|
On Columbus Day week-end, October 11 & 12, the
Houston Canoe Club and the ACA will be sponsoring a
Texas Freestyle Canoe Roundup. I will chair the event. W
e will have all the best Freestyle Canoe Teachers in the C
ountry here to share their knowledge. It will be a two day event,
with clinics for novice, intermediate and advanced Freestyle paddlers.
We will have a special clinic for White water paddlers who
want to learn freestyle. We will also do short 4-hour clinics
for Tandem recreational canoe on Saturday. On Saturday night
we will host the National Freestyle Canoe Competition under the lights.
I have been doing White Water Canoeing for over 20 years and swore I
would never do Freestyle canoe until I got old. Well as all of us
do, I got old. I started Freestyle Solo Canoe back in August, 2000,
after participating in a class taught by Karen Knight. I wish now
that I had started earlier. By submerging myself into Freestyle
Canoeing I have gained greater balance, flexibility and boat control.
Every time I get out on Whitewater, I can feel the difference.
It is subtle but I know I am a better paddler. I do less and
accomplish more.
Bob Foote, Nationally known Canoe Instructor, is now recommending Freestyle paddling to all of his White Water Students. He knows that it can improve their overall paddling.
By the way, Men’s Solo Freestyle National Champion, Mark Molina, just won the International Competition in Rolling in Greenland for his age group. This is quite a major accomplishment. I am sure the flexibility, balance and discipline, he learned in Freestyle Canoeing helped him accomplish this great feat.
So I put a challenge out to all you white water paddlers and flat-water Paddlers, come join us in Sugar Land, close to Houston on October 11 & 12. It will be a two day event. I have set up a special clinic for White Water paddlers wanting to learn Freestyle Canoeing.
I will be sending out registration forms in August. If you are
interested in attending please let me know and I will send a
registration form directly to you.
My email address is tigards2@hal-pc.org.
|