{"id":72122,"date":"2021-06-25T22:30:00","date_gmt":"2021-06-26T06:30:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.juneauempire.com\/news\/paddling-the-channel\/"},"modified":"2021-06-25T22:30:00","modified_gmt":"2021-06-26T06:30:00","slug":"paddling-the-channel","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.juneauempire.com\/news\/paddling-the-channel\/","title":{"rendered":"Paddling the channel"},"content":{"rendered":"

Juneauites peering out into the Gastineau Channel Friday were treated to a rare sight — two traditional Tlingit canoes snaking through the water.<\/p>\n

The canoes were powered by local students who completed a 17.64-mile trip over almost seven hours on Friday. The group left Don D. Statter Harbor and arrived at Douglas Harbor with just two quick stops along the way.<\/p>\n

“We’ve been training for the last few weeks,” said Kyle Worl, who led the expedition.<\/p>\n

Alaska Science Forum: A trip to a ghost forest in Southeast Alaska<\/a><\/ins><\/p>\n

Worl, who also serves as the Native Youth Olympics coach, said the group has been training in Auke Lake to prepare for the all-day trip.<\/p>\n

The journey was part of a summer school class that combines traditional games with physical education as part of the Juneau School District’s summer schedule. The course is a partnership between the school district, Central Council of the Tlingit and Haida Indian Tribes of Alaska, the Douglas Indian Association and the Alaska Humanities Forum, Worl said.<\/p>\n

Visitor rescues fisherman trapped in mud near hatchery<\/a><\/ins><\/p>\n

Battling the elements<\/strong><\/p>\n

Friday’s weather didn’t lend itself to an easy journey.<\/p>\n

“It was choppy at first,” Worl said, adding that the group endured rain all day along with rough waters. “It’s part of the experience. It builds strength.”<\/p>\n

Students on the journey reported a sense of accomplishment as they celebrated Friday afternoon after completing the trip.<\/p>\n

“This was really good. Lots of fun,” said Jordan Bennet, who will enter tenth grade at Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé this autumn. She said the rowers sang traditional Lingít songs to pass the time on the water.<\/p>\n

Fellow rower Kyle Kinnville, a rising senior at Thunder Mountain High School, said that he enjoyed the day.<\/p>\n

Kinnville said the two canoes started to race as they rounded the final stretch into Douglas Harbor.<\/p>\n

“The racing was hard. That’s a lot of pulling, he said as he enjoyed pier-side pizza Friday afternoon. “But, I wouldn’t mind going back out.”<\/p>\n

• Contact reporter Dana Zigmund at dana.zigmund@juneauempire.com or 907-308-4891.<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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