There were kayakers flipping, spinning and shooting down chutes, and paddlers jousting on standup paddleboards over August long weekend on the Slave River.
photo courtesy of Leif Anderson
Just under 150 people registered for this year's Slave River Paddlefest, held over August long weekend, and that doesnSA国际影视传媒檛 include onlookers or the odd kid who ran in.
SA国际影视传媒淧addlefest is for everyone and really geared towards families,SA国际影视传媒� said Natalie Anderson, the lead organizer for the Fort Smith event.
SA国际影视传媒淎 lot of the activities are appropriate for people whoSA国际影视传媒檝e never done anything in the water.SA国际影视传媒�
She said the event went smoothly and members of the crowd were from as far away as Britain and Australia.
SA国际影视传媒淲e had a couple local kids who just fired up the wave train all day, two days in a row,SA国际影视传媒� said Anderson. SA国际影视传媒淚 don't think I ever saw them out of the water. They were like getting on these paddleboards with three kids on a board and they were just doing lap after lap after lap. That's cool to see.SA国际影视传媒�
Anderson said there were some changes to this yearSA国际影视传媒檚 event, including an evening called River Night that was held in honour of Jacques van Pelt, an environmentalist, outfitter and longtime Northerner who died last fall.
SA国际影视传媒淲e also talked about conservation issues on the river, giving a platform to the Pelican Advisory Circle and SmithSA国际影视传媒檚 Landing,SA国际影视传媒� said Anderson.
SA国际影视传媒淲e showed some of Jacques van PeltSA国际影视传媒檚 old rafting films from when he did rafting tourism on the Slave River.SA国际影视传媒�
photo courtesy of Slave River Paddlefest
Low water levels at the beginning of the summer had risen to normal levels by the time of the festival and a stormy forecast broke for a weekend of nice weather.
Anderson said many who showed up to watch wished at the end that theySA国际影视传媒檇 registered. The festival offers clinics and workshops as well for paddlers to build up their skills.
Next yearSA国际影视传媒檚 Paddlefest is scheduled for July 31 to Aug. 3, 2020.
SA国际影视传媒淒onSA国际影视传媒檛 be scared,SA国际影视传媒� said Anderson. SA国际影视传媒淛ust check it out SA国际影视传媒� itSA国际影视传媒檚 worth it to check it out.SA国际影视传媒�
