Jason Rusu (seated in back) was honoured at the Canoe Kayak BC’s annual awards and scholarship banquet. — Submitted photo

A local paddler received provincial recognition recently in Burnaby for paddling excellence this past season.

Jason Rusu from the Nelson Kayak and Canoe Club was named BC’s Master Male Athlete of the Year during the Canoe Kayak BC’s annual awards and scholarship banquet.

“Jason is the heart of our club and the motivation for many of our sprint team paddlers,” said club member Heather Potkins.

Potkins has experienced the solid coaching of Rusu after the teenage paddler won medals at the 2016 BC Summer Games in Abbotsford.

 “Jason inspires us to work hard and love the sport of sprint paddling,” Potkins adds.

During the banquet, Canoe Kayak BC honoured over 85 athletes, coaches and volunteers who achieved paddling excellence this past season, including Rusu, who is the club president and coach for the Nelson Kayak and Canoe Club.

 The event was held in conjunction with Canoe Kayak BC’s annual Fall Training Camp.

Potkins who is looking to qualify to Team BC for the 2017 Canada Games, also attended the gala weekend.

The Nelson kayak and canoe club's main focus for the past two years has been our youth sprint team. This program starts in the spring and runs through to September.

This past spring, we hired two of our youth paddlers who completed their level 1 competitive coaching certification to run a Woman's Wednesdays the Water program for Masters paddlers.

The Masters idea was very successful and the club hopes to expand upon program in 2017.

by Nelson Daily Sports on 18 Nov 2016

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