The International Canoe Symposium
This is the 9th time that The International Canoe Symposium is organized.
The new foundation " Paddle Life " take's over the organization from Alexandra and Mark-Jan.
The foundation sets out to promote canoe and kayak paddling.
This year it isn't on Roermond on the grounds of the campsite Oolderhuuske but on a nice new location in
" Oost- Maarland " four km South of the town of Maastricht at " Dagstrand oost-maarland ".
This area is also interesting for those how don't like to paddling so much. If you want more information look at the site of the V.V.V Maastricht.
It is again an international symposium, with participants from Great Britain, U.S.A., Germany, Belgium, Spain and the
Netherlands.
If you are a canoeist, this is the place to be.
It is a well filled program that they have made for us the 4 days.
Program items:
· Demonstrations, rescues and freestyle.
· Safety, first aid at accidents and rescues.
· Technique training for solo or tandem.
· Sailing with open canoe or kayak.
· Slide presentations in several languages.
· White water paddling, lining, towing and poling.
· Canoe camping, materials and gear.
· Competition paddling.
· Making trips in the area.
· Healthy cooking with dried food.
· Workshop communication and co-operation.
· Novelties.
If you want more information or you want take part in this event, contact the organization.
If you want to taste the atmosphere of this great event, look in the photo gallery.
I hope to meet you and other enthusiastic canoeists at this event.
Kind regards,
Willie van de Water
If you have any comment, place writhe the guest book.
Report from Richard Scullard
European Paddle Feast
20th to 23rd May 2004
Previously called the International Canoe Symposium, this was the 7th annual canoeing meeting organised by Mark-Jan Dielemans. It was held at Oost Maarland at a one mile by quarter mile reclaimed gravel pit connected to the River Maas just south of Maastricht. Mark-Jan has set up a non-profit making charity, “Paddle Life” which aims to encourage paddlesport in the Netherlands where there are many miles of lakes, river and canals perfect for touring and sailing. The “Feast” - and indeed it was a feast with many different types of canoeing and information available - was based at a delightful, well managed and well used public recreation area with childrens’ play areas, a climbing wall, paddle boats and a chip and mayonnaise (delicious with white beer) stall.
Our tents were pitched close to the water. Central to the life of the camp was the wood fire made in a four foot square, nine inch deep steel tray on legs fitted with all kinds of devices for heating water, cooking and spit roasting. It was in the style of the meeting that the grass underneath the fire tray was unharmed!
The UK visitors were four BCU Coaches: Open Canoe Sailing Group’s Chairman Bernard O’Connor, Open Canoe Association’s President Bob Ottley and Neil Fuller and myself together with my wife Mary. We were given a great welcome and shown every kindness by our Dutch hosts. It is typical of their courtesy (and our own linguistic failing) that all the briefings and most of the instruction were given in English!
American Canoe Association Coach Mark Molina was to have attended to teach freestyle paddling, but was taken ill on his way across the USA. We are delighted to hear that this was a false alarm and Mark has now been given a clean bill of health.
Freestyle paddling and Canadienne paddling were taught by Jorg Warner from Germany. Both styles demand kneeling in the boat without a kneeling thwart with the gunwale held at the surface of the water. Jorg told me that Canadienne paddling was started for recreation by the voyageurs. In freestyle, the paddler is on show and the paddle is used on both sides of the boat. In Canadienne it is the boat that matters and the paddling is confined to the paddle side of the canoe. Both require the smoothest contact with the water, which is not to be mistreated!! Both look most attractive when performed by an expert and take hours of practice. Paddling requires the arms and chest to form three points of a triangle with the arms kept straight throughout the stroke with power and rotation coming from the upper body. Jorg suggested that I should wear cardboard tubes over my elbows to overcome years of incorrect style!
Compared with the other canoes on the site, Bob and Neil’s boats, which are fitted for UK white water, looked like a couple of rotweilers amongst a pack of sleek greyhounds . They took groups away to the Old Maas River on two days practising moving water skills, lining, tracking and poling while Mark-Jan and I coached basic skills. Bernard O’Connor’s beautiful Solway Dory double outrigger sailing canoe went beautifully with main and mizzen in the wind. Wind which made freestyle paddling very difficult but close by there was an island in the shape of a Pacific atoll where a ring of trees gave perfect shelter to a still lake.
There was a wide variety of beautiful tents, including wigwams (kata in Scandinavia), also wood burning stoves which were simple, light and highly effective. Entertainment included socialising round the camp fire, virtuoso performances on the didgeridoo and demonstrations of how to make fire with flint and steel. Not easy!
It was a wonderful long weekend, the perfect opportunity to relax and re-visit paddling skills under expert tuition and in excellent company. Our thanks to Mark-Jan and Alexandra and their friends who gave their time and effort to the “Feast”. Look for information about next year’s event which will take place from 5th to 8th May 2005, probably again close to the delightful town of Maastricht. There is a web site www.kanosymposium.tk which will provide pictures and information.
Richard Scullard