Canoe Club masters prepare for competition

Anne Banks was active growing up as she was involved in many school sports, such as track, tennis and basketball. She continued to stay fit by running until one day, about 15 years ago, when a car accident left her with a shattered knee cap and broken collar bone.

“I couldn’t really run after that,” Banks said. “Canoeing was a really good alternative.”

The Pisiquid Canoe Club has offered the masters program for the last five years.

Joining the masters program three years ago was great for fitness, Banks said. “I got hooked into it.”

Most of the first summer was spent just tipping into the water because the boats were very unstable for adults, who weigh more than kids -- but the team trained five days a week, Banks said. “Now, we compete competitively… No one beat us at Atlantics last year.”

There are only so many places able to support canoeing, Banks added. “It’s nice to have this activity in Windsor… I’d likely be sitting around doing nothing if it wasn’t for this.”

Commodore Ann Dodge coaches the masters program offered by the canoe club. She has watched the program progress and change lives over the last five years.

The sport can be discouraging because of the tipsy nature of the boats, but the team has gone from participants not able to stay in the boats to the team winning many races and dominating competitions, Dodge said. “Many people have commented on our success.”

I love this sport, Dodge added. “And I’ve found many other people who love it equally.”

The Pisiquid Canoe Club master members will participate in the 2008 Canadian Masters Canoeing challenge, or CanMas, Aug.31, and the Atlantic Masters Championship races Sept. 7. Both competitions are set to take place this year on Lake Banook in Dartmouth.