Victoria’s only dedicated Sprint Canoe Kayak program
Where expert coaching staff safely teach children our outdoor specialty, the healthy fun of Sprint Kayaking. Chinook is singularly focused on Sprint Kayak, being the home of Victoria’s only NCCP trained and certified Comp Dev paddling coaches. Our calibre of coaches ensure your youth paddlers have choices from causal recreational paddling to competitive provincial, national, international, and Olympic dreams.
We acknowledge that Chinook is located on the traditional territories of the Songhees, Esquimalt and WSÁNEĆ First Nations whose historical relationships with the land continue to this day.
About Chinook
Welcome to Chinook on the Gorge waterway where expert coaching staff safely teach children our outdoor specialty, the healthy fun of Sprint Kayaking. Chinook is singularly focused on Sprint Kayak, being the home of Victoria’s only NCCP trained and certified Comp Dev paddling coaches. Our calibre of coaches ensure your youth paddlers have choices from causal recreational paddling to competitive provincial, national, international, and Olympic dreams.
Name, Logo and Motto
Name:
A Chinook is a warm wind blowing eastwards from the mountains of the Pacific Northwest. As we are located as far west as one can locate in Canada, on beautiful Vancouver Island, British Columbia, it is apropos that this name represents our geographical location. And, as Canoe Kayak Canada’s Sprint National Championships are rarely west of Regina, we will always be blowing in from the west to compete.
A Chinook is also a highly prized Pacific Ocean salmon; spiritually, culturally and monetarily valuable. The Chinook “King” salmon sometimes have blueish-green/reddish-purple sides and backs. Chinook chose our unique team colours on our singlets to reflect this.
Our Vision/Mission
Chinook Vision
A robust and healthy Sprint Canoe Kayak racing club that provides opportunities for mentorship, leadership, success and performance excellence for members of our community.
Chinook Mission
Chinook provides opportunities for youth to discover and to realize the spirit, sportsmanship and pursuit of excellence in the Olympic discipline of Sprint Canoe Kayak.
Motto: “perficientur excellentiam”
Our Latin motto means “performance excellence” or “high performance”. FGPC Chinook Youth Sprint Kayak program was established to introduced children and youth in our community to Sprint Canoe Kayak and to provide a local resource for those pursuing the sport competitively without being required to transfer to the mainland.
Chinook Goals
- affordably introduce our paddle sport to children and youth in the community
- provide fun opportunities for increased physical literacy and activities out in nature and on water
- progressive programming and knowledgeable coaching towards skill enhancement
- level-appropriate coaching from recreational to high performance
Chinook Values
- effective informed leadership and knowledgeable coaching
- the principles of long term athlete development (LTAD) and Canadian Sport for Life (CS4L)
- the principles of mentorship, esprit de corps and volunteerism
- safety and respect for individuals, equipment, and in our communication
- a club culture of integrity and best practices
- camaraderie and a sense of belonging
Chinook Coaches
Our coaches are certified through Canada’s National Coaching Certification Program (NCCP) in CanoeKids Community, Entry Level Competitive (ELCC), and advanced Competitive Development (Comp Dev) coaching; with criminal record checks, first aid training and safety boat operator licenses. Our Development Coach has been Head Paddling Coach for Zone 6 (the island) the last three BC Summer Games.
Patrick Dann – Head Coach, Competitive & Development Programs
Patrick is a certified NCCP Entry Level Competitive Coach and Competition Development trained coach. He was a member of the Canadian National Jr. World’s 2013 team and on the U23 National Development team in 2014. He is a performance multi-discipline paddler, a Canadian Nationals Canoe Kayak Sprint multiple silver and bronze medalist, Team BC Canada Summer Games medalist and Jr/U23 World’s finalist. Patrick has volunteered as the Canoe Kayak Head Coach for Zone 6 at the past three BC Summer Games over the last six years. (Photo credit Matt Abbott)
Coaching Staff
Lydia Keefe-Sampson
Trained NCCP Entry Level Competitive Coach, USA National Women’s Canoe multiple medalist and Champion, World’s Women’s Canoe Finalist, War Canoe stern, Sea Kayak certified
Hunter Nyvall
Trained NCCP Entry Level Competitive Coach, certified CanoeKids Community coach, BC Games multiple gold, silver and bronze medalist
Nolan Tomaselli
Trained NCCP Entry Level Competitive Coach, certified CanoeKids Community coach, BC Games multiple gold, silver and bronze medalist
Brin Nyvall
Trained NCCP Entry Level Competitive Coach, BC Games multiple medalist
Lili Munn
Trained NCCP Entry Level Competitive Coach, BC Games multiple medalist
Chinook Programs
Chinook provides level-appropriate coaching, mini and standard sprint kayaks and paddles, safety boats and equipment, PFDs, dock facilities, public washrooms, waterfront gym access and private boat storage when available. Our spring/summer intake is April 1st.
Junior Program
Fun for new, recreational and developing paddlers. Children start in our Mini-Lightnings learning the basics of Sprint Kayak and may take part in an occasional beginner’s regatta at coach’s discretion. Intake from ages 10-13 years (flexible).
- Juniors Program (10-13 years) – April through August
- Monday: Junior 4-5:30 PM
- Wednesday: Junior 4-5:30 PM
- Friday: Junior 4-5:30 PM
Membership is $850 and runs April through September. Occasional schedule adjustments and additions may occur throughout the season.
Competitive Development Program
Chinook’s Comp Dev program is for advanced competitive and performance athletes, ages 14+. Entry into this challenging competitive program prepares Train-to-Train and Train-to-Compete athletes for National and International racing and is at the discretion of Chinook’s Comp Dev Head Coach.
- Development Program (14+ years) – April through August
- Monday: 5:30-7 PM
- Tuesday: 4-5:30 PM
- Wednesday: 5:30 -7 PM
- Thursday: 4-5:30 PM
- Saturday: 9-10:30 AM
Introduction to Sprint Kayak
Fun and adventure for inspiring young paddlers. Month-long courses consist of two evenings per week, for a total of 12 hours across 8 evening sessions. Specialized coaching and all equipment supplied. Children aged 7-9 (some age flexibility permitted based on stature) start in Mini-Lightning kayaks, learning the basics of sprint kayaking. Tuesday and Thursday evenings. 5.30-7pm for one-month periods through July and/or August. Membership is $180 per month.
- Introduction to Sprint Kayak (7-9 years) – July and/or August
- Tuesday/Thursday 5:30-7pm
- REGISTRATION for July and August sessions opens in May