Page 34 - WATCH IT! - FW MAGAZINE 2018

T OUCHING LIVES WITH THE

L O VE OF SURFING

My passion and passtime is river surfing. Like most Rocky Mountain surfers, I learned to surf in warmer
waters and came home looking for its next closest relatives. Snowboarding, longboarding, SUP, and
slackline, but nothing seemed to scratch the itch. The only thing that would light up my soul was trips to
the coast. Over time, river surfing consumed all that.

How did you first get into surfing? What attracted myself that I would invest my earnings into Always on the road, you must have a huge
you to the sport? memories instead of things. It seemed to be the appreciation for the great outdoors and a dear
I first learned to surf in Australia. Like most kids perfect storm for river-surf exploration. This is a connection with nature. What does “giving back”
growing up in rural Alberta, I played hockey and new world that is completely uncharted. There are mean to you?
skied in the mountains but was always attracted endless waves out there, completely untouched I just want to do everything I can to ensure these
to surfing since I first saw it on TV. The first time by other surfers, waiting to be discovered. wild waves are still around for future generations
I rode a board in the ocean I was hooked. I came to explore. I don’t think everyone has to be
back to the Rockies with a fresh enthusiasm for You set out on a mission to surf 100 river waves. a hard-core hippie to make that happen, but
snowboarding, longboarding big hills, and any If you had to recommend a location or river that making smarter decisions in the short term can
other chance I could get to ride a board. For me you’ve visited on your mission, where would you go a long way. It’s not always easy, but stopping
it was the mindfulness required to centre myself send us? to think about how much waste we produce
into the complete present moment and the pure The perfect experience for someone looking to and being earth-wise in the things we do on a
self-expression that comes out of that. It carried get into the scene is making the annual spring regular basis—like our trips to the grocery store
through to all the other aspects of my life, making pilgrimage to the Lochsa River in northern Idaho. or cleaning house—can ensure a healthy future.
me more present, patient, mindful, and creative. About a 10 hour drive southwest of Calgary,
Alberta, this barrelling river wave offers a five out How’d you get involved with Surf Anywhere?
How did this transition into river surfing? of five for a good surf trip. The wave quality is Surf Anywhere started pretty simply with
After getting bit by the surf bug, that was it. If world-class and relatively safe if you are a strong the Alberta River Surfing Association. We are
even remotely close to surfing, I would try it until swimmer. Its prime levels can be predicted in fortunate to have the Kananaskis River in our
my next trip back to the ocean. My favourite was advance so you know it will be good when you playground in the Rocky Mountains. Here’s the
starting the University of Lethbridge Surf Club get there. The scenery follows a raging river special thing the Kan offers that other rivers
with a few friends and taking some freshmen weaving through lush mountains and stretching don’t: The Transalta power dam turns the river
kooks down to the California coastline to teach high into heartwarming sunsets. With a range on and off every day. The ability to turn a river
them how to ride waves on our reading break. of accommodations from tenting at the base of off is like building a laboratory for river-wave
After returning from our first trip south, one of the hot springs to rustic cabins down the road, building. In the earliest years of the Alberta
the club members sent me a newspaper clipping there’s something for everyone. Cell service is nil River Surf Association, we worked to develop
of surfing the 10th Street wave in downtown to none, and the population of the nearest town better waves for surfing. With each approved
Calgary. I laughed at the thought of riding such is 24. The water is fresh, cool, and crystal clear construction period, we moved rocks and could
a tiny wave and told Jeff I would stick to the and can easily wash away whatever stress and directly see their outcome. This compressed
ocean, thanks. Regardless of my restraint, he had worries await you back in the city. lifetimes of modelling and research into less than
me surfing a wave in Kananaskis in no time. The a decade, and the outcome was a surf wave we
wave lacked the power and rhythm of any ocean, What are your three must-have bits of kit for a are all proud of. Building the “Mountain Wave” in
but, that feeling I had the first time I learned to river-surfing adventure? 2014 put us centre-stage for other eager wave-
surf in Australia came rushing back. Since then I’m always near a river. So instead of packing water building communities, and the emails started
I’ve been addicted to riding new river-waves and or wasting plastic, I have a LifeStraw water bottle coming in. We have since been working with
bringing back that first-time feeling. that I don’t leave home without. Our equipment other river surf associations around the world to
isn’t much different from ocean surfers, so a produce the same results. The joy that surfing
Can you recall the moment you decided to live quality wetsuit and a decent surfboard is really brings to my day-to-day life is the ultimate gift
a more adventurous life? Did something happen all you need. Some glamping supplies can make I can give someone else. It’s been incredibly
to make you want to explore as you are now? a tent in the woods feel like home, and a camera challenging and equally rewarding to pour all my
Growing up, I always knew there was something or journal are always nice to have. But beyond free time into building waves and community.
else out there for me. I grew up in small-town all that, you need to bring a friend—someone to
Okotoks, so there wasn’t much to do except watch your back, share some drinks with around What did you hope to achieve from your
play in the river and build tree forts with my the campfire, and especially help you exaggerate Unsurfed Afghanistan documentary?
younger brother. Pretty early in, I developed a the stories of the sweet, sweet surf you scored To be honest, I didn’t really know what we would
thirst for making my own fun through seeking when you get back home. Surfing can be a very find or have a concrete goal when we started
A386632 $400 out adventure. I can’t drill it down to a specific minimalizing activity—with each trip, I try to pack planning the trip to Afghanistan. We didn’t even
moment, but at some point I made a deal with less and less. know if there would be waves. The intel we had
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