In 2009, Wausau Whitewater will provide a 2-3 hour introduction to whitewater kayaking / canoeing instruction class at recreational releases at Whitewater Park in Wausau.

• To secure the instructor(s) for the basic whitewater class, participants must register in advance by filling out the form to allow our partner, Bear Paw, know how many instructors to bring.
• Cost of the class will be $30 plus the $5 ACA fee unless you select ACA membership. See Waiver forms for ACA membership information.
• There are 2 classes per day with 6 students per class. Classes will begin by fitting students for gear and boats. The instructor will begin the class on flat water and progress to the whitewater course for training in basic whitewater paddling.

Morning (am) session is from 9am to 12 noon and Afternoon (pm) session is from 1pm to 4pm. Please arrive 15 minutes prior to your session. Morning sessions will be filled first and then additional registered participants will be added to the afternoon session.

• This very popular course series means that sessions fill up quickly so register early for them.
• E-Mail Julie Walraven at wkcc@dwave.net or call 715-574-5263 to ask if there are openings for the dates you desire.
• Note your height and weight on registration forms so appropriate gear and boats can be selected.
• No refunds within 30 days of the training.

Recreational Release Training Registration MS Word
Registration Rec Release PDF

Basic Whitewater Kayak Instruction

Registration only $30.00 Registration + ACA $5 $35.00

 

The Ray McLain Training Camp is open to beginner through intermediate level kayak and canoe paddlers. Experienced coaches will be present to work with the participants.

During our on-water sessions, paddlers will be divided into ability groups, with two structured workouts (each lasting two hours) each day, with practice time between workouts. Individuals will be programmed according to ability and interests. Camp members will be spending one day at the Red River, with approximately five hours spent on the water. All other paddling sessions will be held on, or next to, the race course near downtown Wausau.

Special Guest Coach, Olympic Gold Medallist,
Joe Jacobi will be at the Ray McLain Training Camp beginning on Wednesday through Sunday, June 24 to June 28. Joe is well known for promoting "Olympic Values" and the best attributes of canoeing and kayaking through coaching, instruction, and professional presentations to all audiences on and off the river. Joe also was the Color Analyst for NBC Olympics for both Whitewater and Flatwater Canoe/Kayak at the Olympic Games in Beijing. He called over 20 Olympic races over 11 days of canoe/kayak competition with two different production teams. Also provided commentary and stand-ups for a one-hour broadcast of the Olympic Whitewater Trials on MSNBC.

Who - The workshop should be for paddlers who are comfortable on their off-side (i.e. cross forward) in moving water (vs. flatwater). Without this skill the workshop will be very frustrating for the individual. In other words, this program is designed for lower intermediate up to advanced paddlers who have the above skill.

What - students will learn bow-forward paddling techniques and how to navigate upstream (typically in eddies), off-set (zig-zag) and S turn gate sequences.

When - 9.00-3.00 daily (this should provide for 5 hours on the water. It will also allow for an hour of "free-time" at the end of the day

Pricing: $125 for two day clinic.

Instructor Bio

Andy Walker is an open canoe slalom competitor, instructor and wilderness canoe tripper, living in Chelsea, Quebec, Canada. Passionate about paddling he has spent the last 10 years refining his understanding of precision canoeing, and how to teach slalom technique to intermediate paddlers. Andy holds numerous North American Championship titles in various open boat slalom disciplines which includes solo, tandem and downriver combined.

Instructors:
Colin Kemp & John McConville

Testimony from a prior student: "I had Colin Kemp for my instructor. He's paddled for 23 years. These are my impressions of him. I could tell he has had very good formal training by quality disciplined teachers in his background. He was able to break things down to very technical basics and explain it in a very clear way. He also had the knack of spotting those bad habits that you know you do but think no one else can see. Colin's whole personality is a natural teacher. When it came to coaching for the competition he really came into his groove. I watched him with the advanced group Friday afternoon. What I saw was the very best paddlers in the Midwest being given basic discipline and loving it. Colin is a top coach capable of coaching the best our sport has. Most importantly he had fun teaching us and we had fun learning. It was a great experience and I learned alot about competing and what it takes to excel. I didn't have John McConville for a teacher except for a few minutes while Colin brought the late comers up to speed. In the brief time I was with him he gave me some great advice on my double pump technique. He also has the knack to see what you're doing and the technical knowledge to correct you. Only having paddled for two years he is a phenomenal paddler. At 21 years old he has a beautiful future in paddling and teaching ahead of him!"

The Ray McLain Paddling Scholarship Fund has been set up under Wausau Kayak / Canoe Corporation’s 501(c)3 to provide financial help to qualified up and coming paddlers in the whitewater kayaking sport in Wisconsin and the Midwest.  This will enable qualified canoe/ kayak athletes to train and compete in the sport in pursuit of national and /or international medals.

As Ray McLain has committed so much of his time, efforts, and dollars over the years to help youth excel in the sport, Wausau Kayak / Canoe Corporation and Green Bay Paddlers United want this to keep his legacy going. A committee to administer the fund is comprised of representatives from Green Bay Paddlers United and Wausau Kayak / Canoe Corporation. Rebecca Giddens, formerly of Green Bay, WI and Olympic Silver Medal winner in the 2004 Olympics says, “It’s the Ray McLain’s of this world that make the difference. He teaches with fun, love, dedication, and determination. Thanks for helping me get to the top, Ray!”

For more on the Rebecca Giddens path to the Olympics, read this article from the 2007 issue of Wausau Whitewater, Through the eyes of an Olympic Champion

Qualification criteria for athletes include:

• Must be involved in slalom, freestyle, or wild water
• Must express financial need
• Demonstrate a commitment to the sport
• Demonstrate potential as an athlete, as shown by successfully completed competitions with a track record of improvement in rankings.
• Preference is shown to residents of Wisconsin, then residents of the Midwest, as defined by the states of Illinois, Michigan, Minnesota, and Iowa.

If you wish to donate to the Ray McLain Paddling Scholarship fund, the check should be made out to Wausau Kayak / Canoe Corporation with a memo that this donation is for the scholarship fund to Wausau Kayak / Canoe Corporation, 1202 Elm Street, Wausau, WI 54401. All donations are tax deductible.

To apply for a scholarship, contact Wausau Kayak / Canoe Corporation, 1202 Elm Street, Wausau, WI 54401. The deadline for applications is Dec. 1, 2009. Mail the completed form to the address above. The decision of the committee will be announced at the end of January.