Rock the Docks at Wilcox Paddle-a-thon, Open House and Member BBQ
The
Mad Paddler, Canada’s newest Canoe-Kayak magazine, is reporting that
strange tidings are afloat at Ontario’s most creative canoe club. Reports
indicate that the first ever Richmond Hill Canoe Club “Rock the Docks on Lake
Wilcox” Paddle-a-Thon was the site of innovation, exploration and
experimentation.
To
start with, led by Andrei’s Z, C, B, E, and D, the club’s masters paddlers
offered lessons and support to 80 families who came by to “Try it for a Toonie”
in any one of the club’s various floating party boats. Visitors were impressed
by the masters’ knowledge and experience, especially in response to various
questions from the new paddlers like “which end of this thing do I hold on
to?”, “can all five of us fit in there?” and, often heard as they drifted away
from the dock, “what do I do now?”
The
visitors, including a reporter from the Richmond Hill Liberal who came by to
experience the event, were treated to extensive displays of creativity during
the Paddle a Thon as many of the 35 members in attendance were divided into two
teams, inventively named “Blue” and “Red” and challenged to complete as many
laps of the course as possible in as many different boats and team combinations
as possible.
Highlights
of the Paddle-a-Thon included kayaks powered by canoe paddles and canoes
powered by kayak paddles, 21 dragon boat paddlers working in what might
generously be called harmony, the first ever solo K4 event which was won by the
only participant, Muchen Zhou, and Katy Stewart paying tribute to her
Australian paddling buddies by going backward around the course to illustrate
that water “in the loo” spins the other way around down under. There was also
several new trends including “stand up while you are paddling because it looks
like fun,” “paddle on your knees in a K4 to see if it’s possible” and “how
exactly do you paddle with a noodle-flag sticking out of your life jacket?”
The event also saw RHCC’s senior paddler, Charlie Stevens, illustrate
that old age and treachery do indeed win out of over youth and good looks when
he grabbed the award for “Hardest Working Paddler” with 16 laps around the
course.
The
event was a huge success, saw 6 new members sign up right away with many other
indicating that they were interested in continuing due in large part to the
fancy brochures Donna created and the wonderful energy and enthusiasm of the
event. Not to mention that everyone got to eat burgers – veggie or otherwise –
share some fun and friendship and spend time doing what they love – hang out on
and around the water.
Watch
for a write up in the Richmond Hill Liberal in the coming weeks and continue to
spread the word about the world’s most friendly, creative Richmond Hill Canoe
Club.
Congratulations
to everyone for Rocking the Docks at Wilcox!!