The 2011 Aquabatics Film Competition

The 2011 Aquabatics film competition went off last week with 9 film entries and a great turnout, this festival showcased the vast amount paddling and videography skill in the region. The festival had two categories: Paddling Porn and Entertainment. In the paddling porn category Blair Trotman snagged first place with his entry Do It For The Love Vol. II. Paddle Junkies picked up first in the Entertainment category and won the peoples choice award, winning a Wavesport Project X and a Kokatat Rogue drytop for their entry: The Kayak Network. Super Sexy Kayak the film Liam Fournier and I entered placed second in the entertainment category.

Thanks to Simon Coward and the boys at aquabatics Calgary and all the event's sponsors these guys put on a great show and I'm super excited for next year. Check out all of the videos at http://www.youtube.com/user/AquabaticsCalgary.    

Peter Thompson       

Solo

Often the friendship and camaraderie that come with the sport of kayaking is over looked. This was hit home during a recent solo paddling trip that I went on to the west coast. Although it was a great trip and I was able to meet up and paddle with friends along the way, the alone time when camping and hanging out made for maybe hard trip but definitely a different paddling trip experience. The biggest thing I found with my solo trip was that I spent way more money and only had only had myself to bounce ideas off of to decide what to do. This was both a nuisance and a blessing in that I could do what I wanted, but I also made some decisions that in hindsight were pretty dumb. I suggest that everybody tries going on a solo trip, but also enjoy the great times and the camaraderie that goes along with the quintessential paddling trip.
Peter Thompson