Kayak and canoe champion Mary Jo Monte shares her love of the sport at Tuscarawas River clinic
By Jennifer Kneuss
May 30, 2011
656
Summary:
The Tuscarawas River, as well as the regions numerous lakes, provides wonderful opportunities for summer boating activities. To encourage more people to enjoy being out on the water, Mary Jo Monte recently conducted a canoe and kayak class at the Dover Boat and Ski Club property in preparation for a Tuscarawas River Race she is sponsoring on July 9.
Mary Jo Monte loves to kayak and canoe. That fact was very clear as she recently conducted a class at no cost for those interested in taking up the sport. The group gathered at the Dover Boat and Ski landing along the Tuscarawas River, and Monte over three hours patiently helping both more experienced and novice kayakers and canoeists learn how to safely and successfully navigate the ins and outs of the sport. Monte has won awards across the eastern US and also in Panama, but her love of the water sport did not begin until a little more than a decade ago.
I race. I just got fourth place in the Panama Canal race, said the tanned and toned athlete. Ive been racing kayaks and canoes for about twelve years.
On July 9, we are hoping a lot of boaters will come out to the race I am sponsoring right here on the Tuscarawas River. I have a short race for recreational boaters, and it is five miles, upstream and downstream. I have the coolest trophies to hand out; little wooden canoes that will be engraved, made by my friend Al Bradshaw.
Monte was not always a paddling enthusiast. Her original love involved a dry land sport.
I was a cyclist, but I developed a bad hip. My doctor told me that I was wearing out my hip, and I could no longer cycle. I have a total hip replacement on my left side. I eventually took a whitewater class, noted Monte. I started paddling for fitness, and then I discovered racing. The bug bit me, and now I paddle competitively and have lots of boats. I do races in New York, Pennsylvania, and Ohio.
Some of Montes class members had their own watercraft vessels, while others borrowed those owned by their instructor. Attendee Elizabeth Krahil was presented with a 30th birthday surprise from her husband recently – a beautiful yellow and orange kayak. Although a novice, Krahil was enjoying the Saturday class.
I am getting really excited just to take it out on the water on weekends, even though I am just a beginner, admitted Krahil. She looked doubtfully at the raging waters of the swollen Tuscarawas River before she continued, But I will probably stick more to the lakes around here rather than the river.
Monte demonstrated the use of different types of paddles during the class, and made sure that each paddler knew the best and proper way to paddle their canoe or kayak down the river. She also spent time helping each attendee learn how to safely enter and exit their watercraft using a 3 point system where the paddle is used for balance.
Monte emphasized the importance of safety throughout the class.
I always wear my lifejacket, each and every time I am out on the water, she stressed, noting that some areas of the Tuscarawas are full of hidden dangers.
Never go over a low head dam, particularly the one right before the twin Dover bridges, she cautioned her students as she pointed toward the offending dam just past the second bridge. There are warning signs there, but they are quite faded and hard to see. It looks harmless, but there is a strong current that will pull any boat right back under the dam, and theres no way to escape. You must be respectful of the river. It can kill you if you are not. There are other places along the river with similar situations.
Due to the high waters on the day of the class, the group did not venture out onto the Tuscarawas River to practice their skills, but stayed safely on shore for the time being.
We are going to come back on another day, when the water isnt quite so high, said Monte, as she encouraged the group to return for their next free class session. I want to teach you how to read the river.
