Paddlers from eight clubs across B.C. competed in an open canoe/kayak regatta on Long Lake in Nanaimo on Saturday, Aug. 14 and Sunday, Aug. 15. Kenji MacMartin (left) from False Creek paddled against Sebastian Solomonson (right) in a 500 metre race on Saturday. (Alex Rawnsley/NanaimoNewsNOW)

By Alex Rawnsley

PADDLE POWER

Long Lake regatta provides rare race opportunity for local paddlers

Aug 16, 2021 | 4:31 PM

NANAIMO — Paddlers from eight clubs across the province descended on Long Lake for a rare opportunity to hit the water in a race environment.

The Nanaimo Canoe and Kayak Club held their annual BC Cup event at Long Lake on Saturday, Aug. 14 and Sunday, Aug. 15. For many racers, it was their first competition in nearly two years.

Kolin Kriitmaa, executive director for Canoe Kayak BC, said the event in Nanaimo was just the second one of its kind this summer across the province, with racing effectively on pause since March 2020.

“I give [the athletes] a lot of credit for the time and effort they’ve put in because it’s a long time to go without the carrot of a race.”

One race was held last September under strict pandemic protocols, while the only other like-sized event took place in Burnaby over the August long weekend.

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With the interrupted schedule, none of the races served as direct qualifiers for national representation later this year. The change meant races were contested in open categories and geared to get as many racers on the water as possible.

“Nanaimo’s been one of our clubs for a long time, they’ve got a great program here and hopefully events like this can help bring more people to the club and the community and continue to show some success in Nanaimo,” Kriitmaa said.

Nanaimo kayaker Teegan Letwin is one athlete who had her eyes on Nationals, being hosted in Ottawa Aug. 23-27.

Letwin, along with fellow kayaker Ryan Yao, have already qualified to race at the regatta.

“My goal is to make my final,” Letwin told NanaimoNewsNOW. “There’s a lot of really good paddlers in eastern Canada, they are super competitive out there compared to B.C. and western Canada, so that’s going to be very hard, a good challenge.”

Letwin and Yao raced open versions of the K1 200 metre, 500 metre and 1000 metre on Long Lake, meaning they were pitted against girls of all age groups.

“I’m racing a lot of older girls which means they’re a lot faster and there’s no lanes [on Long Lake] so we get washed out very easily, but it’s felt really good and I’m feeling ready for Nationals,” Letwin said.

Over 110 racers took part in the weekend regatta in age categories from under 12 to adult.

— with files from Kyle Ireland

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alex.rawnsley@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @alexrawnsley