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4- The Oakville Beaver Weekend, S a t u r d a y J a n u a r y 2 1 , 2 0 0 6 F e m a le s p r i n t c a n o e is ts j u m p in g o n b o a r d C o n tin u e d fro m p ag e 3 racing canoe and to develop international race opportunities. "When I was in Hungary in 1998, I asked, "Why not women's canoe?' Hungary is a hotbed for women's sprint canoe. Why are there no inter national opportunities for women to compete in canoeing? Women paddlers are being told to move into other sports that promote females. Why should we sacrifice our elite athletes by not providing an opportunity to race beside female kayakers and male canoeists? "Canada is the only country to promote women' s canoe on a national level since 1995, and that took 60 years!" said Kuyper alluding to Naomi Morris Who pioneered women' s canoe in 1930 and in whose name she donated a tro phy, the Naomi Morris Award, in 1997. "It' s been a long road." She endorses CanoeKayak Canada' s proposal to the 2006 International Canoe Federation (ICF) Congress to include women' s sprint canoe as part of R e s e r v e Remember Last Summer!!! N o w & S a v e s aoo C ENTRAL A IR W AS ON BRAND NAME CENTRAL AIR CONDITIONERS NOW 1.5 ton 2.0 ton 2.5 ton 3.0 ton s2089 *2189 *2339 *2570 *1689 *1789 *1939 *2170 *1 0 Year P arts & Labour W arranty NO MONEY NO PROBLEM From *29, r/ m tti o a c . " 970 Upper James St. 5 905-849-4998 HEATING & COOLING www.aireone.com * C a ll fo r d e ta ils . 'O ffe r ca n n o t be com bined. its official race schedule -- on par with men' s competition, and give the sport Olympic status plus open up funding opportunities for athletes. Kuyper added the United States "came on board" in 2000. Currently, about a dozen countries have women' s sprint canoe teams, "but no money for them to compete outside of their own country or region. If the ICF makes women' s sprint canoe part of its official race schedule, then money and resources can be made available to these teams." Since 1998, sprint canoe competition has taken a back seat for Kuyper as she focuses her attention on coaching and promoting her sport. Kuyper took up paddling about 10 years ago, encouraged by a colleague at work. An Appleby College physical educa tion teacher for 15 years, her sports back ground is swimming. Bom, raised and educated in Brantford, she swam for 15 years with the Brantford Aquatic Club. She also swam while earning her Bachelor of Physical Education degree at McMaster University. Lately she' s taken up dragon boating and outrigger canoeing with equal valour. She and her team of Burloak Canoe Club women, Chanda Reid, Kara Reid and Mary Ann Siriunas, were part of the Canada Premier National Dragon Boat Team that went three-for-three to win gold for at the World Dragon Boat Championships in Berlin. "Where was the press coverage? If we were men winning gold in all three events we entered, we would have been on the front page. We women didn't even get a mention." "I travel the world to compete in out rigger and kayak as an avenue to reach women canoe enthusiasts." Kuyper will be competing in the World Outrigger Championships in New Zealand on March 21-26. She was involved with launching Oakville's new Wai Nui 0 Kanaka Outrigger Canoe Club supported by the Burloak Canoe Club and the Ontario Trillium Foundation. It practices along the Oakville and Mississauga waterfronts. (Its name is Hawaiian for `Great Waters of the North or Great Lakes of Canada.' For information see its Web site at www.wainuioutrigger.net/.) She' s had nothing but encouragement from her coaches at the Burloak. `They've been very supportive.. .incredibly support ive." Burloak coaches Scott Oldershaw and Larry Cain "treat all athletes equally." Kuyper is living proof that the "old myth surrounding sprint canoe that this sport is harmful to the physical develop ment of the female body," is wrong. "Women have been denied access to coaching and resources because of these general traditions and beliefs about sprint canoe," she said. "Some of my greatest moments were seeing people's attitude change among coaches, athletes and gov erning bodies." Coaches Dean Oldershaw and Cain, another former Olympian who trained at Burloak, are "always willing to share their expertise with everyone from novice through high performance athletes," said Kuyper, who is in Burloak's Masters pro gram. "Their passion for the sport inspires you to push your own limits and improve your ability to put theory into practice." Kuyper added Burloak's head coach Scott Oldershaw has "supported my initia tives to increase and include women's canoe events nationally and international ly through his willingness to coach young athletes like Mallorie Nicholson." She also counts Adam van Koeverden, Canada's first double medalist in the 2004 Olympics, as a mentor. The Burloak kayaker won gold in the K1 500-metre and bronze in the K1 1,000-metre. Kuyper described him as "philosophical about giv ing back and inspiring younger kayakers." Appleby is also a strong supporter. "Obviously none of this would be possible if it wasn't for the support and inspiration I get from Guy McLean, Headmaster at Appleby College," said Kuyper. "He encourages students and staff to challenge themselves and live their possibilities both inside and outside the classroom." In the off-season, Kuyper cross trains, spinning (stationary cycling) at Quad West Spinning, running with coach Greg McKinnon of The Running Company, weight training at Burloak and paddle pool session at the Mississauga Canoe Club "and a little swimming to continue working those paddling muscles through out the winter months." 1-888-827-2665 B ra a n d S w im m in g s u its F it tin g E x p e rts S izes 3 0 -5 2 C ups AA-JJ F in ia ls r Gifts cir Ho?1 1 * There is no place like Finials for your home A fo u r week session presented b y In te rio r Designer, Susan M adigan-C arr CM back Looking for a unique finishing touch or just the right accessory or accen t...? W e can help. Finials offer a unique selection o f vintage furniture, French accents, act, and m any o th er hom e decor and gift items. Interior D esign service is also available to assist you w ith colour, plans and products for stylish, w arm , engaging and stress free hom e. 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