Paddling News


Oregon Trail Days Rock River Canoe Rally
Posted by rich on 06/29/2010 01:02PM

Solo paddlers welcome - The Oregon Trail Days Canoe and Kayak Race sponsored by the Lions is July 18th starting at 8:00 AM on the Rock River in Oregon, IL.

The race features two different take out points for paddlers to choose from, 5 miles to Castle Rock State Park and 9 miles to Grand Detour. Starting at Park East the race includes a breakfast, a canoe patch and shuttle service so solo paddlers are welcome..

Visit www.oregontraildays.org for details, maps and registration forms.

Ken Williams
Oregon Trail Days

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And you won't want to miss this, Friday night (July 16) they will be having a Johnny Cash impersonator!!!

-Rich


!CANCELED! - IPC 2010 Kick Off Paddle - Sunday, April 25th.
Posted by rich on 04/18/2010 08:34PM

!CANCELED DUE TO WEATHER! - The event will probably not be rescheduled but there may be a tour of the whitewater park before the official opening in July. Stay tuned.

Until then, here is the video from a tour given to Tom Lindblade.

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Get your boats ready! The IPC 2010 Kick Off Paddle is coming up on Sunday, April 25th.

The paddle will be held on the Fox River (6.5 miles from Oswego to Yorkville) and paddlers will be given a foot tour of the new whitewater park opening on June 30th!!!

For more details see the paddling calendar.


Prairie Paddling Film and Photo Contest
Posted by rich on 02/25/2010 11:15PM

Morrall River Films is honored to organize and host the Prairie Paddling Film and Photo Fest as a featured program of the Aurora Paddlesport Festival.

We are currently seeking entries from talented, creative paddlers just like you. Unlike most film festivals, there will be no awards, no prizes, and no pressure - the Prairie Paddling Film and Photo Fest is purely for enjoyment, exposure, education, and just plain fun!

If you have always wanted to share your adventures, passion for photography, or film making talents with fellow paddlers, this venue is for you. It would be a shame to keep your photos or videos to yourself. So dig out your film footage, dust off your photos, and put together a short and entertaining presentation lasting either 25 or 50 minutes. Films and digital photo slide shows can stand-alone or you may narrate during your presentation.

Entries may be comprised of, but certainly not limited to:


  • A paddling trip or compilation of trips taken.

  • An interesting paddling destination ..extra points for trips in Illinois!

  • Paddling trips with a wildlife and/or nature oriented theme.

  • Local environmental issues or programs that affect paddlers.

Whatever your choice is, all entries must be paddling related. The deadline for getting your submission to us is May 15th, 2010.

For more information on where to send your submission, acceptable media formats and answers to any questions you may have, please contact Mark Morrall (see flyer below for contact details)

Full flyer and details here.




Conant Pool - Kayak and Canoe Classes
Posted by rich on 01/06/2010 09:15PM

Catalog and Registration at:
District 211.org

Registration Begins 01-19-2010

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Whitewater Kayaking 7 Weeks - $85

This class will cover the basics of whitewater kayaking with a half-hour of classroom work prior to practice in the pool. Students should bring swimsuits, towels, glasses guards, and nose plugs. The class and equipment are supplied by
members of the Chicago Whitewater Association.

(Gold Card fee is $35.)
R326 - 01 Thurs., Feb. 11 C.H.S., Room 114/Pool (7:30 - 10:00 p.m.) S. Paolino

Contemporary Solo Canoeing 7 Weeks - $79
Learn modern paddling theory that will teach strokes, braces, and safety procedures.
There will be one-half hour of classroom lecture prior to working in the pool.

Students should bring a swimsuit, towel, and glasses guard. The class and equipment are supplied by members of the Chicago Whitewater Association. (Gold Card Fee is $35.)

R325 - 01 Tues., Feb. 9 C.H.S., Room 114/Pool (7:30 - 10:00 p.m.) S. Shapiro

Thanks to Bharat for the email update on this!



Older paddling news



New Paddling Articles/Links



Sea Kayaker magazine article discussing techniques to help you relax and hold your breath longer with the goal of attempting a second or third roll should your first attempt(s) fail.



Learn how to perform proper sweep strokes, rolls, low and high braces. This article has annotated photos showing both good technique and bad.



Paddling.net member discusses rolling exercises to be performed in flatwater that can help prepare you for unplanned/combat rolls in rougher conditions.



Inform yourself about the dangers of paddling in high water conditions.



More paddling resources here


Advisories

Kish Open
Kishwaukee River
Posted 07/30/2010 08:56PM

Capt. Morelock informs us that all restrictions have been lifted on the Kishwaukee.


Full list of advisories here.

Paddling Calendar



Calendar - Monthly View



New Paddling Videos!



Sea Kayaking Milwaukee Harbor and Beyond Breakwall    
Author: kbraband

Taken on Nov 22, 2009:

"Sea kayaking Milwaukee Harbor and beyond the breakwall on a mild November day."






Lower Fox    
Author: kbraband

"Paddling the dells section of the Fox River in Illinois to near Ottawa, IL."




 Head over to the videos section to view these and more great videos!



New put-ins!


Riverside Parkway - Joliet, IL     (View on map)
Enter name of new river/lake     
by  on 08/28/2010

Finish

DuPage@135th - Plainfield, IL     (View on map)
DuPage River, West Branch     
by  on 08/28/2010

Start

Rt 138 Bridge - Cooksville, WI     (View on map)
Badfish Creek     
by D. Watts on 08/28/2010

NE corner of bridge on Rt.138 (Tolles Rd) N of Cooksville, WI with a path down to creek. Very little parking on shoulder of road.

Trip Info:
Bad Fish Creek, WI to Yahara River, WI. Aproximately 11-12 miles, USGS gauges in Rock Co. WI., Almost always ample water - daily discharge from upstream via the Madison Metro Sewerage Dist. into Bad Fish Crk., Very clean creek, empties into Yahara River at approximately 7.5 miles then continue approximately 4.5 miles to Murwin Park.


View all 369 put-ins here!


PaddleAway.com News!

Help put in the put-ins!

Your help is needed in locating put-ins. If you know of some terrific put-ins, try out the new Google map interface to add in your favorite put-ins. Don't keep them secret, let us all enjoy them.

Click the image below to find some amazing put-ins!

















With the new mapping interface you can view all put-ins in Google Maps! Mapped by GPS location through Google's mapping interface allowing you to see exactly where you are putting in and taking out. You can even get driving directions to the put-in -just enter your address in the start address field and click on a put-in and you'll instantly have directions to your put-in.

Tons of put-ins on the Kish, Nippersink, Des Plaines and Fox rivers as well as many others. Feel free to add your own put-in or email me the details and I'll be sure to add it in.

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Welcome to PaddleAway.com:

A site dedicated to kayakers and canoeists. This site was developed to help paddlers find the information they need to get them out on the water. Illinois has numerous places to paddle and relax. Hopefully this site will help both veteran and novice paddlers alike find great places to paddle.

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What can you do here?

Besides the put-ins list and mapping interface, we have a link to paddling clubs in Illinois, rental links, as well as links to video footage of some local waterways.

Most paddlers will likely be interested in the Put-Ins section which has links to info on the put-in, weather for the specific put-in as well as a link to USGS water data for up-to-date flow and depth levels.

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Upcoming Site Enhancements

(these may take a while ;))
  • Ability to track your trips by creating and saving routes on map
  • Distance between put-ins -on rivers and especially along Lake Michigan lakeshore .
  • Add a video and photo gallery linked to a particular stretch/section of rivers/lakes
  • Allow data to be added and modified from the web by members
  • Link USGS data with geographical coordinates to Google Maps markers
  • Add overlays to google maps easily identifying popular paddling destinations
  • Trip Reports
  • Boat and gear review section
  • Calendar of upcoming paddling trips and events
  • To see what fellow paddlers are interested in, a list of top visited put-ins sorted by popularity
  • Canoe/kayak rentals in close proximity to put-in sites.