Editorial: Dear Readers

April-May 1995

This is an article from WaveLength Magazine, available in print in North America and globally on the web.

by Alan Wilson

Cover Photo: Mix of old and new at a take-out on the Futaleufu River, Chile Photo: Ed Michael, courtesy of FUTAFUND

We were delighted by the enthusastic reception our previous issue received. Many of you expressed congratulations on the format change. Apparently all copies were snapped up as soon as they were available, and we have been deluged with requests for more.

We have also been asked repeatedly... "How can you afford to give Wave~ Length away?"

For the past four years we have made WaveLength freely available to everyone who wanted one. Over that time we have developed a wide readership across North America and abroad.

WaveLength is a labour of love and a product of the good energy of friends and colleagues. It's a sort of meeting place, a blend of articles and photos, plus a wider flow of information and chat on the Internet "WaveNet", and of course the Ocean Kayak Festival, bringing us physically together every year.

WaveLength is also part of our vision of a better world-and the ways in which we see it happening. We assert the value of vertical trees, living animals, clean air and water, as well as the health and happiness of all humans we share the planet with. We want to be out paddling, safely and gently, and with friends, among the islands on the sea.

We have talked with many of you about the future directions of our magazine, how to meet the growing demand without becoming all ads, how to maintain and improve the publication and our networking within the paddling community. And after some debate, we have decided on a new pricing policy for WaveLength.

We are asking readers to help out by contributing the cost of $1.50 per issue for the magazine. We want to make WaveLength as affordable as possible for our readers, while meeting our costs AND providing a commission to the outlets which carry WaveLength-something long overdue. (All distributors will also be listed free of charge in our new "Distributor's Directory").

It will still be cheaper for readers to go into their usual paddling and outdoor stores to pick up a copy (while supplies last), than to take out a subscription. But we do welcome subscriptions as they help support the work we do. Also, a subscription is the only way to ensure that you receive every issue.

For those companies who wish to continue to give WaveLength free to instructional classes or valued customers-we will make the magazine available at a substantial discount. We also offer a discount to paddling clubs who wish to order bulk copies, whether for sale to earn extra club funds or free as a benefit of membership. Environment groups are encouraged to sell WaveLength as a fund-raiser, keeping a dollar of every issue sold.

We hope everyone will feel this new arrangement is fair and equitable, and that you will continue to patronize the outlets where you have been picking up WaveLength. Be sure to ask the store manager to order more if the supply runs out. Or, if you know of a store which should be carrying us-and be listed in our Directory-encourage them to contact us, or give us a call yourself.

With your help, we look forward to many years of happy paddling-and publishing-ahead.

-Alan and Howie, on behalf of the WaveLength team.

PS. Got a story to tell? Got a photo to show off? Get in touch.