The Lower Columbia Kayak Roundup, August 18-24 in Cathlamet, WA, is only in its second year of bringing kayakers together, but its importance has already reached well beyond national borders.  “LoCo” has been chosen as the west coast event that introduces new international standards of kayaking to the US. 

The British Canoe Union is the international standard of modern paddlesport training.  Originally formed in 1936 to send a British team to the Berlin Olympics, the BCU has grown considerably, in both scope and geography.  The BCU offers 5 levels of recreational skill training including two levels of leadership certification, plus 5 levels of coaching certification, and coach trainer certifications.  The BCU covers sea kayaking, canoeing, whitewater river paddling, surfing in little kayaks, and all aspects of competitive paddlesports. 

2008 is significant because the BCU program has been updated to better serve modern paddlers, and this is the year the updated program is being introduced to the US.  LoCo Roundup is the event on the west coast introducing these programs.  Both the Director of Coaching of the BCU and the North American Administrator of BCU will be present offering classes, as well as a tremendous gathering of top national and international sea kayaking coaches.  Kayaking professionals are coming from around the country to be “updated”, and all levels of paddler stand to learn much and thoroughly enjoy this gathering of talent and passion. 

Modern kayaking draws not only on British traditions, but also on the much older Greenland traditions.  Greenlanders were subsisting from the sea in kayaks thousands of years before kayaking became a sport, and the modern equivalent of the Greenland “Olympics” is all about kayaking skills.  LoCo has the privilege of hosting several instructors of Greenland paddling and rolling, and will feature a Greenland-style rolling competition, open to spectators.  The competition is Saturday night and is called “Sticks and Stones” because the paddle that Greenlanders use was originally made of driftwood and a rock is one of the things used to roll a kayak in the competition. 

Organized by Columbia River Kayaking, LoCo brings kayakers together in a rural Columbia River community to have fun and improve skills.  It is a skill-based symposium offering a spectrum of classes, games, and tours for novices, experts, coaches, and everyone in between.  Paddling venues range from quiet creeks to the exciting Oregon Coast.  Yoga is also featured.   

LoCo is a community event, hosted on a Puget Island farm in Cathlamet, WA.  It highlights the local farmer’s market, musicians, slide presentations, and Astoria microbrew.   

Registration is limited.  Details and registration forms at http://www.columbiariverkayaking.com/roundup.html

For info, please visit the website or email Ginni at Columbia River Kayaking ginni@columbiariverkayaking.com  or call 360-849-4016