Keats Chop in Gibsons, BC
Keats Chop in Gibsons, BC
Small boat race held on BC's Sunshine Coast
This video/story is from the inaugural Keats Chop in August 2023. For a recap of the 2024 Keats Chop, read this story in Coast Reporter.
Keats Chop in Gibsons, BC
On August 26, 2023, excitement filled the air in Gibsons, BC as paddlers gathered for the inaugural Keats Chop. The event, organized by the Gibsons Paddle Club, featured a variety of watercraft, from OC1s and OC2s to paddleboards, kayaks, and canoes. There was a short course and a long course, with both courses starting from the Gibsons Sailing Club dock. The long course went around Keats Island, and the short course went towards Granthams Landing/Soames Point before heading back to the starting area.
Remembering the Howe Sound Iron
Manfred Hartman, the race director, reflected on the journey that led to this moment. "We are trying to resurrect the Howe Sound Iron experience," he said. "In 2018, that was the last time we hosted, and we had such a great experience, especially with the small boats. We had over 50 canoes out, and we thought, 'Let's continue this.' That was five years ago, and with COVID and everything, it's been a long time getting this ready, but this is very exciting. We're really, really happy to be able to bring this to our community."
Wide variety of participants
The race attracted a diverse group of participants, including seasoned paddlers and first-time racers. Among the competitors were two world-class athletes who had just returned from competing in Samoa, where they had won multiple medals for Team Canada. Their presence added a touch of prestige to the event, showcasing the high level of talent that the Keats Chop attracted.
Tough but fun
As the racers crossed the finish line, the atmosphere was a mix of exhaustion and exhilaration. Stewart, a local paddler, described the race as "tough" but ultimately "lots of fun." He and his partner each raced in their own kayak, and took advantage of their familiarity with the area. "I felt pretty good. I knew where to go. I know the area, so it makes it a bit easier," he said.
For others, the race was an opportunity to test their limits. Dan, a seasoned paddler who hadn't raced in a while, decided to "pull it out of the hat" and give it a shot. "It's great. It was good fun," he said with a grin. "I haven't been paddling, but I thought, 'Can I still do it?' But anyways, we did okay."
The race wasn't without its challenges. Deb, another competitor, noted that the conditions changed as the race progressed. "It was nice and calm at the beginning, and then we got a lot of boat waves, a lot of slop to paddle through, but it was really good. All in all, it was so fun," she said, expressing her gratitude to the organizers. "Thank you to the Gibsons Paddle Club for putting it on. Hope we do it again next year."
Oliver, a local stand-up paddleboarder, found the long course particularly demanding. "The last few kilometers was really tough," he said, adding that despite the challenges, the scenery made it all worthwhile. "It was a really good weather. There was a big pod of seals around the other side of the island."
Excited to return to Gibsons
Leanne Stanley, a world champion paddler from West Kelowna, made a special effort to participate in the race. "I'm so excited that Gibsons has a race again, and I love this community," she said. Leanne had just returned from the IVF International Federation World Championships in Samoa, where Team Canada had a record-breaking performance. "I was really hoping for a little bit more bump on the outside, but it's just so nice again to be back with people that I haven't seen in a while.”
As the event drew to a close, there was a sense of accomplishment in the air. Dean, the safety coordinator for the even, summed it up succinctly: "Everybody who went out came back alive. Which was the idea."
New summer tradition begins
The Keats Chop's inaugural race may have been a revival of a beloved tradition, but it also marked the beginning of a new chapter for the paddling community in Gibsons. Keats Chop is poised to become a staple in the local summer calendar, bringing together paddlers from near and far to test their mettle against the stunning backdrop of Howe Sound.
Ed Hill, the godfather of paddling on the Sunshine Coast, wrapped up the event by welcoming the paddlers to the traditional waters of the Squamish people. He said that this race was not just about competition, but about community, tradition, and the shared love of the water.
Connect with Val & Paul
We're Val and Paul and we're a married couple who live on BC's Sunshine Coast! We moved from Alberta to Gibsons in 2014 and love our life on Canada's West Coast! Subscribe to our YouTube channel and email newsletter and you'll learn what it's like to live in the most beautiful place in Canada.
Val Labrecque is a REALTOR® with RE/MAX City Realty Gibsons.