Photo : Caleb Roberts Is there anywhere in the world that you want to keep going back repeatedly ? I have been in a pattern for a while . And I love that . But there are a few places I have gone to once where I swore I would never stop going , year after year , and that I would find a way to live there , but I only went once ( Ish ). That is a more interesting answer because I love going to the Ottawa River or up into Quebec . I adore the rivers and community in British Columbia and feel so at home in White Salmon , WA .
Enjoy . Go to the Ottawa River to hone your skills in the most fun and perfect
“ training environment .
PADDLER 19
www . bennyfcknmarr . com
Photo : Caleb Roberts Is there anywhere in the world that you want to keep going back repeatedly ? I have been in a pattern for a while . And I love that . But there are a few places I have gone to once where I swore I would never stop going , year after year , and that I would find a way to live there , but I only went once ( Ish ). That is a more interesting answer because I love going to the Ottawa River or up into Quebec . I adore the rivers and community in British Columbia and feel so at home in White Salmon , WA .
I could live in Africa on the banks of the Nile ( I wish ) or close to the Zambezi , and now I am living as close as possible to the Futaleufu in Chile . But the places I travelled to , swore I would return to and have not are Colombia , Ecuador , and Mexico . Though I spent a few trips in Mexico , the others I was sure I would locate there , and I did not .
With all the expeditions you have undertaken , it ’ s a tough call , but does one pop up as a favourite of yours ? They always kept getting better . One of my favourites was a long mission in British Columbia with Ben Stookesberry and Chris Korbulic . I was able to jump in at the last minute after healing up a biking injury . We didn ’ t paddle much , but it was a long and incredible journey through grand mountains .
If you had to choose one last thing you wanted to achieve within WW paddling before giving it up , what would that be ? There is a big rapid in Quebec that I would love to run . I call it the Neverending Story . It is a onekilometre long mega rapid .
You ’ re big on food intake and the balance needed to get the best from your body . What ’ s a typical food day for Ben Marr ? I am all over the place all the time . I cannot , at this stage , claim any long-term health balance . I have spent time on either end of the health spectrum . My reputation is healthier than my reality . I am not afraid to dip into indulgence and spend some time there , but I have also spent a lot of time very intentionally eating and hydrating . I can be delighted with the quality of a day out performance-wise with either , but one feels much better !
Can you talk about your training , cold showers , yoga , etc ? Who / what keeps you motivated ? I often get into cold water when it is accessible and when I am sore . The same goes for yoga . I use it as a tool , and when I have a great space and time to practice , I will do much more of that . I hired a trainer for a year once , and the results were great , but typically , I try to get on a river as often as possible .
Has anyone in the sporting / paddling world influenced you ? Far too many to list .
What ’ s the one river you haven ’ t paddled that would be on your bucket list ? I have come across a handful of sections on Google Earth or that friends have shared with me . India is my next bucket list destination .
Name just one thing we can do as paddlers to improve our environment . Keep an eye out for and pick up micro trash even if you don ’ t have anywhere to put it immediately .
IS THERE ANY ONE PIECE OF ADVICE YOU WOULD GIVE TO A YOUNG PADDLER JUST STARTING OUT IN WW KAYAKING ?
Enjoy . Go to the Ottawa River to hone your skills in the most fun and perfect
“ training environment .
”
PADDLER 19