The Peter Forand Masters Challenge trophy was AWOL for 2017 and 2018 and 2019. Once the trophy was recovered, we were finally able to present it to Peter Marcus, the 2017 champion, at the 2020 FCRCC Winter Series race, and to Mignon Fontenelle, the 2018 and 2019 and 2020 champion, at the 2020 Jericho Winter Series race.

2021 has been another exceptional year for the PNWORCA Winter Series. There were no PNWORCA Winter Series Canadian events for the first time. There were 3 virtual PNWORCA Winter Series USA events and 2 onsite PNWORCA Winter Series USA events.

There were only 6 PNWORCA paddlers and 2 CORA paddlers who participated in at least 3 races to place 1st or 2nd in their boat / gender / age division. There were only 5 OC1 Masters paddlers who participated in at least 3 races.

Discussions between PNWORCA and CORA resulted in agreement that there was indeed one OC1 Masters paddler who not only participated in in a minimum of 3 events in the same Division and was first in Points, but dominated OC1 Masters paddling by financially supporting all host clubs and finishing 1st place OC1 Masters in 3 virtual Canadian Small-Boat Winter races, 3 virtual PNWORCA Winter Series USA events, and 2 onsite PNWORCA Winter Series USA events – including the Sand Point Championship race.

The 2021 PNWORCA Winter Series winner for the Peter Forand Masters Challenge is Beau Whitehead (Kikaha O Ke Kai) in the Men Masters 50+ OC1 Division. The 2021 PNWORCA Winter Series event organizers recognize Beau Whitehead as the Peter Forand Masters Challenge winner in accordance with guidelines as the Male or Female Masters (40+ / 50+ / 60+ / 70+) paddler with the highest number of points across all age / gender brackets at the end of the Winter Series.

Congratulations to Beau Whitehead as he continues to demonstrate commitment and excellence in Winter Series small-boat racing.

Virus permitting, we would like to present this trophy to Beau in person at the next race that physically happens.

For more information about the Peter Forand Masters Challenge, CLICK HERE

Host Clubs: False Creek Racing Canoe Club (Vancouver), Fort Langley Canoe Club (Langley) and Latitude 48 Paddling Club (Victoria).

The racing is over, and the results are in! Congratulations to all participants who raced over the past two weeks in unusually erratic March weather. CLICK HERE for race results. And stay tuned for the next series, and enjoy your personal solo victories over the past 3 months.

For more information CLICK HERE

Race particulars are as follows:

• 2021 CORA membership is required to participate.
• Each race will have a short and long course and general course configuration determined by the host clubs and described on the CORA website.
• A GPS watch or ERG computer is required to record your virtual race.
• Race fees are Cdn$20 per adult, Cdn$10 per junior (19 & under) – calculated based on birthdate. Race proceeds (net of GST) will be shared equally by the 7 host clubs at the end of the series.
• Eligible small boats: V1, OC1 and OC2, C1, K1, surfski single and double, marathon canoe single and double, SUP, kayak, Concept2 erg and KayakPro erg.
• Age divisions: Junior (19 & under), Open (20-39), Masters 40+ (40-49), Masters 50+ (50-59), Masters 60+ (60-69) and Masters 70+ (70 and over) – calculated based on birthdate.  We have limited the Open division to a specific age range for ease of calculation.
• Gender divisions: Women (all boats), Men (all boats) and Mixed (OC2, surfski double and marathon double).