P A D D L E R P R O F I L E
Scott Feindel THE PRO KAYAKER WHO CAN LAY A BEAD DOWN
IF HE’S NOT THROWING himself over 50-foot waterfalls he’s laying a wire bead. Unlike other pro paddlers who seem to huck-and-play without hold- ing anything you’d call a real job, Scott Feindel dons Carhartts, Kodiaks and a welding helmet during Calgary’s cold Albertan winter, heating up rods and joining iron to supplement the pittance provided to a pro kayaker. He’s one of a growing number of blue-collar kayak- ers who are working for the financial freedom to paddle. Feindel’s only been whitewater kaya-
king for nine years, but the 6’3”, 180- pound Winnipeg native spent years canoe tripping on the flatwater lakes of the Canadian Shield. He doesn’t look like he’s spent months in the bush eat- ing bannock and being preyed upon by bugs. His carefully-coiffed hair crowns a face of chiselled features; his nails are so clean he could be the CEO of Palmolive—not a welder. In Alberta, a province that gets erect
over barrels of oil, there are bucks to be made on black gold. As thousands of skilled trade-workers chase the big money in the province’s oilfield boom- towns, plumbers, carpenters and weld- ers like Feindel are in demand to fill gaps left in urban centres. Feindel says he’s never stressed
about finding work in Calgary, and it allows him the luxury of working hard for a few months and paddling the rest—more than 200 days on the water per year. “I tell my boss that when it’s time to go paddling, I’m gone. And he’s okay with that,” says Feindel.
At 32, Feindel’s dedication and will-
power keep him on top of his game. That’s clear from the risk-driven, big- drop paddling films he’s starred in, like Wehyakin, Valhalla, One World and Bigger Than Rodeo. And his playboat- ing resumé isn’t bad either: he’s a two- time member of the national freestyle team and he placed ninth at last year’s World Freestyle Championships in Aus- tralia. Feindel also dedicates free time to coaching the sponsored paddlers of tomorrow by teaching freestyle and river running skills to juniors on Team Alberta Kayak (TAK). As a pro athlete in a sport that’s
Top Trades for Paddlers:
WELDER Already has creeking helmet.
PLUMBER Used to having water suddenly forced up nose and under eyelids.
MACHINIST Experienced at punching holes.
PAINTER Already sustained brain damage from oxygen deprivation.
UPHOLSTERER Outfitting wizard.
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ROOFER Appreciates the importance of staying upright.
CARPENTER
Jesus was a carpen- ter—and he could walk on water.
ELECTRICIAN Knows how to avoid dangerous currents.
MASON Can customize playspots.
LOCKSMITH Can solve every shuttle-driver’s worst nightmare.
obscure and unknown to much of the world, Feindel doesn’t have the same retirement options as a pro hockey player—he won’t be signing auto- graphs at used car lots down the road. So he’s come up with a solid plan B. When Feindel stops playing on the pro tour and the sponsorship trickle finally dries up, he won’t wake up 37 years old, broke and wondering what to do with his life. He’s already living it. He’ll be still paddling, and he’ll have a job. And that, says Feindel, is exactly what paddling has taught him about life: “You have to stay smooth and focused, have a good plan—and above all make sure you have a good back-up.” Raymond Schmidt
Feindel makes sure his blue collars come with a latex gasket.
PHOTOS: RYAN CREARY
RAPID
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