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Kelowna, BC

Kelowna is known for its active and strong paddling community who regularly compete in SUP, OC, and surfski races all over the Pacific Northwest

Kelowna Paddle Centre

Clubs and Groups

Surfski

Outrigger

Downwinders

[need full details on put-ins, take-outs, conditions and tips]

  • Birch Bay - the long fetch coming from the west and northwest can provide surfable waves with a west wind that does not have to be as high as the amount of wind usually needed in Bellingham Bay. Look here on days with a west or northwest wind starting in the mid teens. Also make sure you are not going to hit low tide and get stranded by the shallow shoreline mud flats.
  • Deception Pass Challenging, technical surfing 45 minutes from Bellingham.
  • Ambleside Surf Laps**Tidal rip surfing in downtown Vancouver, BC, an hour away with a Nexus Pass and take your chances without.
  • Lummi Bay
    • A Strong south wind coming up Hale's Passage can produce a great 10 mile run from the Lummi Ferry to Gulf Rd Beach.
  • Camano IslandA good southerly and an ebb tide can stack the waves up nicely.
  • Jetty Island, Everett, WA.A good place for laps.

Flatwater

  • Local Lakes
    • Always take care with cold water and most years you need to take adequate precaution for dealing with water in the mid 30’s in the winter in our lakes.
    • You will need an invasive species sticker. Whatcom Boat Inspections The checking station at Lake Whatcom - Bloedel Donovan Park is closed in the winter, but you should always follow the recommended precautions to prevent invasive species spread.
    • Lake Whatcom - largest of our local lakes. Can get decent downwind waves when wind is blowing in longer fetch directions - from the east being one of the better setups. Can get a lot of motorized traffic in the warmer months. Site of the Wednesday night races during warmer months.
      • Bloedel Donovan Park relatively large (for Bellingham) park and parking area. Leave the lower parking available for boat trailers in the busy season. You can stop temporarily in the lower area to unload your boat, then park above.
      • Lake Whatcom Park Trailhead there is a small parking area close to the water
    • Lake Padden There are several launch sites and a decent amount of parking for a small lake. Padden can get wind, but it is usually the best protected from wind of the local lakes. Please take extra care in avoiding spreading the little snail that has now invaded Lake Padden to other lakes. Location for Monday night interval training during warm months.
    • Lake Samish
      • Lake Samish County Park Picnic Area and Beach Parking is pretty limited and the park often gets quite crowded during the summer. You can scope out odd hours when it is less crowded during the summer or go off season when it typically is much less crowded.

Races

Safety

  • Bellingham Bay is cold water paddling. The average monthly water temp varies from 6 degrees Celius (42.8 Fahrenheit) to 13 degrees Celius (55.4 degrees Farenheight). When in doubt, dress to swim.
  • The Bellingham Coast Guard has a program where you may register your GPS radio and with one button push they will know your location and that you need assistance.

Adaptive Paddling

  • Adaptive and Inclusive Recreation of Whatcom County (AIROW) held its first adaptive paddling event on June 30, 2019 with 29 participants. Watch for more to come.

Local Water Conditions

Injury and Recovery

  • Prime Sports Institute Kerry and her team are there to coach you to better performance or help you recover from an injury.
  • CorePhysio Top physical therapists that get athletes. Sarah Paxon is amazing, but all their staff is excellent.

Coaches

  • See Bellingham Sprint Canoe and Kayak Club listed above for youngster training - through age 17
  • Michelle Eray
  • Greg Redman

Surfski Dealers

Repairs

Resources