LITTLE CURRENT—Little Current’s Steve Arthurs will again be participating in the Great Canadian Kayak Challenge (GCKC) in Timmins later this month and is hoping to put Manitoulin on the map.
With a solid showing at last year’s GCKC in the 6.5 km open division, placing fifth, Mr. Arthurs will be racing in the 6.5 km sprint division in his Epic 18X sea kayak on August 24 and has been training hard for race day. This high-end kayak has also been adorned with the names of his sponsors, which include The Manitoulin Expositor, 100.7 FM The Island, OJ Graphix, Sam Nardi, Orr’s Valu-Mart and NBS Auto. This adventure has truly had community backing too, as Mr. Arthurs also gave shout-outs to supporters Given Cortez, Bruce Laidley, Mark Gibeault and his ‘pit crew’ of Robyn and hunter McGauley and children Rhyis and Alina.
“I’m on the water five days a week, at a minimum,” he told The Expositor in a pre-race interview. “Depending on conditions, I typically go to Narrow Island and back or around Picnic Island.”
Also helping him prep for the GCKC has been a race in Sudbury, with a first place showing, as well as the Mindemoya Classic paddle, bike and swim triathlon where he placed fifth in the solo division, posting the fastest paddle time overall.
Mr. Arthurs explained that he kept up his physique and stamina with weight training all winter, using YouTube to gear his workouts to kayak-specific routines. He is in the best shape of his life thanks to this intensive training, he added.
“I’ve also picked up Bruce Laidley (of Manitoulin Wind and Wave) as a coach too, and I can’t say enough about him,” he added.
“This will be my toughest competition yet,” he added, noting that word about the GCKC has spread far and wide. Mr. Arthurs’ girlfriend, Robyn McGauley, will also be racing this year too—her first time.
Fellow kayaker Tish Smith, also of Little Current, will miss out in this year’s race due to a collarbone injury.
“We’re hoping to raise awareness of the level of paddlers from Manitoulin,” Mr. Arthurs said, adding that paddling acts as a de-stressor for him. “And I just love the sport. It’s something I intend to do for the rest of my life.”
The Expositor will follow up with Mr. Arthurs and Ms. McGauley following their races at the GCKC later this month.
