Oceanside, CA – May 22, 2024 – Hobie, the leader in innovative watercraft and adventure products, is proud to announce the hiring of Joel McBride as Vice President of Sales and James McBeath as Director of Marketing. With over 70 combined years of experience in adventure sports, these new hires bring a wealth of industry knowledge and a dynamic vision to Hobie’s leadership team. Joel and James will collaborate with both long-standing and new staff to elevate Hobie’s sales and marketing strategies to unprecedented heights.
Hobie Reshaping the Path Forward
The hiring of Joel and James mark the start of a new era for Hobie, one that sees the deepening connection of a legendary outdoor brand to today’s outdoor market place. These changes start with evolving sales programs and dynamic, modern marketing tactics.
Marty Pathak, President of Hobie, expressed his enthusiasm for the new hires: “We’re thrilled to welcome Joel and James to the Hobie family. Their combined experience and innovative thinking will be instrumental in driving our sales and marketing efforts to new levels. They bring a fresh perspective that aligns perfectly with our mission to deliver the best adventure products to our customers.”
About Joel McBride
Joel McBride is a paddle sports veteran with over 35 years of experience. Joel started at Wave Sport, a leading whitewater manufacturer, and helped it become a market leader. He then managed sales for all brands at Confluence, making him one of the top sales professionals in the industry. At Confluence, he played a key role in popularizing the Tarpon series of kayaks. Joel then moved to Pelican International, where his work with national accounts propelled the company to market dominance. Since joining Hobie two years ago, Joel has focused on enhancing Hobie’s presence in the fishing and recreational markets.
Joel McBride commented on his new role: “I’m excited for the changes being made at Hobie. Our goal is to strengthen our organization to provide increased dealer support and connect with our consumers as well. Hobie struggled with the post-pandemic slow down and, as a leading manufacturer, we have a long hill to climb. We are going to rebuild our sales force and our marketing program to bring Hobie back to the forefront of the outdoor markets. I look forward to working with our team to achieve these ambitious goals. “
About James McBeath
James McBeath brings over 35 years of experience in outdoor sports marketing. His career began with leading marketing agencies and professional sports teams like The Montreal Canadiens, The Carolina Hurricanes, and USA Hockey in the late 90s. Transitioning to paddle sports, James outdoor business adventures began with marketing for Liquid Skills Kayak School, Heliconia Press, and, in 2003, led the World Kayak initiative. In 2007 James became Jackson Kayak’s first Marketing Director. In that role he drove the brand to dominance in the whitewater market and spearheaded its growth into kayak fishing. James’ expertise spans customer support, brand management, product development, and more, making him a well-rounded lead for Hobie’s marketing team.
James McBeath shared his vision for Hobie’s marketing direction: “Joining Hobie is a tremendous opportunity. My focus will be on increasing brand awareness and engaging the marketplace with modern, consumer-reaching tactics. We have a strong foundation to build on, and I am eager to bring Hobie’s story to a wider audience.”
Joel and James will prioritize building out the sales force and dealer support systems, strengthening Hobie’s brands, increasing brand awareness, and engaging the marketplace with modern consumer-reaching tactics.
About Hobie
Since 1950, Hobie has been in the business of shaping a unique lifestyle based around fun, water, and quality products. From their headquarters in Oceanside, California, Hobie designs and manufactures an impressive collection of innovative watercraft that includes surfboards, kayaks, stand-up paddleboards, sailboats, and accessories, all aimed at making water adventures accessible and enjoyable for everyone.
Aqua Bound’s latest innovation is the Aerial paddle lineup, featuring Lam-Lok technology. This new development uses aramid thread to mechanically bond the paddle’s laminated blade layers, significantly boosting resistance to impact, abrasion and delamination, extending the paddle’s lifespan.
The Aerial lineup was released in the fall of 2023, and the Paddling Magazine team recently caught up with Brian Boyea, VP of Sales at Aqua Bound and Bending Branches, to learn more about the new technology.
“The coolest thing about this is the aramid thread we’re using to stitch the blades together,” said Boyea. While a typical composite paddle is held together by layers of fiberglass or carbon and bonded with resin, Lam-Lok adds something new.
“What we’ve done here is before that bonding process, we’re stitching this aramid thread into the edge of the blade,” says Boyea. “That stitching is going to do a couple of things for us. It’s going to help impact resistance and it’s going to give us quite a bit of strength and durability on that edge. It’s also going to prevent delamination.”
Durability has been the focus in developing these paddles. Aqua Bound consulted kayakers of all skill levels to identify common issues with current paddles, such as wear from frequent contact with rough surfaces.
Initially hand-stitched in prototyping, the Lam-Lok method was field-tested and found to be effective, with testers reporting exceptional durability of the prototypes even with extensive use. A specialized industrial sewing machine in now used for production.
In Aqua Bound’s testing, a typical composite blade ripped apart at 17 pounds of force. “Our final layup, where we have multiple layers of thread, ripped apart at 495 pounds of force,” adds Boyea.
The aramid thread is applied to dry fiberglass or carbon materials before resin application. The blade edges are stitched back and forth with more than 33 feet of aramid thread per paddle. According to a press release from Aqua Bound, in-house tests revealed the Aerial’s Lam-Lok technology provided five to 10 times better resistance to delamination and abrasion compared to other paddles on the market, including the brand’s own Whiskey and Tango models.
Everybody swims—it’s part of the sport, and whitewater kayaking is more of a team activity than we may credit it for. You want to strive to be a strong teammate on the river and know others have your back too. Among essential rescue techniques is the ability to wrangle a friend’s boat, and here to help is Simon Coward, owner of AQ Outdoors (AQ Outdoors is a paddling shop and school with locations in Calgary and Edmonton). The following is a transcript of Coward’s kayak rescue method of choice.
Timing your rescue to meet the kayak at the bottom of a rapid. | Image: AQ Outdoors
How to perform an effective kayak rescue in whitewater
Simon here from AQ Outdoors, just checking in with a little tutorial on some best practices and the easiest ways to rescue kayaks. Over the last 20-odd years of teaching and such I’ve made lots of mistakes, I’ve learned from others, and I’ve seen others make mistakes, and some do really great rescues.
Basics of rescuing a kayak
This is very much about how to keep it as simple as possible. We’re going to start in flatwater how we might address this. My personal preference is to not clip the boat and to get the boat upright as soon as possible. If I get the boat upright and it has float bags in it, it’s much easier to manipulate—whether you’re clipping it, pushing it or bumping it. Ideally we want the boat upright and empty. It’s very easy to rescue at that point but you don’t always get that good of a bounce, well we usually don’t because people are usually upside down.
[ Paddling Trip Guide: View classes at AQ Outdoors ]
After someone swims, the boat is going to be upside down and have a bit of water in it, right, so with this, the most common way I see people try and right the boat is essentially to lean across, grab the gunnel on the other side, push down with this hand and right the kayak. And that works, however, once you get into moving water and it’s a bit more dynamic, that becomes a lot harder. Especially with larger boats and smaller people, it becomes very difficult.
Simon Coward’s chosen method of righting a kayak. | Feature image: AQ Outdoors
A straightforward rescue technique
My preferred way of righting the boat if it is upside down, is just essentially to get alongside it, grab the inside gunnel, and slowly start to right it. Then, I lean away and push away. This way I actually have contact with my paddle the whole time—I don’t have to let go of it. And, it’s very quick and very easy to get the boat back upright again. Now we have a kayak, presuming there are float bags in the back, that’s very easy to push and manipulate and move around. It’s not always going to cooperate, sometimes it’s going to flip back over again.
So, super simple: get alongside it, grab, lean away, push the gunnel away, the boat’s right again and you’re off to the races.
A final push to right a fellow paddler’s kayak. | Image: AQ Outdoors
Rescuing a kayak in whitewater
Okay so I’m presuming I’m running safety at the bottom of this little drop. We’ve got our swimmer out, and this boat’s coming down. The first thing to think about is timing. When am I going to go out and get myself to the boat? I pop out [of the eddy] and I get alongside it. Now I’m going to grab the inside of the kayak and then push. I can spin it [the direction I want it to go] then I push the boat [toward shore]. It’s going to spin. It almost flipped there but there’s not that much water in it so it stayed upright.
I haven’t had to clip the boat at all. So if there were any hazards I’m not at risk of flipping over and getting hung up. Basically I’ve got the boat to shore very quickly, very simply. Now I can get out, and I can empty the water out off the kayak and we can get the paddler back going again.
That’s it, a quick and simple way to rescue a whitewater kayak that doesn’t have a rider anymore. Obviously, it’s ideal that there are float bags in the back, but this method doesn’t require you to let go of your paddle. It doesn’t require you to clip onto the boat. It’s a quick flip push get it into the eddy and you’re off to the races.
AQ Outdoors offers retail and kayak instruction in Calgary and Edmonton. Learn more about their school and stores at AQOutdoors.com.
Simon Coward’s chosen method of righting a kayak. | Feature image: AQ Outdoors
Sometimes headlines can be deceiving. Rather than highlighting specific trips, our list of best paddling “trips” for this year showcases regions with multiple world-class options for canoeing, sea kayaking and whitewater paddling. The result, we believe, is anything but deceptive. This article provides a comprehensive rundown of the best destinations to paddle in 2025.
Of course, curating a “best-of” list doesn’t come without challenges—and biases. We focused on places north of the equator so you can plan great adventures for this year’s summer and fall. We also targeted many of the amazing North American paddling hotspots (including one in Paddling Magazine’s backyard) that we love, as well as a few international destinations that we’re dreaming about. It’s time to start planning your own best paddling trip for 2025.
For half a century, paddlers have been flocking to sign up for guided raft trips on the Ottawa River, in Canada’s National Capital Region. This anniversary is but one reason the Ottawa Valley is a renowned paddling epicenter that’s worthy of topping your list of dream destinations for 2024. Besides exciting whitewater rafting, you’ll also find great recreational kayaking options in view of Parliament Hill in downtown Ottawa.
The mighty Ottawa River, and the nearby Madawaska River, are also home to some of Canada’s best kayak schools and summer camps for kids and adults. You will rapidly discover why the Ottawa River has been instrumental in the development of freestyle kayaking and continues to serve as a proving ground for the world’s best paddlers.
The East Gate of Algonquin Provincial Park is located within a two-hour drive of the nation’s capital, providing great access to a vast network of lake-to-lake canoe trips along with whitewater canoe tripping on the Petawawa River.
Meanwhile, on the Quebec side of the Ottawa River, go paddleboarding on the Gatineau River at the picturesque village of Wakefield (30 minutes from downtown Ottawa) or reserve an island campsite at Parc regional du Poisson-Blanc (about a 90-minute drive from Ottawa) for an easy overnight canoe, kayak or SUP trip.
VIEW ALL ONTARIO & QUEBEC PADDLING TRIPS
Photo: Colin Field/Northwest Territories Tourism
2 Northwest Territories
From whitewater canoe tripping in the legendary Barrenlands on waterways like the Coppermine River, whitewater rafting through the deep canyons of the South Nahanni River, or sea kayaking the remote shores of Great Slave Lake, it’s little wonder why Canada’s Northwest Territories (NWT) is a bucket-list destination for all types of paddlers.
A longtime commitment to adventure tourism has allowed the NWT to achieve a seemingly impossible balance of accessibility and remoteness: you can get to places like Yellowknife, Fort Simpson and Norman Wells on commercial flights, and a host of great outfitters will take it from there.
An incredible array of NWT guided paddling trips are available, from whitewater canoe expeditions for experienced paddlers to family-friendly raft and canoe trips in iconic destinations. NWT outfitters also offer canoe and gear rentals and trip planning services to help arrange floatplane charters to help make your dream a reality.
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Photo: Destination Ontario
3 Northwestern Ontario
The vast region between Lake Superior, Hudson Bay, and the Manitoba and U.S. borders contains enough water and paddling routes to fill lifetimes. Northwestern Ontario is home to countless provincial parks that were seemingly purpose-built for paddlers. Quetico Provincial Park, a quick border crossing away from Minnesota’s Boundary Waters Canoe Area, gives a fantastic glimpse of the potential with thousands of kilometers of wilderness canoe routes.
Venture farther (and with the appropriate backcountry skills) and you’ll find the boreal wilds of Wabakimi, one of Ontario’s largest provincial parks, as well as the unique boreal-meets-prairies scenery of Woodland Caribou Provincial Park. Both of these immense protected areas feature endless canoe tripping on lakes and wild rivers. Farther beyond, rivers like the Winisk draw expert canoe trippers to the Arctic waters of Hudson Bay.
The big lakes of Wabakimi and Woodland Caribou are alluring to sea kayakers, too. But kayakers will be spoilt for choice when they consider the paddling prospects of Lake Nipigon, Lake of the Woods, and of course the massive expanse of the Lake Superior National Marine Conservation Area.
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Feature photo: Travel Alaska
4 Alaska
Alaska is a perennial destination on any outdoor adventure bucket list. The state shines for paddlers, with a well-established array of adventure tourism outfitters allowing just about everyone to experience the wilderness frontier safely and in comfort.
Sea kayaking in Alaska includes the deep, glacier-clad fjords of the northern Inside Passage, including Prince William Sound and Glacier Bay. These island-clogged waters feature iconic marine life like salmon and orcas, as well as jaw-dropping mountain views.
Plan a whitewater kayak trip near Anchorage for a more intimate view of the coastal range. Alaska whitewater rafting expeditions on the Alsek or Tatshenshini rivers, which flow through mountain-rimmed, glacier-clad corridors across the international border and into the Panhandle region, are truly trips of a lifetime. Or, venture into the deep wilderness of the interior for a canoe expedition on Alaska Wild and Scenic rivers like the Noatak, Koyukuk or Kobuk.
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Photo: Paul Vincent/Explore Minnesota
5 Minnesota
The Land of 10,000 Lakes is an obvious destination for where to go paddling in 2024. For starters, the immense Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness makes Minnesota a canoeing epicenter. Supported by great outfitters in towns like Ely and Grand Marais, the Boundary Waters ranks among the top places to canoe in the world, with thousands of miles of route options. What’s more, the million-acre area abuts Ontario’s Quetico Provincial Park for trans-border canoe expeditions. Voyageurs National Park, with its headquarters in International Falls, Minnesota, is made up of mostly huge lakes that are perfect for multiday kayak trips.
Minnesota also fringes on Lake Superior’s northwestern coast, making it an ideal location to explore this inland sea by kayak. Day trips are available from Duluth and Grand Marais and you can also take the ferry to remote and mystical Isle Royale National Park to experience some of the finest freshwater sea kayaking in the world. If that’s not enough, Minnesota is home to the headwaters of the Mississippi River and the Twin Cities of Minneapolis-St. Paul offer some of the finest urban paddling in the world on countless lakes.
Over 150 years ago, American author Henry David Thoreau ventured into Maine’s North Woods by canoe with an Indigenous guide and shared his experiences in a journal that’s become an iconic piece of outdoors literature. The experience of canoe tripping in Maine hasn’t changed much since then—the state’s pristine rivers and remote Appalachian lakes have a reputation as the crowning jewels of the 740-mile Northern Forest Canoe Trail.
Maine also offers outstanding whitewater canoe tripping on the Allagash Wilderness Waterway, along with fine family paddling opportunities in wilderness areas like Rangeley Lakes. Not to be outdone, Acadia National Park is a dreamscape for sea kayaking in coastal Maine. Depending on their skill level, paddlers can explore secluded bays and visit historic lighthouses, or set out on overnight coastal tours into labyrinths of tide-washed granite islands.
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Photo: Visit Kitsap Peninsula
7 Washington
With a diverse geography spanning the Cascade Mountains to the Pacific coast, it’s no surprise Washington offers plenty of opportunities for paddlers. Make 2024 your summer to sea kayak the bucolic San Juan Islands, where you can join a local outfitter for a day tour or rent kayaks and set off on weekend to one-week trips in Puget Sound.
Washington also abounds with whitewater, making it a great destination for a road trip. Rivers like the Skykomish are popular all-season runs in the Seattle area. The White Salmon near Hood River allows you to take in the scenery of the fabulous Columbia River Gorge.
There are plenty of good destinations for canoeing as well, including Lake Chelan, a ribbon-like body of water immersed in the North Cascades, Lake Crescent in Olympic National Park, and Lake Wenatchee in the massive Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest.
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Photo: Visit Wales
8 Wales, United Kingdom
Located on the west coast of Great Britain, Wales’ geography ranges from tide-washed coastal areas to the 3,500-foot-tall mountains of Snowdonia. For expert sea kayakers, a trip to paddle places like Anglesey is like experiencing Mecca: This is arguably the birthplace of modern British-style sea kayaking, where some of the finest paddlers have pitted their skills against immense tidal streams and surf. A wide variety of sea kayak skills courses are available for all levels of paddlers. Meanwhile, Pembrokeshire Coast National Park is renowned for its sea caves, hidden beaches and marine wildlife, making it another great destination for kayak touring.
For a mellower experience canoeists and recreational kayakers can paddle the smaller waters of Snowdonia National Park, including Llyn Padarn. Also in Snowdonia, the River Tryweryn with its class II to IV rapids is an example of the great opportunities for great whitewater kayaking in Wales. Finally, the River Wye is one of the U.K.’s longest waterways, with a rich human history ranging from ancient cave dwellings to Roman settlements and some of the country’s greatest biodiversity, including aquatic mammals and many species of birds. Canoeists can trace a 251-kilometer water trail along its entire course.
Photo: Image Bank Sweden
9 Scandinavia
Long summer days are but one attribute of paddling in Scandinavia. Between Sweden, Finland and Norway, there’s a huge array of experiences available for canoeing and kayaking. The Swedish backcountry offers multitudes of canoe routes amidst a classic landscape of lakes, rivers and boreal forest, with Pieljekaise National Park’s lakes and rivers reflecting the great opportunities for multiday trips in Swedish Lapland.
Not to be outdone, the Lakeland area in the central Finland interior features a similar landscape with multiple protected areas that are best explored by canoe, including Kolovesi National Park, Paijanne National Park and Linnansaari National Park, which is home to a unique population of freshwater ring seals.
Both Finland and Sweden offer outstanding sea kayaking, too. The fjords and islands of Norway’s Lofoten area, however, take coastal scenery to the next level with incredible seascapes and historic fishing villages clinging to the rocky shore. Globetrotting paddlers can go even farther by planning the trip of a lifetime to Svalbard, an extremely remote cluster of Norwegian Arctic islands home to glaciers, polar bears and reindeer.
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Photo: António Duarte
10 Portugal
Portugal is an off-the-radar Mediterranean paddling destination that’s gaining recognition as one of Europe’s best places to kayak for its smooth-flowing rivers and idyllic pastoral scenery. The Douro River flows through a living picture postcard of sparsely forested hills, ancient homesteads and some of the planet’s best vineyards. The climate is mild, the people are friendly, and you can paddle inn to inn on guided canoe or kayak tours with local experts handling the logistics for a more immersive journey. Tributaries of the Douro, including the Mondego River, offer unique experiences on smaller watercourses with the same Old World feel.
Settling on the right gear storage solution can make the difference between smooth paddling and a spoiled time on trip. Drybags are fantastic for shaping to spaces, but not always up to the rigors of a long canoe trip. Whether you’re looking to protect your phone, your camera, your camp kitchen or your whole kit—we’ve got you covered. Below, eight weather-proof gear boxes go head-to-head against the OG wooden wanigan for gear storage supremacy.
Meet the RUX 70L, a gear storage companion that’s neither quite a box nor a bag. Crafted from flexible, waterproof TPU-coated 840D nylon, it adapts to your needs with aluminum corner stays that work like magic slap bracelets. Need a stiff box? Done. Want it flat for storage? No problem. Set up might require a quick video tutorial the first time, but the 70L is worth it. Most suited to frontcountry camping and portage-free paddling, the built-in grab handles and removable backpack straps make it a breeze to carry, while its wide, rigid opening ensures easy access. The RUX 70L is lightweight, rugged and weatherproof, and the Paddling Mag staff were all quite taken with it—until we checked the price tag. For $369, a paddler could buy 30 large Rubbermaid bins at $11.99 each and organize the whole gear room, not just the camp kitchen.
Meet the OG gear box, a timeless favorite that was the go-to for hardy voyageurs for a couple centuries. Still revered by trad trippers and canoe camp enthusiasts, many claim the wanigan is the real MVP on a trip. Need to haul food or oddly shaped essentials? It’s the go-to storage for cooking pots, large utensils, stove fuel, hatchet and bush saw. And the wanigan is not just mere storage, oh no—it moonlights as a makeshift bench or dining table for your wilderness feast. The wanigan pictured here weighs just under 10 pounds. It’s not featherlight, but fans swear by its durability and repairability. The classic wanigan is often DIY-ed with plywood and pine and is an affordable weekend project—for roughly $50, you too can tump around with a piece of history.
Portages can be a pain, but they don’t have to hurt. The new Wanigan Harness from Recreational Barrel Works offers a comfortable solution for carrying traditional wanigans, the NRS Canyon and Boulder dry boxes (below) and many hard-sided coolers. The modern Wanigan Harness features shoulder straps and a cushy foam back pad. The combination of the two prevents the gear box’s bottom edge from digging into the paddler’s back. Weighing just one pound, it’s lightweight but can carry up to 65 pounds. Designed for camps, outfitters and individuals alike, expect the top-tier quality RBW is known for. Fits gear boxes from 18 to 29 inches long, 12 to 17 inches wide, and 10 to 17 inches tall.
Pelican started in 1976 out of the California garage of founder Dave Parker when he began designing first aid kits. As the story goes, the durable and waterproof cases were a hit with divers, who tossed out the first aid supplies and used the cases to protect other valuables. From those humble beginnings, Pelican has become a go-to for military personnel, first responders and international river runners, protecting fragile equipment in the world’s harshest environments. Getting dropped, run over, submersed and facing TSA scrutiny unaccompanied is all in a day’s work for the waterproof and crushproof 1500 Case. The 1500 is an ideal size for photo and film enthusiasts toting multiple lenses. It is buoyant with up to 50 pounds and throws in a lifetime guarantee, too. Paddling Mag’s publisher has been using this eight-pound case for more than a decade.
A favorite among rafters, campers, hunters and tailgaters, Yeti needs no introduction. Their LoadOut GoBox 30 is a fully submersible beast with tie-down points and lock ports for any wild escapade. Team it up with Yeti’s many accessories—cargo trays and gear compartments—for an organized interior. Yeti’s Pack Attic accessory nests in the lid with three large zippered compartments for stashing small items. Use the hefty hauler handle for one-hand carries. The GoBox 30 weighs 12 pounds and is ideal for stowing the camp kitchen or food. The smaller 15 size has just enough room for fragile essentials, while the burly 60 is a full-on gear locker. The only complaint from Yeti fans? The GoBox comes in just four colors: white, orange, black and tan.
Perfectly sized for stowing a phone, cash and key fob while on the water, Otterbox’s Drybox 3250’s padded foam interior protected our editor’s valuables while bouncing around the cockpit on a 52-day kayak trip last summer. As for the polycarbonate case itself, Otterbox claims you can “beat the living daylights out of it”—and honestly, we tried. Weighs less than a pound and is waterproof up to 90 feet for 30 minutes. Paddling Mag’s designer has dreams of turning it into a mini fly fishing tackle box next.
The NRS Canyon and its little brother, the Boulder, boast 3.6 and 1.6 cubic feet of roominess inside, respectively. These rain-defying gear boxes won’t win gold in a flip test, but they sure can keep things dry. Just snug the straps tight to ensure a secure lid fit, and then forget about rain and splashing. The Canyon weighs 13.5 pounds, while the Boulder weighs 8.8 pounds. There aren’t handles, but you can rig your own with straps fed through the holes on each end. These polyethylene cases are essentially modern wanigans and perfectly sized for stashing your camp kitchen gear or a week’s worth of food. They’re affordable sidekicks whether in your canoe, at camp or on the road in a truck bed. NRS advises against turning these gear boxes into seats, as the compression might mess with the foam weatherstripping in the lid. Opt for gray or yellow to suit your style.
Waterproof and built to withstand the rigors of the most rugged adventures, S3 Cases’ gear boxes are built with tough injection molded ABS to keep your delicates safe. The one-pound T3500 model is perfectly sized to carry midsize items, like small medical kits, microphones, multiple cell phones and wallets, sunglasses, power banks and GPS units. The four-pound T6500 is more appropriate for storing large DSLR cameras, drones, laptops, and other compact and fragile equipment. Both models’ heavy-duty hinges and handle pins are extra tough and confidence-inspiring. Available in black, yellow and red at salamanderpaddlegear.com for paddlers in the United States and underwaterkineticscanada.com for paddlers in Canada.
This article was first published in the Spring 2024 issue of Paddling Magazine. Subscribe to Paddling Magazine’s print and digital editions, or browse the archives.
Norm Hann navigates the offshore islands and narrow waterways of B.C.’s north coast, en route to Kitkatla at the end of the expedition. | Feature photo: Bruce Kirkby
The notorious waters of Hecate Strait separate the islands of Haida Gwaii from British Columbia’s northern coastline. Renowned for strong winds, powerful tidal currents, frequent storms and shallow waters, Hecate is listed by Environment Canada as the most dangerous body of water on the entire Canadian coast and the fourth most dangerous in the world.
John Vaillant, author of The Golden Spruce, describes Hecate this way: “The Strait is a malevolent weather factory. During winter storms, waves can reach 10 to 20 meters and expose the sea floor. The result is one of the most diabolically hostile environments that wind, sea and land are capable of conjuring.”
Generations ago, the Haida First Nation crossed the Strait routinely in great cedar canoes, up to 60 feet long and six feet wide. Carrying as many as 100 men, they were able to disappear back across Hecate’s moody waters where none dared follow.
The recent history of human-powered Hecate-crossings is scanter. Masset kayaker Chris Williamson made two attempts in the 1990s. One was successful; the other turned back at night by changing winds. Legendary painter Stewart Marshall from Sointula Island sailed a homemade kayak 200 nautical miles across southern Hecate in a storm, surviving for three days on popcorn and coffee before arriving at Cape St. James. In 2008, a group of four young Haida Gwaii men crossed in double sea kayaks as part of a fundraiser.
Norm Hann navigates the offshore islands and narrow waterways of B.C.’s north coast, en route to Kitkatla at the end of the expedition. | Feature photo: Bruce Kirkby
To put the challenge in perspective, in the 70 years since Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay first climbed Everest, another 12,000 climbers have stood on the summit. In the same span, you could count on your fingers the number who have paddled across Hecate.
A first, unrealized attempt
I first met Norm Hann at a storytelling festival in 2016. Quiet and confident, Norm was a successful SUP racer, well-known for long coastal journeys in support of First Nations issues. I’d recently paddleboarded from Port Hardy to Tofino, and we had lots in common. When Norm called a few months later and asked if I’d consider trying to paddle across Hecate with him, my reply was an enthusiastic yes.
The next June, we met in Prince George, with plans of carrying on toward Haida Gwaii, and tackling Hecate. But with one storm after another crashing into the B.C. coast—and no end to the foul weather in sight—we reluctantly turned around.
Thank goodness because we weren’t ready. Not even close.
A few months later, I herniated a disc in my back. Unable to even walk for months, I was devastated. The dream of crossing Hecate seemed impossible. Little did I know, the five-year recovery journey would be a gift that left us a much stronger team, and much better prepared to tackle Hecate.
A key to crossing Hecate is choosing the right weather window. No one conquers the Strait. Rather, they sneak across in a rare moment of calm, always aware conditions could change in a heartbeat.
For summer after summer, we watched Hecate’s weather patterns, recording forecast wind and wave heights versus actual buoy observations. We learned what conditions preceded rare calm periods and how long the smooth waters lasted. Entire seasons would pass without a single favorable paddling day.
As my body healed, Norm and I tackled increasingly challenging SUP expeditions together, first retracing a Gitgat Grease Trail in the Great Bear Rainforest, then rounding Cape Scott, Brooks Peninsula, and finally Cape Caution. We grew comfortable paddling side by side in rough waters, aware of what the other was thinking without words, and able to make decisions even while battered by wind and waves.
As the seasons passed, we trimmed our gear to the barest minimum and learned to load our boards so they could ride downwind swells, push through chop and land safely in surf. We experimented with a vast constellation of different boards before eventually designing our own expedition paddleboards: Norm with Sunova and me with Starboard.
At last, setting out across the Strait
In May 2023—six years after first planning to cross Hecate—Norm and I arrived in Prince Rupert by ferry, long after midnight. With rain pelting down, we pitched our tent in a dark corner of a parking lot, listening to the marine weather forecast on a crackling VHF radio. The frontal system lashing the North Pacific would dissipate over the next day, and just as we had hoped, a brief period of light and variable winds would follow. Game on.
Twenty-four hours later, we stood on the desolate shores of Rose Spit. Few words were shared as we loaded boards and double-checked GPS waypoints. Then we were off. With a brisk west wind at our backs, we knew there would be no turning back.
Bruce Kirkby, safely tucked ashore on a rocky islet north of Banks Island, stares out across the eternity of Hecate Strait. | Photo: Norm Hann
Gusty winds pressed us over smooth waters, and we covered 7.5 kilometers in the first hour—great progress for fully loaded boards. Then Hecate began to show her capricious nature. Ocean swell built from the north, hitting us on our rear quarter. Then the ebb tide turned to flood, and an aggressive wind chop arrived, mixing with the swell and turning the ocean into a confused mess. Our progress slowed to five kilometers per hour. Then four. Then, a painful three and a half.
[ Plan your next B.C. paddleboarding trip with the Paddling Trip Guide ]
The minutes and hours crawled past. We spent a lot of time alone with our thoughts. I struggled not to concentrate on our speed—for it felt dishearteningly slow. Snacks and gulps of water were stolen between strokes. On those lonely waters, we saw nothing save a few gulls. Not a single whale or boat. For 12 hours, we never stopped paddling.
Eventually, the peaks of Stephens Island appeared through mists, inching closer. Twenty kilometers to go. Then 10. Dusk had descended by the time we reached the first rocky headlands. When we crawled ashore at last, neither of us could walk very well—or form complete sentences. But we shared the overwhelming joy of having finally achieved a long-sought-after goal. After setting up a tent, we used our last reserves to cook a freeze-dried meal, then collapsed into sleeping bags.
This article was first published in the Spring 2024 issue of Paddling Magazine. Subscribe to Paddling Magazine’s print and digital editions, or browse the archives.
Norm Hann navigates the offshore islands and narrow waterways of B.C.’s north coast, en route to Kitkatla at the end of the expedition. | Feature photo: Bruce Kirkby
This is the wave that never ends, it surges on and on, my friend. | Feature photo: David Jackson
A few days upstream of James Bay, over the seething volume of a flooded Nottoway River in mid-June, Benny Marr hollered from a boat length away, “In my imagination, it goes on forever.”
Finding the forever rapid on Quebec’s Nottoway River
He was referring to the seemingly endless rapid we were entering. It’s the sort of whitewater this region is famous for, where waves can be measured in stories and holes appear that could devour a house. His voice faded into the river, and for a time, he was right; this was a never-ending joy train of towering waves, a river he’d only visited once before, featuring the type of high-volume wilderness whitewater he’d searched the world for.
When holes began to open mid-river—ones I looked up at and down into—Benny opted to go river right. When the horizon disappeared, the river appeared far below some hidden gradient, and Benny hit the gas hard to the middle. It was a ferry not for the faint of heart in fully loaded long boats. With each of his strokes, he flashed a little thumbs up to where he was going next.
This is the wave that never ends, it surges on and on, my friend. | Feature photo: David Jackson
As the tongue unraveled below, so did my stomach. All I could discern in the chaos beneath was a needle of water moving through a two-sided hole of destruction. It was Benny’s line, but I missed.
Back to the beginning
Four days earlier, we had left a rough gravel road behind and begun a 260-kilometer paddle that would end where the road meets the ocean in the Cree community of Waskaganish. Benny and Dan Sutherland were fresh from a big wave scouting mission in Quebec, and I was here to experience the mighty Nottaway I’d heard so much about.
For days we navigated the large stormy lakes that provide the Nottoway River’s volume. At this flood level, the water wasn’t just lapping at the tree trunks but well into the forest. We paddled until the last touch of pink in the sky before tucking into a sad highwater hovel each night.
In the wake of the lakes came horizon lines so wide they induced both joy and nausea. Looking downstream, we saw plumes of mist half a kilometer wide. The riverbanks didn’t lend themselves to shoreline scouts. In lieu of a view, Benny launched a drone to scout for lines. We huddled around the tiny screen, following Benny’s finger down the obvious course. It always looks breezy from above.
Upon entering, the lines disappeared, and holes greeted us. Afterward, Benny proclaimed he was still “figuring out this drone scouting thing.” This wasn’t the Congo River, where Benny and a legendary team of expedition kayakers used helicopters to scout Inga Rapids and where he was later airlifted off a small island above an unfathomable cataract. On the Nottoway, there was no chopper or big team, just Benny reminding me to “only look where you want to go, ignore the rest, and stay away from the edges.” I watched as he left the obvious lines to prospect for joy, trying for bigger, making meaning from chaos, using his boat like a painter’s brush to explore the canvas of a wild rapid.
[ Plan your next Quebec whitewater kayaking trip with the Paddling Trip Guide ]
A Google search of Benny Marr reveals glimpses into his life. An Ottawa Valley youth toting a mullet. The first descent of Site Zed on the Stikine River. The viral Lions Bay drainage ditch descent. Canyons in Papa New Guinea, among others. He is one of whitewater’s most well-known paddlers and nabbed the cover of Rapid magazine three times.
One evening, I pointed out a small, deep pool with walleye in it out front of camp. Benny was all smiles when they pulled, and his face focused when I instructed him on filleting them. All these years on the water and the river still has more to teach.
Drama and deliverance
But back to my missed hole. When I rolled up, I could hear Benny high above and behind me screaming, “You’re a warrior, Dave!” But I needed out, I needed air, and this hole was too big to escape. Next thing I knew, it was violent, then I was hanging onto Benny’s bow, blood pouring from my knuckle, fending for myself through holes, catching glimpses of Dan with my boat. It was a long 15 minutes before Benny nudged me into a shoreline eddy. Lying amidst boulders under the warm sun, the guys were laughing. Dan narrowly escaped the hole opposite me, and the good fortune of one swimmer instead of two was a wholehearted relief.
On shore, Dan emptied my boat of water as I lay exhausted, staring at the blue sky. I pointed to a piece of chaga on a birch tree up the bank. Benny grabbed his river knife and removed it, smiling. He’d never found the fungi responsible for the earthy tea before. Sitting around the steaming steeped brew that evening, we talked about the big rapids still to come and the 50 kilometers of windy James Bay we would have to paddle to get to the road; we reminisced on bad swims, and Benny shook his head at the day’s drama.
He was there in his happy place, beside a rapid he had searched the world for, one that stretched pulsing into the horizon, a ride that goes on forever in his mind. He talked about coming back next year, and it dawned on me this big, obscure river wasn’t just another expedition; it was the epitome of his life, intertwined with the pulse of wild water.
This article was first published in the Spring 2024 issue of Paddling Magazine. Subscribe to Paddling Magazine’s print and digital editions, or browse the archives.
This is the wave that never ends, it surges on and on, my friend. | Feature photo: David Jackson
When disaster strikes, guides’ livelihoods are often among the most immediately impacted. Think hurricanes, wildfires and, of course, the shutdowns of a global pandemic. When the public spaces and waterways we enjoy are inaccessible, guides are left without work. Combine this with the already limited benefits that accompany the fact most guides are contractors or seasonal employees, and you have a recipe for hardship.
Photo: Courtesy Guide Relief Program
The relief program rescuing guides in times of hardship
These reasons are largely what has motivated Mollie Simpkins to found the nonprofit organization the Guide Relief Program, which is now running a specific fundraising campaign called Guide Across America.
“We all choose our professions,” shares Simpkins. “Because we’ve chosen to be guides that doesn’t mean we shouldn’t have access to benefits.”
Simpkins, who also serves as the executive director of the program, works in various management roles at Sweetwater Flyshop, in Montana’s Yellowstone country. When the world went into lockdown during the COVID-19 pandemic, Simpkins’ boss wanted to put together a fundraiser to help Montana’s guides through the trying time. Utilizing a background in the nonprofit sphere, Simpkins stepped up to lead the fundraising effort, and took it beyond a singular event by founding the relief organization.
The Guide Relief Program offers grants to guides facing hardship through a straightforward application process. The relief program also assists guides with access to needs including mental health and well-being services. To date, Simpkins shares that the fund has awarded $36,000 in grants. An example of the program jumping into action was following the June 2022 Yellowstone floods, when guides lost work due to the destruction.
Now, in an effort to take the work of the Guide Relief Program mainstream throughout the U.S., the nonprofit has partnered with Sawyer Paddles and Oars and the Fly Fishing Film Tour in a fundraising sweepstakes, Guides Across America.
“Everybody in the paddle industry and everybody in the outdoor guiding industry are really good at responding after catastrophic events devastate these communities that really rely on a tourism economy,” believes Sawyer CEO Zac Kauffman.
“When an event happens, everybody kind of rallies around to get food, water, power, infrastructure, and then tourism isn’t even a thought. And it’s really like that’s the last thing to come about,” Kauffman adds in reference to the precarious state of local guiding communities hit by disaster.
Kauffman, whose company is based in Oregon, was involved with support for guiding communities in southwest Florida following Hurricane Ian, when he got to thinking—if his small business on the other side of the country can help out, maybe a larger campaign of guides helping guides throughout the U.S. could be formed.
Kauffman conjured the Guides Across America sweepstakes, then found Simpkins and her existing organization bent on supporting the guiding community. The pair, along with the Fly Fishing Film Tour, have now combined their efforts to strengthen the funding the Guide Relief Program has accessible for those affected by catastrophe.
Feature photo: Courtesy Guide Relief Program
A good cause and a chance to win a hefty prize
The sweepstakes includes a long list of sponsors, and by donating, entrants stand a chance to win a prize package worth $17,000 and includes a set of Sawyer Oars, an Outcast Sporting Gear raft, a Downriver Equipment frame, and a guided stay at the Royal Big Horn Lodge in Montana. Best of all, entering the sweepstakes supports the guiding community many paddlers have worked in, and continue to work, in as part of the lifestyle we all hold dear.
“A lot of our team, myself included, come from the guiding industry. I was a guide for 30 years and that’s basically how I ended up with Sawyer,” Kauffman adds of the significance of supporting the community both personally and as a business. “No matter where you are, we have a common element, we are all water guides.”
“Some are fast. Some are slow. Some are high. Some are low.” —Dr. Seuss | Feature photo: Peter Bowers
My first canoe was a junker. A generation older than me, this hand-me-down was just 14 feet long and weighed a hefty 80 pounds. It was all fiberglass, aluminum and paint. The multiple cover-up jobs had taken it from blue to green to rubber duck yellow in half-assed attempts to hide its many scratches, chips and gouges.
Car topping it solo was out of the question—the missing passenger side mirror of my parent’s van was a testament to why—and solo lifting to portage was a feat of both acrobatics and athleticism with a 50 percent chance of success or chiropractic failure.
My first canoe took me to places that had previously only been a smattering of blue and green on folded paper. It carried me through morning mist to reveal moose grazing and caused a happy little lurch in my stomach whenever I lifted the garage door—the promise of adventure woven in layers of tired fiberglass.
“Some are fast. Some are slow. Some are high. Some are low.” —Dr. Seuss | Feature photo: Peter Bowers
In waves my first canoe may have taken on more water than some, and yes, its oil canning hull ensured it always felt like I was paddling a barge, but it was mine and it floated and I loved it. Her name is Nessie.
An old flame for new paddlers
When we all started canoeing, it didn’t much matter what we were paddling. Aramid, polyethelene, Spectra and Royalex were words without meaning—a foreign language spoken only by older, bearded and flannel-wearing fellows we met on the portage trails. An appreciation of how materials and design affect performance is irrelevant when there’s no concept of what performance feels like.
Nowadays, it’s a different story. I have a sexy red lightweight tripper that is far more suited to the type of paddling I like to do. I can car-top it solo and announcements of upcoming portages aren’t followed by a sad sigh of resignation. My tripper isn’t ideal for every occasion though. I’m lusting after a sleek solo racer for lunchtime jaunts, and a traditional wood canvas design for Sunday afternoons.
It’s been years since I’ve paddled Nessie. She still hits the water a few times each summer, borrowed by friends who are unencumbered by such considerations as tracking and tumblehome. Nessie is a vessel to adventure. And I’m sure if you asked them, each and every one of my friends would say that Nessie is a great canoe. For the rest of us, this is this year’s Paddling Buyer’s Guide.
This article was first published in the 2014 Paddling Buyer’s Guide and was republished in the Spring 2024 issue of Paddling Magazine. Subscribe to Paddling Magazine’s print and digital editions, or browse the archives.
“Some are fast. Some are slow. Some are high. Some are low.” —Dr. Seuss | Feature photo: Peter Bowers
The Paddling Mag team is thrilled to announce it has been shortlisted in the special interest category at the prestigious 46th annual National Magazine Awards. This nomination underscores the exceptional work of our contributors and staff, whose dedication and passion for paddling have shaped the magazine’s success.
Judges praised Paddling Mag for its user-friendly design and engaging content, noting, “From the very first turn of the page, Paddling Magazine was easy to navigate, fun, and informative to read.” They were impressed by the magazine’s ability to “draw us into its world of technique, cool gear, and—most impressively—breathtaking photography of the places to be discovered.”
Being shortlisted at these distinguished awards, known for recognizing excellence in magazine journalism and creative design, is a significant achievement and we are grateful for the recognition. The award also celebrates the vibrant community that makes our magazine what it is. A huge thank you to our writers and photographers—your stories and visions bring the spirit of paddling alive on our pages!
We are also immensely appreciative of our readers and the paddling community for their continued support and enthusiasm, which fuels our ongoing mission to deliver the best of paddlesports.
Category winners of the National Magazine Awards will be announced on June 7, 2024.
If you’re not already a subscriber, you can dive deeper into the world of paddling with a subscription to Paddling Magazine. If you’re passionate about paddling adventures and value top-notch storytelling, subscribing is the perfect way to ensure you never miss out on our exclusive content. From thrilling expedition stories to expert tips and the latest gear reviews—Paddling Magazine is crafted for enthusiasts by enthusiasts. Subscribe now and let us bring the adventure to your doorstep. If you love paddling, you’ll love Paddling Magazine.
About Joel McBride
About James McBeath
This article was first published in the Spring 2024 issue of Paddling Magazine. 
