Kate Mason is a natural on the water.

The 12-year-old paddler, who is in her first season with Flatwater Yukon, brought home six medals from the Calgary Regatta, her first-ever kayak race.

“It was fun,” said Mason.

A cross-country skier in the winter, Mason picked up paddling over the winter, taking part in dryland training. Now, in the summer, the sport serves as cross-training for skiing.

Competing in the U13 women’s division in Calgary, Mason picked up a bronze in the K-1 4,000m, silver in the K-2 500m and gold in K-2 200m, K-1 500m, K-1 200m and K-4 200m.

Mason impressed her coaches after flipping before the finish line during her K-4 500m race, turning around and getting right back in a boat for her next race.

“She got out of the boat, said ‘that was close,’and hopped in another K-4 and won gold,” said coach Brianna Hartness.

“That was quite a highlight to see her rebound and go back in another boat.”

Yukon was also represented by four male junior paddlers at the regatta: Joel Girouard, Rogan Parry, Bruce Porter and Alex Sumner. The group won silver in the U13 men’s K-4 500m, roaring off the start and chanting left, right, down the course.

Yukon medals also came in the open men’s K-4 200m, with coach Fearghus Vincent jumping on a crew to win gold and Girouard and Porter teaming up with two others to take gold in the U11 men K-4 200m.

The Calgary Regatta was attended by Flatwater Yukon’s development team, as the Canada Summer Games team rested over the weekend. That group: Savannah Cash, Emily Crist, Julianne Girouard, Maeve McManus, Parry, Cole Wilkie-Hobus and Danica Wilkie-Hobus are off to Prairie Divisionals this weekend before the Canada Summer Games.

Flatwater Yukon will host the Yukon Championships on August 19 at the Schwatka Lake Day-Use area from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. After the official races are complete, the group welcomes families to hop in a boat and take part in some fun races.