|
Gig Harbor Canoe/Kayak Racing Team was created
in the winter of 2002 as a 501(3)(c) non-profit youth organization.
The founder, Alan Anderson, his 11 year old son and a young friend,
were the first members. Anderson purchased some kayaks out of
Hungary and literally started pulling kids off the street. Kids
were offered $10.00 if they could stay upright for 10 seconds in one
of Anderson's kayaks. No one collected, but they started coming
back for more, and a team was born.
In 2003, the training consisted of Anderson sitting in a tiny
inflatable telling the kids, "Just go paddle around and have fun."
Their first races were in boats without seats half full of water for
stability, with the coach and parents simply hoping they would get
down the course.
In 2004, the team decided to experience it's first National
Championships, and 7 athletes traveled to Lake Lanier, Georgia. The
team took a beating, but came away with an excellent experience. In
the fall of 2004, Anderson sat down with each of the 18 athletes
individually and asked them for a commitment.
 |
In 2005, the National Championships were held in Seattle. Gig Harbor
paddlers won 81 medals. This included every Bantam kayak race,
men's and women's, every distance. 2006 took the team back to Lake
Lanier, Georgia. At this time, 20 athletes went and once again had
a successful week of racing.
In 2007, 5 athletes from Gig Harbor won the right to represent the U.S.
in the Junior World Championships in the Czech Republic. At Nationals,
young Gig Harbor paddlers were successful in wining the National Juvenile
(age 14-16) Trophy.
We will try to keep the "history" page updates, for it is being
written as we go. We will also remember that it was those days of
"just go paddle around and have fun" that got us there.
|