R I V E R s i G N a l s
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Out of time
fer classes, or can suggest a school near you. If
your paddling shop organizes a demo day, this can
I was interested to read your editorial, The
be a great opportunity to try out a wide variety of
Time to be Great, in the summer/fall issue of boats, but you probably won’t be able to paddle on
Rapid (V11,I3). When I read Malcom Gladwell’s moving water. When shopping for a boat, be hon-
listed, but it sees roughly 800 paddlers a year
Outliers, I too tried to deduce how many years of est about your capabilities and expectations, and
and has been serving whitewater paddlers since
paddling 10,000 hours would equate to for me. understand that there’s no such thing as a perfect
the 1970s. The Gull is most likely one of the
I’m lucky; I started paddling at the age of 13 and “do-it-all” boat.
oldest whitewater parks in North America!
paddled every day for many years. Now 39, I’m
Or you can do what most boyfriends do. Pretend
Cale reeder
probably starting to get close to 10,000 hours.
you know what you’re doing and borrow outdated,
PETERBOROUGH, ON
It would be an amazing feat, indeed, to achieve
ill-fitting boats and gear. Take your girlfriend to
10,000 hours of paddling before the prime
the top of a gnarly river on a miserable, rainy day.
You are quite right in drawing attention to the
World Championship and Olympic age of 26.
When she asks if this is a good idea, tell her to suck
Gull River, Cale. We did some digging and, in
Congratulations on a great bit of editorial.
it up. Swim. Drive home in cold silence. She’ll stop
fact, it is the second oldest whitewater park in
John Gregory
returning your calls. You’ll see her in a café shar-
North America. The first modifications to improve
EMAIL
ing a latté with that sensitive guy from high school.
whitewater recreation on the Gull began in 1979,
Your choice really.—Eds.
13 years after a bulldozer pushed boulders around
the Arkansas River at Salida, Colorado, to make a
ask an expert
I’m looking to get into running whitewater and
screwed up or forgotten
more challenging slalom course for the venerable
FIBArk Festival. —Eds.
have a few questions. I’m relatively new to I was greatly disappointed to see that the Gull
kayaking, having paddled a dozen days in a River and Minden Whitewater Preserve was not
The article Lining and Tides and Bears
recreational kayak on open water and shallow included in your Whitewater Parks—Growth of a
(Standing Waves, V11,I3) states incorrectly that
rivers. My girlfriend and I are avid campers and Nation article in the last issue of Rapid (V11,I3).
the Vachon River has never been run before. The
are hoping to pick up a pair of boats to use It was fantastic to see the newly restored Ottawa
four canoeists from Lyon, France, that the article
when we camp as well. What would be the best Pumphouse on the list, but not mentioning the
mentions travelling up the Vachon did, in fact,
way to start out? Gull River was a major oversight. American
paddle down the river during their 1985 crossing
andrew Kallo Whitewater defines a whitewater park as a venue
of Ungava from Povungnituk on the east coast of
CLARINGTON, ON
that has been partially or wholly augmented
Hudson Bay to Kangirsuk on the west coast of
Your first move should be to enroll yourself and your
to facilitate whitewater recreation, and that
Ungava Bay. They ascended up the Povungnituk
girlfriend in an introductory to whitewater kayak-
whitewater parks can be constructed at a wide
River and crossed to the Vachon River just south
ing course. Most paddling schools offer weekend
range of sites including natural, modified and
of Pingualuit Crater, then descended the Vachon
courses that will teach you the basics of whitewater artificial stream channels. I believe that the Gull
to the Payne River and finished in Kangirsuk.
techniques, safety and rescues, and scouting and River falls into this category. It may not be as
lester Kovac
running rapids. Your local paddling shop may of- modern or as sexy as some of the other parks EMAIL
Our knowledgeable staff will
help find the best paddling
gear for you. Stop by one of
our stores or call us and
we’ll ship to you.
604 251 3455
GlenmorePaddlesports.com Vancouver | Edmonton | Calgary
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