INTERVIEW WITH A LEGEND. PHOTO: SCOTT MACGREGOR
A Fireside Chat with Becky Mason
THE CANOEING LEGEND ON BEING A MASON, WORLD TRAVEL, ART AND FILMMAKING
In 2011, Becky Mason toured Europe for six weeks celebrating the release of her third film, Advanced Classic Solo Canoeing. Bridging the cultural gap with canoes was an enlightening experience 11 years in the making. Mason’s ongoing work with the global canoeing community is founded on a passion for teaching and her father’s legacy.
To watch the full interview with Becky Mason, including exclusive on-water footage, visit
Canoerootsmag.com/0024 or download the Canoeroots app.
44 SPRING 2012
Q: It’s been 11 years since you released your last film, but this one feels like it’s built on a lifetime of experiences. Tell us more about the person in the famous red cedar-canvas prospector.
A: I’m a creative artist. That’s what I say when people ask me what I am. But there are lots of other hats that I wear in life. I’m a watercolorist. I love the creative side of canoeing, just doing all those gorgeous strokes. And, now, filmmaking—I’ve done three films. I do what makes me tick.
Q: Instructing must make you tick, then.
A: I love teaching. I love sharing knowledge with people— how to go canoeing and how to go canoeing efficiently. People’s eyes light up when they see that they can make the canoe move more efficiently without much effort.
Q: Your path is similar to your father Bill Mason’s career in canoeing, filmmaking and fine art. Do you feel overshadowed by his legacy?
A: I miss my dad. People ask if it’s hard following in his footsteps and I say no because it’s really special. I have some characteristics of his and I’m good with that. When I was 18, I found it a bit difficult handling the whole fame thing. He was having dinner with the Queen, he was traveling, the phone
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