Rapid paddles the Gatineau River just outside of Maniwaki, Quebec and reports on the 14th annual Gatineau River Festival held on August 27th, 28th and 29th 2010.


As always the Gatineau River Festival was a great success. Hundreds of canoeists and kayakers showed up to the festival in true Gatfest form to take on the rivers many challenging features.

Even though the water lower then usual people were still having a blast on features that don't regularly appear on the big, high volume river. To make a great weekend even better the typical cold and rainy weather that everyone knows the festival for was replaced by hot and sunny.

Paul Mason drew quite a crowd in the Esquif booth as he hosted the foamy boater cross. After having low water level issues with the mini man made river negotiations were made and the the flood gates were opened providing the necessary water for the race boats to make it down the river(I think Paul payed someone off or hired a dam log ninja).

The auction was a mad frenzy of bidders especially when the new Esquif L'Edge was being auctioned off. The band played into the wee hours of the evening keeping the party tent hopping.

Day two of the festival brought even better weather and I was happy to see that people were enjoying there favourite whitewater magazine, Rapid, while waiting for breakfast in the Rapid camp chair lounge. On the river, even more boaters and a couple standup paddle boarders running everything.

Thanks to the festival organizers and of course to everyone who came out and enjoyed the river and the festival hospitality. Rapid was the official media sponsor of the event and everyone who registered for the festival will receive a free digital subscription for attending.

Everyone is also invited to post and share the photos and videos on the Rapid photo gallery and video section of Rapidmag.com.

Hopefully everyone can make it back for next year's festival..