Aurora Paddlefest

This year the Illinois Paddling Council (IPC) will be hosting the first annual Aurora Paddle Fest. This multi-day event will offer paddling classes, demos and films for paddling enthusiasts. The activities are family oriented and suitable for any level paddler from beginner to advanced.

LPBC is proud to be involved and will be represented well at this event with your help! Our lead instructor, Humberto Garcia will be dusting off the kids sit-on-top kayaks and offering kayaking to kids at the event.

WE ARE LOOKING FOR SOME PADDLERS TO HELP HIM OUT!!!!!!
Anyone planning on heading to the event or looking for a few hours volunteer time are welcome. We need help both Saturday and Sunday 7/11 and 12th helping kids on and off the water. After a few hours help, you'll have plenty of other kayaking type activities to enjoy!

If you are interested, please contact Humberto directly at fearhmmm@hotmail.com

Tim Flentye
Volunteer Paddling Director

Sculling and safety on the lagoon

Of course there are always minor mishaps on the lagoon, and this is to be expected at a club with so many members at so many experience levels out on the water. However we have recently seen some more serious collisions and it is important to remember a few things that can help all of us have a safer, more productive time on the water.

Sculling has the special feature of backwards motion, and it is crucial to remember to always be aware not only of where you are going, but of where others are. Remember always to look over your shoulder every three to four strokes. Keep in mind, it is easiest to do so during the drive of the stroke as the boat is in its most stable position at this time.

Novice scullers in tubs can have a hard time maneuvering out of the path of faster moving boats, and should always remember to yell ‘Heads up!’ to avoid collisions. While it may be embarrassing to yell out, it is much less so than being in a collision, so work those pipes if you need to!

At the same time, more experienced scullers should always be aware of whom or what they are approaching...

Grand Regatta

This past Saturday’s Grand Regatta in Grand Rapids, Michigan saw the Lincoln Park Boat Club dominate numerous events with their rowing teams. Men’s sweep teams, Women’s sweep teams, and club scullers all participated, and we saw all age categories and experience levels represented.

Great job to all who participated, and congratulations to all who medaled in their events!!

Off all events entered, LPBC rowers placed in the top three in 16 races, 9 of which were first place wins!

The following Events saw LPBC finish in first place:

Mens’ masters 4+

Men’s Open 4+

Women’s Open 4+

Womens Lt 4+

Mens Open 2x

Women’s Open/Club 8+

Mixed Rec 8+

Women’s Master 4+

Men’s Open Club 8+

Official race results as posted by the Grand Rapids Rowing Association see the following link:

http://www.grrowing.org/2009%20Grand%20Regatta%20Final%20Results.pdf

Boat Reservations

Mark Carroll has volunteered to manage the boat reservations for the Chicago Sprints, this July 11 and 12. Please email him at the following email address. For information on what information to submit, please see the blog posting below.

markacarroll@gmail.com

Racing Shell Reservations for the Chicago Sprints

To all LPBC member rowers who are interested in the Chicago Sprints, remember that the club has a variety of racing shells available for your use. Not having your own boat shouldn’t prevent you from sculling in the races.

Please provide the following information to the LPBC:

1) Event name and event number you're planning to race
2) The exact boat number and boat description you're hoping to use

Like always, we will want to identify any potential conflicts up front if possible. Boat assignments are handled on a first come first serve basis.

Note: Currently we are looking for a volunteer to manage the boat reservations for the Chicago Sprints. If you are interested in volunteering to manage the reservations, please contact Steve Neumann at sneumann101@hotmail.com. Once we have a volunteer selected, we will notify membership, and you can then submit your request to them.

Club news for 06 24 09

CHICAGO SPRINTS JULY 11 & 12! SIGN UP ON REGATTA CENTRAL and/or VOLUNTEER for a fun day of racing, club spirit and camaraderie!
(The dock will not be open for other club use on those days)

NEW, IMPROVED DOCK!
Summer is finally here and so are the paddlers and rowers. We have a fabulous new dock and the height has been adjusted. Please be courteous, organized and prompt when on the dock. Load and unload at the furthest available spot on the North end. This allows incoming boats the benefit of sliding in to dock on the south end and is a more efficient way to use the dock. Also to the best of your ability, make all your adjustments on the slings BEFORE dropping your boat in the water and please do not leave your boat on the dock while you do other things.

And as always, please remember the LPBC is a volunteer-run club. We need everyone to pitch in wherever they can and when they see something that needs to be done or is out of place.

On behalf of the board and all the members, I would like to acknowledge and thank everyone for all the help that you have given to the club in getting it ready for the season, looking good and also for being great ambassadors to paddling and rowing, our classes and events and now to our new upcoming adaptive programs whether on the road, at the river or on the lagoon.

We have been very fortunate to have a steady stream of volunteers for the past few years and it is making a big difference in our programs and membership.

Also, thank you to all those who helped organize the LPBC events and volunteer for Olympic Day last night on North Ave. Beach, Show and Go Paddle tonight and good luck to all our rowers who will be racing at the Grand Rapids Regatta this weekend!

LPBC'er sets North Pole world record

Some of you who are frequently at the lagoon may have noticed a fellow coming and going around the club dragging several giant truck tires behind him via a harness. You may also have noticed that he hasn’t been around for several months.

Well here is the story behind this fellow… and man it’s a good one!

In the fall of 2007 I was contacted by a man named John Huston with an odd request. He wanted to know if he could store some tires at the club. He went on to explain that the tires were a training tool he uses to simulate hauling a sled full of gear and that he was training to trek to the North Pole.

So for much of 2008 John would come in to the club, dig the tires out from back by the deck, and hitch em up for a long training workout in the park. Late in the fall he headed north to get acclimated and do the final prep for his expedition.

I’ve been following his progress via his website (http://www.forwardexpeditions.com/) and was excited to see the following announcement today…

Huston and Fish Become First Americans to Complete An Unsupported Ski Trek To The North Pole

It pretty cool to think that we have people like this in our midst and that LPBC helped play a teeny tiny part in his success. I encourage you to check out the website. Its quite inspiring. (http://www.forwardexpeditions.com/)

Congratulations to John!