Paddling News
by rich on 2010-06-29 13:02:00
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
----
And you won't want to miss this, Friday night (July 16) they will be having a Johnny Cash impersonator!!!
-Rich
by rich on 2010-04-18 20:34:00
!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.
====================
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.
by rich on 2010-02-25 23:15:00
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.
by rich on 2010-01-06 21:15:00
Catalog and Registration at:
District 211.org
Registration Begins 01-19-2010
________________________________
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!
by rich on 2009-12-18 22:32:00
One of our fellow paddlers from western Illinois, Andy Shaw, has put together a wonderful presentation on developing the Plum River into an accessible water trail. The Plum River is located in Savanna, IL and is a tributary of the Mississippi River. Check out his newly created website below.
Andy Shaw's Plum River Website
Put-ins located here.
by rich on 2009-11-10 14:39:00
Head on over to the IPC site below for the most exciting news to hit the IL paddling community in a while. The Yorkville Whitewater Park is about halfway completed and it looks like it is going to be awesome.
Erik Sprenne has written an article on the park and the changes to the Glenn Palmer Dam along with some photos of the course.
Yorkville Whitewater Park
by rich on 2009-07-22 21:46:00
Today the paddling community is celebrating Dam Safety Rule #3703 being sent back to the drawing board due to numerous problems.
I am truly amazed at the outcome as every request I have ever sent to my representatives in govt have been ignored. It is almost unbelievable that a vote was actually made in favor of the people/paddling community. This just goes to show how determined the paddling community is.
Many thanks to those that called, wrote letters, attended meetings and signed petitions.
The law is going to be re-written to address the problems and so the fight is not completely over just yet.
Hopefully the next version will be paddler friendly.
For more info check out Tom Lindblade's report in the latest issue of The Illinois Paddler. Near the bottom of the page is also a fantastic report of today's JCAR meeting by Erik Sprenne.
by rich on 2009-04-04 22:06:00
The AURORA PADDLESPORTS FESTIVAL (APF) will take place the weekend of July 11 & 12, in Aurora's beautiful Phillips Park. APF will be based on the highly successful Paddling in the Park which was held for twelve years and drew thousands of visitors each year.
The IPC's goal is to make this a major Midwest paddlesport event put on by the local paddling community and related organizations interested in conservation and the protection of our waterways. The purpose of the event is to introduce the general public to the wonderful world of paddlesport and as an annual gathering and celebration of our community.
Sponsored by the IPC and the City of Aurora, APF will offer two hour introductory lessons in canoeing and kayaking taught by American Canoe Association certified instructors. Visitors can also test paddle the latest boat designs from well-known canoe and kayak manufacturers.
The AURORA PADDLESPORTS FESTIVAL will also include Illinois' first paddling film festival. The Aurora Reel Paddling Film Festival will bring the world's best paddling films to APF. The Reel Paddling Film Festival is a worldwide film contest awarding films in eight categories. Individual winning films in each category will be previewed in various locations throughout Aurora during the week before the festival. The entire list of award winning films will be shown during the two day festival at indoor and outdoor locations in Phillips Park.
Sincerely,
Tom Eckels
Volunteer Coordinator, APF
Reach Steward, Gowe Park to Oak Spring Road, WaterTrail Keepers
Official Aurora Paddlesports Flyer
Flyer for volunteers
Schedule of Events/Demos/Classes
by rich on 2009-04-01 20:51:00
Below is a call to action from the Illinois Paddling Council regarding legislation in Illinois that will essentially close off many areas we currently enjoy paddling due to portage paths being eliminated/closed. Please read the call to action below and call/write/email those listed and let your voice be heard.
http://hosted.verticalresponse.com/407773/9942037b9a/TEST/TEST/
by rich on 2009-02-06 20:06:00
For those of you that don't get the newsletter from the Illinois Paddling Council, you'll want to check out the link below. They have lined up some amazing events for this year and there is even a whitewater park in the works at the Glenn Palmer Dam in Yorkville!!!
A quick summary of the events:
July 11, 12: THE AURORA PADDLESPORTS FESTIVAL
"a major Midwest paddlesport event put on by the local paddling community," includes instruction, paddling film festival and more.
April 19: IPC Annual Kickoff on the Du Page River
Oct 17: Pumpkin Paddle on the N. Branch Chicago River
Website:
http://hosted.verticalresponse.com/407773/47a49cad74/TEST/TEST/
Flyer:
http://www.illinoispaddling.org/APF_Flyer.pdf