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April 2016 • COAST • www.coast-magazine.com • 7 The Knik Canoers and Kayakers is raising funds for water re- source conservation with its first ever Anchorage Paddling Film Festival. Scheduled for 5:30 p.m. Monday, April 25, the seven films fea- ture sea kayaking across the Aleutian chain, high-octane whitewater carnage, an expedition to cross Canada’s Baffin Island by ski, sea and river; big-water Grand Canyon running in historic dories, and more. “The KCK has been around for over 30 years, said member Chris Hellman, who is spearheading the festival. “However, the board of directors recently decided that we needed to make some changes In order to bring in new people, new ideas, and make club activities more relevant to the Southcentral paddling community. “The film festival is just one of those new initiatives.” The film festival is part of the National Paddling Film Festival Roadshow, which is based in Kentucky but travels the country and world to spread the boating word to paddling enthusiasts. Hellman, who also came from Kentucky, was familiar with the event and thought it would be good for Alaskans. “Before I moved to Alaska two years ago I was very active in the National Paddling Film Festival, which takes place every Febru- ary in Frankfort, Kentucky,” Hellman said. “They have a roadshow program in which other paddling organizations can select from a list of films previously shown by the NPFF to create their own exhibi- tion. I suggested to KCK leadership over a year ago that we could use this program to put together our own exhibition as part of the bigger plan to get the club more active again. They agreed.” And it’s a good thing. This time of year, when the conditions might not yet be ideal for getting on the water, there is always the mental preparation that can help amp up the season. A film festival is the perfect way to watch and learn, plan and practice. “The goal of the festival is to get the local paddling community members engaging with each other on issues of common interest and at the same time all proceeds will be donated to water resource conservation efforts,” Hellman added. The films will be shown 5:30 p.m. April 25, Tickets are $6 general admission and are available online or at the Bear Tooth ticket office beginning April 19. If you can’t make the 120-minute movie, attend the KCK general meeting at 5:30 p.m. to see selections from the festival. “Alaska has a very broad range of paddling opportunities so we intentionally selected a wide range of film subjects,” Hellman said. “We will feature seven films that capture this broad array of inter- ests.” Hellman added that the club is actively seeking new and moti- vated members. Other new KCK initiatives include improving river access, addressing water resource conservation issues and facilitating river and sea kayaking trips, he said. Club meetings are free and open to the public and take place on the fourth Thursday of every month at the BP center (except for this month’s meeting, which is all about the films). Details are posted at KCK.org. — Melissa DeVaughn GINA BRINGMAN/ALASKASTOCK A woman paddles Resurrection Bay in Kenai Fjords National Park out of Seward. Paddlers are gearing up for a summer season with a paddling film festival at the Bear Tooth Theatrepub on April 25. Boating season kicks off with Film Fest at Bear Tooth trailmix