by Bruce Kemp
In the early Spring a number of years ago we published a CrossPost article that we called “A Look Ahead…”, which was kind of a preview of the “event season” coming up in that year, and described each of our FreeStyle family of events. The recent Plague Years wrought havoc and general disruption on all of us in multiple ways, and of course FreeStyle was affected too. In 2020, along with just about everything else, all of our events were cancelled, and still in 2021 we were only able to conduct a couple of our events because of various restrictions on gatherings in effect at some of our venues. It was not ‘til 2022, last year, that we were able to begin getting back in the “event rhythm”, and start returning to something like normal.
There have been some changes and “evolutions”, of course, in recent times, but in most significant ways the Symposia remain basically as they have been. As closely related events, they naturally have a number of elements in common with each other, particularly in the area of instruction. The Core curriculum classes – lessons in the “quadrants,” as they are known – are offered at most Symposia, but each Symposium will also offer a wide and varying assortment of Special Topics, focusing in most cases on a particular aspect of FreeStyle paddling (for a full listing of FS classes, and to get an idea of just what it is that is taught at our Symposia, go to freestylecanoeing.com and click on “Class Descriptions” on the homepage). Those similarities notwithstanding, each event does seem to have a certain character that sets it just a bit apart from the others.
So now, here in 2023 on the threshold of a New Season, we’re ready to hit the ground running and figured an updated version of that “Look Ahead” article might be in order. So once again, let’s pay a short visit to each of the upcoming FreeStyle events in turn. Details (and registration materials, as soon as they’re available) for each event may be found by clicking on the “Events” tab on the website Homepage…
Western Pennsylvania Solo Canoe Rendezvous – June 2/3/4
The FS season starts with an event that is actually not a FreeStyle event at all, per se, but one which is certainly related – a “cousin” to the Symposia, as we sometimes say. This year will mark the 15th edition of the Rendezvous, and will be held at its usual home at Cooper’s Lake Campground in Portersville/Slippery Rock PA on Friday June 2 thru Sunday June 4. As the name implies, this event focuses on solo canoes in particular, but tandems are certainly welcome too, and are always a part of the mix. The Rendezvous features a number of the very best contemporary canoe manufacturers who’ve brought demo boats for folks to test paddle to their heart’s content.
While not a dedicated FreeStyle instructional event, the Rendezvous has from its start had a very strong FS flavor and presence. There are always a number of FS instructors on hand to offer some informal classes in basic FS techniques, and there is usually an exhibition performance of Interpretive FreeStyle. The Rendezvous is an excellent early-season opportunity for those new to FS to get a taste of what it’s all about, tune up your skills, and learn something new.
The Rendezvous is in many ways a unique event, nothing quite like it around anywhere. It has its own website wpascr.org where detailed info may be found.
Wisconsin Canoe Symposium – June 16 – 18
The kick-off event in the category of “traditional” FreeStyle Symposia will be the Wisconsin Canoe Symposium, which will be conducted at Pine Lake Camp in Westfield WI, June 16 – 18. This year will mark the 8th edition of WCS. As usual, days are spent in class on Pine Lake, but one evening is usually reserved for a particularly lively event that has become something of a tradition here in Wisconsin, which we call the Giant Schlalom. This is a timed “race” around a small compact buoy course, each contestant paddling the course to frantic musical accompaniment. All purely for the fun and silliness of it, without a trace of seriousness anywhere to be found in the vicinity. And of course there are loads of fabulous prizes (from the local Dollar General !!) for the lucky winners in several categories. The Camp Staff always participates too, and their yearly appearances in the race really defy description – they get into it, I mean they actually plan stuff in advance, and put on a show, followed by music and refreshments.
Adirondack Canoe Symposium – July 13 – 16
The tag line we have used for this event is “Traditional Canoeing in Traditional Canoe Country”, and nothing could be more apt. ACS is FreeStyle’s longest running Symposium, having begun in 1991, and 2023 will mark its 31st year (Covid cancelled us a couple times recently).
The Adirondack Canoe Symposium will again take place at Paul Smiths College in the High Peaks area of New York’s Adirondack mountains – traditional canoe country if ever there was. The college is located on Upper St. Regis Lake, a fairly sizeable body of water, and subject to frequent winds, but our FS classes are conducted on the close by, small and sheltered Church Pond. In 2023, the Annual Assembly of the Wooden Canoe Heritage Association will once again be held at Paul Smiths also, and at the same time ACS will be there. So besides FreeStyle, there’s the added opportunity to examine some beautifully restored wood/canvas canoes, and revel in the history of canoes and canoeing with some extremely knowledgeable and dedicated folks who are as passionate about canoes as you are.
As these two gatherings of canoe folks have shared each other’s company here in July for a number of years running, we have gradually come to integrate our events a bit more in a few ways – FS offers some specialized instruction in FS technique for the WCHA folks, lots of those folks come over to Church Pond to watch the Interpretive FreeStyle Exhibitions, and there’s lots of informal socializing between us. In 2023, we’re integrated even a bit more, as WCHA will be partnering with FS for the Lodging and Meals aspect of this event. Click on “events” on the FS website, then on ACS to find the details.
Midwest Canoe Symposium – Sept. 8 – 10
Peninsula OH, adjacent to Cuyahoga National Park, has been the September home to the Midwest Canoe Symposium (MCS) for 22 years now. Candlelight Paddles (a periodically recurring feature at our symposia when the conditions are right…) can be special here, as the warm days and cool September nights often generate an evening mist slowly rising over the surface of Lake Litchfield. With some soft paddling music in the background, and the glowing multi-colored buoys, the effect can be quite magical.
A particular stand-out at MCS is the wonderfully delicious, varied, and plentiful food – much of it home-grown, and all of it home-made – still lovingly prepared every year, from nearly the very beginning, by Karen and Diane, the gals affectionately known to us all as The Church Ladies.
Conducted for almost all this time by Bob and Elaine Mravetz, the 2022 MCS edition saw the beginning of a gradual transition of major responsibility to Jim and Manon Satrape. This event is in very good hands going forward.
Pine Barrens Functional FreeStyle Canoeing Workshop – Oct. 13 – 15
The “Outlier”, in some ways, and in its 8th go-round in 2023… This event departs somewhat from the instructional format of our “traditional” Symposia in that it emphasizes the practical application of FreeStyle techniques. While many folks may be familiar with FreeStyle only from its Interpretive side – paddling 3 to 4 minute choreographed routines to musical accompaniment – the FreeStyle techniques are very useful in improving one’s “everyday paddling”. The closing FreeStyle event for 2023 will be October’s Pine Barrens Functional FreeStyle Canoeing Workshop at Camp Ockanickon in Medford NJ, in the heart of the South Jersey Pinelands. One day is spent teaching a number of (primarily) forward FS maneuvers on the camp’s Lake Stockwell, and on Sunday we take it all out to one of the extraordinary, intimate Pine Barrens rivers and put it to real-life use.
And these final comments are lifted directly from that years-ago article mentioned at the start, because despite Plague cancellations, and all the other changes time and life bring, it all still applies to this day…
The FreeStyle Symposia are more than just being about learning some new paddling techniques and maneuvers. In the evenings, when school’s out, there are some activities that tend to appear from one Symposium to the next. Each Symposium will usually feature an informal Interpretive FreeStyle Exhibition, just for the enjoyment of it…
If the weather allows, and folks are not too tired out, there may be what we call a Candlelight Paddle (mentioned above), after dark of course. Glowing buoys (milk jugs actually, with glo-sticks inside) are scattered about on the water, and with music wafting over the water, folks paddle amongst them, and each other, with the stars overhead. Sounds hokey, I know, but it is deceptively captivating…
Some of our instructors and students play a variety of musical instruments, so there is usually some incarnation of what we call the Floating (because it just pops up here and there) and Amorphous (because it’s make-up tends to vary from event to event and no one’s really sure who’s in it) FreeStyle String Band for some informal evening music-making. Everyone is invited to sit in (bring your instrument – all skill levels welcome, vocalists too…) or just lie back and listen.
Most notably, the Symposia offer the opportunity for a group of both old and new friends to periodically come together to enjoy the company of like-minded paddlers. So pick an event (or two) near you, and come be a part of the FreeStyle community. You will be more than welcome, and you’ll be glad you did…