The paddling lifestyle will be brought to the screen when the International Paddling Film Festival comes to Penticton on May 3.
The film tour is presenting at the Cannery Stage Theatre bringing the world’s best whitewater, sea kayaking, canoeing, stand up paddle board and kayak fishing action to the screen.
With over 25 inspiring paddling films short-listed for the world tour, including the 10 festival category winners, audiences can expect to see stand-up paddle surfing, hairy whitewater action, sea kayakers explore remote coastlines, headwaters canoe expeditions, international river travel films, motivating environmental documentaries, gruelling kayak fishing battles and hilarious short films capturing the lighter side of paddling life.
Audiences can expect to see these great films: Rock the Boat – Saving America’s Wildest River where a local boater insists on seeing the L.A. River as a river again causing a local controversy that takes on national proportions; Two friends on a quest to travel the ultimate river by any means possible in Go Ganges! find epic adventure on the holy and polluted Ganges; That First Glide is a documentary that traces standup paddling’s deep roots in early Polynesian and Hawaiian history and how it is rapidly expanding today; and Huck as it explores what it means to kayak off of big waterfalls, considering both the risk and rewards of a life driven by freefall.
Ken Malenstyn, from host of the event True Outdoors, said the festival is part of a weekend celebration they are having at the store and a demo day at the marina from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Sunday. The public is welcome to try out a number of different boats at no cost and receive a little instruction. On Saturday a climbing wall, for all ages and skill levels, will be set up at the store from noon to 4 p.m.
The Reel Paddling Film Festival is presented in Penticton by True Outdoors and Penticton Search and Rescue on May 3 at the Cannery Stage Theatre. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. and the film starts at 7 p.m. Tickets are $10 ($12 cash at the door). A chance to enter the Yakima Take It Easy sweepstakes for a complete base rack package comes with the ticket. As well, free digital subscriptions to Rapid, Adventure Kayak, Canoeroots and Kayak Angler magazines.