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    Vitesse Press Blog

    Fitness advice and examples from Vitesse Press

    Tag >> canoe racing
    Nov 13
    2009

    Canoes, Guns, and Ghosts Along the Connecticut River - Part 2

    Posted by Dick Mansfield in Peter Heedpaddlinghistorycanoe racing

         The connection between paddling and our heritage is striking. All of us who race canoes and kayaks have the great fortune of spending significant time on New England's beautiful rivers and lakes. Back and forth we go, training, racing, and getting a perspective on the world that few enjoy. (a guest post by Peter Heed, author of Canoe Racing)


    What is easy to miss is the fact that our sport literally allows us to paddle through history. So much of New England's early heritage is inextricably linked to the rivers on which we train and race. Nearly everywhere you paddle in New England, there are compelling true life stories of real people, courage, violence, determination, and redemption along the the riverbanks. The Connecticut River valley is particularly rich in this heritage, as it served as the major "superhighway" for Native Americans and early settlers alike - usually by canoe, bateau, or flat bottomed boat! Fascinating stories are everywhere - along the riverbanks, on the water, and sometimes in areas now submerged by impoundments behind the dams.

    Conn River near S. Deerfield
    Having just a little sense of this vibrant history can give you a whole new level of appreciation while you paddle, train , and race on the rivers we all love so much. With that in mind I have shared some of these great stories with you - of real people who lived and died along our rivers. This is one of them.
    Oct 07
    2009

    Canoe Racing now available as pdf download

    Posted by Dick Mansfield in Peter HeedeBookscanoe racing

    Canoe Racing has been a staple of nearly every canoe racer for the last 12 years.   It is now revised with updated photos and advice.  You can now buy it as a pdf download for $9.95.

    This book is packed with advice on technique, equipment, and racing tactics, Canoe Racing is the "bible" of marathon and downriver canoe racing. Both newcomers and experts will enjoy this thorough guide. Illustrated with action shots from across North America, it is designed for runners, cyclists, and skiers looking for a new sport; for recreational canoeists who may want to try a new sport; and for canoe racers who want to learn more about the subtleties of racing.

     Review
    "You'll enjoy the clear, enthusiastic writing and expert advice. This is an inexhaustible classic." -- Canoe News

    Go to the pdf download page

    May 26
    2009

    The Start of the 70 mile General Clinton Canoe Race

    Posted by Dick Mansfield in canoe racing

    The start of any big canoe race is intense and exciting.  Here are two onboard videos from the start of the pro 70-mile General Clinton canoe race last weekend.  Note how the stern paddler calls the huts to change sides and uses side wakes of competitors' boats to advantage.

     

    You can find more information on techniques and strategy of marathon canoe racing here.

    If you enjoyed this article, then please subscribe to our RSS feed or via email to receive all the updates

     

    Apr 24
    2009

    Paddle the General Clinton Regatta

    Posted by Dick Mansfield in canoe racing

    Every May, thousands of paddlers, from elite racers to grandpas with their granddaughter, descend on Bainbridge, New York to race in one or more of the fifty races on the Susquehanna River in the General Clinton Regatta. There are fireworks, carnival rides, and many reunions of paddlers who come year after year.map of Susquehanna River

     The Regatta is topped off on Memorial Day with the 70-mile race starting on Otsego Lake in Cooperstown and ending in Bainbridge.  It is the world's longest single-day flat water marathon canoe race.

    Apr 13
    2009

    Video of Athol's 2009 Canoe Race (Rat Race)

    Posted by Dick Mansfield in Peter Heedcanoe racing

    Photo of canoe racePeter Heed, a veteran canoe racer and author of Canoe Racing, loves the wild and crazy Rat Race which is held every spring in Athol, MA.  The bedlam, camaraderie, and civic support make it a perfect start to the canoe racing season in New England. (For an interesting canoeing post by Heed, click here.)

    The race last weekend attracted hundreds of paddlers.  One of the participants, Dan Pelletier, has put together a video (which is a little long if you're not into canoe racing) which captures the flavor of this popular event.  

    Is this your year to jump into canoe racing?  Check out the New England Canoe & Kayak Racing folks.  Another great resource is the United States Canoe Association.

     

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    Feb 13
    2009

    Canoes, Guns, and Ghosts Along the Connecticut River

    Posted by Dick Mansfield in Peter Heedcanoe racing

    a guest post by Peter Heed, author of Canoe Racing

    "All of us who race canoes and kayaks for fun have the great fortune of spending significant time on New England's beautiful rivers and lakes. Back and forth we go, training, getting fit, and getting a perspective on the world that few enjoy.
    image of paddlersWhat many miss is the fact that our sport literally lets us paddle through history. If you are aware of what happened, you can almost sense the presence of people from important events of the past - which occurred right where you are paddling! And you don't have to believe in ghosts to appreciate the river's history!

    So much of New England's early history involved the rivers we train and race on. It was along the rivers that the original Native Americans lived and fished, and it was by these same rivers that the early explorers and settlers came. Unfortunately, clashes were inevitable, and the result was often bloody violence and real life drama focused along the rivers we now take for granted.

    Nearly everywhere you paddle in New England, there are compelling true stories of real people, courage, violence, determination, and redemption along the riverbanks. The Connecticut River Valley is particularly rich in this heritage, as it served as the major "superhighway" for Native Americans and early settlers alike - usually by canoe or flat bottomed boat! Nearly every island, every bend in the river, every rapid (now mostly hidden by dams) comes with a fascinating story attached.

    Having just a little sense of history can give you a whole new level of appreciation while you paddle, train, and race on the rivers we love so much.  I have always enjoyed learning about these true life stories of real people who lived and died along our rivers, and I thought that some of you might be interested, too.

    Last fall, a number of canoe racers were at the Potato Race on the Conn. River - the last race of the season. Not far upstream, is the section of the river near the Pachaug boat launch on the northern side of Northfield, Mass.  Many paddlers train in this beautiful stretch, and Nick Lyesiuk used to run a race from there in which the course took racers upstream, around an island, and back.  That island - right across the river from where the Ashuelot enters the Conn. River - is called Pomeroy's Island. map of Conn River area

    This quiet island today has great upstream eddies and shallows to challenge canoe and kayak racers going by, but years ago it was the location of a canoe event of another sort - a bloody, running gun battle involving canoes, a dramatic rescue of children, and the death of three men.  Here is the story:

    It appeared to be a calm and quiet early evening at the North Meadow Farm along the Conn. River in Hatfield, Mass.  (Just upstream from Elwell, where the Potato Race starts). The weather was unusually hot that July day in 1698. There was still much unrest and distrust between the early farmers along the river and the Native Americans, who once freely roamed and enjoyed the river valley without interference from white settlers. Nathaniel Dickinson, and several other farmers with young boys, were finishing up there chores of hilling corn. Nobody was overtly concerned, as there had been no trouble for months. That was about to change.