Water Sports Archives - Canyon Lake California

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Canyon Lake ShowCal Skiers Getting Ready for Season

By Justin Bevins | Canyon Lake Recreation

ShowCal Skiers LogoCanyon Lake has a new club dedicated to the sport of show skiing called the “ShowCal Skiers”.  If you’ve ever seen a ski show at Sea World, Cypress Gardens, or Magic Mountain, then you’re familiar with the excitement and crowd pleasing action these show skiers provide.  And in fact many of the members of Canyon Lake’s newest club have performed professionally at those ski show venues.

Show Skiing has been called the most entertaining discipline in the sport of water skiing.  It is fast-moving, exciting, graceful, and most of all, fun to watch.  Virtually all aspects of the sport – barefooting, jumping, slalom, tricks, wakeboarding and kneeboarding – are choreographed into one grand performance.  Unique to show skiing are ballet/swivel skiing, adagio doubles, adagio trios, freestyle jumping and human pyramids.

It makes sense to have a club like this in Canyon Lake since it’s already considered a classic water skiing community, and home to numerous national and world champion skiers, boarders and hydrofoilers.  ShowCal Skiers bring yet another dimension to the already popular sport.  They plan to perform several Ski Shows for our community throughout the summer.

CalShow Skiers

And anyone can participate in this new club even if you don’t have any experience – the club is open to all members of the community.

“The biggest advantage to joining ShowCal Skiers, is that you and your family will have the ability to utilize Canyon Lake’s Greatest Amenity – The Lakes – without having to own a boat or water ski equipment.  It truly is an organization where all members of a family can participate together.  Age and skill are not factors since ski club performers can range from young children to grandparents and beginner to expert.”

Dry land practice is usually on Sundays at Holiday Harbor and rumor is there may be a wet practice on the jump lagoon March 23rd.  Best to check out their calendar to confirm dates and times for all practices.

If you would like to get more information about the club membership or upcoming events, you can visit their website at showcalskiers.org or contact Mary Tortomasi at 951-722-2010 or Cherie Schiafone at 239-707-6002.

Check back here for updated photos of the ShowCal Skiers in action.

 

Swimming Pool to Open for the Season

By Justin Bevins | Canyon Lake Recreation

Canyon Lake pool MaintenanceThe Canyon Lake community pool at the lodge is scheduled to open March 17th this year.  The pool is always one of the more popular attractions during the summer and fortunately for residents it stays open for an extended season.   Right now the pool area is looking spectacular.  There’s a lot of new paint, the deck is clean, and the pool water is a sparkling clear blue.

The Canyon Lake pool generally closes down in November for the winter and re-opens in early March.  The pool is heated for these early season openings and even though we’re getting uncharacteristically warm weather this year, the heated water helps a lot on those brisk mornings.

Our large L-shaped pool has Olympic lanes at one end and generally varies from 3′ deep to 6′ deep.  There is also a separate kiddie pool for the little tykes if the main pool is too deep or they want to warm up to the big pool.  There are also dressing rooms, showers, drinking fountains, handicap lift, shade areas, and vending machines for member convenience.  The view of the lake makes it easy to relax and enjoy the day poolside.

The pool opens in the spring and fall at 7:00am but is reserved until 10:00am for lap swimming and water aerobics.  After 10:00am, it’s open swimming for everyone.  The pool is open until 9:00pm Sunday through Thursday and until 10:00pm on Friday and Saturday nights in the summer and is open until 8:00pm in the spring and fall.

Canyon Lake Water Aerobics

Water aerobics classes are a great way to get some low impact exercise and socialize with a fun group of fellow swimmers .  Classes are offered Monday through Saturday at 8:30 in the morning for only $2 per class or $25 per month.  Contact the Canyon Lake POA for more information (951)244-6841 x618.

Canyon Lake Pool Rules SignPool Rules

There are a few things you need to know about the Canyon Lake pool in order to enjoy your visit and stay safe.  Here are the most important rules:

  • Bring your POA member card, you may be asked to show it.
  • Member must accompany and stay with guests, six guests maximum per property.
  • Direct supervision of children under the age of 5 is required.  Kids under the age of 14 must be accompanied by an adult to the pool.
  • Also note that there is a pool attendant but no lifeguard on duty so be sure to keep an eye on inexperienced swimmers.

You can download a complete list of pool rules and guidelines here.

So whether it’s for exercise or fun, head over to the lodge and enjoy one of Canyon Lake’s best amenities this year.  See you at the pool!

 

 

 

Boat Parade of Lights Shines Bright for the Holidays

By Justin Bevins | Canyon Lake Events

Canyon Lake Boat ParadeEvery year this event gets better and better as Canyon Lakers come up with more creative lighting displays for their vessels.  Growing by a few entries each year, the parade keeps getting bigger and makes for a great evening of entertainment and not surprisingly coincides with a lot of local Christmas parties.

The parade starts at 5:00pm on Saturday at the East Bay launch ramp and makes a full run down the East Bay through the boat tunnel, all the way up to the north end of the Main Lake and back down to finish at Holiday Harbor.  If you live on the water or are partying with friends on the water, then you’ll have a front row seat almost anywhere on the lake.

If you don’t have a back deck to view from, here’s a list of public areas that are excellent vantage points:  On the East Bay, Indian Beach, Roadrunner Park and Diamond Point Park all offer great views and lots of space to get comfortable with lawn chairs and a thermos of hot cocoa.

On the Main Lake, Holiday Harbor is a great venue and also happens to be where the boats finish the cruise at.  Additionally, you can get refreshments and hot cocoa at the park while you’re watching.  Sunset Beach offers the largest area to spread out and bring the family and offers the opportunity to see the parade twice as it passes by that area of the lake on it’s route.  The boardwalk around the lodge and pool area near the Lighthouse is also a great area to get up close and personal.

If you live on the west side of Canyon Lake, then Moonstone Beach off of Whirlaway  Ct. is a great viewing area.  If you’re new to Canyon Lake or just visiting, refer to our map below for viewing locations.

If you are planning on photographing the parade, here are a few tips.

  • If your camera has a night setting or fireworks setting, they sometimes also shoot holiday lights well.
  • You can choose the action setting and you can adjust your white balance to “tungsten” if your camera has it.  If burst mode is available, that sometimes make it’s easier to capture at least a few good shots out of the series.
  • Try turning off your flash to really capture the brightness of the lights from the boats.  Leaving the flash on, may wash out the lights.
  • Use a tripod if you have it because most night settings on a camera will increase exposure and can cause blurriness if you don’t hold still.  If you zoom in to catch a far away boat, it just makes the problem worse so use the tripod for best quality photos.

Want to catch some other fantastic Holiday Light Boat Parades this year?  Try a few of these (click the links for more details and routes):

Marina Del Rey Boat ParadeNewport Beach Boat Parade | Dec 18th-22nd – known as the oldest Holiday Boat Parade in the US at 105 years strong.

Dana Point Harbor Parade | Dec 13th & 14th – 39 years running and a pretty easy drive from Canyon Lake over Hwy 74.

Naples Long Beach Boat Parade | Dec 21st – always a fun event and close to Second street shopping and dining.

Marina Del Rey Boat Parade | Dec 14th – this long running event features a fireworks show (same day as Canyon Lake parade unfortunately).

San Diego Bay Parade of Lights | Dec 15th – almost 100 boats participate each year.

Remember to dress warm and bring a blanket and maybe some warm drinks to sip on.  It’s cold down by the water.

 

Photo credits: MDR Boat Parade, Naples Boat Parade & Port of San Diego via Flickr.com

 

Post Update

Well, it was a great boat parade this year with even more entries than last and some very creative efforts.  We even had a fire breathing dragon!  Here are a few photos taken from Indian Beach.

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You Might be a Canyon Laker if…

By Justin Bevins | Featured

Canyon Lake sure is a one-of-a-kind community and if you live here you know that Canyon Lakers have their own language, customs, and idiosyncrasies.  Wondering if you’ll fit in here or if you truly are a Canyon Laker?

You might be a Canyon Laker if…

  1. Your golf cart has more miles on it than your car.
  2. You can back up a boat or recreational vehicle better than most people can back up their cars.
  3. You park your car outside in the weather so you can fit all your toys inside the garage.
  4. You know what any of the following are: Lily Pad, Sky Ski, Dredger, Solar Bee, Causeway, Goetz Hill, Algae Bloom, Boat Tunnel
  5. You always check the lake level and temperature page first when the Friday Flyer comes out.
  6. You have to explain to everyone you meet where Canyon Lake is.
  7. You’re an expert at removing decals from your car windshield.
  8. Your boat cost more than your truck did.
  9. Paddle RegattaYou own more than one set of any of the following: golf clubs, fishing poles, water skis, wakeboards or paddleboards.
  10. You can drive 35mph continuously without looking down at your speedometer.
  11. You have more than one Canyon Lake sunset stored in your smart phone photo album.

See you around the lake.  Happy Holidays!

10 Things To Be Thankful For in Canyon Lake

By Justin Bevins | Featured

It’s that time of the year when Canyon Lakers give thanks for the good in their lives.  Besides family, friends, health & home, many of us are thankful to be able to live in such a great community.  Some also make great sacrifice to live here, like commuting to work great distances every day, but it’s worth it.  We put together a list of the things that we hear people express thanks for the most often in the community.  Here they are in no particular order:

1. Sunsets

Canyon Lake SunsetWow! We have some amazing sunsets.  If you’ve never gone down to the lake at dusk and just marveled at the beauty of the sunset over the water, you are really missing out.  Try it sometime.  Head down to Indian Beach, Holiday Harbor, or the aptly named Sunset Beach and soak it in.  It’s a great way to end the day.

2. Low Cost of Living

Relatively speaking Canyon Lake is very affordable.  Housing prices are reasonable especially for the area and the amenities.  The taxes are low at just over 1% for every property in the area including new homes which is almost unheard of in most housing tracts.  And our HOA at $248 is still a bargain for everything we enjoy.  Look at new home tracts all around and many of their HOA’s are $100-$200 a month and they might get a park, a swimming pool, and some landscaping for the community.  Go to Orange County and the same limited amenities will cost $300+.  We have a private lake, gated security, 14 parks and beaches, equestrian center, tennis courts, lodge, campground and so much more.  It’s really pretty amazing that our dues pay to maintain all of that and much of it’s use is free or extremely cheap.

3. The Lake

Boat DocksThe lake that draws so many of us here is an incredible resource.  We have the ability to boat, fish, water ski, wakeboard and more.  And the best part is you’re in the water in 5 minute from anywhere in the community.  Do you realize that there are only about a half dozen places in California where you can park your boat on the water right outside your back door.  It’s such a unique recreation body of water.

4. Safety and Security

Canyon Lake certainly has some crime, but it’s so minor compared to many other communities.  Violent crimes are so rare and most of the local crime is minor vandalism and theft.  And for a city with nearly 15,000 inhabitants, the crime rate is pretty low.  Overall, it’s still one of the safest cities in California every year.

IMG_30515. Vibrant Community and Interesting People

If you’re open to meeting people, there is no shortage of interesting, colorful people in Canyon Lake.  We have movie stars, world class athletes, amazing artists, self sacrificing public servants, and more than a handful of heroes not to mention all the good folks who have lived here at one time or another and left their mark on the community and humanity.  Want to meet some of them?  Just get out to the many events that are held inside the community every year.

6. Great Location

It’s been said that Southern California is America’s playground.  And we are smack dab in the middle of it.  Snow skiing an hour and a half away.  The beach less than hour.  Los Angeles, San Diego, and Palm Springs all easily drivable.  There is so much richness, culture, art, and recreation all around us in every direction, that it’s hard some days to narrow down what to do!

7. Wildlife

The lake and our location and climate bring us some amazing winged wildlife – spotted owls, blue herons, hawks, ducks, geese and more.  If you are a bird watcher or wildlife enthusiast, you don’t have to go far to see some beautiful species.

8. Volunteers

Our closeness as a community brings out the philanthropy and giving in others.  Not many places have so many people willing to help out others in the community by volunteering their time and money the way Canyon Lakers do.  And special recognition really goes to the many clubs that give so selflessly through their events and fundraisers like The Lions, Jr. Women’s Club, CLAWS and many others.  And let’s not forget the Tuesday Work Group that does a lot of beautification projects on the golf course for free.

9. Great Weather

What else can we say?  It’s the day before Thanksgiving and the temperature is 72 degrees and it’s a beautifully sunny day with not a cloud in the sky.

10. Things to Do All Year

IMG_1772It would be an understatement to say that Canyon Lake is a recreational community.  With events like, Fiesta Day, Taco Tuesday, Christmas Boat Parade, The Car Show, 4th of July Spectacular, Weekly Farmers Market and more it’s impossible to get bored around here!  To have so many well organized events that are within a walk or golf cart’s drive from your home is really something special that most cities and communities would envy.

Canyon Lake really is something special and a place to be thankful for.  What part of our community are you thankful for and what other blessings do you have this Novemeber that you want to say “Thanks” for?  Leave us a comment and let us know.

Wakeboard Club Final Tournament of the Year (and more Oktoberfest)

By Justin Bevins | Canyon Lake Events

The Canyon Lake Wakeboard Club is hosting it’s final tournament of the year Saturday at the Lake Elsinore Channel.  Riders of all ages and abilities will be competing for points and prizes as they finish up a great season of riding.

CLWC

The Wakeboard Club has been supporting the sport in our community for years and their volunteers work tirelessly because of a love for the sport.  A lot of great wakeboarders call Canyon Lake home and have developed their skills over the years riding in the club tournaments… guys like Jacob and  Eddie Valdez who grew up on the backwaters of Canyon Lake.  Great riders and instructors like Brent Baum and Noah Petrich help support the club activities and events throughout the year.

Wakeboard Club 2The Lake Elsinore channel is a great location for contests because of ample parking, easy access, and a panoramic view of the action.  If you want to check out the tourney this weekend, head down to the channel next to Storm Stadium after 9:00 am.  If you want to get in on the action and get a few pulls behind the boat, get there at 8:00 am for registration.

Check out the Wakeboard Club’s website for more information about this weekend and their other events.

Lake Elsinore OktoberfestIf you’re hungry after riding or watching the action in the channel, head next door to Storm Stadium for their annual Oktoberfest celebration from 11:00 am to 6:00 pm Saturday… or come back Sunday from 11:00 am to 4:00 pm.  Showcase breweries include Hangar 24, Bootleggers Brewery, Karl Strauss, New Belgium, and Sam Adams.

You can expect great German food, an Oompa band and lots of great activities for all ages in typical Storm Stadium fashion.  There will also be a wide variety of local artisans, crafters, and businesses with their own booths.

OompaBandThe Rotary Club of Lake Elsinore has sponsored this great event for three years running and it never disappoints.  You can purchase tickets on site.  Admission is only $5.00 – beers and food are separate.  Or you can purchase one of the taster packages.  Bring your lederhosen and please drink responsibly.

* Wakeboard photos and logo courtesy of Canyon Lake Wakeboard club and Glen Burk Photography.  Oktoberfest photos attributed to Storm Entertainment.

 

 

 

Summer is over in Canyon Lake, now what?

By Justin Bevins | Canyon Lake Events

Well, maybe not officially over but Labor Day has passed so no more big summer holidays.  Taco Tuesday is finished for the year.  No more Friday night movies at Holiday Harbor.

But don’t let that stop you from having some fun in Canyon Lake because fall is a great time for events and really probably the best time for getting on the water.  Average daytime temperatures typically run in the 70’s and 80’s and the water temp is still close to 80 degrees.  Most of the summer crowd have put the boats away so there is much less traffic on the lake this time of year.  It’s really ideal if you want to get some wakeboarding or waterskiing in.

It’s also a great time to play golf or maybe learn the sport for the first time.  Cooler temps make the golf course much more enjoyable and if you want take lessons, the guys at the pro shop offer outstanding instruction at a reasonable price.  Just keep in mind that the golf course is closed for over seeding for 3 weeks in October so check with the pro shop to get the exact dates.

The fall season is also a great time for events in Canyon Lake with a full calendar of great things to do.  Here are a few of our favorite activities:

Sunday BrunchesThe Lighthouse is open every Sunday 10:00 am – 2:00 pm for brunch and there is no better time or place to relax and take in the beautiful fall days.

Miss Canyon Lake Pageant – Tickets are still available for Saturday night’s pageant and the crowning of Miss Canyon Lake.  You can purchase tickets at the event for $10 so come out and support all the ladies who have worked so hard to represent Canyon Lake.

Ski Tourney – The Canyon Lake Ski Club is running their fall tourney this weekend at the North Causeway.  If you want to see some impressive rooster tails, get out there Saturday and Sunday at 8:00 am and cheer on the skiers.  For big air, head to the Ski Jump Lagoon at noon Saturday.

Little Shop of Horrors / Canyon Lake Community Theatre – The biggest event of the year for the Community Theatre!  Come out to Indian Beach for an evening of entertainment under the stars while the Theatre rolls out Little Shop of Horrors.  It really is an impressive event for Canyon Lake with a professionally built stage and great talent from the community.  Shows run in the evenings for two weeks September 19th-21st and 26th-28th.  Shows start at 7:30.

Western BBQ – Come out for some great grub at Eastport Park October 5th from 5:00 pm to 10:00 pm.

Canyon Lake Car ShowCar Show – The Canyon Lake Car Show will be at the lodge again this year on October 12th and you can expect to see some amazing hot rods and classic cars.  Lots of other fun events that day

Chili Cook-off – One of our favorite events  every year is the chili cook-off at Holiday Harbor.  Typically over 20 great cooks show up to vie for 1st place but your taste buds are the real winners.  Beer and wine are usually available and the cost is reasonable.  This year’s event is October 19th.

Oktoberfest – This rowdy and fun event will be held in the Towne Center this year on September 21st from 5:00 pm to 9:00 pm and will feature all the great food, drink, and fun that Oktoberfest is known for.

Art Walk – The Canyon Lake Art Association will be showcasing some great community artists on October 19th and 20th during the Open Studios Tour.  Pick up your map and get more details at the POA office starting October 16th.  You don’t really have to walk; we suggest the golf cart.  😉

We’ll see you out there!

 

What’s SUP Canyon Lake?

By Justin Bevins | Canyon Lake Recreation

Canyon Lake Paddle BoardingStand Up Paddle Boarding is what’s up!  If you’ve been out on the lake lately, you’ve probably noticed the many paddle boarders that are plying the waters of the East Bay and the edges of the Main Lake.  Stand Up Paddle Boarding is one of the fastest growing sports in the world, and in Canyon Lake it seems.  The sport has really taken off worldwide in the last 10 years with boards showing up along the rivers, lakes and coastlines.  Originally popular in Hawaii as paddle surfing, the large boards make it easy for beginners to learn the sport on a variety of water conditions.  Boards generally range from 9′ for recreational boards up to 14′ for racing and touring boards.  Paddle boarding provides a great core workout exercising the trunk muscles, chest, back, arms and legs.  Most beginners notice a real workout in their feet and lower legs as well since it takes balance and stability to stand continuously while paddling.  And it’s an outstanding social activity especially in Canyon Lake where you can cruise around at a leisurely pace taking in all the scenery or just hanging out in a quiet cove.

Canyon Lake Paddle BoardingPaddle boarding is easy to try with many places in Southern California where boards are available to rent and lessons are available for beginners.  If you would like to buy a board, prices generally start around $500 and up with some of the specialized racing boards costing well into the thousands.  Learning is pretty natural and it’s easy to start by just sitting or kneeling on the board and working your way up to standing.  Paddling is fairly easy to figure out, but there are some advanced techniques to get more out of each stroke.  Like most things these days, there are some great instructional videos on YouTube that can get you started and then it’s just a matter of practice.

In Canyon Lake, Stand Up Paddle Boards are allowed anywhere in the East Bay and in the 5 m.p.h. zones of the main lake around the edges and in the coves.  Boards are not allowed to cross the center of the main lake because of the faster boat traffic.  The Coast Guard treats Paddle Boards as vessels and as such requires personal flotation devices to be worn in many parts of the country.  The Canyon Lake Marine Patrol so far just requires that a life jacket for each rider be present on the board.  Boards out after dark, must have visible lights for safety.  Always check the POA website for the most up to date rules regarding operating a paddle board or any other vessel on Canyon Lake.

If you want to try stand up paddle boarding, the annual Pedal and Paddle Regatta sponsored by the Canyon Lake Triathlon club is a great opportunity.   There are always lots of experienced riders to give you tips and usually a few board companies with demonstration boards to try out.  It’s a fun event with food served afterwards.  this years event is Saturday August 17th at 10:00 am at Indian Beach.

Stand Up Paddle Boarding Canyon Lake

 

*Some images courtesy of Creed SUP

Your Weekend in Canyon Lake August 3rd-4th

By Justin Bevins | Canyon Lake Events

Here it is the peak of summer and it won’t be long until kids are back in school.  There are lots of great events in and around Canyon Lake this weekend for kids, adults, and especially music lovers.  Get out and enjoy!

Canyon Lake

Kid’s Fishing Derby| 6:00 am – 2:30 Saturday

Canyon Lake Kids Fishing DerbyIt’s time for the annual Kid’s Fishing Derby again at Holiday Harbor.  Bring the kids out and see who can hook the biggest fish.  There will be awards, food, instruction and a full day of fun for the whole family.  Registration is from 6:00 am – 8:00 am at Holiday Harbor.  Check the Friday Flyer for more details.

2 for $20 Menu’s at the Lighthouse and Country Club | Friday and Saturday Nights

Friday nights at the Country Club and Friday and Saturday nights at the Lighthouse feature great 2 for $20 dollar menus.  You get soup or salad, entrée, and dessert for 2 people – it’s pretty hard to be for a cheap date night.  There’s usually a little bit of on stage entertainment as well including the band “Luv Bucket” tonight at the Country Club.

Menifee

National Night Out Menifee | Saturday 2:00 pm – 7:00 pm

An event designed to promote community involvement and awareness.  Police and firefighters will be on hand to provide information on crime prevention and safety.  There will be a police K-9 demonstration and picnic.  Activities are planned at La Ladera Park 2:00 – 4:00 and Discovery Park 5:00 – 7:00.

Irvine

311 at Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre | 7:00 pm Friday

Catch this one-of-a-kind rock band from Omaha perform some of their best hits like “Amber”, “Love Song”, and “Down” among others.  Also hitting the stage tonight with 311 are Cypress Hill and G.Love & Special Sauce.  Should be a rowdy night for all you rockers and rappers out there.  Tickets are available online for $19.50 and up.

San Diego

Del Mar Gourmet Food Truck Festival | Saturday 12:00pm – 6:00pm

Bring your appetite for this 3rd annual event that features over 50 food trucks all in one place.  There will also be over 60 craft beers to enjoy with your food in addition to other beverages offered by vendors.

San Diego Padres vs. New York Yankees | Friday 7:10pm, Saturday 5:40 pm, Sunday 1:10pm

Since you’re going to San Diego to feed your face, why not swing over to Petco Park and catch a ball game?  The Yankees flew a long way for this series so go check ’em out Friaday, Saturday, or Sunday.

Costa Mesa / Orange County

Styx at Orange County Fair | Friday 8:15pm

Styx OC FairThe OC fair has been in full swing at the Costa Mesa Fairgrounds for almost a month and the musical entertainment has been top notch this year.  This weekend you can catch Styx with Tommy Shaw and the boys at the Pacific Amphitheatre.  Since 1999, Styx has been touring almost continuously and have performed live more than all of the previous years.  There are also 3 great tribute band performances this weekend honoring Sublime, Pink Floyd and The Beatles.  Check the Fair website for official times, tickets and info.

 

*Featured Image Attributed to US Army Corps of Engineers

Build a Cardboard Boat for Fiesta Day

By Justin Bevins | Featured

canyon lake fiesta day cardboard boat raceFiesta Day in Canyon Lake is only a few days away but it’s not too late to be the captain of your destiny in the 1st annual Canyon Lake Cardboard Boat Race.  This is your handy guide on how to build the most seaworthy craft that not only wins the race, but hopefully gets you back to shore dry.

First, a little history on cardboard boat racing.  Cardboard boat racing goes all the way back to the ’60’s and it’s believed that it started as a college project at Southern Illinois University.  Since then, it’s become a staple at events all over the world particularly in lake communities like Canyon Lake.  It’s a serious deal in some areas like Heber Springs, AR where the World Championship Cardboard Boat Races are hosted each year for the last 24 years.  Here’s a great video from the 2012 Lake Sacajawea Annual Cardboard Boat Race that will help get you thinking about what’s possible when building your corrugated cardboard yacht.

This year’s boat race, being held in conjunction with Fiesta Day, is the first event of it’s kind in our community.  The Canyon Lake Property Owners Association is putting on the event and offering prizes for “1st Place Finish”, “Judges Choice”, “Most Dramatic Sinking”, and “The Un-prettiest Boat”.  Here are the most important rules of the competition:

  1. Boats can only be constructed of corrugated cardboard and duct tape.
  2. Boat must remain afloat with everyone inside for the full race to qualify for 1st place.
  3. Human propulsion only using only arms hands, or paddles.
  4. Coast Card Approved Personal Flotation Device required for all participants.
  5. All boat materials and debris must be removed by participants at the close of the event.

Lake MonsterIf you haven’t come up with any ideas about boat design yet or you’re unsure about how to construct your boat, there are some great online tutorials and downloadable plans for cardboard boats.  But really how hard can it be?  Just lay out your cardboard and go crazy with man’s greatest invention – duct tape.

If you seriously want to crush the competition, then might consider going to boat building school online.  The City of Arlington actually has an online video of a two hour boat building class they offer to all their annual regatta participants (some people take this stuff too seriously).

Here’s a few simple tips to help with the boat construction and with getting across the finish line.

  • First, before you start building, seal all the edges of your cardboard with a strip of duct tape and reinforce all the cardboard seams.
  • Use double cardboard on the boat bottom for added strength and support and even consider building cross braces across the bottom for strength.
  • Cover every inch of your boat with duct tape inside and out.

Now for the obvious…

  • Try not to get water in the boat.
  • Paddle as fast as you can.
  • Wear swim trunks.

There’s still time to pick up a race application at the POA.  Boat drop off and registration is Saturday morning at 6:00 am at Sunset Beach and the race starts at 12:30.  Contact the POA  Activities Department at 951-244-6841 x. 610 for more information.

One more thing… don’t forget boat length limit is 21′ in Canyon Lake so don’t get too carried away with your yacht or you may get pulled over by the Marine Patrol.  😉

canyon lake cardboard boat race

*images from Casey Lessard on Flickr and Heber Springs Area Chamber