The 7^th annual Reel Paddling Film Festival premiered last night at The Royal Cinema on College Street in Toronto, hosted by The Complete Paddler. The keen audience was treated to the first screenings of some of the year’s award winning films. The full list of winners are:

1. Best Sea Kayaking Film: In Rescues – Sea Kayak with Gordon Brown, you’ll see exciting and practical rescue coaching sessions from one of the world’s top coaches.

2. Best Canoeing Film: Tracing the Columbia brings together two historical moments: David Thompson’s charting of the Columbia River in 1811 and the 45-day journey paddling the river to mark the 200^th anniversary of Thompson’s achievement.

3.  Best Whitewater Film: In Wildwater, journey into the places only river runners can go.  It’s a visually stunning feast for the senses, and an expedition into new ideas.

4. Best Kayak Fishing Film: ExOfficio Presents Kayak Fishing: Game On 4 Jim Sammons hooks up with Paul Harwood on the Fraser River in BC with the goal of catching one of the areas enormous sturgeon.

5.  Best Environmental Paddling Film: The Pipedreams Project follows 3 kayakers on their epic two-month expedition to oppose a $5.5 Billion pipeline project in British Columbia.

6.  Best Paddling Documentary: Chasing Water is the story of Pete McBride, a child of the Colorado River, as he decides to follow the water from his ranch in Western Colorado to see where it ends up.  

7.  Best Amateur/Short Paddling Film: So Fine sees Zac Crouse develop banjo paddling with the help from a Muppet.

8.  Best Instructional Paddling Film: Advanced Classic Solo Canoeing with Becky Mason will leave you spellbound by the advanced strokes and maneuvers she shows and the stunning underwater camera angles. 

9.  Best Stand-up Paddling Film: In Standup 4 Greatbear, Norm Hann takes us on a 400km SUP expedition through the Great Bear Rainforest, and along the proposed North Coast oil tanker route.

“We have more screenings in more cities than ever before,” says Scott MacGregor, Founder and Publisher of Rapid Media “With so many new paddling shops, clubs and events hosting the World Tour, we’re well on our way to blowing 100 showings right out of the water.”

Katie Mutton, Assistant Manager of The Complete Paddler, the host of the Premiere, said “we had over 190 people attend, with lots of prizes and giveaways from sponsors, this was definitely our most successful show yet.  It’s nice to see the word spreading and more and more people taking part in this event.”

The premiere kicks off the Reel Paddling Film Festival World Tour, an international paddling film tour with 34 short-listed films screening in 100 cities hosted by paddling shops, clubs and events. Visit reelpaddlingfilmfestival.com for the most up-to-date tour schedule and to learn how to bring the World Tour to your city.

Austin Canoe and Kayak (ACK), announces the acceptance of the SNEWS/Backpacker “Best Online Retailer” award.

The award recognizes retailers who embody the spirit of entrepreneurship and who serve as visionaries for the outdoor market and leaders of the communities they serve.

“We are honored to have won this award, going up against the likes of larger companies such as REI and Backcountry.com makes this award extra special to us,” said Peter Messana, Austin Canoe and Kayak CEO, “it’s a validation that we are providing the best possible service to our customers and we look forward to continuing to deliver this service.”

Steve Messana, Austin Canoe and Kayak President, added: “We are proud of our entire staff for making this possible and most of all, we are grateful for those who voted for us. This award combined with the massive expansion of our product offering is legitimizing ACK as a full fledged outdoor adventure retailer.”

The winners were announced at an industry ceremony hosted by SNEWS, Backpacker and program sponsor Horny Toad during the 2012 Winter Outdoor Retailer Show on Thursday, January 19th, 2012 in Salt Lake City, Utah.

About Austin Canoe and Kayak
Founded over 20 years ago, Austin Canoe and Kayak (ACK) is an award-winning paddlesports and outdoor retailer based out of Central Texas dedicated to providing exceptional customer service and the widest selection of paddlesports and outdoor equipment. ACK operates three physical retail shops in Austin, San Marcos and Houston, Texas and an online store at www.AustinKayak.com.

If you’d like more information about this topic, or to schedule an interview with Austin Canoe and Kayak, please call Roland Jimenez at 512.687.3010, or email  This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .

Eight women, led by Kokatat athlete and former Australian Adventurer of the Year Tanya Faux, are set to embark on a 30-day unsupported river expedition through an uncharted section of the Kimberley region in North Western Australia. The Kimberley Whitewater Women Rafting Expedition aims to raise awareness for the Save the Kimberley campaign (www.savethekimberley.com) whose goal is to protect the cultural, historical, and environmental significance of the region.

“Tanya is a fantastic ambassador for our sport and the environment, and we’re proud to support her and her team on this historic and important expedition,” said Lisa Kincaid, Kokatat Promotional Marketing Manager.

The expedition was inspired by Faux’s previous kayak expeditions in the region and the dispute over a proposed gas hub in the area.  While the controversial industrialization in the Kimberley region has been narrowly resisted thus far, the Save the Kimberley campaign is petitioning to gain World Heritage Status for over 20 hectares of what has been deemed “one of the last true wilderness areas on Earth”.

The self-titled Kimberley Whitewater Women, depart from Melbourne to Broome on January 14^th and will proceed into the Kimberley via helicopter to begin the first rafting leg of the journey down the Isdell River.  Over the course of the expedition, the team will encounter class 5 rapids on the Isdell and Charnley rivers and will complete a 150km off-track hike in between.  The team’s daily progress will be posted on their website www.kimberleywhitewaterwomen.com.

The eight women on the team are all current or past employees of the Outdoor Education Group in Eildon, Victoria, (www.oeg.net.au) and as outdoor educators, enthusiasts, and adventure seekers, all support and advocate for the protection of wilderness regions.

Kokatat has provided each member of the team with Ronin Pro PFDs and a selection of its Destination technical apparel. The Destination apparel which features UV protection in paddling specific designs will help protect them from the sun throughout the journey as they endure extreme tropical temperatures in a territory teeming with saltwater crocodiles in the midst of the mating season. 

To date, the team has raised over $2000 for both Save the Kimberley and the Wananami Remote Community School at Mount Barnett Station. Donations can be made online at www.kimberleywhitewaterwomen.com.

About Kokatat Watersports Wear: 


Celebrating over 40 years of innovation, Kokatat is an independently operated, US manufacturer of technical apparel and accessories for water sports. Handcrafted in Arcata, California, Kokatat employees are focused on building the finest functional product for people who work and play on water. Our gear is designed for paddlers, by paddlers, ensuring a safe and enjoyable experience on the water all year long and in all weather conditions. Into the water with Kokatat! Please visit www.kokatat.com and follow Kokatat on Facebook and Twitter “@kokatat”.

Shred Ready is pleased to announce Jordan Byrum as the winner of The 2011 Search competition.

Byrum is an 18-year-old from Benton, Ark. His winning video was shot on Daisy Creek and the Arkansas, Cheoah, Ocoee, and Cossatot rivers.

“I am so thankful to everyone who helped make it possible,” said Byrum. “I'm stoked to see what the future holds with Shred Ready and I hope to keep going bigger and stomping more stouts.”

The Search contest was intended to seek out and help young talented athletes who have a drive, desire, and motivation to take their own paddling to the next level. Contestants submitted videos that showed off their kayaking skills for a chance to become a sponsored member of the Shred Ready Kayak team.

"Since our humble beginnings in spare bedroom and garage Shred Ready's success has been tied to the Athletes who represent us in the around the world,” said Tom Sherburne President of Shred Ready. “

“I was blown away by the talented and technically savvy young people courageous enough to submit them for the world to decide if they should be on the 2012 Team," said Sherburne.

Shred Ready, Inc is an independent manufacturer and helmet design company located in Auburn, Alabama. Founded in 1997 in a spare bedroom and garage it has since grown to worldwide distribution. Shred Ready has been at the forefront of water sport helmet design with such features as; brims on helmets, the HOG 1.0, 2.0 and HOT occipital locks, individualized custom graphics, and the first US helmet to receive CE 1385 certification. Self made and self paid, Shred Ready continues its dedication to local, regional, national, and international events and athletes. Shred Ready manufactures a mix of injected molded and carbon/Kevlar composite helmets for water sports and lifestyle apparel.