The Annual South Dakota Canoe/Kayak Conference was held
yesterday at the Outdoor Campus in Sioux Falls. This event is always held at mid-winter and sets the stage
for the approach of the paddling season in a couple of months.
Fifth-one paddlers gathered in the auditorium of the Outdoor
Campus after an hour of socializing and networking in the lobby. President Steven Dahlmeier opened the
conference with a look at the activities of the association over the past
year. He provided the continuity
for the conference as a variety of presentations were offered over the next
four hours.
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| Kayak Outfitted for Adaptive Paddling |
The first presentation offered a review of the adaptive
paddling activities provided for people with disabilities who wanted to stretch
themselves through kayaking. Cory
Diedrick, board member of the SDCKA, was a key figure in this process, and he
was accompanied during the presentation by paddlers who were able to take
advantage of this opportunity as well as others who helped bring this plan to
fruition.
Presentations were offered on the health and future of the
Big Sioux River, both within the Sioux Falls area and on the upper river
watershed from Summit to Brookings.
In addition, a representative of the Iowa DNR presented a review of the
demolition of the Klondike Dam and how that affects the river flow on the Big
Sioux River in that stretch between SD and Iowa.
Several South Dakota paddlers and a support team
participated in the MR 340 this past summer. This event took paddlers 340 miles down the Missouri River
between Kansas City and St. Charles in 88 hours. Kati Albers, David Mays, and Pat Wellner offered their
photos and recollections of that major accomplishment.
A group of SDCKA members offered some tips for paddlers
regarding choice of paddles, safety equipment, and gear for cruising.
Pete Larson, long time SDCKA board member, presented his
slides and story of a 14-day rafting trip through the Grand Canyon this past
summer.
Jarett Bies and Steven Dahlmeier discussed the South Dakota
Kayak Challenge (https://www.facebook.com/pages/South-Dakota-Kayak-Challenge/74472547629?ref=br_tf)
race between Yankton and Sioux City and plans for next summer. In addition, Jartett presented the
first look at a new 50-mile race along the Missouri River from Fort Randall to
Pickstown. Details of this race
can be found on a dedicated Facebook page at the following URL:
For many of us at the conference, this gathering was the
first time we had chatted since mid-November when the waters in the Sioux Falls
area iced up for the long winter.
We laughed it up for a few hours and began to anticipate our first
cruises of the season. Now, we
just watch the daylight hours lengthen, the sun continue to strengthen, and the
snow and ice to gradually melt.
Normally, we are able to get out on the water in April, and that means
just another 8 or 9 weeks to go.