Saturday proved a bit breezy; not the best conditions for a paddlefest with the choppy water but nobody was deterred as they clambered into the canoes, kayaks and onto paddleboards. As a bystander you couldn’t help but be impressed with the balance and fortitude shown by the stand-up paddle boarders – especially the ones doing yoga!
Some people decided they didn’t even need a boat to have fun as they plunged off the end of the makeshift dock. Now, does anyone have any idea why there was a fish lounging around on the sidewalk?
Thank you to everyone who supplied boats and other paraphernalia for Paddlefest – Starboard, Undercurrents, Amundson Design Hawaii, Roof Racks Calgary, Kerr Boards (sustainably harvested), NRS, MEC, Paddle Alberta, CLIF, Martin Motor Sports, Live to Recycle, Keen, Urban Impact, Caravan, Kanfest, Party Bugs, and several others. And another thank you to the Undercurrents employee who took the time to talk to me and answer my questions about the various water craft bobbing on the swells that afternoon.
Water craft out on Chestermere Lake Saturday: river kayaks – shorter and a little less stable but far more maneuverable considering they have to avoid rocks and submerged trees, and sea kayaks (also known as touring kayaks) best for paddling on the open waters of lakes and the ocean. The canoes were a bit more popular for cutting through the waves with a better stability than the paddleboards. The wind was very strong and the stand-up paddle boarding was more like sit-down paddle boarding. But despite the weather and the waves there was a great turnout and everyone had a lot of fun.
