BPS Welcomes You! Riffles & Rapids Newsletter of the Beartooth Paddlers Society May 2011

Size: px

Start display at page:

Download "BPS Welcomes You! Riffles & Rapids Newsletter of the Beartooth Paddlers Society May 2011"

Harold Bond
6 years ago
Views:

1 Riffles & Rapids Newsletter of the Beartooth Paddlers Society May 2011 MAY CLUB MEETING THURSDAY, MAY 12 TH AT 7:00 P.M. ROCKY MOUNTAIN COLLEGE ROOM 14 TECH HALL Jack Exley has an amazing story and photos of kayaking in Argentina! Robin and Triel Culver will be giving us an update on the feasibility study for the Water Play Park (or River Improvement Project). This will be our last regular BPS meeting until Fall, so don t miss it! BPS Welcomes You! Thank you to the following paddlers for paying your 2011 dues! If your name wasn t in a previous 2011 newsletter, or on this list, we have not received your current dues. So don t delay, send your membership form and dues TODAY! Tom & Kathy Bick Jim Edmiston Jessica Haan Brad & Glynn Hines Jeff Johnson & Carrie Gaffney Chuck O Reilly Bronze Thanks goes to the Swimmer Club Members ($25.00) Jessica Haan Chuck O Reilly Silver Thanks goes to the Ender Club Members ($30.00) Tom & Kathy Bick Brad & Glynn Hines Jeff Johnson & Carrie Gaffney We encourage you to upgrade your membership and be part of the Swimmer, Flipper, Ender or Surfer Clubs. See you on the river!

2 2011 EVENT CALENDAR Check out the new events posted, and updates from our prior calendars. 12 May 2011 (Thursday) Regular BPS Meeting. Jack Exley has an amazing story and photos of kayaking in Argentina! Robin and Triel Culver will be giving us an update on the feasibility study for the Water Play Park (or River Improvement Project). This will be our last regular BPS meeting until Fall, so don t miss it! 14 May 2011 (Saturday) Boat-N-Bicycle Swap: Get a gently used boat, or thin out your quiver! See separate article (Page 3) for all the details May 2011 (Friday Evening/Saturday) Swiftwater Rescue Training: If you re going to be playing on the water this year, then you NEED this training! The course will be staffed by the Whitewater Rescue Institute (Missoula) on May, We will meet Friday evening, 20 May, for 2-3 hours of introduction and classroom work. Saturday (21 May) we ll move to the river for a full day of practical, hands-on skills training. Cost will be $125, and you should signup now at Sunshine Sports. This refresher training is open to everyone, including non-bps Members. 11 June (Saturday) Red Lodge Town Challenge Kayak Races. See separate article (below) for all the details 25 June 2011 (Saturday) Randy Anderson Memorial Paddle: Please note this date is tentative, depending upon Stillwater flow. Join us to remember our friend and former BPS President, Randy Anderson. 30 July 2011(Saturday) Jack Nichol Appreciation BBQ: See article on Page 4, or contact Carla Lodders ( ) for more information This promises to be a huge event be sure to save the date!! Swiftwater Rescue Course BPS will once again be offering Swiftwater Rescue Training this month. If you re going to be playing on the water this year, then you NEED this training! This is a lot more than just tossing throw bags. The course will be staffed by the Whitewater Rescue Institute (Missoula) on May, We will meet Friday evening, 20 May, for 2-3 hours of introduction and classroom work. Saturday (21 May) we ll move to the river for a full day of practical, hands-on skills training. Cost will be $125, and you should signup immediately at Sunshine Sports. This refresher training is open to everyone, including non-bps Members. It would really be nice to see all BPS members at this training! Do this for the friends and family members that you boat with! Red Lodge Kayak Races! To be held on Saturday, June 11 th, from 12:00 PM to whenever done. The course will be on the town stretch of Rock Creek. Tentative entry fee will be $25 for BPS Members and $30 for Non-BPS entrants. Registration will open from 10:00 AM the day of the event. And don t miss the post-race party at the Bull and Bear in the upstairs with live music and cheap beer! Questions? Contact Tyler Warne at

3 19 th Annual Boat-N-Bicycle Swap If you ever thought about getting into paddle sports or need a new bicycle, the Boat-N-Bicycle Swap is the time to do it and get outfitted for pennies on the dollar. In past Boat Swaps there have been 75 plus boats to choose from. There will be many kayaks to choose from with some prices starting at around $50 to $75. Great deals on canoes, rafts, driftboats and small fishing boats too. See You There! We thank all past volunteers from BPS who helped out at past Boat-N-Bike swaps. We welcome all BPS members who would like to volunteer for set up and also assisting buyers shopping for boats, bikes and gear. Please contact us in advance if you would like to volunteer. Help Support The Yellowstone River Playpark Fund: Once again we will be donating a portion of the gear handling fees generated by the Boat-N-Bike Swap to the Yellowstone River Playpark Fund. If you are interested in making a donation of gear, those proceeds will go in full to the Whitewater Park Fund. Date: Saturday May 14 th Place: Sunshine Sports Parking Lot at 304 Moore Lane Time: Sale opens to the 10 am Products: Buy and sell rafts, kayaks, canoes, mountain/race/kids bicycles, driftboats, sailboards, sailboats and small fishing boats, bicycle parts & acc., camping gear, clothing, paddles, roof racks and life jackets. If you have a used boat, bicycle or some camping gear that you have not used in a while why not consign it and turn it into cash. Consignments: Consign gear at Sunshine Sports on Thursday May 12th & Friday May 13th and until 10am on May 14th. There is NO CONSIGNMENT FEE to put boats or gear in the swap, only a small handling charge which will be donated to the Water Play Park Fund. More Info: More details on the web at or call Sunshine Sports at between 9-6 weekdays and 10-5 Saturday. BIG THANKS to all Returning Members!! Carla Lodders BPS now has over 100 dues-paying members, thanks to both new Members and all the past members that are rejoining the club to support the "Jack Nichol Appreciation Float & BBQ". It has been wonderful to connect with paddling friends from the past. During each of these conversations, other names pop up and get added to the ever growing list. I encourage each of you to contact someone that you paddled with that has a connection to the club or Jack and let them know about the party this summer. We have been posting the names of our members in the newsletter as they join the club each month. If you know someone that hasn't appeared on the list, give them a call and have them join the club. This is NOT the year to miss out! Thanks again for all your support!

4 JACK NICHOL FLOAT Jack's Appreciation Float and BBQ is just around the corner! Lots of folks are interested in floating the river with Jack on July 30, 2011, but need a raft or kayak to be on the water. Matt Holtz, with Absaroka River Adventures, is offering a special rate for Jack's Float. If you want a professional at the helm for you and your family members, contact Matt at: Absaroka River Adventures Matt Holtz Make sure to mention that you are part of the Jack Nichol Float. If you are want to rent your own kayak or raft, contact Mike Donovan at: Sunshine Sports Mike Donovan Can't wait to see you all on the river!!! One From the Vault Courtesy of Ron Lodders The following article appeared in the February 1992 issue of Riffles and Rapids, and we think our newer members will enjoy this fascinating story about the birth of BPS and the early days of kayaking in Montana. We ll be reprinting a number of these articles in coming months, thanks to Ron Lodders, our official Society Historian. And charter members will need to see if they re mentioned in these famous (or infamous) escapades!

7 Please Mail to: BPS, P.O. Box 20432, Billings, MT Renewal New Member Date: BEARTOOTH PADDLER S SOCIETY Annual Membership Form Please renew or join BPS today! Thank you for your support! Personal Info: (will appear in our annual club directory which is a great resource for contacting paddlers) Name(s) Address City State Zip Phones (Home) (Work) (Cell) Boater Type: (Please check all that apply) Kayak whitewater Kayak tour/rec Canoe whitewater Canoe tour/rec Raft Memberships: (BPS memberships expire annually December 31st) $20 Annual Membership For gracious paddlers wanting to make larger donations, we offer special BPS memberships $25 Swimmer $30 Flipper $50 Ender $75 Surfer $1,000 Lifetime Release Form: (BPS By Laws require all members to read and sign the following release) Beartooth Paddlers Society RECOGNITION OF RISK AND RELEASE FROM LIABILITY In order to maintain safety on club paddling events, it is mandatory that club members and participants recognize and be aware of the many dangers involved. All forms of water sports can be dangerous. Each member participating on any trip must protect themselves as best they can against natural events and hazards. These events can occur quickly and unexpectedly and may not provide warning time or an opportunity to seek help from more experienced or better equipped boaters. Members must learn to recognize, prepare against and safely respond to potential hazards and to rely on their own skill, preparation and expertise, rather than assuming that anyone else, including a trip coordinator or event organizer will take care of their safety. All members of the club subscribe to the currently adopted club recognition of risk and liability release. Therefore, I acknowledge that the Beartooth Paddlers Society is not responsible for my personal being before, during or after any club venture. I hereby release any and all personal injuries, claims, demands and causes of action of every name and nature which may in any manner arise out of or in connection with the Beartooth Paddlers Society and its constituents whether due or not due to the negligence, omissions or willful misconduct of the Beartooth Paddlers Society and its constituents. Signature: Date: Guardian:

8 Officers: Mailing Address President Tyler Warne Beartooth Paddlers Society Vice-President Jonathan Bates PO Box Billings, MT Treasurer Mike Donovan Secretary Bob Pumphrey Editor Brad Fuller On the Web at Membership Coordinator Carla Lodders

BPS Welcomes You! Riffles & Rapids Newsletter of the Beartooth Paddlers Society July 2011

BPS Welcomes You! Riffles & Rapids Newsletter of the Beartooth Paddlers Society July 2011 Riffles & Rapids Newsletter of the Beartooth Paddlers Society July 2011 NO CLUB MEETING THIS MONTH! SEE YOU AT THE JACK NICHOL APPRECIATION FLOAT AND PARTY SATURDAY, 30 JULY BPS Welcomes You! Thank you