|
By
Peter
Carlyle-Gordge
Explore
Winnipeg-A
Guide
to
One
Great
City
Supplement
to
the
Winnipeg
Free
Press
Summer
2002
Drifting
or
paddling
merrily
down
a
stream
is
increasingly
a
popular
and
relaxing
way
to
see
another
side
of
the
city
while
getting
some
gentle
exercise.
Canoeing
and
kayaking
on
the
Seine,
Red
and
Assiniboine
rivers
offers
a
unique
chance
to
see
feathered
and
furry
friends
who
share
the
city
with
us,
as
well
as
some
beautiful
riverbank
homes.
Sturgeon
Creek,
Cook's
Creek
and
Omand's
Creek
are
also
options
for
paddlers,
though
spring
is
the
best
time,
since
low
water
levels
in
the
summer
can
lead
to
a
lot
of
portaging
and
grounding.
Some
paddlers
also
make
good
use
of
the
many
retention
ponds
in
the
city.
Katrina
Teunis
has
kayaked
in
the
city
for
several
years
and
loves
an
early
morning
paddle
along
the
Seine
or
Assiniboine
Rivers.
On
the
Assiniboine,
she
usually
puts
her
kayak
in
by
the
Perimeter
Highway
and
takes
a
leisurely
couple
of
hours
to
wend
her
way
to
The
Forks.
"You
see
some
beautiful
homes
from
the
river
and
you
also
see
a
lot
of
wildlife
because
all
our
rivers
have
beaver,"
she
says.
"On
the
[La
Salle]
River
you
can
start
at
La
Barriere
Park
and
go
in
either
direction."
Teunis
says
kayaking
is
easy
to
learn
and
is
a
great
way
to
relax
after
work
or
as
a
start
to
any
morning
before
work.
"The
only
challenge
is
to
keep
a
straight
course
if
it's
quite
windy,
but
you
soon
learn
the
technique,"
she
adds.Jan
Sjoberg,
manager
of
Wilderness
Supply
Company,
sells
and
rents
kayaks
and
canoes.
She
says
the
[La
Salle]
River
at
La
Barriere
Park
is
a
great
place
to
start,
though
if
you
go
a
long
way
you
have
to
portage
due
to
dams.
"You
can
see
beaver,
otter,
turtles,
deer,
birds
and
all
kind
of
fish
and
other
wildlife,"
she
says.
"Paddling
is
a
relaxing
way
to
see
our
city."
Aluminum
out
of
favour
Sjoberg's
store
rents
and
sells
both
kayaks
and
canoes.
Canoes
vary
in
price
from
around
$850
to
$3,500,
depending
on
the
materials
and
workmanship.
Aluminum
is
less
favoured
today,
with
clients
choosing
fibreglass,
Kevlar,
polyethylene
and
carbon
fibre.
Most
aluminum
canoes
are
made
in
the
U.S.
and
the
exchange
rate
has
meant
sharp
price
increases.
Canoe
rental
is
$25
a
day
for
the
first
two
days,
then
$22.50
a
day,
or
$125
a
week
or
$400
a
month.
That
includes
paddles,
two
flotation
devices
and
blocks
and
straps
for
transporting
the
craft.
A
roof
rack
isn't
essential
and
store
staff
know
how
to
tie
it
to
a
vehicle.
Kayaks
also
vary
in
price,
ranging
from
$500
up
to
$4,000
or
more.
Rental
rates
are
$30
per
day
for
the
first
two
days,
then
$22.50
a
day.
They
can
also
be
rented
by
the
week
for
$140,
with
a
charge
of
$20
daily
for
any
extra
days
after
that.
Prices
include
a
paddle,
personal
flotation
devices,
blocks
and
straps
and
a
skirt
which
keeps
water
out
of
the
vessel.
Sjoberg
says
Wilderness
Supply
offers
a
customer
service
night
at
Fort
Whyte
Centre
at
$6:30
p.m.
Tuesday.
No
booking
is
needed.
Cost
is
$5
each
or
$10
for
a
family
and
all
donations
go
to
Fort
Whyte.
"It's
kind
of
a
crash
course
in
kayaking
for
those
who
might
be
interested,"
she
says.
"We
also
offer
canoe
experience,
but
you
have
to
let
us
know
in
advance."
Eliminate
fear
of
kayaking
On
Wednesdays
at
6:30
p.m.,
there
is
a
basic
introduction
to
kayaking.
It's
free
but
must
be
booked
in
advance
by
calling
783-9555.
Sjoberg
says
the
course
covers
basics
and
helps
eliminate
fears
people
may
have
about
kayaking.
"It's
open
to
anyone
of
whatever
physical
ability
or
age,"
she
says.
"We
have
people
from
six
up
to
84
and
we
encourage
adults
to
bring
their
kids."
Gary
Brabant,
owner
of
Wave
Track,
also
rents
and
sells
kayaks
and
canoes.
He
says
Winnipeg
is
ideally
situated
for
kayaking
and
canoeing,
since
it
has
major
rivers,
several
creeks
and
lots
of
retention
ponds.
He
says
the
canoe
business
is
fairly
steady,
but
kayaking
has
seen
considerable
growth.Kayaks
from
Wave
Track
cost
from
$500
to
$4,000
and
can
be
rented
for
$50
per
weekend.
Canoes
range
from
$800
to
$3,000
and
can
be
rented
for
$50
per
weekend
or
$99
for
the
whole
week.
Brabant
says
life
jackets
come
with
rentals.
Federal
regulations
also
require
a
whistle
for
signaling,
a
bailing
device
such
as
a
scoop,
a
waterproof
flashlight
if
paddling
at
dawn
or
dusk
and
at
least
15
metres
of
floating
rope.
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