I hope you have enjoyed this roundup of the films at Kendal Mountain Festival and will catch up with the films available online and at festivals . I ’ d love to hear your thoughts on any you have watched . Please contact me on Insta @ jomoseley or www . jomoseley . com
The Grand Salmon Jess Wiegandt – 56 minutes
The Big Sea Lewis Arnold – 75 minutes
Capsized Roxanna Barry – 17 minutes
PADDLER 5
I hope you have enjoyed this roundup of the films at Kendal Mountain Festival and will catch up with the films available online and at festivals . I ’ d love to hear your thoughts on any you have watched . Please contact me on Insta @ jomoseley or www . jomoseley . com
The Grand Salmon Jess Wiegandt – 56 minutes
The final and longest film in the collection was The Grand Salmon , which was a very powerful one . Three women set out to paddle and recreate the 1000-mile journey taken each year by wild salmon from Idaho to the Pacific Ocean . As they do so , they chart the significant decline of the wild salmon populations as a result of the dams built along the Lower Snake River and its watershed . In partnership with NRS , the three women – Elizabeth Tobey , Brooke Hess and Hailey Thompson – take us on a truly remarkable journey from white water to sweltering hot , flatter days to the ocean . As they call it , ‘ a 1000 mile sufferfest .’
The women also show an inspiring camaraderie and friendship as they navigate the waters and the long portages , always having each other ’ s back and cheering each other on . They are highly experienced water women and have the scientific expertise and passion to share the salmon ’ s journey . They explain that as a ‘ keystone species ’, the salmon are important for the survival of 140 animals that rely upon them . The women also have the support of the Nez Perce Tribe , the Nimiipuu people , who , because of the decline in the salmon population , cannot exercise their traditional fishing rights .
At the end of the film , news comes through that the Biden administration , in government at the time , was showing support for changes to the dams .
Powerful , inspiring , and uplifting , The Grand Salmon is a film I would highly recommend . It is worthy of the many festivals it has been selected for worldwide . www . salmonsourcetosea . com
In addition to the Paddle Collection , I was fortunate enough to see two other films that readers of the Paddler would be interested in .
The Big Sea Lewis Arnold – 75 minutes
Whilst The Big Sea is a film about surfing and not a paddlesport , I wanted to include it here because of its subject matter , which I think will be relevant to all of us who care about the oceans and our environmental responsibility as adventurers . The Big Sea is a thoroughly researched investigative documentary exploring the link between neoprene – a key component in wetsuits , gloves and boots as well as cars , trainers , luggage and cycling gear – and the health of those living near the plants where it is manufactured in Louisiana . Known as Cancer Alley , residents face the highest cancer risk in the USA – 50 times the national average .
An independent documentary by Lewis Arnold , Chris Nelson and Demi Taylor , The Big Sea weaves beautiful stories of the sea with powerful , intimate and devastating personal testimonies of local families .
There is an alternative to neoprene in the form of natural rubber , such as Yulex , which quite literally grows on trees . The Big Sea shows us that , as individuals , we can make a difference in how we spend our money and what we ask of the brands that we use today .
Whilst I am not a surfer , as a cold-water swimmer , paddleboarder , and bodyboarder , I always have neoprene in my kit bag . I also have very close family members who have had or have cancer and who love the sea . As a result of The Big Sea , I will think more carefully about my purchases in the future when I need to replace my kit . https :// thebigsea . org
Capsized Roxanna Barry – 17 minutes
Screened in the Explore Collection at Kendal , this is the uplifting story of Emily Kynaston-Williams ’ canoe adventure across Scotland ’ s Isle of Lewis with her friend Lisa Handcock . However , before they can embark on the Outer Hebrides trip to explore the lochs , Emily faces challenges closer to home . Namely , finding a kit for the adventure . As a co-founder of Every Body Outdoors , a community committed to gaining representation , kit and clothing for plus-sized bodies in the outdoors , Emily is no stranger to limited sizes and ranges for her favourite activities , including cycling , swimming and paddleboarding . 45 % of women in the UK wear sizes larger than 16 , yet outdoor stores rarely carry ranges that will fit them . How , then , are they to access their adventures and dreams ?
Emily and Lisa ’ s three-day , 35-km adventure includes a lot of portaging across boggy land and some sailing in the sunshine and is a joy to watch . Perfectly balanced , it has big views of gorgeous scenery and powerful messaging about accessibility and diversity in the outdoors alongside intimate stories of friendship , laughter , and fulfilling your dreams . The cinematography and soundtrack are pitched beautifully .
I loved it . www . roxannabarry . co . uk and www . everybodyoutdoors . co . uk
Photo : Roxanna Barry
PADDLER 5