The Yorkton Canoe and Kayak Club's developmental regatta was a chance to show new paddlers how much fun the sport is.
The day-long event on August 18 "has the competitive side but it is really about the experience and getting kids involved," said head coach Jessica Riley. That day a group of little brothers and sisters hopped into recreational boats to join in on the fun that racers experienced.
First and second year paddlers under 14 years old attended. The focus is on participating even when make mistakes happen. For younger paddlers, flipping in a race and zig zagging are allowed. The day is all about having fun, cheering each other on in the children's "first introduction to competition," shared Riley. The regatta also gives older paddlers a chance to decide if they want to commit to competitive paddling in the future.
"We're really building our future generation of paddlers," said Riley who has been involved with the club for over 13 years, first as a paddler then as an instructor in recent years.
The developmental regatta followed olympic rules for sprint racing as competitors travelled different length for their races. Fun events capped off the day.
One of the main attractions for the children is the "individual time to shine," said Riley. "One of my paddlers told me she loves just having time to think, get her frustrations out and have that time to herself."
The younger paddlers use the club's kayaks and canoes, which provide them a lesson in taking care of and respecting the equipment so that it "is preserved for everyone to use."
The club also encourages healthy nutrition in the children. Holding off on consuming sugar during competition and learning how food makes a difference in their performance are important, said Riley.
"Sportsmanship is what we're trying to teach. So helping each other with boats, not swearing, being the best role models they can be for the kids," she said.
With the season drawing to a close in September, Riley noticed many differences in the children since May. Seeing the focus shift from winning to setting personal goals and beating them is a positive move. The excitement of beating a best personal time is a positive thing, she noted.
The team had success with the younger paddlers this year. Although most province-wide competitions focus on older age groups, the 12 and under group went to many.
One 12 year-old even won bronze at the Saskatchewan Games despite competing against 14 year-olds.
