In January 2023, Suncoast Paddling Club located in qathet Regional District, set a goal of paddling 2,023 kilometres during the year. Members exceeded that goal and carried on to paddle 3,236 kilometres, according to club president Bruce Layzell.
“With effort from all club members and a record number of outings, they broke through their goal,” said Layzell. “3,236 kilometres is the distance from Powell River to Baja, California.”
The outrigger canoe club that meets regularly to practice on Powell Lake welcomed a record number of new paddlers last year. Layzell attributes the increased number of folks interested in the sport to social media and local media presence the club has had in the community, as well as hosting its first paddle day in June, which welcomed the public to Powell Lake to try outrigger canoeing.
“The 2024 year opens up on January 13 with the club’s first race of the year,” said Layzell. “The icebreaker race is hosted by the Lotus Sports Club and takes place out of the Burnaby Marine Park.”
The club is also dedicating extra effort toward the 2024 World Sprint Championships held in Hilo, Hawaii, in August.
“The Suncoast Paddling Club, and the qathet district, will be represented by their 60-plus (age group) master’s women’s team,” said Layzell. “This will be the third time the club has sent a team to the world sprint championship.”
The club has four OC6 (six person canoes) and a few OC2s and OC1s; during the summer season the club keeps one of the OC6s on the ocean for seafaring outings.
Many club members are competitive but some are strictly recreational, with a number of 60-year-plus paddlers bringing home medals last year.
qathet resident Jim Underwood brought back bronze and gold medals in the masters 60s men's races in Samoa and Hawaii last summer. The women’s outrigger 75-plus team won gold while competing in Samoa in August.
According to Layzell, the success of the teams is in large part due to the coaching and guidance from coach Michael Matthews.
For more information, go to the Suncoast Paddling Club.
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