river shorties
Tax credits for kayaking
The Canadian government recently introduced
annual tax credits on up to $500 per child for par-
ents who register their kid in an approved physical
activity program. With all the right prerequisites,
including increasing cardio-respiratory endur-
ance, muscular strength and flexibility, and a
minimum program length of five days, whitewater
paddling centres across the country are joining
colt.bc.ca
250.286.3122
the club. Learn more at
cra-arc.gc.ca/fitness.
!
Break a leg, save your life
Last fall, a 38-year-old Australian boater was air-
lifted out of the West Kiewa River gorge in a re-
mote corner of Victoria after his kayak was swept
beneath a strainer. An on-site paramedic lauded
the man’s presence of mind, “If he didn’t break
his leg to free himself, he was going to drown.”
Paddling is fulfilling.
adidas Sickline, take two
The inaugural Adidas Sickline Extreme Kayak
It takes me to untouched, distant corners of the world.
World Championship in 2007 was billed as the
“best kayak event without kayaking.” Ironically
conceived to preserve Austria’s Ötztaler Ache
It tests my physical and emotional strength.
River as one of the last glacially-fed rivers in the
Alps, the event was canned when unpredictable
water levels flooded the gorge. In October, the
weather held and Germany’s Thilo Schmitt was
Paddling completes my life.
crowned champion, blazing the Ötztaler Ache’s
class V “like I had a rocket under my butt” and
edging out New Zealand’s Sam Sutton by 11
hundredths of a second.
-Bryan Kirk
Tao Berman misses his line
Pro kayaker and former waterfall descent record
holder, Tao Berman, fell short in his bid for a state
House seat in Washington’s November election.
Running as a Democrat in Republican country
against a well-entrenched, three-term Repub-
lican incumbent had 29-year-old Berman pad-
dling upstream the whole way. Berman bagged
37 per cent of the vote and added wannabe poli-
tician to his long list of accomplishments.
Sexiest bachelor in a skirt
On the other end of the election spectrum, 27-
year-old Team Dagger kayaker Brad Ludden
beat 49 other hunky hopefuls to win Cosmopoli-
tan magazine’s 2008 Bachelor of the Year. Lud-
den’s chiseled bod and Hollywood smile scored
him $10,000 in prize money, which he pledged
to First Descents, a charity he started in 2001
to introduce young adults with cancer to chal-
lenges in the outdoors. Ludden was not asked to
comment on his favourite sex position. —VM
WhiteWater eveNts
Official Ride and exclusive spOnsOR
Bryan Kirk, Team NRS, Wave Sport Brand Manager & world traveler on the
february 5 March 13–15 Yuba River, CA. ©Josh Davis/NRS
reel Paddling film festi- canoecoPia
val world tour Premiere Madison, WI
Waterloo, oN
rutabaga.com/canoecopia
reelpaddlingfilmfestival.com
March 20–22
february 14–15 23rd annual santa cruZ
outdoor adventure kayak surf festival
& travel sHow Santa Cruz, Ca
Vancouver, BC
asudoit.com/kayak_fest/index.html
What does paddling mean to you?
outdooradventureshow.ca
april 18–19
february 20–22 marmora area canoe
outdoor adventure sHow and kayak festival Share your thoughts at
nrsweb.com/rapid
800-635-5202
toronto, oN Marmora, oN
outdooradventureshow.ca mackfest.ca
NRS_Rapid_Spring.indd 1 12/16/08 2:49:15 PM
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