To show off all that hard work from training, paddlers can compete in canoe and kayak races called regattas. Paddlers compete for their home club and race in singles, doubles, and fours over 200m, 500m, 1000m, and long distances. RCKC hosts 3 regattas per year on Whonnock Lake, drawing in hundreds of paddlers from BC, Washington State, the Yukon, Alberta, and Saskatchewan. RCKC typically hosts 3 regattas per year:
1. Slawko Fedechko Season Opener – Early May
In memoriam of a longtime RCKC volunteer, Slawko Fedechko, this regatta kicks off the season of racing for paddlers. It is a regatta for all age groups to see the gains made during winter training and set goals for the rest of the season. Usually held the first weekend in May.
2. Ridge Invitational – mid-July
Usually held mid-Summer, this is a fun community regatta with unconventional races including C4 turnaround, 200m skills competition, and knockout. Paddlers also have the opportunity to race in singles to set a personal best time.
3. Fort Ridge Fall Classic – Early September
With hosting help from Fort Canoe Kayak Club, the Fall Classic is BC’s largest sprint regatta of the year. This is the final sprint regatta of the year held the second weekend in September. It is a chance for all ages to show off the hard work they put in during the summer.
Beyond club level regattas, racers can race at Provincial regattas, put on by Canoe Kayak BC (CKBC). These regattas are generally in other cities, with RCKC paddlers traveling to Burnaby, Kamloops, Nanaimo, etc for a weekend long event.
There are also National level competitions put on by Canoe Kayak Canada (CKC), including National Team Trials (NTT) and Canadian National Championships. Racers at NTT are competing to be named to Team Canada and to wear the maple leaf internationally. These are generally held in eastern Canada, typically Montreal, QC or Dartmouth, NS. Canadian Nationals Championships are held at the end of summer the week before school starts. Over 1000 of the best sprint paddlers from every province compete for the medals and trophies. Paddlers have to qualify for each race at Nationals through the Provincial Championships. Nationals has taken place in many different cities including Dartmouth, Ottawa, Welland, Montreal, Shawinigan, Sherbrooke, Regina, and others.
If named to the National Team, paddlers have the prestigious opportunity to race for Canada at international competitions. These are throughout the summer and culminate in the World Championships and the Olympics.
Check the Regatta Checklist here