A • Karen D • Cyndi J

Anita Allen, K1 Sea Kayak Woman champion.

“Go That Way . . . ” said the Fishermen . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Betsy Bellario My boyfriend, Phil, and I arrived in Warren on Saturday, the day before the women’s Sea Kayak race. We had great fun trying out the different BBQ selections and homemade cookies and listening to the male duo in the pavilion singing and playing guitars. I was disappointed that more people weren’t there to hear the music, it was really good. It was getting late, so Phil decided to drive the course and check it out. When we got to the bridge north of the refinery, we got out of the car and looked at the island. Phil pointed to the left of the island and the swift-moving current immediately adjacent. He thought that was the way to go. I saw the shallow water leading up to the shoot and compared the other side. I thought the other side looked “safer,” deeper throughout. “Oh, yeah,” the fishermen below the bridge assured me, each pointing to my side, beer in hand, “we always run that side when we canoe.” Well fast-forward to Sunday morning. I got off to a good start and was cruising down the river. Anita from Florida caught me before the first buoys. We traded the lead back and forth. Then we got to the island. Anita was ahead. She chose Phil’s side! Should I follow, or choose my “safe” side? I chose safety. Half way down the island I saw Anita shoot through the end! I tried, but I was never able to catch up. Better safe than sorry? I was sorry I chose “safe!” Actually, I don’t regret it – it was really a fun race!

Dawn McCracken, 5th K1 Sea Kayak Woman. Betsy Bellario, 2nd K1 Sea Kayak Woman.

Cyndi Janetsko, 3rd K1 Sea Kayak Woman.

Canoe News, December 2007

Ethel Ringle, 6th K1 Sea Kayak Woman.

National K1-ICF Man Marathon Championships K1-ICF Man - Sunday, August 12 1 Reid Hyle (FL) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 Jason Quagliata (NY) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 Austin Schwinn (IL) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 Doug Keiper (FL) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . K1-ICF Man Master - Sunday, August 12 1 James Mallory (NY) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 Holm Schmidt (SC) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 Bill Baker (MA) - First over 60 . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 David Vandorpe (MA) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 Steve Smith (CT) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 Daniel Nemeth (NJ) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 Guy Gilman (IN) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 Don Maistros (OH) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

1:31:53.65 1:32:02.46 1:48:54.27 2:09:39.38 1:43:03.65 1:46:54.19 1:47:42.83 1:49:49.56 1:55:19.68 1:55:25.05 1:58:50.93 2:13:09.57

James Mallory, ICF-Man Master champion.

Reid Hyle, K1-ICF Man champion, being chased by Jason Quagliata, who came in second, about 9 seconds behind.

Holm Schmidt, 2nd K1-ICF Man Master.

Austin Schwinn, 3rd K1-ICF Man.

Bill Baker, 3rd K1-ICF Man Master.

Doug Keiper, 4th K1-ICF Man.

David Vandorpe, 4th K1-ICF Man Master.

Canoe News, December 2007

National K1-ICF Woman Marathon Championships

A Perfect to Finish to the Week

K1-ICF Woman & K1-ICF Woman Master - Sunday, Aug 12 1 Emily Wright (NY) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1:43:53.48 1 - Master Melissa Schmidt (SC) . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1:56:04.47 2 Kathy Kenley (NJ) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2:10:56.78 2 - Master Susan Williams (PA) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2:10:59.45 3 - Master Georgette Goonan (CO) . . . . . . . . . . . 2:29:39.09

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Emily Wright

The Blood Race . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Susan Williams Lewonski My final race was the ICF K1 Woman Master marathon. Dante’s Inferno is not to be taken lightly in ICF boats. When see ICF racers DNS, you know the river is formidable. ICF boats are simply not meant to handle Class II rapids. There were at least 4 DNS’s in my division. I didn’t care who won as long as we made it safely and with boats intact, in that order. What I cared about was what I called “The Blood Race,” the race between Kathy Kenley and me. She was in a different division than I was, but she’s my coach and we were both doing the same course, at the same time, in the same boat. I wanted so badly to beat her, and she wanted me to beat her. That is what good coaches want, but she will never make it easy on me.

The women’s K1-ICF race went without a hitch. My strategy for the race was to go hard off the line, and then hopefully either get ahead or ride with someone so that I could settle in to a steady cruise for the remainder of the race. (I was very tired and sore from Friday and Saturday.) My plan worked perfectly. I sprinted for about a mile and a half after the start, and was able to put enough time on the field to relax a little bit (while keeping a wary eye on Melissa behind me, whom I was worried about.) At each of the buoy turns, I could see the K1-ICF men [who had started 10 minutes behind us] getting closer and closer, and my goal was not to let them pass me. It was close at the end, but I held them off. It was challenging not to have anybody to ride with, but I pushed myself by keeping an eye on my time to make sure I would beat Matt Rudnitsky’s C1 time from Friday (otherwise I wouldn’t have heard the end of it!) This was my first K1-ICF win at Nationals, and it was the perfect finish to a successful week in Warren.

From the start Kathy was right on my stern. She stalked me for 12 of the 14 miles of the race. I picked up the pace. She picked up the pace. We hit some low water, I muscled through, thinking I could shake her with strength, but she can out-technique me and she stayed at my side, like a big old thorn. At the first buoy she said loudly, “Wow, you still suck at turns, even after all that practice this year.” She was rubbing salt in the wounds. I tried pushing her into the shallows but she pushed right back as our paddles hit and boats clashed together. The Class IIs approached quickly, I paddled hard and fast to cross the “V” onto the shoulder of the wave train. The rescue guys were shouting, “Nice line! Nice line!” I yelled, “Thank you for being out here all day for us.” Before the final buoys, we saw Holm Schmidt coming upstream. In a very exasperated voice he yelled, “This is just sick!” The emphasis on the word “sick” was considerable. I looked ahead. A blue ICF boat was overturned. A second ICF boat was rounding the buoy and went squirrelly. Something at the buoy was causing the ICF boats to swim.

Emily Wright, K1-ICF Woman Open marathon champion.

I approached the turn wide: it was a giant whirlpool. Going upstream there was no way to pop the boat up. The water was like paddling with an anchor on your stern and Kathy was right on my tail. My last buoy turn was particularly bad, Kathy got about 4 boat lengths ahead of me. The tables were turned. I silently started to stalk her. We had ten minutes until the finish line, would it be enough to walk on her? I was officially three seconds behind her as we crossed the line. Kathy and I stood up and gave each other long heartfelt hugs. It was the best race we’d ever run. I earned a silver medal in my division. Not too bad for someone who has only been in an ICF boat for 8 months. It was an awesome week.

Canoe News, December 2007

National K1-ICF Woman Marathon Championships

Melissa Schmidt, K1-ICF Woman Master champion.

Kathy Kenley, 2nd K1-ICF Woman Open.

Store at Ceiling Level One person can easily raise and lower with a single control rope. Three styles store everything from canoes and kayaks to bikes and roof racks. (45, 60, 90, 145, 200 lbs)

Susan Williams, 2nd K1-ICF Woman Master.

EASY TO USE EASY TO INSTALL COMPLETE KIT SELF-LOCKING

www.hoister.com 262-691-3320

Georgette Goonan, 3rd K1-ICF Woman Master. Photographs copyright ÂŠ2007 by Will Arts (David & Lynda Williams)

Canoe News, December 2007

Barton Challenge Cup for K1 and the National K1 Junior Championhips

The Barton Challenge Cup & K1 Man Junior & K1 Woman Junior Marathon Championships (For the Barton Challenge Cup & C1 Man Junior & C1 Woman Junior Championship, see pp 44-45) K1 Man Junior - Saturday, August 11 1 Griffin Williams (MI) Barton Cup winner . . . . . 2 Austin Schwinn (IN) Barton medal 2nd place . . 3 Brian Storch (MI) Barton medal 3rd place . . . . . 4 Chris Tompkins (MI) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 Jabe Walters (PA) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 Tomáš Kratka (IL) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 Martin Kratka (IL) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . K1 Woman Junior- Saturday, August 11 1 Emily Hazel (MI) Barton Cup winner . . . . . . . . 2 Sarah Tompkins (MI) Barton medal 2nd place . . 3 Nathalie Hanson (MI) Barton medal 3rd place . . 4 Jackie Stone (MI) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

1:12:57.87 1:14:52.74 1:25:52.65 1:26:21.20 1:26:37.43 1:39:28.48 2:03:06.93

Austin Schwinn, 2nd K1 Junior Man, under two minutes behind Griff Williams, but a long way ahead of third place.

1:25:30.77 1:36:19.22 1:46:51.35 1:46:55.68

Brian Storch, third K1 Man Junior. I believe Brian may have lost some valuable time swimming in the Flame Rapids.

Griffin Williams, K1 Barton Cup winner and USCA K1 Junior Man champion, makes a quick correction in a Flame Rapids eddy.

Canoe News, December 2007

Barton Challenge Cup for K1 and the National K1 Junior Championhips Emily Hazel, Barton Cup winner and USCA K1 Junior Woman champion in her final sprint to the finish.

Chris Tompkins, 4th K1 Junior Man.

Sarah Tompkins, 2nd K1 Junior Woman .

Jabe Walters, 5th K1 Junior Man.

Nathalie Hanson, 3rd K1 Junior Woman .

Tomáš Kratka, 6th K1 Junior Man.

Jackie Stone, 4th K1 Junior Woman .

Canoe News, December 2007

Marc Gillespie Wins USCA’s Youth Encouragement Award for 2007

USCA’s Youth Encouragement Award 2007 to Marc Gillespie

Working With Youth

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Judy Jeanes

Marc Gillespie projects a certain air about himself in the paddling world. He is genuine and displays a natural charm when you first meet him. He is also worthy of our respect. With his outgoing personality and energizing optimism, he has certainly captured our attention both on and off the water. Marc Gillespie was selected to receive the USCA Youth Encouragement Award for 2007. He has made an outstanding contribution to encourage, develop and promote youth participation in the sport of competitive marathon paddling, while demonstrating an exceptional mastery of paddling skills through his own ability. He is eager to share his professional expertise; Marc has, in fact, opened his home as a training facility to younger paddlers and even holds clinics for the paddlers who are “young at heart”. Marc models high standards for training. And because Marc excels in converting complex information into simple, meaningful action, he can help those who wish to develop the skills necessary to create the best technique for their improvement. Using a combination of his wit and enthusiasm, we are seeing Marc develop these young paddlers into national champions, teaching them to be their best and to seize opportunities for success. Thus his efforts to continue to encourage youth participation in the sport of competitive marathon paddling, identify Marc Gillespie as a good friend to all of us in the paddling community. Marc Gillespie is truly is a Super Man.

Canoe News, December 2007

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Marc Gillespie As the 2007 recipient of the “Youth Encouragement Award”, I wanted to say thanks to all who nominated me and once again throw out some ideas on how we can re-energize our sport with an infusion of new paddlers. First of all, my hat is off to Dave Diget of the Kalamazoo Canoe & Kayak Club. I am not sure how he quite does it with so many youths. I am sure most of us cannot duplicate his efforts but there is still a lot we can each do individually. Here’s my definition of working with or encouraging youth is. It is not so much showing up casually at Nationals or some other race and being available if a youth needs a partner at the last minute, although that has its merits. It is a commitment, one youth at a time. Whether it was my daughters, Adrienne and Danielle, John Michael Caloyeras, Kyle Kiser, Holly Reynolds or, to some extent this year, Emily Wright or Dan Donovan, I have actually spent entire seasons largely devoted to training and racing with these youths. Other examples of this style of youth encouragement can be found in the Michigan crowd: Bruce Barton, Tim Triebold, Jeff Kolka, Bill Torongo, and countless other Michigan pros spent a lot of time paddling with Andy Triebold, Matt Reimer, Steve Corlew, Jacob Dubois, Mo Harwood. Then we have Andy Rudnitsky and the Susquehanna Valley boys and their newest young phenomenon, Matt Rudnitsky. If you look at it, what race haven’t Andy Triebold and Matt Reimer won lately? Second place at the AuSable Marathon (Michigan) and 1st Place at La Classique (Shawinigan, Québec) was Steve Corlew, a relatively young paddler. Fifth place in the General Clinton 70 miler and 2nd place at La Classique was Matt Rudnitsky, a 20 year old from the Susquehanna area. It is exciting after all these years of racing to have such fast young paddlers in the thick of things competing against the world’s best. How are we going to promote more of that? Well, how I did it and how I still do it (and it is only one perspective and one way of doing it) was to bring them to the “Forge” in my basement to work on strength building exercises and do cardio vascular work in the off season and keep it interesting. During the season I either let them use my boats, paddles, or I made arrangements to procure those items at a reasonable price. (Maybe I bought a few canoes and paddles and sold them to them at a slight discount . . . ) As an aside, in my opinion, every youth should have a C1 of their own to train in several times a week as this is the very best way to develop the sense of a person’s own speed, with the correct guidance of course. It also gives them the ability to train by themselves, if no one is available, at the time when they can train. C2s aren’t as much of a problem because they will usually use the C2 along with the adult they are training and racing with but I still think a C1 for their personal use is very important. Continuing on, during the season, I train almost 100% of the time with the youths I am racing with either in a C1 or a C2 right along with them. I forgo the opportunity to race pro, mixed or C1 in order to race with the kids in the adult/youth or adult/

Working With Youth - Some Ideas From Marc Gillespie junior category until they are fast enough to step up to pro, or other adult category. As you know, training with someone with less ability than you is a two-way street. First of all, you can’t train at the same intensity as you would by yourself or with another person of equal ability – especially in the early learning months but you always improve yourself when you teach someone else. It is harder work for you until they begin to develop and are able to pull their own load. Those are some positive aspects.

So, let’s assume you have the time to commit and are willing to forgo some adult races to develop a youth, how do you get the equipment? Well, there are several ways: 1) You can have some spare boats, paddles, etc. and just let them use them while they are training with you. 2) You could convince their parents to pay a few thousand dollars to get a C1, paddles, PFDs, etc. but it is not likely during their first or second year of paddling. 3) You could be well off enough financially to buy the equipment and let them use it knowing that you could always sell it later or use it with another youth. 4) This idea is one that I discussed with Gareth Stevens and it might work. Since the USCA is a 501(c)(3) organization and as such can accept charitable donations of cash or property, if I had an older canoe and was thinking about getting another one anyhow, like most people, I might not jump on that chance because there may not be anything wrong with my old one except it is old but it is still perfectly serviceable. Let’s further say that a local youth I was training needed a canoe. I could donate my old canoe to the USCA for a fair market value, i.e. $1,000, I would receive a tax deduction that for me would be worth about $300 in actual tax savings and then the USCA would ‘lend” the boat to the local youth. It would never have to leave the area and all the USCA would do is acknowledge the gift and keep a record of the boat. When the youth was no longer a junior, he or she would relinquish the boat and it would go on to another youth or I could hold on to it until one was found or even maybe the youth could buy it.

One of my pet peeves has always been the placement of the adult/youth and adult/junior races at Nationals on the same day as the adult/mix and the junior/mixed races. For years, I had to forgo racing mixed because I raced with my daughters and John Michael. I am sure many of the other racers are in the same boat, so to speak. One example this year would be Matt Anthony and Randy Bailey who won the adult/junior race. Neither of them could race with a female on Saturday because they chose to race adult/junior. It seems like a shame to me because as far as I am concerned the primary purpose of the National marathon canoe racing competition should be marathon canoe racing. My proposal is that we move the adult/youth and adult/junior races to Wednesday morning, a day that has been filled with a variety of different races, most recently the “Unlimited C1”. How well attended all these Wednesday races are is beyond me as I don’t race in them and don’t plan to but I would do an adult/ youth or adult/junior race on Wednesday morning. This year, I would have loved to have raced adult/junior with Holly’s 17 year old cousin, Dan Donovan, but I had previously committed to a mixed race with Holly. We were there the entire week. I could have easily raced with Dan on the very same course I would have been racing on Friday, Saturday and Sunday instead of just cruising parts of the course on Wednesday to check it out, which is what I did instead. I am sure others have the same dilemma. Another way we can do it is to rearrange the sprints so the adult sprints are on Tuesday, the youth sprints are on Wednesday, and then the adult/youth or adult/junior could be on Thursday morning as more people would be in town as the week wore on. At any rate, I hope I have given you some food for thought on what might be involved with truly developing the youth paddlers in the sport but an idea on how we might improve the Nationals to get back to what it was originally about and that is marathon racing. I, for one, am trained enough so I wouldn’t have any problems racing three full days of marathon, plus another day of marathon, especially with a youth. We may even want to consider reducing the adult/junior race to half the race distance just like the adult/youth races, if that was going to be a big issue for somebody’s conditioning.

If I wanted to donate a boat to the USCA with no particular youth in mind, there could be some type of on-line clearing house to find a youth using delegates input from around the country and arrangements could be made for delivery using the wonderful networking with people traveling around the country to various races, etc. If this particular way of helping youths sounds interesting, check with your tax advisor as there are special requirements and limits on charitable deductions based on your income, whether you itemized deductions, etc, but it can be a good way if you meet the qualifications. Now we have covered some territory on what is involved, in my opinion, on encouraging youth. You have found a hardworking, willing youth, gotten them some basic tools and you are off to the races – well, almost.

The real question is where are the next Andy Triebold, Matt Reimer, Steve Corlew, Matt Rudnitksy, Holly Reynolds or Emily Wright going to come from? For example, Matt Anthony in western Pennsylvania has shown some promise lately. Who is going to bring him up to the next level? Dan Donovan from a small town in the Adirondacks, Waneka, just started paddling officially in April of this year. What does his future look like? How about a couple of youths from the Kalamazoo club and several youths from Arkansas perhaps? Will it be Ruth Sayger, Josh Quintel, Griff Williams, Brian Storch and Emily Hazel or someone who has yet to set foot in a canoe? It wouldn’t be too big of a sacrifice to put aside your personal trophy and medal hunts for a year or two and bring some youths along so we can see more of them competing for the top races at the Nationals, Classique, 70-miler and all the rest of the races. If you have any questions or comments on this, please email me at pdfmg@aol.com.

Canoe News, December 2007

In Search of An Old Dugout Missing in Florida

In Search of An Old Dugout Missing in Florida . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Karl Vogel Years ago on a trip to the Keys we decided to take the Tamiami Trail instead of Alligator Alley. Tamiami Trail takes you through the deepest most remote part of the Everglades. Turn off of the Trail and you are in Indian Country or “gator bait”. Anyway, as I said, we were on our way to an outrigger race in the Keys and decided to check out ‘the road less taken” part of the Everglades. During our little side trip, we came upon a wooden dugout canoe that seemed to be about 2/3rs of the way finished. The area where it was was deserted and the building it was next to looked as though it had been deserted for a very long time. We didn’t have a camera but vowed if we ever came this way again we would get a picture and document this rare sight. Not only are dugouts very rare, but there are no trees as large as this for many miles as this is the everglades and trees usually don’t mature to this size. So with all this in mind we logged this in our memory and spent the next two or three Islamorada Race trips trying to find this canoe. In trying we did come across the world’s smallest post office, which is in the Guinness Book of World Records I believe. It is the size of an outhouse, and looks very similar till you realize what it is. It stands alone out in the middle of nowhere, full of PO Boxes. But no dugout. The year before last we left early for the Islamorada Race just so we could take more time to find the missing dugout and get some pictures before it was too late, which after several years it probably was. We got on the road a little late and encountered heavy rain like we only get here in Florida. The further South we went the more the volume of water increased. We got into the middle of the everglades just before dusk and it looked like it must have from the very beginning of time. Steam was rising up from the glades with the clouds hanging low as night crept in. I have to say that it felt very remote (it is) and a little creepy. Things in this part of the world change very slowly.

Canoe News, December 2007

It was good fortune we were driving slowly as a gator came out from somewhere and walked across the road in front of us. Naturally we stopped, we had to as we were a bit stunned that he didn’t seem too concerned about us. He just strolled across the road a few feet in front of us by the time we stopped. But still no dugout. We enjoyed the trip across so much that after the race we decided to drive the trail back home. With all the traffic in Florida it is refreshing to take the back way and enjoy the slower pace, and there was always the hope we would find the dugout again. During a stop for a nature break it happened. There it was, just the same as it was years ago, no one had moved it, and as I got familiar with it I discovered why. This partially finished boat weighs so much that I could not budge it – At All! The area was deserted so we were free to take pictures and admire the effort someone went through to hack a big boat out of this huge log. When you see something like this it leaves an impression. It became obvious that simple crafts like this must surely predate all others as this is as basic yet refined as you could make with fire and flint tools. Cindy and I are glad to have these pictures of what I am sure is a model of the first canoes, hope you enjoy them.

Business Affiliates ~ Business Affiliates Business Affiliates

www.willarts.com • NEW YORK

The USCA thanks all its Business Affiliate Members for their support: • CALIFORNIA

Camp Canoes, highly competitive, solo, Standard, carbon fiber, Otego, NY, Al Camp, (607) 988 6842

Atascadero Kayak and Sail, kayaks and accessories, sales and rental: your best paddling connection, Atascadero Lake, CA, Lloyd Reeves, www.fastkayak.com

Grasse River Boatworks, tomorrow’s designs - yesterday’s craftsmanship - today’s winner, Canton, NY, John Newman, www.grasseriverboatworks.com

• GEORGIA

J&J Canoe Supplies, manufacture and sale, canoe racing supplies, Auburn, NY, Jim and June Genkos, jjcanoe.com

Coosa River Basin Initiative, Rome, GA, Matt Reid, (706) 232-2724 mreid@coosa.org

KENCO, The Work and Play Outfitter, Kingston, NY, Bill Kennedy, kencomail@aol.com

• INDIANA

West Side Boat Shop, high quality, durable, fast racing kayaks, Douglas Bushnell, Lockport, NY, (716) 434 5755

The Conservation Foundation, Judy Fitchett, Naperville, IN, jfitchett@theconservationfoundation.org

• NORTH CAROLINA

• LOUISIANA

Loon Works, exquisite personal canoes, Tom MacKenzie, Anderson, NC, loonworks@sprynet.com

Harding’s Canoe & Kayak Rental, Berwick, LA, Larry Harding (985) 395-7285 • MICHIGAN

Riverside Canoe & Tube Rental – On the New River, Crumpler, NC, www.riversidecanoeing.com

Black Parrot Paddling, Hamburg, MI, Ron Smith, ron@black parrotpaddling.com

• OHIO Abundance and Lasting Energy — Larry Lee Gatterdam, Nikken Independent Wellness Consultant, Fairfield, OH, http: //www.5pillars.com/larryg/

AuSable River Area AmericInn Lodge and Suites, Friendly Welcome, Quiet Nights, Rest Assured, Oscoda, MI, Ed Reeder, www.amerinn.com

Keel Line Canoe & Kayak Supply, Chesterland, OH, Don Maistros, tuleman102@aol.com

Fay’s Motel & Cottages, . . . with a Bed and Breakfast Attitude, Keith Miles and Sandy Coe, Grayling, MI, www.faysmotel.com

Rivers Edge Outfitters, canoes, kayaks, rafts, rentals, Little Miami R, Waynesville, OH, Rhett Rohrer, (937) 862-4250 Symmes Creek Restoration Committee, preservation, benefit, recreation, Symmes Creek watershed, South Point, OH, Grayson Thornton (740) 643-1002

The Manor House, Luxury Beachfront Inn on the AuSable, Oscoda, MI, Amy Ridgway, www.manorhouse-oscoda.com Northern Traveler Motel, Welcome USCA Paddlers - and their Pets!, Oscoda, MI, Bill, Rob, Carole, Jennifer Pavlak, (989) 739-9261

• PENNSYLVANIA McCracken’s Canoes, canoe and kayak sales and rentals, Clearfield, PA, David and Lynda McCracken, www.mccrackencanoe.com

Super 8 Motel, On the beach, clean & friendly, Oscoda, MI, Amy Ridgway, www.super8.com

Wiggers Canoe and Kayak, also pellet, gas and woodstove sales, Dave Wiggers, Youngsville, PA, dave@davewiggers.com

• MINNESOTA Bell Canoe Works, the finest canoes and paddling accessories, Zimmerman, MN, John Woodruff, www.bellcanoe.com

• TEXAS Austin Outdoor Gear and Guidance, full service canoe and kayak shop, Austin, TX, John Vanness, Kayak.Texas.com

Minnesota Chapter Wooden Canoe Heritage, Alix Comb, Knife River, MN, acomb@lakenet.com

• VERMONT

We•no•nah Canoes, the selective paddler’s choice: quality lightweight canoes in Royalex®, Kevlar®, Winona, MN, Mike Cichanowski, www.wenonahracing.com

Vitesse Press, Books on cycling, sports, health, recreation Montpelier, VT, Dick Mansfield, dick@vitessepress.com • WASHINGTON

• NEW HAMPSHIRE

Kohout Insurance Agency, Mike Kohout, Seattle, Mike Kohout, (800) 800-4413

Will Arts: Photography & Graphic Arts, specialists in action sports photography, David & Lynda Williams,

Canoe News, December 2007

2006-2008 United States Canoe Association Board of Directors (Delegates) . . . . . . . . . . . Norm Ludwig . . . . . . . . Kaitlyn McElroy Affiliated Club USCA Officers Executive Director: . . . . . . . . . . .John Edwards

Executive Comittee

President & Chair: Larry Liquori Vice President: . . . . . . Ken Gerg Secretary: . . . . . . . . . Joan Theiss Treasurer: . . . . . Kathy Edwards Delegates

Organized State & Regional Division Indiana Division/USCA

. . . . . . . . . . . Terry Pontius . . . . . . . . . . .Steve Schwinn New York Division/USCA

. . . . . . . . . . . . Jim Dipelesi . . . . . . . . . . . David Donner . . . . . . . . . . . Jan Whitaker

. . . . . . .Jeffrey Shenberger . . . . . . . . . . . . Teresa Stout . . . . . . . . . . Susan Williams

Pacific Division

Non Organized State & Regional Division

South Atlantic Division

East South Central Division (AL, KY, MS, TN)

. . . . . . . . . . . .Neal Sanders East North Central Division (IL, MI, WI)

. . . . . . . . . .Everett Crozier . . . . . . . . . . . . . John Hazel . . . . . . . . . . . . Joe Johnson . . . . . . . . . . Tave Lamperez . . . . . . . . . . . . . Janet Perry . . . . . . . . . . . . . Lynn Witte Mountain Division

(AZ, CO, ID, MT, NM, NV, WY)

. . . . . . Priscilla Reinertsen . . . . . . . . . . . . . Paula Thiel

(AK, CA, HI, OR, WA)

. . . . . Veronica Wisniewski . . . . . . . . . . . . . John Diller . . . . . . . . Bobby Galbraith . . . . . . . . . . . Harold Theiss . . . . . . . . . . . . . CindyVogel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Karl Vogel West North Central Division (IA, KS, MN, MO, NE, ND, SD)

. . . . . . . . . . .Earl Brimeyer . . . . . . . . . . . . .Ted Cramer West South Central Division (AK, LA, OK, TX)

Ohio Division/USCA

. . . . . . . . . . . . Lynn Capen

. . . . . . . . . . . .Bill Corrigan . . . . . . . . . . .Norm Skinner

New England Division

Non US Regional

. . . . . . . . . . . . .Judy Jeanes . . . . . . . . . . . . . Ron Kaiser

(CT, MA, ME, NH, RI, VT)

. . . . . . . . . . . . Robert Allen . . . . . . . . . . Pam Browning . . . . . . . . . . . . Karen Levitt

. . . . . . . . . . . . .Wally Werderich Kalamazoo Canoe & Kayak Club

(DC, DE, FL, GA, MD, NC, SC, VA, WV) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Dave Diget

. . . . . . . . . . . . . Pete Binion . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Bob Spain

Penn Jersey Division/USCA

Delegates Florida Competition Paddlers Association . . . Glennis Williams Illinois Paddling Council

. . . . . . . . . . Stan Machacek

Maine Canoe & Kayak Racing Organization . . . . . . . . Bob Dean Michigan Canoe Racing Association

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . Dwight Walker New England Canoe and Kayak Racing Association

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . Michael Ripple New York Marathon Canoe Racing Association . . . . . . . Kim Greiner North Carolina Canoe Racing Association

. . . . . . . . . . . . . .Steven Rosenau Pennsylvania Association of Canoeing and Kayaking

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Jerry Patton St Charles Canoe Club

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Ed Hahn Texas Canoe Racing Association

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . Richard Steppe Wisconsin Canoe Racing Association

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . Gareth Stevens

USCA Membership Application / Renewal Form Please print clearly

Type of Membership Fee First name: M.I. Last: Governing (18 & over) . . . . . . . $20.00 ........______ Organization (if any) Junior 5-17 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $7.50.........______ Street address: Family . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $25.00.........______ City: Race Sponsor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $30.00.........______ State Zip Country Club Affiliate . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $30.00.........______ Date of Birth Gender Business Affiliate (BA) . . . . . . . $30.00.........______ Phones, home: ( ) cell: ( ) Business Affiliate (Enhanced)* . $100.00.........______ Email: Life-Paid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $400.00.........______ Family Members: Foreign – remit in US Funds 1. First name: M.I. Last: Canada/Mexico . . . . . . . . . . . add $5.00.........______ Date of Birth Gender All other countries . . . . . . . add $10.00.........______ 2. First name: M.I. Last: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Total:.............______ Date of Birth Gender *For the benefits of Business Associate 3. First name: M.I. Last: memberships please contact Gareth Stevens, Date of Birth Gender Marketing Chair, at nawal@ticon.net 4. First name: M.I. Last: Gender Date of Birth Please check: . ...................Renewing member_____ 5. First name: M.I. Last: ......... Returning member (lapse of 1 year or more)_____ Date of Birth Gender ..................................................... New member If “New member” - recruited by:.......................

Please make checks payable to USCA and mail with application form to: USCA Membership, Paula Thiel, 53 Ross Road, Preston, CT 06365 Canoe News, December 2007

2006-2008 United States Canoe Association Board of Directors – Addresses A

John Diller 581 Clifton Drive Oakland, MD 21550 (301) 334-7899 jd@savageriver.com

Robert Allen 687 Montgomery Road Westfield, MA 01085 (413) 568-8832 rangerfiberglass@yahoo.com Jim Dipelesi 4 Round Tree Drive B Kings Park, NY 11754 Pete Binion (631) 366-0045 PO Box 10346 cell (631) 379-3793 College Station, TX 77842 jrdtech@ix.netcom (979) 218-4947 David Donner pbinion@txcyber.com 4883 Harlem Rd Earl Brimeyer Amherst, NY 14226 2595 Rhomberg Avenue (716) 839-4307 Dubuque, IA 52001 revdonner@aol.com (563) 583-6345 E ebrimeyer@aol.com John Edwards Pam Browning Executive Director, USCA PMB 167 1929 Arrowhead Dr NE 100 Powder Mill Road St Petersburg, FL 33703 Acton, MA 01720 Work (727) 823-8000 (508) 277-5836 canoechamp@aol.com pambrowning@webtv.net

Janet Perry 24 Roosevelt Street St Charles, IL 60174 (630) 584-6931

Judy Jeanes 1324 Bridge Road West Chester, PA 19382 (610) 793-2767 Terry Pontius (215) 872 7409 (c) 2536 Lafayette Dr waterconfidence@yahoo.com Lafayette, IN 47909 (765) 474-9877 Joe Johnson thepontsin@aol.com 515 5th Avenue Menominee, MI 49858 (906) 863-8101 joe49858@yahoo.com K Ron Kaiser 2865 Northway Road Williamsport, PA 17701 (570) 327-8106 Rkayak63@aol.com L Tave Lamperez 24 Roosevelt Street St Charles, IL 60174 home (630) 584-6931 work (630) 979-5234 lamperez@netscape.net lamperez@alcatel-lucent.com

Kathy Edwards USCA Treasurer Lynn Capen 1929 Arrowhead Drive NE 459 Arapahoe Avenue St Petersburg, FL 33703-1903 Boulder, CO 80302 Karen Levitt home (727) 522-3348 (303) 444-0187 574 Bernardston Road ktae17@aol.com lcapen@riomapas.com Greenfield, MA 01301. F karen_levitt@nmhschool.org Bill Corrigan Robert Fisher 5888 E Kemper Road Larry Liquori, President 18 Second Street Cincinnati, OH 45241 79 Locust Drive Delhi, NY 13753 (513) 530-9249 Kings Park, NY 11754 (607) 746-6034 home (631) 361-9548 wmcorrigan@fuse.net fisherra@delhi.edu work (631) 269-9696 Ted Cramer cell (631) 766-9903 G 809 S Carroll Street uscapres@uscanoe.com Rock Rapids, IA 51246 Bobby Galbraith (712) 472-3941 Norm Ludwig 1128 Jamestown Crescent 2006 West Side Road tlcramer@rockrapids.net Norfolk, VA 23508 Jersey Shore, PA 17740 (757) 489-7582 Ev Crozier (570) 753-5136 rbgalb@aol.com W 2079 Highway 64 ncludwig@kcnet.org Marinette, WI 54143 Ken Gerg, Vice President (715) 735-9763 M PO Box 247 erccrc@cybrzn.com Emporium, PA 15834 Kaitlin McElroy (814) 486-1691 PO Box 1203 D joken2@zitomedia.net Bethel, ME 04217 Bob Dean (207) 824-7503 Kim Greiner, NYMCRA (Through April) PO Box 133 kmcelroy@bates.edu 558 Old Hwy 30 Moore Haven, FL 33471 Esperance, NY 12066 (863) 946-1219 Stan Machacek (May–Oct) 79 Union Street (518) 875-6497 156 Grey Abbey Trail twobears@nycap.rr.com Camden, ME 04843 Scarborough, ON (407) 375 0940 (c) M1E 1V9 CANADA H (416) 282-6641 Dave Diget Ed Hahn, SCCC smachacek2000@yahoo.com 409 N Glengarry Dr. Kalamazoo Canoe & P Geneva, IL 60134 Kayak Club (630) 262-9132 32180 25th St Jerry Patton, PACK edhahn@netscape.com Mattawan, MI 49071 743, Two Mile Road (269)-668-2928 Port Allegany, PA 16743 John Hazel (814) 642-9161 i_can_diget@hotmail.com 147 West Ridge CR Kalamazoo, MI 49009 (269) 544-0248 johnhazel2@yahoo.com C

R Priscilla Reinertsen 582 East Penacook Rd Contoocook, NH 03229 (603) 746-6491 prtsen1@comcast.net Michael Ripple, NECKRA 23 Billingham Street Somerville, MA 02144 (617) 625-3571 michael.ripple@comcast.net Steve Rosenau, NCCRA 2771 Trillium Trail Denver, NC 28037 (704) 483-4130 canunut@bellsouth.net S

Teresa Stout 3563 Roller Coaster Road Corsica, PA 15829 (814) 856-2330 teresastout3354@yahoo.com T Joan Theiss, Secretary 12802 Lake Jovita Blvd Dade City, FL 33525 (352) 588-9877 hjtheiss@juno.com Paula Thiel 487 Wylie School Rd Voluntown, CT 06384 (860) 564-2443 prma1@comcast.net V CindyVogel river-racer@hotmail.com Karl Vogel 1731 Pinellas Avenue Tarpon Springs FL 34689 (727) 938-7685 tech6outriggers@hotmail.com W

Neal Sanders 2308 Avondale Drive Johnson City, TN 37604-2403 (423) 282-6153

Dwight Walker, MCRA PO Box 113 Hastings, MI 49058 (269) 330-5302 dlwalker21@yahoo.com

Steve Schwinn 21778 Angela Dr Goshen, IN 46526 (574) 533-3990 theschwinns@hotmail

Wally Werderich, IPC 486 Sunflower Court Yorkville, IL 60560 (630) 553-7551 walldozer@aol.com

Jeffrey Shenberger 2016 Church Rd Hummelstown, PA 17036 (717) 533-1306 canoeracer@hotmail

Jan Whitaker 560 Shore Dr West Henrietta, NY 14586 janwhitaker@frontiernet.net

Norm Skinner 4265 Red Bud Rd Dresden, OH 43821 (740) 754-1213

Glennis Williams 1725 Georgia Ave NE St Petersburg, FL (727) 525-7588 ggawilliams@juno.com

Bob Spain 401 Little Texas Lane Apt 110 Austin, TX 78745 (512) 302-1005 bob.spain@tpwd.state.tx.us

Susan Williams 509 S Bishop Ave Secane, PA 19018 (610) 405-0248 ladyjustice@erols.com

Richard Steppe, TCRA 3508 Grande Bulevar Irving, TX 75062 (214) 986-4272 slowpaddler@hotmail.com Gareth Stevens, WCRA PO Box 56 Hubertus, WI 53033 (262) 628-9991 nawal@ticon.net

Veronica Wisniewski 6360 Hannegan Road Lynden, WA 98264 (360) 398-7158 veronicacanoe@yahoo.com Lynne Witte 58 Union Street Mt Clemens, MI 48043 (586) 783-5654 lynnewitte@juno.com

Canoe News, December 2007

United States Canoe Association Standing and Special Committees Standing Committees

ADDRESSES

Adaptive Paddling Audit Committee Barton Cup (Subcommittee, Youth Activities) Budget Committee Camaraderie Camping/Cruising Competition Competition / Dragon Boats Competition / Kayak Competition / National Awards Competition / Orienteering Competition / Outrigger Canoe Competition / Sprints Competition / Swan Boat Conservation Core Group Education Historian, Bylaws, Rules & Regulations Instruction Certification Insurance Committee Insurance Coordinator International Marketing Membership Merchandising Nationals Coordinator Nationals Timing Publications Publicity & PR Safety Technical Inspection Youth Activities

Special Committees Dues & Membership Review Insurance Review Committee USCA Marathon Coordinator to the USACK Marathon Racing Committee Women’s Interests Website

Special APPOINTMENTS Annual Meeting Coordinator

Maria Liquori (631) 269-9696 Box 667, Kings Park, NY 11754 (508) 277-5836 marial@jacka-liquori.com

Jan Whitaker Pam Browning Sonja Gilman PMB 167 100 Powder Mill Road Miranda Robinson Acton, MA 01720 Kathy Edwards Aims Coney (978) 562-2805 Judy Jeanes 371 Sudbury Road Rex Klein Stow, MA 01775 aims.coney@hp.com Norm Ludwig Bill Corrigan (513) 530-9249 David Hillman 5888 E. Kemper Road Pam Browning Cincinnati, OH 45241 wmcorrigan@fuse.net Priscilla Reinertsen Lee Deviney (512) 306-8085 Aims Coney 212 Ashworth Drive John Edwards Austin, TX 78746-4604 Bill Corrigan txpaddler@aol.com

Norm Ludwig (570) 753-5136 2006 West Side Road Jersey Shore, PA 17740 ncludwig@kcnet.org Jerry Patton (814) 642-9161 743 Two Mile Road Port Allegany, PA 16743 Janet Perry

(630) 584-6931

24 Roosevelt Street St. Charles, IL 60174

Mary Ann Pontius (765) 474-9877 2536 Lafayette Drive Lafayette, IN 47909-2444 ThePontsin@aol.com

Priscilla Reinertsen (603) 746-6491 (631) 366-0045 Glen Green Jim Dipelesi 582 East Penacook Road 4 Round Tree Drive Contoocook, NH 03229 Bob Spain Kings Park, NY 11754 prtsen1@comcast.net Inactive jrdtech@ix.netcom.com Steve Rosenau, NCCRA (727) 522-3348 Vacant John Edwards 2771 Trillium Trail (704) 483-4130 1929 Arrowhead Drive Denver, NC 28037 St Petersburg, FL 33703 Joan Theiss canunut@bellsouth.net canoechamp@aol.com Tave Lamperez Miranda Robinson (607) 437-4195 Kathy Edwards (727) 522-3348 4 Meadow Street Jim Dipelesi USCA Treasurer Otego, NY 13825 Maria Liquori 1929 Arrowhead Drive NE mfr7@buffalo.edu St Petersburg, FL 33703-1903 John Edwards Bob Spain (512) 302-1005 ktae17@aol.com 401 Little Texas Lane Apt 110 Gareth Stevens Sonja Gilman (574) 633-4978 Austin, TX 78745 Paula Thiel 63073 SR 331 bob.spain@tpwd.state.tx.us Mary Ann Pontius South Bend, IN 46614 Gareth Stevens h (262) 628-9991 sgilman@primixcorp.net Tave Lamperez PO Box 56 c (262) 853-5453 Glen Green (609) 468-4646 Hubertus, WI 53033 Tave Lamperez 312 Duff Avenue nawal@ticon.net Gareth Stevens Wenonah, NJ 08090 Teresa Stout (814) 856-2330 (609) 468-4646 Vacant 3563 Roller Coaster Road chairman@swanboat.org Corsica, PA 15829 Steve Rosenau Judy Jeanes (610) 622-7000 teresastout3354@yahoo.com Jerry Patton Box 708 Joan Theiss (352) 588-9877 Judy Jeanes & Teresa Stout Mendenhall, PA 19357 12802 Lake Jovita Boulevard waterconfidence@yahoo.com Dade City, FL 33525 David Hillman (319) 362-7506 hjtheiss@juno.com 1630 19th Street NW Paula Thiel (860) 564-2443 Cedar Rapids, IA 52405 Joan Theiss 487 Wylie School Rd ddhillma@rockwellcollins.com Voluntown, CT 06384 Jim Dipelesi Rex Klein (708) 747-0302 prma1@comcast.net Lee Deviney 22633 Richton Square Chuck Weis (765) 477-7948 Richton Park, IL 60471 2509 Kickapoo Drive RexKlein@rcn.com Janet Perry Lafayette, IN 47909 (630) 584-6931 Jim Dipelesi Tave Lamperez cnweis@msn.com 24 Roosevelt Street Jan Whitaker (585) 292-6107 St. Charles, IL 60174 560 Shore Drive lamperez@netscape.net West Henrietta, NY 14586 lamperez@alcatel-lucent.com janwhitaker@frontiernet.net Chuck Weis

Canoe News, December 2007

Mark your calendars for 2008! USCA Canoe & Kayak Nationals Aug 5-10, 2008: Elkhart County, IN 6 days of Sprint, Orienteering, & Marathon

United States Canoe Association 487 Wylie School Road Voluntown, CT 06384 Change Service Requested

USCA Aluminum Nationals September 27-28, 2008: Bastrop, TX

Mark your calendars for 2009! USCA Canoe & Kayak Nationals Aug 11-16, 2009

Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s time to renew your membership in the USCA Please use the handy envelope mailed with this issue and get your dues in to Paula Thiel early. Paula Thiel (860) 564-2443 487 Wylie School Rd Voluntown, CT 06384 prma1@comcast.net Envelope missing ? No worries. There is also an application form on page 84

Are you moving? New postal address? Have you changed your email address? Or your phone number? Please email your change of address or phone number to: Membership Chair, Paula Thiel, prma1@comcast.net Or if by mail, see address in notice to the left, on this back cover.