For the eleventh consecutive season The Open Pool session opens again! Paddlers will return to the larger than Olympic size pool at the University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC) play, maintain and improve their skills in the clear warm water while winter winds howl outside.

This year's sessions will begin on Wednesday November 12, 2003.

The Open Pool will be open nearly every Wednesday from 7:00pm to 9:30pm (with the exception of December 24th & 31st) until the last session sometime in April.

The fee is $10 per person per session. Students and children accompanied by parents pay half price.

The Open Pool session is not a class and you may do whatever you like during the session; meet old friends, make new ones, learn a new trick, revive a rusting old skill, swim or just mess around in the boat for a while. This is a great place to introduce a friend to canoeing or kayaking in a safe, warm water, controlled environment.

It's best to bring your own boat & gear but a limited number of boats & gear are available for a $10 rental fee (be sure to call first to check on availability).

If you are interested in instruction we will once again conduct Introduction to Sea Kayaking and Rolling classes. Introduction to Sea Kayaking will cover paddling strokes, wet exit and assisted rescue skills

Classes will be limited to 8 students and will include boat, gear and instruction for one 2 hour session for $30 per student.

Rolling classes will focus on Eskimo Rolling and other self rescue techniques. Classes will be limited to 8 students and will include boat, gear and instruction for two 2 hour sessions for $60 per student.

All classes will run from 7:30pm to 9:30pm.

To register for classes email Dave Olson at dave@kayakchicago.com or call 630-336-7245.

You must clean your boat thoroughly before you put it in the UIC pool. Mud, river scum, old granola crumbs and the droppings of that little animal who calls your boat home while it's in storage cannot, must not, touch these crystalline and chlorined waters. Wash it out at home if you can, but we can hook up a hose at the pool if you can't.

Bring a towel, a combination lock for your locker and any toiletries you might require. Please leave valuables locked in your car or at home.

Access Information: The UIC pool building is the first door west of UIC's "Flame Center" located on the south side of Roosevelt Rd. (1200 S) one and one half block west of Halsted St. (800 W). To bring your boat into the building, drive around to the rear. Enter the emergency access road on the south side of the Athletic Center from Morgan St. on the west side of the building. You may park behind the pool building ONLY while unloading then you MUST move your vehicle to free or meter parking on the street or in the patrolled pay lot on the north side of Roosevelt Rd directly north of the Pool building.

(Kayaker going off the high dive from a previous years session)