The Century Club Paddles for: any reason Alex McGruer,
ENTREPRENEUR st. John’s, newfoundland
Alex McGruer owns a security busi- ness. He runs an ad in a local kayak newsletter showing a kayak near a pod of whales with the caption, “When you visit their home, do you know who visits yours?” Those of us who kayak regard this as odd be- cause, while we don’t doubt Alex’s security systems, we also know he’s just as likely to be out on the water. In fact, that’s a given. Alex chooses from his growing
assortment of kayaks—until recently stacked on a trailer behind a diesel truck, now crammed atop his VW Jetta—much like a golfer selecting a club. “Historically I drive an inexpen- sive car with more cash on the roof and trunk than the car is worth,” he says. Alex’s motto appears to be, if your
gear is dry, something’s wrong. He paddles throughout the year—chas- ing whales in summer and bergs in winter. If work is too busy during the day, no problem. One of his favou- rite activities is a night paddle to
observe bioluminescence and enjoy a mid-paddle bonfire. Paddlers will often read a cryptic
message on the paddling news- group: “Going for a paddle in 20 minutes, wanna come?” This might suggest a footloose thirtysomething, but Alex is a father of three. (He recently suffered a heart attack on the water—and was back paddling in less than a week.) With gifts of featherweight paddles and shiny new fibreglass boats, he’s convinced both his wife Cecilia and 14-year-old son Sandy to join him in his saltwater addiction. Alex has probably single-hand-
edly brought more people into the sport in Newfoundland than anyone else; he has trained several hundred Junior Forest Wardens and guides, among others. If you’re a newbie, he’ll likely loan you a boat and gear to whet your appetite. Show a glim- mer of excitement and he may give you some one-on-one instruction in rolling. So when Alex says, in his rich Scottish brogue, “I’m off for a scoot, wanna join me?” expect to get wet, and have a hoot! TIPS: Keep boats on your car at all times; have an ex- tra boat and gear so you can bring a buddy along with you; get as many
of your family members involved as possible so they don’t quibble about the amount of money and time spent on paddling!—Alison Dyer
Paddles for: “research” Randall Miller,
GEOLOGIST saint John, new Brunswick
As the curator of geology and paleontology at the New Brunswick Museum, Randall Miller has found a unique way to combine kayaking with his day job. With more than 700 million years of rock history and the site of a billion-year-old fossil find, Saint John is a city that geologists and paleontologists drool over. With most of these scientific sites along ocean and river cliffs and beaches, the best way to study them is by boat. Randy prefers his kayak to the museum’s motorized Zodiac. “I can get personal with the environ- ment,” he says. “I can paddle right up to the rock outcrops to study fossils or back up to see the bigger picture.” And he paddles at just the right speed to spot any anomalies in the rock. Last year he paddled about 100 days between March and December. “I live a couple of blocks from the river,” he says. “So my rule has been as long as I am on the wa- ter for longer than it takes me to get the kayak in the water, then it was a good paddle.” TIP: Convince your boss that you can do your job better from a kayak.—Doug Scott
ADVENTURE KAYAK |
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PHOTOS: JAMES LEWIS//RANDALL MILLER
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