Page 36 - WATCH IT! - FW MAGAZINE 2018 Desktop

FOLLOW: was enough to get excited at the possibility give others opportunities I never had. Putting In 2017 we went down to Bend, Oregon, to host sports like stand-up paddleboarding, yoga, and new, uncharted territory. Unfortunately I can’t
@jacob.kelly.surfs of surfing, but we each bought a plane ticket myself out there can be tough sometimes. I’m the River Surf Summit and bring together North mountain biking. There is a meditative aspect to be on the road all the time, though. Calgary is
- knowing we could get there and have nothing like anyone else and get nervous or stressed out, America for the same purpose. It’s amazing to the sport and a level of creativity and expression my home, and I love living here. You’ll still be
LOCATION: to surf. Ultimately, we ended up spending more but when I get back out there on a wave, all that see how much passion there is for the river- that is hard to find elsewhere. In the age of TV on able to find me down at the 10th Street wave
CALGARY, AB. time in the bullet-proof land cruiser, driving up washes away. surfing movement and how we can be a hub for demand and smart phones engineered to keep when I’m not volunteering with Slam Festival
and down the river, than we spent in the water. it right here in Calgary, Alberta. One main theme our attention, river surfing is a much-needed or other river-surf events. I would love to see a
Any particular moment that really moved you? that came up at the summit is that when you go connection to nature and to fitness alternatives clubhouse in the city where surf videos play in
I spotted this one wave-train after a bridge that Tell us about it. to a surf beach in California or Australia, there that develop healthy, happy people. the background and friends share stories about
looked like nothing from the road, but I was done When we surfed in front of the school, I really felt are 100 to 1 people on the beach as there are waves from around the world.
being locked in the truck and I needed to get like I was making a difference. After each surf, surfers. Beach culture is something that improves This is more than just building a tennis court
wet. By the time we suited up and scouted the the boys came up to encourage me. At least I people’s lives. In a world of Netflix and smart or a hockey rink. Building a surf wave is giving What advice do you have for readers who are
section for hazards, a school across from the assume that’s what they were doing—I couldn’t phones, it’s needed even more to get people out something to people that is only found on interested in becoming part of the project or
wave let out a crowd of kids that lined the river understand their language, but we connected on of the house. The world-class surf wave we are an ocean coastline. The only other thing that helping out?
bank. When I finally got to my feet and made a level beyond words (mostly high fives and fist proposing for the city will be surfed by thousands comes close is artificial wave pools that are All of the info is on our website, albertariversurfing.
my turns on the bucking river-bowl, I just kept bumps). One kid was especially taken by what I of people. But more than that, we want it to be a gaining popularity. These pay-to-use facilities com. We post about fundraisers, gear, where to
thinking this is for them and not for me. was doing out there. After every surf, he came to public space that is used by millions. This will be are developing the sport of surfing and allowing learn to surf, and river safety. From our site, you
cheer me on. When we were packing up, I showed a landmark after it’s built and a model for other athletes to work on their maneuvers in ways can also connect to our Facebook page and
For a kid in Afghanistan, up to that point, surfing how the fin key worked and handed it to him as river cities around the world to follow. never before possible in an ocean. But when group. By far, the best way to show support is
was impossible. All I wanted to do was travel to a a memento from the day. He wouldn’t accept it compared to river waves, the cost doesn’t add to purchase a membership. It’s only $20, and it
new place and find some waves, but surfing those at first. After our host translated to the boy that What key things have kept you going, and why? up for the average person in Alberta. River waves adds you to our newsletter so you can keep in
waters opened those kids’ eyes to the possibility I was offering him a gift, he held it proudly. Later, Actually, the Surf YYC project is just getting cost less than a quarter of the price to build and touch with all the developments and activities
of surfing in their home. Seeing surfing in movies Ehsan told me that he told the boy that I was started. Our focus for the Alberta River Surfing millions less to operate, and they produce over happening throughout Alberta.
and magazines is all I had access to as a kid. But giving him the key to surfing in Afghanistan. Association has been on the Kananaskis this three times the amount of wave time for surfers.
from the moment I saw someone on a surfboard, past decade. Last year our community reached The structure required merely harnesses the raw
I knew I wanted that in my life—no matter what it You have also started working on ‘10th Street around 400 surfers, and the wave we built in power that already exists in a river. We just shape
took to make it happen. It felt incredible to now Waves and Urban Beach.’ What inspired you to 2014 is maxed out. The reason river surfing hasn’t its flow to minimize the risk and turn the current
be the one to give that gift. do this project, and how has it been so far? exploded here is that it’s still relatively unknown, into a playground.
In 2014 I was fortunate enough to speak at and access is limited. Building a surf beach in
It’s a pretty personal look at your life and your a River Wave Forum in Munich, Germany, on downtown Calgary would be revolutionary. Lastly, what can we expect from you in the
involvement with the surf community. Were you the topic of river-surf associations. The forum Thousands of Albertans and thousands more future? Where will the road take you and what
nervous about putting so much of yourself out brought together all the community leaders travelling in from out of province can now tap waves will you surf next?
there? in Europe to share ideas and lessons learned into that same feeling that got me hooked all There are still lots of monster river-waves in
I would have loved to have found surfing when about wave-building. Since then, Surf Anywhere those years ago. River surfing is low impact remote rivers around the world that I want to
I was a kid growing up in Alberta. I’m just trying has been researching wave design and making and low risk, and it’s perfect cross training for check off my list. I can see Unsurfed Afghanistan
to do as much as I can to spread this thing and connections with river surfers around the world. snowboarding, skateboarding, and other balance growing into a project that brings surfing into

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