Dozens of top young paddlers from around the province took to the waters of Bedford channel in Fort Langley over the Oct 21- 22 weekend, as the Fort Canoe and Kayak Club hosted clinics, a training camp and a provincial regatta, including the fourth B.C. Cup Series long distance regatta of the season as part of the Fort Langley fall invitational long distance championships.
There were 52 participants, most ranging in age from 10 to 18, as well as several adult Masters.
Fort Canoe and Kayak Club (FCKC) is hosting athletes from around the province this weekend, attending clinics, a training camp and a provincial regatta, including the “B.C. Cup 4 Fall” long distance regatta featuring 2km, 6km and 16km races on the Bedford Channel pic.twitter.com/HtrNGlKZe8
— Langley Advance Times (@LangleyTimes) October 21, 2023
Club commodore Sandra Young said the majority of participants were on the provincial team for the Olympic sport of sprint canoe kayak.
“This is actually a sport that almost anyone could participate in,” Young explained.
“There are levels all the way down from recreational introductory, up to Olympic. It works well for kids who maybe want to do an individual sport, but they like to have other kids around as part of a team, so you get the social aspect and the individual aspect.”
Saturday included two 3K races and paddle-all races for athletes with autism.
Several Langley club participants posted top-three finishes on Sunday.
In the 3km women’s canoe combined, Roxie Bodnar was second and Abby Charlesworth was third.
Bodnar also won the U14 10km canoe race, and Charlesworth also took second in the 6km women’s U18 canoe.
Zachary Smith (U16 canoe), Ryan Davis (U12 kayak) and Johan Kreeftenberg (U10 kayak) placed first in their 6km races.
In the 10km, in addition winners included Bishan Biln in the U16 men’s canoe class, and Jack Kreeftenberg in the U14 men’s kayak.
Fort Canoe and Kayak Club (FCKC) is hosting athletes from around the province this weekend, attending clinics, a training camp and a provincial regatta, including the “B.C. Cup 4 Fall” long distance regatta featuring 2km, 6km and 16km races on the Bedford Channel pic.twitter.com/okLPGFMCBt
— Langley Advance Times (@LangleyTimes) October 21, 2023
The BC Cup Series provides sprint athletes with what is described as a “more developmentally appropriate competition” with athletes racing in a variety of boats (singles, doubles and fours) and distances (sprint and long distance) in a fun and relaxed environment.
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Fort Canoe and Kayak Club offers recreational and competitive programs for youth and adults, operating from the paddlesport dock on the Bedford Channel in Fort Langley, located on Billy Brown Road, just west of Glover Road behind the Fort Pub.
Access to the facilities is managed by the Bedford Channel Society and users include five community paddle organizations.
Online, the club can be reached at fortcanoekayak.ca or at the “Fort Canoe Kayak Club” Facebook page.