Peter Martinek awarded Coaching Excellence Award at CKC AGM

PRESS RELEASE:

Its 6 a.m. and the group of sleepy eyed teenagers begin arriving at the Beaches Lions clubhouse at Ashbridges Bay to begin their first work out of the day.  More astonishing than the fact that this group is actually out of bed at that hour, is that they are eager to get their boats out and get on the water for an hour of hard training before they head off to school.  Their enthusiasm and dedication is a tribute to the work of their coach, Peter Martinek, who was recognized this weekend in Ottawa by being awarded the second annual Coaching Excellence Award for Club Development. The award was given by Canoe Kayak Canada, the national body that oversees the Olympic sport of Canoe/Kayak.

Peter became Head Coach at the Balmy Beach Canoe Club in 2008, fresh from coaching the Greek Olympic team, and over just three summers has helped improve the competitiveness of the Club at the local, divisional, provincial and National levels.  A few of the Club’s successes include sending KC Fraser, a kayaker, to Europe to compete on the Canadian National Team,  and achieving a team total of over 100 points at the National Championships held in Regina.

This year’s successes can be traced back to the spring training camp in Hungary, organized by Peter, which allowed over 40 athletes and family members from all levels of the club to paddle on the Danube River for three weeks of intense training.  While it was hard work, it was also great fun and a wonderful team building exercise. More camps of that type are planned for the future. 

 The Balmy Beach Canoe Club is a 105 year old, non-profit, community based organization that offers year round programs in canoe/kayak for people from ages 8 to 80 and of all levels of ability, including their new PaddleALL program for people with disabilities.  More information is available at www.balmybeachcanoe.com