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| Quality Foods Blu By U pull out the toques and hoodies for a winter practice in Nanaimo. Thanks to Shannon Monkman for the photo |
Victoria, BC may just be Canada's best winter paddling destination.
With an average temperature of 5.5°C through the winter months, Victoria paddlers have it better than any other city in Canada. We're warmer than Kelowna averaging -2.6°C and Vancouver, at 3.9°C.
With sunny skies and not a flake of snow in the forecast, it's easy to see why so many teams are already paddling in Victoria.
Local teams are already training at the Gorge Rowing and Paddling Centre, the Victoria Canoe and Kayak Club, and the Vancouver Island Paddling Society. With the dragon boat season almost upon us, plenty of teams are gearing up to paddle. There are already 30 teams registered for the 2013 Canada Dry Victoria Dragon Boat Festival!
Early season training is a great way to take your paddling to the next level. Starting your training well in advance of the competitive season gives you greater opportunity to hone your skills. Researchers estimate that it can take six to seven weeks to develop fine-tuned muscle memory, meaning that you will see the best results if you give yourself at least this long to practice with a new skill or a technique adjustment before a competition. Starting your training early, both on and off the water, will give you more time to build strength and develop fine muscle memory.
Winter paddling comes with some challenges – freezing knuckles, cold ears, and icicle toes, to name a few. Having the right gear can make the difference between a great practice and a bad one, so we talked to Brian Henry from Ocean River Paddle Sports to find out what he recommends for cold weather paddling.
And if cold weather isn’t your thing, why not try warmer climes? February is the heart of dragon boat season in Australia and New Zealand. We checked in with the Melbourne International Dragon Boat Festival to find out what paddling is like in the Southern Hemisphere.
