Photo by Bradley Morton
CLEAR, water sports clubs put on camp
The CLEAR Foundation along with the collaboration of the Canyon Lake Ski Club and the Canyon Lake Wakeboard Club held the first-ever Canyon Lake Wakeboard and Waterski Camp for Canyon Lake youths ages 9-16 for three days this week.
There were 20 kids in attendance and the camp was a great success, CLEAR Foundation President Brad Morton said. The camp took place at the North Ski Area Monday through Wednesday. To participate, the campers had to have successfully completed the Junior Lifeguard program.
“This has been the best learn-to-ride event I’ve seen and I have lived here since 1997,” Adena Padrnos said. “It’s really nice to see the ski club, the wakeboard club and CLEAR all working together, because it should be all about youth sports on the water.”
Zach Torrente gets airborne with his wakeboard during Wakeboard Day at the three-day Wakeboard and Waterski Camp held this week. The CLEAR Foundation joined forces with the Canyon Lake Ski Club and Canyon Lake Wakeboard Club to put on the event. Photo by Bradley Morton
Monday was Wakeboard Day. The youngsters all had time to wake board, among other activities.
“If the kids weren’t on the boat they were on the beach fishing, paddleboarding, kayaking, swimming or playing spikeball or football,” CLEAR Treasurer Kasey Castillo said.
The youths spent time at the nearby Canyon Lake Fire Station where they learned about CPR and how to help in an emergency situation. They were fed a scrumptious lunch provided by PZA.
Tuesday was focused on both ski boats and wakeboard boats. The boats were rotated so each participant would have an opportunity to learn both sports.
Lunch was provided by Pepes and the kids again met at the fire station where they learned from the water district about conserving the lake and why it’s important to keep the lake clean.
Wednesday was Ski Day. Lunch was provided by the Canyon Lake Market.
Photo by Bradley Morton
“All are donating their time and energy to put on this camp,” Kasey said. “CLEAR is paying for the cost of the gasoline for the boats and each participant paid $100 for the camp. They received rash guards, snacks, food and friends. We were super excited that we all agreed to do this. We sent the kids home exhausted.”
Brad said he and Kasey were grateful to both the Ski Club and the Wakeboard Club for their support of the event.
“The two clubs provided boats and staff for the boats so that the kids could learn both waterskiing and wakeboarding,” he said. “The kids got off the couch and came out and had an amazing time to wrap up the end of the summer.”
The CLEAR Foundation is a non-profit Canyon Lake organization that, through the generous support of its supporters and sponsors, work to sponsor attendance and transportation to junior lifeguard camps, collaborate to host a waterski and wakeboarding summer camp, and foster education about boat and water safety, water education and stewardship, and related recreational activities.
The foundation’s hope is that it is able to instill teamwork, healthy choices and good judgment among the youth of Canyon Lake.