| The Fort Langley Canoe Club is
a non-profit group of people who enjoy paddling competitively and recreationally.
We started out as a Sprint Racing Club with youth competing in
flat water racing. We continue with youth and adult flatwater canoeing and kayaking
for all levels; recreational paddlers to international competitors.
In addition, we now have several voyaguer canoes which we use to re-enact
the historic arrival of people to Fort Langley during the “Brigade Days” every
summer, as well as for numerous other community events. We have regular voyaguer canoe recreational
paddles throughout the year. With the purchase of several dragon boats, we have seen substantial growth in the
dragonboat portion of our club. We now have Dragonboat teams at various levels that compete
in regattas throughout the Lower Mainland, as well as the further afield. Our club has recently purchased two six-person outrigger
canoes for our members to use and are looking forward to the development of that portion of our club as well.
We paddle on the Bedford Channel starting at Marina Park in Fort Langley.
Membership
- Single Adult membership $70 is for April 1st to March 31st and allows members to join in all scheduled recreational paddling. Other types of paddling may require a boat usage fee.
Coaching is an additional monthly fee.
- Family membership is available for the immediate family members in a household to paddle recreationally from April 1st to
to March 31st during recreational social events and club practices. Children must be supervised by one of their parents.
- Each member must provide his or her own Coast Guard approved personal floatation device.
- Each member may use the club boats and paddles at club specified events. Boat usage fees may apply.
If a member wishes to have a more specialized paddle, they must purchase it themselves.
- Each member paddling must pay the appropriate CKBC insurance fee (ranging from $5.00/year non-competitive paddling to $60.00/yer competitive depending on age).
- Each member is entitled to vote at club meetings.
As this is a club run by volunteers, all members are expected to participate in the running of the club. Many hands make light work. To make sure the club is what you want it to be, it is best to attend club meetings, find out all about it, and get
involved.
Drop-In – This is for non-members who wish to drop in and see what paddling a recreational kayak/canoe is all about. The cost is $10.00 each time per person. It is on a first come, first served basis. As Drop-In is a way of raising funds for the club and an opportunity for people to see what our club is all about prior to making a decision to join.
Sprint Racing
This is flatwater racing done in very fast, tipsy kayaks and canoes. It is an Olympic sport. Distances are 200metre, 500 metre, 1000 metre and 6000 metres. There are 1, 2, and 4 person boats. It is challenging and lots of fun. It is great for the athlete who wants to be in an individual sport and challenge her/himself. It also provides the team aspect in the 2 and 4 person boats.
Who can Sprint Race?
Any person ages 8 +. This is a sport where you compete against others in your age category. This is also a sport where, because of team boats, it doesn’t matter if you are deaf, blind, or physically disabled; you can still paddle and experience the fun and challenge.
Regattas Regattas are paddling tournaments. They occur from April to October throughout the Lower Mainland,
Nanaimo, Kamloops, Seattle and points East. The costs in Flatwater Sprint vary from $10.00 to $35.00 per
paddler. Costs in Dragonboat have been about $20.00-$40 for each paddler per regatta.
Parents of participating regatta athletes are expected to assist in the loading of the boats onto the trailer Friday night, and unloading on the Sunday. It helps the workload if all parents who have cars with trailer hitches; take turns driving the boat trailer to the regatta. That way each family may only have to do it once or twice. As we don’t usually take a paid coach, parents and athletes all help each other at the regatta.
Each family is expected to have one adult volunteer as an official for our own regattas and at least one other. Training is on the job. It is a great way to watch your athlete up close, although you are not allowed to speak to your athlete. Without officials, there would be no regattas. A bonus – each official gets a free lunch provided.
Athletes help each other unload, load, and tie down boats on the trailer at the regattas.
Preparation for Practices
– The times stated for practices are when the athlete is being coached. It is best if the paddlers get to the boathouse 15 minutes ahead of time to help each other carry their boats and paddles to Marina Park and plan the same for after the practice to put the boats back. The coach expects athletes to be ready to start practice on time. If your paddler cannot make a practice, we request you phone the coach and let them know ahead of time.
Care of Equipment – It is important that all athletes take care of club equipment.
Sprint boats and sprint technique paddles are only to be used by members paying coaching fees.
Boat usage fees may apply for equipment. All club equipment is only to be used at scheduled club functions
Athlete Behavior – Respect and Enjoy
Any swearing, violence, or unsportsman-like behavior toward other athletes, coaches,
parents or officials results in immediate disqualification.
You will find the usual friendly club rivalry at regattas. The same
respect is expected at practices and social events.
Family Social Paddle Events
– All children participating must have a parent attending. Assistance is needed to load and unload boats. There is no cost to these events unless a trailer has to be rented. If picnics are arranged, everyone brings their own lawn chairs, plates, cutlery, and napkins. When we organize one with a picnic, the food is either pot-luck or bring-your-own.
CKBC -- The CKBC Board of Directors is made up of the Executive, the Chief of Officials, Regional Coaches, and a representative from each BC club.
The purpose is the same as any organization – encouraging club, athlete, and coach development, ruling on discipline matters, running regattas …
Any other questions? Feel free to give Grant a call at 604-888-0129
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