The Kayak and Canoe Club in Nueva Imperial, on the River Cholchol

What we did not expect to find was one of the major sources of talent for Chile's national Olympic Kayak and Racing Canoe teams.

Just about every time we set out on one of our reconnaissance trips for allsouthernchile.com, we encounter something new and surprising. This time we found something very surprising, in the very unlikely town of Nueva Imperial. While taking photos of the Cholchol River, we were suddenly struck by a racing canoe zipping under the bridge, then another and another. Everywhere we looked there were canoes and kayaks.

Canoe and Kayak club Nueve Imperial chile South America

I have been in love with canoes as long as I can remember. I mean this very literally. My first canoe trip was with my father and mother as a baby on the Snake river in Minnesota. I often spent more time in the Canoe during my summers than anywhere else. Growing up, I spent many summers on the lakes of the BWCA, straddling the boarder with Canada, and running white water on rivers across Northern Minnesota. I moved away from Minnesota many years ago. So, you can imagine my excitement when we stumbled across the Kayak and Canoe club in Nueva Imperial. For me, this is simply one of the most exciting discoveries yet in the South of Chile. It reaffirmed my belief that Southern Chile is one of the best places in the World to live.

A Source of for Olympic talent in Chile

We stopped into Nueva Imperial to find out what was going on in this little town. Its position on the map struck us as being an obvious afternoon stop for people traveling from Temuco to the Coastal areas of Chile's IX region. What we did not expect to find was one of the major sources of talent for Chile's national Olympic Kayak and Racing Canoe teams. Along the banks of the river Cholchol, paddling up and down the river are dozens of young kids in Kayaks and racing canoes. For such a sleepy little town, it was a surprising, and strangely out of place site.

Students practicing Kayaking in the South of Chile

The river Cholchol in Chile South America

The Rio Cholchol starts from the mountain tributaries and is formed from the Lumaco River near the small towns of Pichipellahuén and Rucatraro) and empties into the ocean at Puerto Saavedra , passing through, Cholchol, Nueva Imperial, and Carahue. There are three major river side beach areas near these towns, Playa Blanca, Balneareo La Poza, and Balneareo Quillén. There is not a lot of white water at this end of the river, as it is nearly a quarter mile across at this point.

The kayak and canoe club is supported by money from federal government and local municipality. They are planing to rebuild all the facilities, and turn it into a proper training center. Right now they have little to nothing in terms of comfortable infrastructure and equipment for the kids.

The resident Coach is Enrique Esse. About 40% of the National Team participants come from this little club. They have been in the Sud American and Panamerican compition, and are preparing to become a full Olympic Team.

According to the Coach, there are two different sections to navigate. The first one from the town of Cholchol to Nueva Imperial, covering about 46 km. Slow waters and mild bends. The second, from Nueva Imperial to Puerto Saavedra, passing trough Carahue, is about 70 km, with sharper bends, faster currents, and some minor rapids (nothing greater than Class 2 whitewater, as we understand). From Imperial to Carahue it takes about 2 hours. It is also possible to reach the ocean directly at Puerto Saavedra, depending on the the tides. With or without tides, a canoe can easily be dragged across the sandy beach without need for any heavy portaging.

The Cholchol river use to be fully navigable by medium size boats and ships. As a result of the 1960 Tsunami that completely destroyed the town of Puerto Saavedra with flooding inland for over 15 km, the mouth of the river was blocked with sand dunes and was closed from the ocean.

You can see dozens of kids in all stages of development of their skills. A few just learning how to balance an unstable kayak, and the important basics of escaping the kayak when it roles over. Others on the docks are working out, and practicing the best form and postures for the stroke. All the while, kids with kayaks and canoes are constantly coming into the dock and heading out on to the river. It is obvious that the kids take this seriously.

The future Kayaks and Canoes in Chile

One of the things that the instructor mentioned, that seemed to bother him a lot, was how in Chile there are programs for kids to use Kayaks and Canoes, but very few continue the sport after becoming adults. This is apposed to traditions in North America and Europe where it is a life long passion, passed from generation to generation.

For those enthusiast that happen to make it to Southern Chile, the coach says he would be happy to help with organizing a trip for visitors. There is currently no tourism agencies running trips on the Cholchol. Regardless of the lack of infrastructure, this river would make an incredible day trip from Nueva Imperial down to Puerto Saavedra, Boca Budi, and Lake Budi (Lago Budi) . With a little bit of creativity and prodding, we are sure that some of the of the agencies that run white water rafting trips around Pucon could be persuaded to setup a special tour down the Cholchol for a group. We are looking into it, and hope to get back to you with the exact details of this incredible river trip.

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The Kayak and Canoe Club in Nueva Imperial, on the River Cholchol

The future Kayaks and Canoes in Chile

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The Kayak and Canoe Club in Nueva Imperial, on the River Cholchol

The future Kayaks and Canoes in Chile

Need Help In Chile?

TALK ABOUT CHILE
Chile Forum
Chile Wiki
@
www.allchile.net