The newsletter of the South Dakota Canoe Associationwww.sdcka.blogspot.com

The final organized event of the SouthDakota Canoe Association calendar is set for Saturday, and the change of season shouldmake it a colorful event.The “president’s cruise” starts at 1 p.m. inBrandon, where paddlers will put-in on theSplit Rock Creek, then travel downstream tothe Big Sioux River and onto the take-outspot, located just east of Sioux Falls.Creek and river levels will be a bit low,most likely, so be ready to “channel hunt”and expect a few spots that have to betraversed by foot.Though this Oct. 3 event is usually the last,other paddlers are still focusing on gettingout 12 months a year. Pierre-based SDCAmembers Pat Wellner and Jon Adler often

Saturday’s cruise should offer autumn color on SRC

Planning for 2010 includes races, whitewater event, and more

We need you.The SDCA is nothing without members.Sure, the board can slap some stuff on acalendar and call it an agenda, but a goodpaddling club is driven by member ideasand opinions.As autumn takes over and paddlingafternoons become hunting trips or DIYproject workdays, we are inviting allmembers to drop us e-mails and let usknow what sort of things we might try todo as a club in 2010.Last year, we hosted about a half-dozentraining days in the YWCA pool in SiouxFalls. These events worked nicely since itgave folks a chance – in the heart of winter – to get the boat out and do a tinybit of paddling. Most folks worked onrescues and rolls, and we could certainlybring these back in the next few months.Next year the club will lead the way to

tease those of us who do not live on theMissouri River with their on-the-water photos from trips they take October throughFebruary on the river.If a cool-weather cruise sounds like fun toyou, all that’s needed to get it on theschedule is a quick e-mail to Jarett Bies.He’ll put it on the blog and in the newsletter.One advantage the club has now (that did notexist a few years ago) is the use of electronicmedia to get the word out far and wide asquickly as possible.But that feedback is crucial for the club todevelop a dynamic connection with allmembers. The next story charts some of the plans for next year, and the book is notclosed on 2009, so for all paddlers who wantto lead an event, just write it out and send it.

The Prairie Paddler

Volume 39, Issue 14 September 2009

make South Dakota’s first marathonkayaking race happen. The SouthDakota Kayak Challenge was slotted for 2009, but very low enrollment made it fallapart. We need racers, volunteers, andin general, help to make this event workout next year. May or July are the likelymonths for that race.A 100-mile race need not be the onlyoffering for paddlers looking to compete.The SDCA should host a Big Sioux River race, or perhaps an across-and-backrace on a nice lake like those atOakwood Lakes State Park.In years past, the club used to organizeovernight trips on the Niobrara River near Valentine, Neb. We could certainlydo this again, and our Black HillsPaddlers comrades are eager to host usfor some whitewater events next spring.Help us write the near future of theclub. We need your ideas.

President’s Cruise details

1 p.m. Saturday Oct. 3,Split Rock Creek andBig Sioux River cruiseMcHardy Park,BrandonInput sought on club,newsletter plans forfuture.Send any and all toJarett:Jbies0341hotmail.com

Things we’ve doneDoubled number of paddling fairsOffered pool trainingHosted first Pierre eventLearned lessons on bigrace planningIdeas for 2010Big Sioux River raceOakwood Lakes eventWhitewater event in Black HillsMore pool trainingFormal lessonsYour ideas needed!