The NCKC was started as a sprint racing canoe & kayak club and through time has brought on more services to accommodate a greater number of participants in our community. In 1995, NCKC became a part of the Regional Delivery System and employed a permanent part-time coach to over see Club and Regional development. Currently, the NCKC is the home of the PacificSport Island Canoe-Kayak Training Centre for Island athletes and coach development.
The sport of Canoe-Kayak has many rewarding experiences from travel and friendships to skill development and fun. There’s something for everyone, both as an individual and as part of a team.
Our sport is most active throughout the months of April - September during the regatta season. In the fall and winter months, cross training activities exist for those paddlers not involved in other sports and interested in continuing to build greater strength and endurance. Some of the cross training opportunities that have been offered in the past are: running, swimming, cross country skiing, circuit training, and field sports. Athletes receive training from coaches certified through the National Coaching Certification Program and CanoeKayak Canada.
There are three streams of the Club’s Coached Programs:
JUNIOR COMPETITIVE
DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM (8yrs & up)
NCKC Membership + $400 (April – September) OR $250 (July, August, & September)
“FUNdamentals and Foundations”
This is a program focused on the needs of the junior development athlete interested in racing during the summer months. Athletes participate in the Youth Big Boats Program on Tuesdays from April to June, in addition to their regular practices throughout the summer months. At this stage of development, we’re looking at FUN/ PLAY and skill development. These athletes may participate in the regional regattas and training camps, and finish their season at the BC Bantam Championships in September. A training program will be made for each group of athletes and take into account individual goals and skill/fitness level. A minimum of 2 & max of 5 practices per week will be offered for this group.
COMPETITIVE DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM
(12yrs & up)
NCKC Membership + $400 (April - September)
"Training to Train" & "Learning to Compete"
In this program, CanoeKayak Canada's’s terminology places these athletes into the Training to Train (11-16yrs) and Learning to Compete (11-17years) phases. The objectives are to build general endurance, learn to paddle with proper technique, develop aerobic capacity, speed and strength, and the proficiency in paddling singles and crew boats. Individual athletes will be placed on a training program that suits their skills and personal goals for the season. Focus will be on team boats and single boat skill development: timing, teamwork, race plans, mental training, dry land activities and racing at local, provincial and inter-provincial regattas. A minimum of 4 and maximum of 10 practices per week will be offered for this group.
Masters Racing Program (25yrs & up)
NCKC Membership + $300 (April – September)
“Active for Life”
In this program, paddlers are encouraged to participate in a variety of different racing canoes and kayaks. These boats include single, double and four person racing canoes & kayaks, the 14 person War Canoe, & Dragon Boat. We will fulfill the similar objectives to the Competitive Development Program, but will go at a pace that is appropriate for each individual. There will be an opportunity to participate in a number of local regattas on the Island and provincially with the ultimate goal to have representation at the BC Bantam & Master Championships in September of this year. In future years, we aim to have a local Masters Team motivated and ready to train and compete at the Canadian Masters Championships in War Canoe and Sprint Canoe/Kayak events. A minimum of 2 and maximum of 5 practices will be offered for this group
