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23TuesdayJuly232013ByRENEFRANCOEURFortSmithshottestsum-mereventisbringingevenmoretothetableforitssixthseason.Paddlefestakayakingca-noeingraftingandall-aroundwhitewaterweekendoffunontheSlaveRiverrapidsishostingitsrstyouthcampforages13-17.IreallywantkidstogetstokedaboutPaddlefestPaddlefestcoordinatorGen-evieveCtsaid.AninstructorfromAqua-baticsinCalgarytop-of-the-lineproswhodeliverregu-laryouthkayakingcourseswillbeonsitefortheweekofJuly29.Peoplehavewantedthis.WevebeenaskedtoprovidesomethingfortheyouthformanyyearsbutweveneverhadthevolunteercapacitytorunitbeforeCtsaid.ThisyearIsaidyouknowwhatImgoingtoaskthesecoolAquabaticsguystocomeup-theydidtwoyearsagonottoteachbuttosellequip-mentandthings-andteachayouthcampandtheyagreed.Therewillbetwofullyouthcampsscheduledtorunovertwodaysforatotalof14hoursasintroductionstoallthingswhitewater.TherstrunsJuly29and30from1000a.m.to400p.m.followedbythesecondJuly31andAug.1inthebayatMountainPortage.Ctsaidthereisroomforveadolescentsineachcampandtherearestillmanyspotsavailable.Participantswilllearnbasickayakingandpaddlingskillsriversafetyrollingandeddyturnsinasafeen-vironmentwhilebuildingcondenceinaboat.Itstheperfecthigh-qual-ityintroductiononhowtobesafeintherapidsandwatersafetyallaroundwhichisprettyimportantwhenyouliverightbythebigSlaveRiverCtsaid.Peopleareexcited.Imreallyex-cited.IwanttogetthosekidsthatdoalotofBMXbikingaroundtowntocomeout-theyllbeamazinginthereandatleastifyoufallyoufallinthewaterwiththis-itdoesnthurtasmuch.Anditsnotjustaboutkay-akingCtsaidtheyouthcampwillalsouseinatableraftsforawavyspray-lledadventure.Itscoolyoureoutsidebythewater.Theresacamprehotdogs.Itsapositivethingforkidstotryoutshesaid.TheAquabaticscrewisalsohostingarollingcliniconthemorningofAug.3.ThatwassomethingIbroughtupwiththembe-causewealwayshaveabiggroupfromYellowknifecom-ingdownsuperexcitedtogetinthewaterbutmostofthemarebrandnewbegin-nerssoIthoughtitsbenicetogivethemthisopportu-nityCtsaid.Ontopofthattherewillbestand-uppaddleboardsurnginstructionfromtheAquabaticstrainer.Therewillbeahalfhourpaddleboardcourseavailabletwopeopleandjustthein-structor.Andthatwillbeinthebayofcoursenottherap-ids.ItsalreadyhardenoughCtsaidwithalaugh.SoPaddlefestisntjustaboutwhitewaterwehavesomeatwatereventstoo.Paddlefestaweekendofrivertripsracesandfun-lledcompetitionsisalsoaboutmakingFortSmithahotspotforsummertourismCtsaid.Paddlefestbringsinpeo-pleyearafteryearandfriendscomebackwiththeirfriendsthefollowingyearsoitshouldbenourishedforthatlong-termpotential...Wereariverpeopleitstimetopro-moteit.Ctexpectsaround300participantsandspectatorstotakepartinthefestivitiesthisyear.Lastyearsawatotalof226comeout.Imhopingtostacktherocks.Forfulldetailsonevery-thingPaddlefestortoregis-terforAquabaticslessonsvisitwww.fskaya.webs.comoremailslavepaddlefestgmail.com.Paddlefest2013kicksitupanotchwithyouthcampSportsRecreationPaddlefestSportsRecreationParksPhotoReneFrancoeurPaddlefestcoordinatorGenevieveCtispumpedforthisyearscelebrationontheSlaveRiverrapidsfeaturinglessonsfromanAquabaticsCalgaryproforthersttime.PineLakePicniccelebrates28yearsNationalParksDayPhotosReneFrancoeurChildrenhoptothenishlineduringthesackraces.JerricCardinalleftandRyanSchaeferboth12preparetolaunchofffromshoreinakayaksuppliedbytheFortSmithPaddlingClub.ShanaeNadary8winsthegirlsobsta-clecourseracewithatimeof51seconds.AutumnGervaisleft11andKiahVail12chowdownonfreshcornonthecobafterthetraditionalcornhuskingraces.BrendenLigetsaridefromDadSamastheyexplorethebeach.PeytonBrasserleft3andRayaBerro5havesomefuninthesunllinguptheirdumptruck.