World Champion freestyle canoeist Karen Knight was the star attraction at yesterday's grand opening of H2Outfitters' new Edgecomb Watersports Center on the Sheepscot River.

Karen Knight maneuvers her canoe yesterday at the grand opening of H2Outfitters' new Edgecomb location.
SCOTT ANDREWS PHOTO

Karen performed a variety of freestyle maneuvers in her canoe for an appreciatve audience and gave a big plug to her teachers, H2Outfitters co-founders Jeff Cooper and Cathy Piffath.

A Brunswick native, Karen said she didn't start canoeing and kayaking until 1989, and emphasized that she wasn't a natural-born paddler. But she became a fixture around H2Outfitters, first as a student, then as an instructor, and by 1995 she placed third in the American Canoe Association's world championship competition.

Karen won the American Canoe Association's top freestyle honors in 1996.
SCOTT ANDREWS PHOTO

The next year she took top honors, and after successfully defending her title for several years, retired from competition as the reigning world champ. Today she tours the country giving lessons, demos and leading paddling trips.

Karen retired from competition as the reigning world champion of freestyle.
SCOTT ANDREWS PHOTO

For the next few weeks, she'll be teaching at H2Outfitters' Orrs Island location in Casco Bay.

H2Outfitters' Edgecomb location offers rentals, lessons and guided trips.
SCOTT ANDREWS PHOTO

H2Outfitters' Edgecomb Watersports Center -- aka "outpost" -- is located within the Sheepscot Harbor Village and Inn, on Route 1 just over the bridge from Wiscasset. Rentals, lessons and trips will be offered from this waterfront location all summer long. Click here for more info, or call 800-20-KAYAK.

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