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The Call of the River


Title

$29.95

Special Extended Edition (93 Minutes) is now shipping daily!

A Hundred Years of Whitewater Adventure
Whitewater’s history has as many twists and turns as the canyons its pioneers explored. Its story is a collage of unexpected influences, from building boats in friends’ basements to bribing damkeepers to release water. World champions defect from communist regimes and then utilize military by-products for boat materials. Curiosity, ingenuity and outright audacity thrived as paddlers started exploring virgin runs and experimenting with designs and materials to make the sport easier.
Featuring vintage canoeing and kayaking footage, in-depth interviews with eclectic pioneers and captivating narrative, this documentary takes a behind-the-scenes look at what inspires paddlers to answer the call of the river.

  The film chronicles the world of whitewater from its early beginnings in Europe through its position as a major outdoor sport in the world today. From the inaugural FIBArk race on Colorado’s Arkansas River in 1949, to Grumman Aviation entering the aluminum canoe business, the sport’s history is riddled with watershed moments, all of which have been painstakingly documented through more than 100 sources of footage spanning 80 years of history.

Learn how paddling exploded in the 1970s, spurred by the movie Deliverance, slalom’s inclusion in the 1972 Augsburg Olympics, and the advent of nearly indestructible plastic kayaks. Follow along as this cult-classic takes you from world champion defections from communist-occupied countries to the summer camps and clubs that fueled the sport’s early growth and continue to do so today. From early explorations in fragile wood and canvas boats to today’s multi-manufacturer line-up of creek, play and river-running kayaks, nowhere has the sport’s journey from obscurity to mainstream been so thoroughly unveiled.

Nearly 16 million Americans now participate in some form of whitewater paddling every year, all of whom will benefit from this look upstream at where the sport’s been and where it’s still going.
 

Winner, Best Documentary  Reel Paddling Film Festival

1944 "Even World War II had its unintended bright side...a bridge was destroyed, but it created beautiful rapids."
-- French Kayaker Roger Paris

1958 "Those were the days when nobody wore lifejackets. I didn't even know what one was."
--Former Nantahala Outdoor Center President Bunny Johns

1964 "Whenever you saw someone on the river, you became fast friends--because just around the corner, you might need to be."
--Whitewater pioneer Jimmy Holcombe

1968 "People said we were brainless... but it looked okay to us!"
-- Early paddler Bert Hinkley

1976 "We all had long hair and none of us had two dimes to rub together."
-- Perception Kayaks founder Bill Masters

1984 "There were some long winters of eating Velveeta cheese and just hanging out with my boat after I stumbled into the three-dimensional aspect of paddling."
-- Squirt boat pioneer Jesse Whittemore

The Karma Package includes the Special Edition DVD, the Retail edition DVD (better length for showing friends), the poster, and the Directors Cut which identifies rivers, footage sources, and backstory on much of the film. Above all, it buys a hearty thanks from the producers for helping fund the project of telling the history of whitewater sport. Purchases in any amount are appreciated.

Length: 92 Minutes
Festival version: 80 minutes
Interviews: 50
Earliest footage: 1932
Coolest footage: Salida Fibark races 1952

Good Job- honestly nobody has ever done anything close! - Eric Jackson

Every generation of paddlesports eventually finds its Chief Story-teller and Historian. In Kent, we've found ours.  Joe Jacobi, Director, US Canoe and Kayak

Thank you for doing this... too many people, even in our industry, have no idea who these people are. - Darren Bush, Rutabaga Paddlesports, Madison, WI

Our club roster is quite a mix of paddling styles and preferences, and no matter what craft or style or favorite water, Kent Ford’s dvd, The Call of the River, is an excellent gift idea. This video is fun.  It is not repetitive and has far more than a series of crazy or extreme boaters.  Ford tells our history, then introduces the icons of our sport, and they invite us on the wild ride of whitewater history.  - Eric Herman, Poudre Paddlers

The movie was great, and I am not even a paddler!  Really enjoyed seeing it. - Richard Kolko

My passion for the sport and the rivers is as strong as ever.  That video brought a tear to my eye and put a smile on my face  Loved it!  - Scott Gerber

Fabulous accomplishment, What a project!  Amazing contribution to whitewater sport  - John Burton

Fantastic documentary. My favorite section? Seeing the women leading in early canoe camps. - Lisa Riblet

This is Friggin Awesome!</i> - Woody Callaway Liquidlogic Kayaks

Fantastic job; You have captured the common thread of whitewater sport.  Superior work.- Tom Blue

Phenomenal Film--Every one who paddles should make a point to see this.- Matthew Urdan

What Riding Giants did for surfing, this does for paddling.- Mark Singleton, American Whitewater

The most in-depth, detailed piece on kayaking history I have ever seen......much needed for the sport and entertaining to watch as well. - Clay Wright

Wow! I am blown away. I was amazed at all the stuff/footage you pulled together. - Will Leverette

The Call Of the River is mesmerizing - Barry Grimes

I loved Roger Paris part in the film... the war... creating great rapids. Total Wow! - Joe Jacobi Olympic Gold Medalist