By Nikki Delgado

Courtesy of the city if Kenmore

More than 100 children and adults splashed around on the Sammamish River to try stand up paddle boarding, canoeing, kayaking, and dragon boating at the Kenmore Waterfront Activities Fair on May 14 at Squire’s Landing Park.

“The city of Kenmore’s acquisition of the additional property at Squire’s Landing Park paved the way for Kenmore residents to have a variety of hand-powered watercraft recreational opportunities,” said Kenmore resident and event organizer Debra Srebnik. “The Waterfront Activities Fair was a great way to introduce people to Kenmore’s newest park and experience what the park has to offer.”

The programming offered at the Kenmore Waterfront Activities Center (KWAC) at Squire’s Landing Park is the result of hard work and dedication by Srebnik along with a number of local residents. KWAC is an umbrella organization that coordinates hand-powered watercraft recreation at the park in partnership with the city of Kenmore. The organization has launched canoe/kayak programming through Kenmore Cascade Canoe and Kayak (lessons, camps, race training) and dragon boating through the Seattle Flying Dragons.

Kenmore resident Sheri Baker jumped on board the dragon boat when it first arrived at the Waterfront Activities Center in August 2014. Baker recently participated in her first dragon boat race in Olympia on April 23.

“It’s just a great group to be around,” Baker said. “I simply love the camaraderie.”

For those of you who may be interested in dragon boating, Baker says “it is great exercise and a wonderful activity to be a part of.”

Fong Ng, a coach of the Seattle Flying Dragons, played a key role in bringing dragon boating to Kenmore, and has been dragon boating for four years and coaching for three and a half years. Ng says the best part about dragon boating and coaching is “the interaction with the people. You get a variety of people who dragon boat – attorneys, airline stewards, retirees, housewives.” He loves the enthusiasm and the tight-knit community. Ng emphasized, “The No. 1 most important thing to remember when dragon boating is to have fun.”

The owner of WhatsSup Stand-Up Paddle & Surf, Steve Holmes, was at the event to lend his kayaks, canoes, and stand up paddleboards. WhatsSup is now operating at Log Boom Park. They will be open on weekends from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Starting mid-June, they will be operate 5-6 days a week, right in time for some summer fun. To any beginners who want to try a canoe, kayak, or standup paddleboard, Holmes gave some advice, “Just relax, smile and have fun.”

To learn more, visit www.kenmorewac.org and www.whatssup.net.