50th Issue Editorial: As the Season Blooms

August-September 1999

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

by Alan Wilson

Cover photo: Desolation Sound by Al Harvey shot with 50 ASA Fuji Velvia film

Summer is here... at long last... on the moody, often wet, west coast. The morning light is mellow on the forest today and all is right with the world.

It was a long time coming this year, with a series of Pacific low pressure systems through June, but it's hot now and the paddling season is blooming Despite the wet spring, the Coast Kayak Symposium on Thetis Island over the May long weekend was blessed as always with gorgeous weather. Mercia Sixta sure knew what she was doing when she selected that date.

We all thought Wendell Phillips was safe in holding his inaugural Paddle Festival in the arid Okanagan Valley, but Friday night and much of Sunday of June 19-20 saw uncharacteristic precipitation-though Saturday was beautiful. Still the Paddle Festival proved the organizing talents of Wendell and his great team of volunteers. The site is superb, with a fine sandy beach, gentle waters, and a level field for displays. There were lots of new kayaks and gear to be tried, great speakers and a big crowd. We hope they do it again!

The first ever Vancouver Island PaddleFest in Ladysmith, BC, organized in conjunction with Ladysmith Days,

is impending as I write this. Another new one, the Bamfield Sea Kayak Festival, will be held Sept. 1819 in Barkely Sound, BC with races and fun.

Coincidentally, that is also the date of the year's biggest paddling event, the annual West Coast Sea Kayak Symposium organized by the Trade Association of Paddle Sports, in Port Townsend, Washington.

TAPS holds various symposia in the USA throughout the year. Looking over this range of events-including the one-day Paddlefest held back in May in Victoria by Ocean River Sports-I count four new events this year in BC alone. The sports r3 definitely expanding


Traditional sunshine for Mercia Sixta on the May long weekend

You know, it's wonderful to see all these old and new friends introducing the joys of paddling to the public and maintaining the bond of the paddling community.

It's a big job, and a tremendous responsibility. Five years of hosting the Ocean Kayak Festival took an enormous amount of our time and energy. It was fun, but stressful. We're happy and thankful now to leave the organizing to these many capable hands!

These days we've got our hands full with the magazine, in both print and electronic formats. We're happy just to get on the water recreationally, when we can, to restore our balance and buoyancy.., which is what paddling is all about, after all.