Mountain Equipment Coop (MEC) is coming to Chestermere Lake this summer to celebrate all things paddlesport related. Whether you’re a beginner who’s never been in a boat, or an expert looking to fine-tune your skills, there will be plenty of learning opportunities both on water, and on land at the MEC Paddlefest.
MEC Paddlefest will be held in Chestermere on June 28 from 10:00am – 4:00pm at John Peake Park, featuring something for everyone. It’s a festival with informative clinics, kids’ activities, live music, paddling demos, a used gear swap, booths showing off the latest gear and gizmos from paddling retailers and manufacturers, community paddling groups and even gear give-aways.
One of the best ways to learn more about paddling and to get basic tips is to sign up for one of the many clinics that will be offered throughout the day by MEC and contributing partners. A variety of in-water and dry land clinics for all ages and skill levels will give you the opportunity to see what all the hype is about.
The three most popular paddlesports are kayaking, canoeing and stand up paddleboarding (SUP). All three are low impact activities that are fun, can improve your aerobic fitness, strength and flexibility. Many people canoe or kayak as a hobby or as a fun and versatile activity while on holidays because you can paddle on rivers, lakes and the sea.
Currently, SUP is the hot new paddlesport, and anyone can do it. This sport combines surfing with kayaking or canoeing, but the rider stands on a gigantic board. The upright position provides a full body workout, while the width of the board makes it easy to balance. Using a SUP is an excellent way to explore lakes and other bodies of water.
According to Michael Heuchert, Outreach Coordinator for MEC, MEC has a mission to inspire and enable all Canadians to lead active outdoor lifestyles. Part of that missions is to put on festivals designed to introduce people to new outdoor sports. “Chestermere is a new venue for us and we are really excited about that,” says Heuchert, “We want to have some fun, and get people out on the water to demo some of the boats.”
For more information on the MEC Paddlefest or to find out how to register for a clinic or gear swap, visit their website at www.events.mec.ca.
