Tuesday, August 12, 2008

FREE Stand-Up Paddleboarding Thursday, 8/14/2008 - plus more free or low-cost paddling & rowing

Sounds like a blast!

If I didn't need to pack for a trip to Shelter Island, I'd be there.

This is tied in with this weekend's big event, the 2nd Annual SEAPaddleNYC, a 28 mile paddle around Manhattan to benefit the Surfers' Environmental Alliance and autism research.

Want to try out some of this paddling & rowing stuff in the craft more typical for the area? Free paddling and rowing continues at the Brooklyn Bridge Park on the following dates:
Saturday, Aug 16, 2008
11:30 AM - 3:30 PM

Sunday, Aug 24, 2008
2:00 PM - 6:00 PM

Saturday, Sep 6, 2008
1:00 PM - 5:00 PM

Sunday, Sep 14, 2008
11:30 AM - 3:30 PM

These join the regular free or very low cost programs run by the Red Hook Boaters, Downtown Boathouse, Long Island City Boathouse, the Village Community Boathouse, the Gowanus Dredgers, the Hoboken Cove boathouse, and of course my own Sebago Canoe Club.

Curious about paddling or rowing in the New York City area, but not quite ready to sign up for a lesson with one of the local professional outfitters? Any of these will give you at least a taste of what it's like. Programs offered run the gamut from 20-30 minute sessions in protected coves (best for total first timers who just want to see what it's like) to 2-3 hour paddles, sometimes with guest speakers, in decked sea kayaks (Sebago's offering) to building & rowing Whitehall dories (crew boats, a fantastic intro to the local waterways for kids who are a little too old for the embayment programs to be fun but a little young to keep up with adults in kayaks - that's at the Village Community Boathouse). See the websites for full details.

Anybody notice anyone I missed, just leave a comment with the website & i'll try to add that in, OK!

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