This summer like the last I have been teaching kayaking on the Ottawa, a common question I get asked is ‘what got you started’ and although I can trace my progression all the way back to a red Perception Dancer on a lake not all that far away from my home in London, my desire to paddle whitewater stems from a video or actually I should say a DVD.

The movie in question, a Young Guns Production movie named “New Reign” was produced by Rush Sturges, Brooks Baldwin and Marlow Long.  It had segments from all over the world with many young paddlers who’s names I hadn’t heard of  (granted I had not been exposed to much kayak media back then).

The film had segments from all over the world including, Africa, Norway and Canada and I watched awestruck as I saw freestyle kayaks to tricks like I had never imagined to be possible, kayakers rallying off big waterfalls and coming out with a smiling face.  I remember receiving the video as a gift from my parents on my birthday and I watched the film again and again and again (much to the annoyance of my younger sister who did not enjoy the soundtrack).  Since then I have been lucky enough to actually go to many of the places featured in that movie.

So there you go, inspiration can come from anywhere and anybody can give it too you.  As this genre of kayak movie continues to improve it makes me wonder what will the next generation be inspired by?