UpNorthica Reviews: “This is Canoeing” DVD

Like a first time paddler launching into a vast island-dotted lake, the world became a lot bigger for me as I viewed “This is Canoeing,” the latest project from paddler/filmmaker Justine Curgenven. Gathered into this 2-disc set are 12 film featurettes, each bringing a fresh and memorable viewpoint of what it is to canoe today.

A veritable film fest in and of itself, “This is Canoeing” sees Curgenven globetrotting across the UK, Canada and the US for unique stories of paddling — no, I mean *really* unique. Like the 4-year old kid who runs rapids. The modern-day voyageur. The pair who teach canoes how to dance. There are solo-trippers, slalom champs and trusty canine sidekicks. There’s paddling, poling, sailing, lining and a few good spills. Canoes are harmed in the making of this film.

Read on for descriptions of each featurette, and more…

Mountain River
Curgenven joins others for a 2-week whitewater journey down The Mountain River in the Northwest Territories. Canyons and caribou herds aplenty are captured on this ‘best wilderness river’ in Canada.

Kevin Callan
The paddler/writer/humorist shows off the wonders of Algonquin’s Barron Canyon, while reflecting on the value of wilderness and being raised close to nature.

Canoe Dance
She’s a 5 time National Champion in Interpretive Freestyle Canoeing. He’s considered one of the 100 heroes of paddlesports. With music and movement, Karen Knight and Bob Foote perform a tandem ‘canoe ballet.’ Skeptical? Prepare to be blown out of the water (sorry if that doesn’t sound very graceful and ballet-lake, but you asked.)

Spirit Dancer
What’s Chris Cooper doing with a 42-foot Canadian voyageur canoe, all the way over in Scotland? Getting people to help him paddle it, of course. He visits castles, hears bagpipes and samples local fare with an entertaining cast of locals.

Becky Mason
The daughter of the late great Bill Mason stands — and paddles — on her own two feet. With one paddle. Forget it. Becky is an avid solo-tripper, freestyle canoeist and watercolor artist. She paddles one of her great inspirations, Quebec’s jewel-toned Lac Vert.

Riding the Moose
A group of whitewater canoeists deal with waterfalls, slides and injured pride as they tackle several Class 5 rapids, with mixed results. These little boats are canoes?? These people are sane?? Some mind blowing manoeuvers here.

Open Canoe Slalom
Being nominated “the paddler of the century” may suit John “Kaz” Kazimierczy fine. Winning a stunning 101 national first place titles in slalom, downriver and marathon doesn’t make him invincible forever, though. Will competitor Andy Walker beat him in the 2009 championships?

Birchbark Man
UpNorthica fave and Minnesotan Erik Simula is featured as he completes his 2009 epic solo circumnavigation of the Arrowhead. He catches fish, he patches his homemade canoe. He runs (!) across his portages. Criminy, what is the man *not* capable of? Lovely photography and a good share of introspection to be found, but I still wish Curgenven would’ve captured a lot more of the trip.

Ray Goodwin
This UK canoeing giant was the first to circumnavigate Wales, and the first to cross the Irish Sea unsupported in a canoe. Paddling and poling, he shows off mad skills in lakes and rivers, all without dumping his pooch into the drink.

Hailey Thompson
You’re pretty good if you make the US senior team for canoe slalom and compete in the world championships in Europe. But do all that by the age of 15, and you’re better than good — you’re Hailey Thompson. The Wisconsin girl is seen paddling her hometown in Wisconsin, racing, and making most of us other paddlers look like wimps.

Rannoch Moor
A 3-day adventure in the rugged Scottish Highlands. Portaging and whitewater. Sailing and poling. Thick Scottish brogues.

Dougie Down the Pet
A father and his 4-year old boy, Dougie, run the rapids of Algonquin’s Petawawa River. It’s only scary to watch the first few times every time, but the kid is adorable. Dear ol’ dad Scott MacGregor offers insights on raising kids to love the wild, that will challenge and inspire.

There is also additional bonus material, including full slalom footage from Andy Walker’s boat and a redeemable subscription to Canoeroots Magazine.

In some stories, Curgenven is the observer. In others, such as “Mountain River,” she joins the narrative, paddle in hands. She shares first views from atop mountains (and from within raging rapids.) And yet the focus rests not simply on her own encounters, but on the experience and soul of paddling, itself. In doing so, the production deftly avoids the stagnant backwaters of ‘trip report.’

The success of “This is Canoeing” lies in its breadth of material. Though wide, it is not too much for the viewer. The 12 featurettes reveal a world that, while wild and untamable, is also serene and calm. Discovered is inspiration to create, to wander and to achieve. We glimpse a reverence for paddling’s history, but looking forward, we see how our youngest generation shows great promise. It’s a vast, expansive world which, in some ways, can only be reached by canoe.

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