The Call of the River: A Historical Look at Paddling in America

"The Call of the River," produced by Kent Ford (Whitewater Hall of Fame inductee), is an amazing examination of white water paddling in the United States. "The Call of the River" is not just a film about paddling; it is the historical examination of the sport from its very beginnings.

Early white water paddlers had to develop their skills and equipment out of necessity, as there were no outdoor centers, schools, and few books to learn from. The skills and the technology that are so common today were born out of the "school of hard knocks" and it was a school that paddlers embraced with relish. But, the "gods of the rivers" had their price and many paddlers sacrificed their fragile boats to these "gods" to learn the secrets of a sport, which was not yet a sport.

Ford has done an amazing job of tracking down historical footage of the early days of the paddling sport. Constructing a film history compilation, "The Call of the River" viewers are treated to an enjoyable history lesson on the rise of the industry from its beginnings. Using video footage from the early paddling enthusiasts, often nothing more than home video's, viewers are treated to the trials and tribulations of running the rivers in fragile canvas, wooden and aluminum boats. And, with these fragile boats and lack of training, every paddling trip was an adventure. The loss of life was a calculated gamble that not all paddlers won. But, this is more than just a movie about the sport and its early days.

Interviewing the founders and titans of the sport and emerging industry, Ford, has augmented his film footage with first person recollections and opinions on the industry not as it was, but as these paddling enthusiast were developing the sport. Payson Kennedy, Joe Jacopi, Jim Snyder, Steve Draper, Mike Sastre and many, many other paddling icons provide their insights into this sport along with ruminations of their early paddling experiences.

Ford has steered away from the common sport documentary methodology of today's filmmakers. Sport films too often are focused on showing film reels of incredible sport shots done by young hotshot enthusiasts. Adding in the all too common shot of native women scantily dressed and narrators trying to explore the meaning of their lives (think "Endless Summer"). Ford has developed "The Call of the River" into something more than just a film about the sport of paddling. While "The Call of the River" does have incredible film shots of paddlers in action, it becomes apparent rather quickly, that this effort will have a historical significance in years to come.

Narrated by Judy Wolf, an expert paddler herself, Wolf provides an authoritative voice on a subject matter that she embraces with extreme veneration and it clearly reflects in her narration. Ford, could not have found a more qualified, nor engaging narrator for his work.

If you're interested in the evolution of the sport of paddling into the sport that we know it as today, this is the documentary for you.

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