Kayaking academy ready to row out

With its registration procedures complete, the proposed Kerala Kayaking Academy in Kozhikode has vivid plans of training Indian army.

With its registration procedures complete, the proposed Kerala Kayaking Academy at Pulikkayam, near Thusharagiri, in Kozhikode has vivid plans cut out for it including developing it as a training centre for the Indian army, police cadets and the volunteers of the National Cadet Corps.

The academy will also give coaching to budding talents in the discipline.

It presently has an 11-member management committee and has already identified 20 cents of land on the banks of Chalippuzha at Pulikkayam for its premises, says V.D. Joseph, chairman of the academy.

Training

Mr. Joseph, who is also one of the key organisers of the ongoing Malabar River Festival and the International Kayaking Championship at Thusharagiri, says the academy is planning to start its training activities within six months.

“Trainers with international credentials from the Madras Fun Tools have already agreed to cooperate with the academy,” he says.

No shortage of funds

Stating that there will not be any shortage of fund for the activities of the academy, Mr. Joseph says the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports has enough fund for adventure sports activities and training programmes.

“At least a part of the adventure/river training, presently given to the Army at Rishikesh can be given from the academy initially,” he says.

Disinterest

Keralites, according to Mr. Joseph, are not showing much interest in adventure sports activities in recent times due to various reasons. Over 100 people from different part of the country took part in the white water rafting trips offered by the Tourism Department along Chalippuzha as part of the ongoing Malabar River Festival this season recently.

“But not even one among them was from the State,” he says.

Psychological training

This, he says, is because of a problem in the mindset of the people.

“The academy is expected to provide the required psychological and physiological training for the people to take up the risks involved in the adventure sport,” he says.

The academy, which is expected to be formally inaugurated along with the next edition of the Malabar River Festival, will start the training activities for interested youngsters in kayaking without much delay.

“We already have expert trainers including from foreign countries ready with us, he adds.