Silver Moon Kayak brings top watersport films to valley
From sea kayaking in Russia to paddle surfing in Indonesia, Silver Moon Kayaking is bringing the Flathead Valley a unique opportunity to view some of the best in watersport films from the 22nd annual National Paddling Film Festival.
"Blazing Paddles" will celebrate the passion of paddle sports with a special screening of documentary, professional and amateur films from around the world April 6 in the Flathead High School auditorium.
Susan Conrad and Bob Danford, co-owners of Silver Moon Kayak Company, are hand-picking a montage of films for the Flathead audience. Since 80 percent of their business features sea or flatwater kayaking, one of the featured films will be "This is the Sea," which spotlights sea touring with top sea paddlers on a world tour of Greenland, Russia, Wales, California, the San Juan Islands, Georgia and Florida. Justine Curgenven, an award-winning adventure videographer, has had footage aired on BBC, Sky and National Geographic. She shoots her footage directly from her own kayak. Curgenven's film follows the paddlers through crashing surf and roaring tidal races, as well as fascinating sea caves and arches.
Other films that will be shown include a documentary on paddle surfing in Indonesia, recognized as having some of the most dangerous waves in the world; wave skiing in the French Caribbean and films from British Columbia and the Grand Canyon.
Combining silliness, insight, humor, tragedy, drama and passion with fast-paced action, spectacular scenery and culture, the films featured at Blazing Paddles will take you around the globe on an exciting aquatic adventure.
John Gangemi, member of the local chapter of American Whitewater, will have information in the lobby and will speak at the festival about the organization and its causes, both locally and nationally. American Whitewater's mission is to conserve and restore America's water resources and to enhance opportunities to enjoy them safely.
Show time is 7 to 10 p.m. with an intermission.
Tickets are $10 in advance and available at Chloe Sports in the Kalispell Center Mall, Runner Up Sports in Whitefish, Electric Avenue Books in Bigfork, and at Silver Moon Kayak Company. Tickets will be $11 at the door.
A whitewater kayak will be given away at the event, along with a dozen other door prizes. A portion of the proceeds will go to American Whitewater,
All are invited to join in this fresh, visual paddlesport feast and celebration of human-powered watercraft. "Even if you're not a paddler," Conrad said, "with the extraordinary scenery and diverse cultures featured, there's something for everyone."
For more information, contact Conrad or Danford at Silver Moon Kayak Company, 752-3794.
sidebar
The National Paddling Film Festival is an nonprofit event hosted by the volunteers from the Bluegrass Wildwater Association of Lexington, Ky. The event is a judged competition of amateur and professional paddlesport image artists with entries submitted in film, video and digital imaging.
The origins of the film festival date back to 1981. Association member Sam Moore decided his time had come to score a personal first descent of the Russell Fork. Terry Weeks and Barry Grimes, two association amateur photographers, felt that the historic run should be documented for the group's membership. The result was a 15-minute, super 8 mm film aptly titled, "The Russell Fork." When shown at the group's monthly meeting in 1982, the steep drops, throbbing music and adrenaline-spiked action created an uproar with the club's members, and the idea to bring together paddling shows from across the country soon surfaced .
Although the first festival was held in a barn with two hastily constructed theaters, by 1995 the association had became partners in the film festival with the American Canoe Association, American Whitewater, and later their West Coast connection, the Kern River Alliance. Today the film festival draws thousands to Lexington for the event.
The festival was established by paddlers with a vision of bringing together film artists, generating more money for river conservation, and "creating a huge excuse to have a party," according to coordinator Dave Margavage. Twenty-two years later the festival is one of the longest running, unique events in paddlesports, bringing together enthusiasts from across the country and the world to share their talents and paddling experiences while generating money for waterway conservation.