Today’s update is to talk about training, our canoe trips and membership with an updated membership list.

Training

In case you missed it……

Due to the timeline  and uncertainty we are experiencing in the coming weeks, our training with Beth Jones has been cancelled. Refunds will be issued to anyone who has paid for these lessons, including the pool sessions.

Until this crisis is over and we can get on the water, we don’t know what our training will look like this season.  For now, we can offer some virtual training……check out these links:

The Club Handbook & Rules has lots of great information in it, particularly in the “Safety” section.  Want to learn how to read the river?  There are pages dedicated to this topic with colour pictures to illustrate points. Curious about river hazards that we may encounter? Examples are shown in the handbook. There’s lots of other goodies in the handbook, so please check it out.

For those of you who don’t have access to a printer and would like a hard copy, we do have those available for $10 per book. We have limited copies, so reserve yours by contacting info@oldsaltsclub.com

One of the first things we learn in our lessons is to know our equipment. Check our our Canoe Basics page!

Do you know your strokes and what they do? Do you know when and how to use them? This page has great illustrations and descriptions showing the different strokes (also in the Handbook).  There are also videos showing how these strokes are done and why (also used in our Dryland Training).  Until we can get on the water ourselves to practice,  the resources on the Know Your Strokes page are a very good review.

Every year, our canoeing instructor uses canoeing terminology that some of us have never heard of. Wonder what “river left” or “back ferry” means?

Here you will find a collection of canoeing terms that have been collected over the last couple of years and that we may have all heard at one point or another during our canoe training and outings.

QUIZ (answers found here)

What are “painters”? a) people who paint your house b) mesh that is woven for canoe seats c) rope attached to the bow and stern of canoes

What is a “lilydipper”?  a) a slow moving paddler b) the bottom portion of a paddle c) throw bag

What is a “lead boat”?  a) a boat filled with lead b) the first boat down the river c) the boat that tips first

Canoe Trips in May Cancelled

Due to the the extension of the “State of Emergency” issued by the Province of Ontario to May 12th, and possibly longer depending on how this pandemic plays out,  we are cancelling all canoe trips for the month of May to comply with social distancing protocols. Fingers crossed that during this time, all the safety measures put in place will bring positive results so that we can get our season started!

Membership

Many thanks to to everyone who have sent in their registrations/waivers/fees and those who have let us know they plan on renewing their memberships.  It is very satisfying to see so many people supporting our Club as we navigate through these uncertain times.  We will have a season…..we just don’t know when it will start. For those of you who haven’t sent in your fees or forms yet, please do so at your earliest convenience. DO NOT send anything to Wing 404 as the facility is closed and we can’t pick up mail there. Mail or drop off at 132 Kesselring Crt. Kitchener, ON N2E 2P2

Please extend a big welcome to our new members who have joined in spite of the COVID-19 crisis.

Updated membership list:  OSSCC Membership 2020