Calgary Canoe Club Sprint Racing Program Overview

About the Sprint Racing Program

	•Training		•Age Categories
	•Fees		•Introductory Sprint Courses
	•Equipment		•About Regattas
	•Coaching Team		•Masters
	•Especially for Parents

The Calgary Canoe Club offers a year round program in Sprint Canoe and Kayaking. The program is divided into a seasonal session (on water), May 1 to October 31 and an off-season session, November to April.

Training

The training schedule will vary according to an individual’s time commitment and their commitment to the sport. Generally speaking, Junior paddlers (beginners, first-year paddlers) will train three times per week, including after school sessions (4:30– 6 p.m.) and one Saturday morning session in May and June. During the summer months the younger paddlers (14 and under) train during a morning session or an afternoon session.

Senior paddlers (based on age and coaches discretion) have made a commitment to train full time. They train twice a day ( a.m. and p.m.) and on Saturdays.

The transition from Junior to Senior athletes is a gradual progression and the intention is that athletes will spend one to two years in both the Junior program before beginning fulltime training. This transition is designed to help the developing athlete spend the appropriate time mastering the basic skills and preparing him or her for the demanding schedule of a Senior athlete.

*Please note that the terms Junior and Senior are for club training purposes. All paddlers fall into their respective age categories for competition.

Winter Training
Winter Training is from November until May 1and combines swimming, running, gym sessions (basketball, volleyball, etc.) weight training and tank paddling. The clubhouse has a fully equipped weight room and indoor paddling tank to suit all of the athletes’ training needs.

Spring Training Camp
Most Senior athletes attend a Spring Training Camp in April of each year. Spring camp usually occurs during school spring break and past camps have taken place in BC, Florida and California. The location is determined each year based on a number of factors, including availability of accommodation, number of athletes attending, and available funding from our provincial governing body – Alberta Sprint Racing Canoe Association.

Age Categories for Competition

Paddlers are placed in the following age categories for competition (all ages are as of January 1 of the year of competition):

	Atom	Under 10
	Peewee	Under 12
	Bantam	Under 14
	Midget	Under 16
	Juvenile	Under 18
	Junior	18 years of age and over
	Senior	Paddlers with four or more points at Canadian nationals or those winning an event at nationals.
	Masters	Female – 25 years and over Male – 30 years and over

Fees

The Sprint Fees for the 2008 racing season (May to October) are:

Bantam / Youth	$400
Development	$450
Competitive	$520

Membership in Calgary Canoe Club
In addition to program fees, athletes must be members of the Calgary Canoe Club. Individual and family memberships are available. General membership in the club allows you to use the clubs recreational boats and through many of our programs people have access to sprint boats, voyageur canoes and river canoe/kayak out trips.