Welcome to our Spring 2022 issue of Currents!

In this issue, we have lots of great and timely content:

and more!

Just a quick technical note, dear readers… Gmail “clips” email messages that it deems too “content-heavy” – which this newsletter certainly is! So make sure that when you come to what you might think is the end of the newsletter, you click on “view entire message.” You will know you’ve come to the end when you get to the shout-out!

Get your tickets now for THE SOCIAL EVENT of the season!

New Orleans' own PANORAMA JAZZ BAND will bring their Crescent City party vibe to WCC to benefit the restoration of our historic boathouse.

Your event hosts will provide Mardi Gras fare along with wine, beer, and non-alcoholic beverages. (Bloody Mary bar will be extra.) Also on tap for the afternoon is a raffle and a special WCC Experiences Silent Auction.

Buy tickets now and take advantage of early-bird pricing until June 1!

$50 for adults, $25 per child (age 2 and under free)

Open to WCC members and their guests. There is no guest parking at the club. Here is a guide to parking in Georgetown.

WCC members with experiences (vacation homes, event tickets, services, etc.) and/or items (artwork, sporting equipment, etc.) available for donation to the auction please contact Jay Gopal at [email protected] by June 1, 2022.

Your generosity will bolster our fundraising effort. Thank You!

WORK + PARTY? It’s the WCC way. As you all know, this is a volunteer-run club and all upkeep is done by members. Come and help get the club ready for the season. Just show up with your work clothes and a "can-do" attitude. There will be tasks for every level of effort.

This event is MANDATORY for all members storing boats/boards. The traditional Commodore’s Cruise was suspended for the past two years thanks to our friend COVID. While COVID hasn’t gone away completely, the Cruise is back! If you have a boat or SUP at the club, you or your representative must come to the club and show that your boat or board is "river-worthy" so we're not storing derelict or abandoned craft in precious and limited rack space.

Please check in with Tim (Commodore) or Stephen (Vice-Commodore) or the other volunteers who will be there to verify you have claimed your craft. If a boat/board has not been checked out during the cruise, it may lose its rack space. At a later date (and as per club rules) we will move any unclaimed boats to temporary storage to give their owners a chance to come and claim them. After a to-be-determined period of time, any boats that are still not claimed will be considered abandoned and disposed of.

Email Tim (Commodore) with any questions on the cruise or Jim (VP) regarding the cleanup.

Saturday, June 4 at 12:00 (Intro to Prone is required to use the club prone board)

Anyone who is interested in either session should email Kathy Summers at [email protected], and let her know which session you are interested in (or both) and if you are an experienced/competitive paddler or a recreational paddler. That way she can get an idea of how much interest there is and can determine how to group the information sessions appropriately.

The summer of 2022 welcomes back a time treasured tradition at the WCC – the Mile Rock Challenge. The Mile Rock Challenge is only open to WCC members and occurs on the first Sunday of each month, from June through the final race in September. A mandatory scratch meeting is at 10 am so race organizers know who is there and we can begin to seat the groups. The first group goes off at 10:30 with the remainder in different groups soon after; the fastest boats go last. Register for free the morning of the races and refer to the WCC Facebook page for any updates or changes.

Members of the Washington Canoe Club, as well as alumni, neighbors, and friends (all decked out in WCC Chic attire), will once again welcome autumn with an elegant dinner and program on the banks of the beautiful Potomac River. More information will be sent out as arrangements are made. In the meantime, you can revisit the 2017 and 2018 dinners as we look forward to this very special event.

On May 9, WCC lost a good friend and longtime member Mark Uhar. Mark's two brothers, John and Roger are also longtime WCC members and the club offers its condolences to them for the heartbreaking loss of their little brother.

If you didn’t know Mark, you might have recognized him as the friendly guy who cycled to the club with his beloved dog Hallie in a bike trailer. He would often load Hallie into the dock canoe, casually paddle out to a sandbar, and let her run.

Mark did a lot for our club, most recently helping us clean up and occupy the back 40 space. Our condolences go out to Mark's family and friends.

Spring is finally in full swing, and there are plenty of opportunities at WCC to try something new and different. Our Club has a long racing and recreational tradition that continues today with coaches who can help you become stronger, faster, or just more fit. Dating back to the Club’s founding a century ago, sprint canoes and kayaks have the longest history here, with international competitors Gavin Ross and David Podloch keeping that tradition going by coaching the juniors and elite crews (ages 13 to 18). And Thom Crockett is now guiding the masters' sprint team. In the late 1990s, 6-person outrigger canoes found their way to WCCs docks. A competitive men’s team run by Nathan Day and an equally competitive women’s team coached by Kelly Rhodes have won their fair share of medals from all over the East Coast, California, and Hawaii. If that’s not enough outrigger for you, there’s Wolfpack on Monday nights for small boats and surf skis. Also on Mondays, Joe Cafferata runs a recreational 6-person outrigger canoe (OC-6) group for those new to the sport. And while there’s no official team for SUP, SUP and prone paddlers have Kathy Summers on hand to help anyone eager to stand up – or lay down — on a board.

Kathy Summers (Stand Up/Prone Paddling) [email protected]

Kathy fell in love with paddleboards the moment she tried one in California in 2007. “Simply by standing on a board rather than sitting in a boat, I felt free,” she recalls. Kathy brought SUP to DC a year later, starting “Stand Up Paddle DC,” through which she taught hundreds of people how to stand up paddle in both the flat and white water of the Potomac. In joining the WCC in 2012, she paved the way for paddleboards to become the popular WCC craft they are today. She took up prone paddling in 2019 in part because “of the unique way it allows you to interact with the water while getting an amazing workout,” she explains. “To me, paddling prone represents the balance between Yin and Yang, the calm and the energy.” The WCC has a variety of SUP boards and paddles for anyone to try, on a first-come, first-served basis. There’s also a WCC prone board that can be reserved once the paddler has taken the introductory course. Kathy will be hosting “Intro to Prone” and "Intro to SUP" evenings in June. She typically also holds a basic SUP evening or two for those who are new to SUP and would like help getting started.

David Podloch (co-coach, junior and elite sprint teams) [email protected]

Dave’s most memorable moment as a sprint canoeist was racing with his father, high-kneeling in Mexico City, during the 2010 Pan American Championships. As a teenager, taking on the challenge of getting his balance and controlling a sprint canoe was one reward; bonding with his dad, Miroslaw (Mirek) Podloch, was another, he recalls. Now in his second year helping out with the juniors program, “I do like passing my knowledge down to younger athletes.” He enjoys seeing his students improve, often in a way not visible to the parents. That’s because the paddlers are learning how to keep their upper bodies loose and take advantage of the potential power of their legs and lower core. Newcomers are encouraged but need to be patient. There is a massive learning curve requiring a lot of patience and a lot of falling into the water. “But, if you put in the effort, you will reap the rewards,” Dave promises.

Gavin Ross (co-coach, junior and elite sprint teams) [email protected]

“What’s the harm in trying?” is what Gavin has to say to any kid who is looking for something new, challenging, fun – and not your run-of-the-mill sport. The Juniors program takes all comers ages 13 to 18 who are curious about what it’s like to learn to sit—or kneel—upright in a tippy boat and make it go very, very fast. Our Club has a range of sprint kayaks and canoes—from stable to very tippy. Newbies start in the craft they are most comfortable in and, should they desire, work their way up as their balance and technique improves. They can try either kayak, high-kneel canoe, or both. There are club paddles as well, so the investment is just in time and effort. Of the dozen juniors already on the water, some are there just to have fun; others strive for national and perhaps one day, international titles. “I try to strike a balance between not being too strict or hard, but still getting them to improve” Gavin says. It’s a winning strategy: In April, two WCC racers made the U.S. National Team. Gavin himself started in the WCC juniors program and competed both nationally and internationally, often with his brother, Ian Ross (also an international competitor), in sprint canoe.

Thom Crockett (coach, masters program sprint/surf ski) [email protected]

Thom sat in a sprint kayak for the first time 5 years ago, in California. So, he knows what it’s like to be an adult trying to master this challenging sport. Given that he is quite competitive by nature, it was hard for him to accept how slow he was, but within two years he was competing nationally and even internationally. He relished the challenge of moving from stable to tippy boats, even though each sleeker craft was at first like starting over. And Thom is eager to help others do likewise. For the next two dozen Wednesday evenings, starting at 6:30, Thom will be guiding WCC adults who are carrying on the sprint tradition as a masters group. He will devote most of those evenings toward technique workouts and some interval and VO2 max training. In addition, he plans to send out weekly guidelines to help the paddlers structure multiple workouts per week and can tailor training to prepare them for particular races, such as Nationals in August. He welcomes newcomers but advises that it’s a good idea for someone new to sprint to put some miles in on a surf ski to begin to get the balance down. Thom just joined the club about 18 months ago and is pleased to be a member, as well as a coach. “I really love the attitude,” he says. “It’s such a fun and relaxing place.”

Kelly Rhodes (women’s outrigger) [email protected]

An all-around paddler who excels at sprint, and marathon as well as outrigger, Kelly has coached the women’s team almost since these boats first arrived at WCC. Under her guidance, the team has won the Catalina Crossing in California, the Liberty Cup in New York, and their division at several Hawaiian races. Workouts begin in January with weights, running, and core exercises. The crew tries to be on the water by April, with practices ramping up to Tuesday and Thursday evenings, with multiple-hour paddles on Sunday mornings. It’s good to have some paddling experience and be fit but anyone is welcome to talk to Kelly about how they might fit in.

Nathan Day (men’s outrigger) [email protected]

This team, whose unofficial motto is “What could possibly go wrong?” brings a “Work Hard. Play Hard,” attitude to WCC, says Nate. He took over coaching the men a decade ago, frustrating them with complex workouts but pushing them to have great showings in races including the Catalina Crossing in California in which paddlers jump in and out the canoe every 40 minutes or so in a relay and the Chattajack, a 30+mile downriver run in Tennessee. He learned to paddle and race outrigger canoes in Hawaii almost 17 years ago. Practices are Saturday morning and Wednesday evening, with a sunset BBQ (BYOM) afterward. During them, he stresses intervals ranging from more than 15 minutes to less than a minute with the goal of learning to push hard no matter what the stroke rate. Fit paddlers with no outrigger experience are welcome to join in, as are non-paddlers who are highly competitive. “They have to have the desire and will to work,” says Nate. Otherwise, he advises would-be paddlers to learn to paddle in the recreational outrigger program, work to bring their general fitness up, and talk to Nate before showing up.

Joe Cafferata (coach, recreational outrigger - OC6) [email protected]

Joe came to outrigger with more than 1000 hours of wilderness canoe camping experience, often guiding in the Boundary Waters and the Quetico. He hadn’t heard of outrigger before joining WCC in 2013 to have a place to store his kayak. Jumping straight onto the men’s outrigger team was a tough slog, so he was eager to help with the recreational program as a way “to offer a more gradual introduction to the sport as well as build community,” he recalls. He, Jay Gopal, and Doug Brooks help beginners with technique and form on the dock, but most of the hour practice is spent on the water. Afterward, many often hang out, enjoy some food and drink, and relax. There’s a google signup sheet, and most people show up by 5:45 pm Monday to help Joe sort out the crews. If there are more than 10 people, some get to practice in aluminum canoes. “And there is plenty to learn in that craft,” Joe says.

WCC Commodore Tim Johnson and Vice Commodore Stephen Weiss announce that the WCC board of governors has approved the purchase of several new recreational kayaks and paddles to make getting out on the Potomac and enjoying quality water time more fun than ever this Summer. The new boats and paddles are clearly marked in the rec boat/kayak storage racks.

Remember to wear or have on board a life vest when paddling. When transporting boats from the storage rack to the dock, always carry or wheel the boat, NEVER drag it. Dragging severely degrades the docks and the boat. Boat too heavy? Wheels and a bungee chord are hanging on the downstream side of the kayak rack. Better yet, ask a friendly nearby member for assistance. We all share the responsibility to keep our boats and docks in tip-top shape for all to use and enjoy.

If you answered YES to any of the above – then we encourage you to volunteer to organize a Summer communal gathering of fellow members and friends.

WCC is still searching for someone to step up and volunteer to be our club’s Entertainment committee chair (or co-chairs). We have a great team of seasoned WCC event volunteers ready to support you.

If you have an idea for a fun, welcoming, and delicious, event please contact [email protected] and we’ll get this party started!

The Entertainment Committee is responsible for planning and hosting several club-wide events throughout the year including Crab Feasts, Oyster Roasts, Annual Banquet, and club meetings – events that we all enjoy and that bring us all together and build a sense of community among members. The Chair also manages requests from members and outside groups wishing to hold parties and events at the club. If you are organized and able to network, delegate, and inspire your fellow members to work together to host the events that benefit our community, please contact us at [email protected].

While the challenge was created with non-racing members in mind, it is open to any member who wants to take it on and is willing to log their mileage throughout the year. Those who complete the challenge will be awarded this year’s custom paddle fit pin.

To register: Sign up in the book outside the weight room and track your mileage on the pages provided. GPS level recording is not necessary — honest tracking in the spirit of the effort is!

Any paddle-powered craft of choice is fine (SUP, OC, canoe, kayak, etc. or a combination). Mileage paddled in team boats or off-site can be included. If you have questions, please email: [email protected]

Congratulations to Lisa Ramm, Bill Woodruff, and Linda Ross for completing the challenge two years in a row.

Here's a seasonal refresher on a few club policies for new members and those getting back to the club after some time away thanks to COVID. All club rules and by-laws can be found on the website.

If you are the last person leaving the club then you are responsible for locking up, no matter what time of day or night.

Here’s your checklist:

If you are on the water and you return to find yourself locked out of the boathouse, there is a spare key stashed for emergencies. You should have been given that location at your orientation. If you don’t know the location contact Kelsa at [email protected] to get it.

Parking at WCC is extremely limited and strictly for use by members only on a first-come, first-served basis. It’s every member's responsibility to park close to the boathouse and double up on the river side. Especially at busy team practices and popular rec paddle times. We can’t have cars loosely parked all the way to the aqueduct bridge.

Here are a few reminders of our parking policy:

If you need a sticker for your car, please contact [email protected]

Guests can park along Water Street outside of the NPS locked gate or in one of the many lots on the Georgetown waterfront. Information can be found on the Georgetown parking site.

As most of you have already noticed, the NPS canal has been filled for the Spring and is again leaking into the boathouse and onto the concrete pad making it very slippery. The rubber mats that we put out last year are working and we’ll continue to place them where needed this year. Please be careful and watch your step.

WCC Coaches: Kelly Rhodes (Women’s Outrigger), Nate Day (Men’s Outrigger), Joe Cafferata (Rec Outrigger), David Podloch and Gavin Ross (Junior’s), Thom Crockett (Master’s Kayak), and Kathy Summers (SUP)

Spring racing season is still in full swing. Look for more comprehensive race results in the next issue of Currents!

The race was split into three heats, OC2’s, OC1’s, and SUPs. Surf skis, kayaks, sprint canoes others were also in the mix to make it interesting. Thanks to all the racers, cheerleaders, and volunteers who made it a wonderful day. Special thanks to Kelly Rhodes for organizing a great event. Proceeds from the race will go towards the boathouse restoration and the WCC outrigger program.

Below are two of the four Kumu'ohu trophies that were hand made by Dan Havens out of "gifts from the river". Winners' names are engraved on plaques on the trophy base. Congratulations to all who are recognized on these unique and beautiful works of art.

Photos of the race are on the WCC gallery page (thank you Caroline Brosius), the WCC Facebook page, lightroom (thank you Peter Sweik), and race results on paddle guru.

On Saturday, April 30, several WCC paddlers participated in the Little D on the Monocacy race, held on the historic Monocacy River in Frederick, MD. The race is held in memory of Little D, who bravely fought metachromatic leukodystrophy until December 28, 2018. It was a wonderful day to raise money to help the lives of terminally ill children. This was the best year ever, in terms of attendance, donation totals, and weather.

As you can see from the photo below, WCC paddlers took home a lot of first and second-place awards. Congratulations to all!

To learn more about Little D, you can visit the Little D on the Monocacy Event Site or their Facebook page.

WCC's winning lineup at the Little D. From left: Doug Brooks, Stephanie Kiefer, Stephen Weiss, Will Rhodes, Sam Rhodes, Mike McErlean, Jay Gopal, Martin Lowenfish, Lisa Ramm, Dan Havens, Kelly Rhodes, Bonnie Havens. Way to go team!

7:30 am Women’s Start – 14 miles

10:10 am Men’s Start – 14 miles

12:35 pm Mixed Start – 9 miles

Paddle hard and bring home those pineapples! Look for Monumental results in the next issue of Currents.

Huge shout out to our Vice Commodore Stephen Weiss for acquiring some very nice rec boats for our fleet and new grills for our meats and veggies. Stephen also maintains the grills and keeps the propane stocked. When you see Stephen around the club please thank him for all he does, better yet, buy him a beer (don't forget to pay the beer fridge)!

If you know of a WCC member who should get a shout-out (and there are many), let us know.

The WCC Squad Locker stores have a wide variety of club-branded items for members of all ages (including infants and toddlers). All items allow for personalization through the ordering process. With embroidered items, you can put your name (or mantra) on the sleeve. If an item has a printed logo, you can get your name (or nickname) on the back or sleeve. Hats are personalized on the back band area. Both shops are periodically updated and changed, so keep checking back. If there’s something you would like to see offered, let us know.

Visit the Spring/Summer Store

Visit the Fall/Winter Store

Thanks to Bonnie Havens for all her hard work on the stores.

If you have an idea for a contribution to the next issue of Currents, please reach out to one of your newsletter team members:

Gloria Vestal | Dawn Nunziato | Mary Stapp