Last weekend was the Alberta Paddle Fest, 2½ days of clinics and social time put on by the Alberta Whitewater Association and Paddle Alberta. It was great!!

There were over 100 registered participants, plus an unknown number of non-paddling spouses, friends and family. The weather was perfect paddling weather (warm, but not crazy hot - afterall we are all dressed for the cold water so too hot is annoying).

The event took place at Mukwah Tours (a rafting outfitter) on the Red Deer River, west of Sundre. Prior to the event the water levels had been very low, but rain the in the days beforehand provided ideal water levels!
In case you want to come next year, participants paid $100 for 2 days of clinics, 2 nights of camping, a BBQ dinner on the Saturday and breakfasts on both the Saturday and Sunday (co-sponsored by Undercurrents!). A great deal and loads of fun!

There were clinics for kayaker and canoests of all levels. My beloved and I helped with the ‘introduction to canoe program.' Our 13 participants started Saturday on a pond learning the basics of canoeing and finished on the Sunday running an exciting reach of the Red Deer (Wild Horse to Mountain Aire) without any swimmers. Talk about going from "zero to hero!"

It was wonderful to see the faces of the paddlers when they succeeded in the sections they found really challenging. Everyone had a great time, especially Donna and I.

Alberta Paddle Fest website - you know, for next year.