A growing contingent of flatwater paddlers has led to the establishment of a new sport governing body in the Yukon.

Flatwater Yukon was incorporated at the end of 2016 and launched in February this year.

“We have more and more kids that want to compete in sprint paddling,” said head coach Dan Girouard. “Because we’re growing, we have to make it formal.”

The sprint paddlers were previously under the umbrella of the Yukon Canoe and Kayak Club, which also houses the slalom paddling program.

But with the growing interest in sprint paddling, the group needed to establish an independent territorial governing body for the sport, said Ian Miller, communications officer at Canoe Kayak Canada.

The flatwater program first began in 2012 to allow Yukon athletes to attend the Canada Summer Games. Since that first year, with two competitive athletes, the program has grown to offer introduction camps to the sport, adult programs and a Yukon Championship Regatta. Its fleet of boats now fills two 40-ft Sea Cans and the competitive group has grown to 13 athletes this season.

“We’re still a young team, but we have lots of eager youth,” said Girouard.

In February, Girouard and three of his athletes travelled to Florida for some winter training. Girouard was helping coach Quebec Clubs and the athletes, Julianne Girouard, Danni Wilkie-Hobus and Cole Wilkie-Hobus had an eye-opening experience.

With many of Canada’s waterways unavailable to athletes in the winter, Florida becomes a mecca for the athletes wanting to log training miles.

“The kids had a great experience and a great time,” said Girouard. “It’s good for them to be around people a little bit stronger and older than them.”

Flatwater Yukon is looking to grow even more this season, with a new program on offer for youth wanting to learn to race. The program, “Regatta Ready” will run for two-week blocks and culminate with the opportunity to race in Regina, Calgary or Whitehorse.

Right now there are about 40 youth signed up for the summer camps, but Girouard expects that number to grow. He said last year, 170 kids took part in the summer programs.

The regatta schedule for the competitive team has also grown from last year to include: the Canada Day Regatta in Regina, a U15 regatta in Calgary, the Prairie Divisionals in Winnipeg, the Canada Summer Games, the Yukon Championship and the Pacific Cup in Maple Ridge, B.C.

The Flatwater Yukon season officially starts on May 8 at Schwatka Lake.

Interested youth can find out more at the newly launched flatwateryukon.ca.