NPFF Winning Entries 1983 – 2006
1983 NPFF Winners
Best of Show 1983
Lynda Matusek , Lexington, KY
Winner Video (tie)
John C. Davis, Lexington, KY
Winner 8mm Film: Hair Boating - The Russell Fork- El Horrendo
This entry was created to record an early descent of the Russell Fork Gorge of Virginia and Kentucky. By legendary C-1 paddler Sam Moore. It was shown at a regular, monthly club meeting of the Bluegrass Wildwater Association that happened to be attended by Menasha Ridge Press Publisher, Bob Sehlinger. Bob was so inspired by the short 8mm film and the prospect of gathering together others like it in a festival that he offered the support of his company if the volunteers of the BWA would organizeand host it. Thus the National Paddling Film Festival came into existance and a star was born!
Barry Grimes, Sam Moore, Terry Weeks, Lexington, KY
Winner 8mm Film: Recreational Scenic – Gallatin and Yellowstone Rivers.
Marge Cline. Palatine, IL
Winner 8mm Film: Racing - Racers 2 Robert Koelling, Naperville, IL
Winner 8mm Film: Humor - A Midsummer’s Daydream Tom Clarke, Ohiopyle, PA
Winner 16mm Film - Trails of Water Rick Hagberg, Lincoln, NE
Winner 35 mm slides: Safety / Instructional – Hypothermia: A Pound of Prevention Frank Loudermilk, Lexington, KY
Winner 35 mm slides: Recreational / Scenic - Before The Sun Goes Down Joasia Erdman, Moab, UT
Winner 35 mm slides: Racing - Whitewater Slalom. John Wilson, Downers Grove, IL
Winner 35 mm slides: Humor-The Sinking of Old 38. Renee Hicklin Madisonville,KY
Winner 35 mm slides: Hair Boating - And How Was Your Day? Joasia Erdman, ,Moab, UT
Professional Best of Show - Other Worlds
Follow the adventures of boaters exploring the whitewater of Chile, including the Bio Hio and never-before run rivers in Patagonia.
Cameron O'Connor, Brisbane, California.
This dramatic Instructional/Safety entry documents the film maker's brush with death when entrapped within his open canoe at Sweet's Falls on the Gauley River.
Cris Leonard, Richmond, Virginia.
Amateur Winner: Club - TSRA
An Instructional entry from our friends in the TN Scenic Rivers Association.
Greg Weldon, Mt. Juliet, Tennessee
1986 NPFF Winners
Best of Show – The Alagash
Scenic scenes form the Maine wilderness river.
Carole Bryant, Lexington, KY
Telluride River Rendezvous Award - Paucartambo Inca River
An expedition to this spectacular river in Peru is portrayed.
John Armstrong, Salt Lake City, UT
Winner: Humor - Gauley Rubber
The Women in Rubber wrestle their way through the 1985 Gauley River Festival.
Barry Grimes, Winchester, KY
Winner: Instruction - Biological Stream Monitoring
The Tennessee Scenic Rivers Assoeiation explains methods used in the investigation of water quality.
R. Manning and R. Norris, Nashville, TN
Winner: Club - East Tennessee Slide Show
Scenes from trips sponsored by the E.T.W.W. Club. Sam Suffern, Oak Ridge, TN
Winner: Hair Boating
This Kentucky/Virginia river drops over 180 feet per mile to
offer dramatic class V+ action.
Barry Grimes, Winchester, KY
Winner: Racing
This entry from the Arkansas Canoe Club mixes racing and music.
Don Jones , Fayetteville, AR
1987 NPFF Winners
Amateur Best of Show
Five boaters go searchinq for the lost treasure of Aztec King Moctezuma who, as legend holds, floated all of his wordly possesions into the 1000 foot deep canyon of the Sierra Madre Occidental River. This 35mm slide show also features the Santa Maria River where an incomming 300 foot waterfall blocks the explorers progress.
Jana Stewart ,Wick Walker, Kent Ford Bryson City, NC
Professional Best of Show
Whitewater boating and safety methods for river runners are depicted in this instructional video shot on various rivers in Colorado for the Colorado State Parks and Recreation organization.
Bill Ward Denver, CO
Winner: Humor
Carole Bryant, Lexington, KY
Winner: Safety / Instruction
Every decked boater needs a dependable eskimo roll. Rolling In whitewater can be quite different than rolling in a warm swimming pool and needs to be practiced. The Tennessee Scenic River Association's “Hot Rolls” clinic is an opportunity to develop and practice rolling In moving water. This silde presentation Is a promotion for this annual clinic.
Charles Debray , Nashvllle, TN
Winner: Racing
Scenes from the 1986 races held in Bowling Green, Kentucky.
Southern Kentucky Paddlers Society , Bowling Green, KY
Winner: Club
The Chota Canoe Club exhibits safety and humor moves on
Tennessee whitewater rivers to the sounds of Klattu.
James W. Lucas , Knoxvllle, TN
Winner: Hair Boating
For the last 10 years adventurers have scanned the maps searching for the ultimate Himalayan whitewater adventure. This fiIm is a brief history of the Yangtze's lure, and a look at some of China's most difficult whitewater.
Sam Moore , Lexington, KY
Telluride River Rendezvous Award
This is the story of three friends and an Australian dingo who set off one August day to become the first expedition to travel the length of the last big unrun North American river, the Colville in Northern Alaska.The star of the film is Derry Dingo, a dingo orphaned in the wiIds of the Austrailian outback. Somewhat of a philosopher and traveller he narrates the film in a fresh style. "... if I tell the other dingos this, they will scratch the dust behind their ears and say:' you must be Kiddingl'"
Francois Odendaal / Odendaal Fllm Group, Durham, NC
Best Paddling Slide
Rich Williams, Corvallis, OR
1988 NPFF Winners
Amateur Best of Show
A 35mm slide show visit to northeastern Quebec on three wilderness boating expeditions.
Bob Gedekoh, Elizabeth, PA
Professional Best of Show
Telluride River Rendezvous Award
A whitewater tale of pathos and plagerism.
John C. Davis, Lexington, KY
Winner : Hair Boating
Running the Niagara River Gorge below the famous falls is an adventure in boating experenced by only a few.
Paul Marshall, Alexandria, VA
Winner: Club
A "photo" directory of the members of the Bluegrass Wildwater Association.
Carole Bryant, Lexington, KY
Winner: Humor
Mr Bill tries boating in this entry from the Three Rivers Paddling Club of Pittsburg,Pennsylvania.
Jan Mastthew, Pittsburg, PA
1989 NPFF Winners
Amateur Best of Show
A 35mm slide show of the 1984 expedition through the jungle of the Mexico/Guatemala mountains on the incredible blue waters of the Jatate River.
Mike Weeks / Don Spangler, Lexington, KY
Professional Best of Show
This instructional C-boat video features former USA Whitewater Team member Kent Ford.
John C. Davis, Lexington, KY
Winner: Racing
Counidown the action as the top 10 finishers run a wild race over and through the Great Falls of the Potomac. Paul Marshall / Eric Lindberg, Alexandria,VA
Winner: Hair Boating
Rambo faces the biggest danger on whitewater.
Carole Bryant, Lexington, KY
Winner: Club
A Year On The River With the Southern Kentucky Paddlers Society
Images of yearlong activities from Southern Kentucky's preeminent paddling organization.
Ken Cooke, Frankfort, KY
Best Paddling Slide - Don Spangler, Lexington, KY
1990 NPFF Winners
Amateur Best of Show (tie)
This is a PG-13 rated ad for new gear.
Carole Bryant, Lexington, KY
Highlights of three days of slalom racing on the Savage River in Maryland.
Paul Kammer, Beaver Falls, PA
Professional Best of Show
The Tsunami Rangers ocean kayak team moseys down the California Coast, runs an obstacle course, kayaks in surf and rocks, explores a cave and performs a daring ocean kayak stunt.
Eric Soares, Moss Beach, CA
Winner: Club
The Three Rivers Paddling Club sponsors a 2-day youth clinic for ages six to 14.
Paul Kammer/TRPC, Beaver Falls, PA
Winner: Safety / Instructional
Canoeing equipment, safety and paddling technique are examined.
Bruce Penrod - Benscreek Canoe Club, Summerhill, PA
Winner: Recreational / Scenic
East Tennessee rivers are highlighted with selected drops on the Cherokee National Forest's Tellico and Citico and the Little River in the Smokey Mountain National Park.
Rodney Rehder, Lenoir City, TN
Winner: Conservation
Pollution in area waterways and coastline with a "Twilite Zone" theme.
David Rego, Dartmouth, MA
Winner: Commercial
Madawaska Kanu Camp, one of North America's leading whitewater schools has a new promotion video. This is to entice the open canoe and kayak paddler to join the excellent courses available in Canada.
Madawaska Kanu Center Don Mills, Ontario, Canada
Best Paddling Slide
Paul Kammer, Beaver Falls, PA
1991 NPFF Winners
Amateur Best of Show
Actlon Kayak Quebec
This video shares some of Quebec's most demanding rivers that before this time were considered unrunnable. The video invites you to share the excitement of the wild first descent of the Seven Sisters falls and flood levels on the Rouge River and the first completed descent of the famous Taureau Gorge—the steepest section of the Jacques-Cartier River, with a drop over 120 feet per mile.
Marc Des Groseilliers,Tewkesbury, Quebec, Canada
Professional Best of Show
This is an adrenaline charged film which documents the running of North Carolina's Green River Gorge. This potentially fatal section of whitewater was until recently thought to be unrunnable.
Terry Shiels/Shiels Productions, Charlotte, NC
Winner: Club
A relaxing, fun Sunday float on Daddy's Geek in the National Wild and Scenic Emory-Obed
River System watershed.
Rodney Rehders & Mike (Louie) Lewis, Lenoir City, TN
Winner: Recreational Scenic
Southern Rock
The Gauley River and Festival 1990.
David Rego, Dartmouth, MA
Winner: Humor (tie)
Things we didn't mind having happen to us—we just wish the camera hadn't been there
Rodney Rehders & Mike (Louie) Lewis, Lenoir City, TN 1
A lot can happen in a few hundred ticks of the clock.
Julie Albrecht, Green Bay, Wl
Amateur Winner: Racing
The Savage River in Maryland is the stage for world class races.
Bany Adams, Pittsburgh, PA
Professional Winner: Commercial
This promotional video for Wilderness Tours, a resort center on the Ottawa River, highlights whitewater rafting as well as the ample resort facilities.
Lynn Clark Video Productions, Wilderness Tours, Beachburg, Ontario, Canada
1992 NPFF Winners
Amateur Best of Show
Twenty minutes of non-stop, steep-creekin’ action on the Narrows of the Green river in North Carolina.
Wayne Gentry, Hoschton, GA
Professional Best of Show
A National Geographic Explorer film of the whitewater journey to the playground of the ancient Mayan Gods. Filmed on Mexico’s Rio Azul, four of the world’s top kayakers paddle down a staircase of thundering waterfalls and explore the jungle’s uncharted hidden river caves.
Adrienne Ciuffo, Ventura, CA
Winner: Humor
A Dandy Danger production featuring a story well known to most men engaged in the eternal battle to enjoy the well earned life in spite of modern attitudes displayed by others in our society.
Mike Weeks, Don Spangler, Lexington, KY
Winner: Club
Paddling clubs band together to fight the power companies for recreational releases on the Deerfield River in Massachusetts.
Dave Rego, Dartmouth, MA
Winner: Safety / Instructional
Frank Loudermilk, Winchester, KY
Winner: Recreational / Scenic
The remote Nahanni river threads it’s way through the Northwest Territories on this musical and geographical journey.
Peter Guenther, Downers Grove, IL
Winner: Conservation - The Brothers of Life - A shocking look into a first paddling experience.
Dave Rego, Dartmouth, MA
1993 NPFF Winners
People’s Choice Ender Award (Inaugural) - Wild Americans
Wild Americans is the first in a video series on the extreme whitewater rivers of California. Internationally recognized hair boaters Lars Holbek and Eric Magneson have combined their intimate knowledge of California's class V rivers with a unique and exhilarating video style. Raft and kayak descents of Generation-Giant Caps and the radical Golden Gate.
Lars Holbek and Eric Magneson, Lotus, CA
Amateur Best of Show - One Winter And A Few Falls
Highlights of group outings on area creeks and rivers, featuring The Watauga, McGill, Upper Yough,Tellico, Crooked Fork, Richland, Bear and Little.
Michael B. Lewis/GDI Paddling Group, Lenoir City,TN
Professional Best of Show - Waterfall Kayak
Some of England's best whitewater paddlers on some of the best Welsh creeks. Includes the first descent of Llanberis Falls, a 125 foot waterfall. Paddlers indude Chris Hipgrave and Shaun Baker, the world kayak freefall record holder.
Chris Hipgrave, Durham, NC
Winner: Humor
An animated look into a paddler's search for a fix in the off season
David Rego, New Bedford, MA
Winner: Commercial
Let Expediciones Chile organize your trip to South America for winter boating on the
spectacular whitewater rivers of Chile. Featured are the Rio Bio Bio, Rio Fuy and the Rio
Futaleufu.
Expedichnes Chile, Bryson City, NC
Winner: Conservation
Maples are red and the sky is blue. Is this any way to spend a weekend?
Dawn Guenther, Downers Crove, IL
Winner: Conservation
Follow the route of the Wampanoag Indians, Fxplore how they lived and traveled the waterways of New England, and learn about their contributions to this part of the world.
David Rego, New Bedford, MA
Best Paddling Image:
Scott Smalley, Lexington.KY
1994 NPFF Winners (list incomplete)
People’s Choice Ender Award
An odyssey on Glade and Manns Creek of the New River Gorge in West Virginia. This video is the cumulative efforts of boaters to entertain boaters! It was shot and produced with the festive attitude which whitewater
enthusiasts characterize! PLEASE ENJOY!!
Kent McCracken, Fayetteville, WV
Amateur Winner: Best of Show
The wildest crashes ever or the lifestyles of the wet and shameless.
Ted Vandell, Lansing, WV
Professional Winner: Best of Show
Produced by Russ and Allison Nichols for the American Canoe Association, "Heads Up!" is an exciting film that stunningly land sometimes painfully) drives home the need for every boating party to possess competent rescue skills. Actual film footage of vertical pins, entrapments and nasty swims will make every viewing paddler wince.
David Jenkins, Springfield, VA
Amateur Winner: Hair Boating
Tenneessee Trashed: Creeks of the Tenn. Valley Vol. 1
A compilation of one run one camera documentaries of: North Chic., Cain, Bee and the Tellico.
Eric Zitzow, Leadville, CO
Amateur Winner: Humor
A spectacular look at the first descent of Rainbow Falls by legendary paddler "Rock". Includes an interview with the illusive thrill seeker.
Kent Wiginton, Westminster, SC
1995 NPFF Winners (list incomplete)
Professional Winner: Best of Show
A wild ride though the surf zone off the northern California coastline with the United States' most eccentric ocean kayaking club—the "Tsunami Rangers"—and their newest initiate. Threading their way through boulder gardens and kayak thrashing swells to explore the area's abundant sea caves, the Rangers guide an East Coast river paddler on her first unforgettable ocean adventure.
AdrienneCiuffo / NationalGeographic, Ventura,CA
Amateur Winner: Recreational Scenic
Faultline is an entertaining video of the Piedmont rivers in Georgia and Alabama which flow over the Brevard and Towaligia faulilines, and their resulting whitewater.
Will Reeves / ORGT / GCA, Atlanta, GA
Amateur Winner: Conservation
A model watershed protection plan for the North Chickamauga Creek Gorge is currently being prepared. A partnership of the Friends of North Chickamauga Creek Greenway, Inc., The Conservation Fund, National Park Service, and American Whitewater Affiliation are working to prepare and carry out the plan. This video about the North Chickamauga Creek Gorge was prepared to help increase public awareness of the importance of preserving this unique gorge near the City of Chattanooga.
Robert Campbell and Linda Hixon—Friends of North Chickamauga Creek Gorge, Hixson, TN
Amateur Winner: Hair Boating
A fast and furious paced look at some of the best crash and burn kayaking (and rafting) footage ever shot! The tape includes shots of the Cheat, Big Sandy, Upper Gauley, Meadow, Green, Great Falls of the Potomac and the Russel Fork, just to name a few.
Rick Gusic / Three Rivers Paddling Club, West Mifflin, PA
Professional Winner: Commercial
The Wilder, The Better
The American Whitewater Affiliation's mission is to conserve and restore America's whitewater resources and to enhance opportunities to enjoy them, safely. This video has been produced to illustrate our message. It is informative, entertaining, intense and informal ... just like us!
Dan and Jennifer Murphy—Steep Creek Films/A WA, 4104 Shoal Creek Blvd., Austin, TX 78756, Phone 512-452-3163
Best Paddling Image Scott Shoup
1996 NPFF Winners
People’s Choice Ender Award & Professional Winner: Best of Show
LOSS OF ALTITUDE—23 min VHS - Two years in the making, this exuberant video explores the world and culture of southeastern whitewater through the words and deeds of several familiar and sometimes famous riparians.
Daniel & Jennifer Murphy, Steep Creek Films,4101 Shoal Creek Blvd.,Austin,TX.78756
Amateur Winner: Best of Show
SPANKING THE MONKEY(The Northern Boys do the Green)- Tired of watching videos where all the wipe-outs are edited? Big egos hiding their mistakes? Here's a look at the Green River, uncensored. Tough pins, surfs and upside down runs at Gorilla. The good runs, and the bad.
Rick Gusic,96 Eastem Ave., Aspinwall, PA15215
Amateur Winner: Racing
ATTAINMENT WARS—SECOND ANNUAL UPPER YOUGH CHALLENGE—20 min VHS - See how Local Upper Yough paddlers push their limits! Rapids like Charlie's Choice, Tripple Drop, Heinzerling and Powerful Popper are run in unique attainment fashion.
James "Boze" Houck, 6008 5. T.R. 113, New Riegel OH 44853
Amateur Winner: Recreational / Scenic
A WATERFALL IN FLORIDA AND OTHER STREAMSIDE ATTRACTIONS—20 min VHS - A year's worth of exciting whitewater from Florida's highest waterfall to Colorado and then back to the Southeast.
Will Reeves,2540 Mercedes Dr., Atlanta,GA 30345
Professional Winner: Commercial
DIABLO—6 min VHS – Excellent, atypical commercial promotional video for the "Diablo" kayak.. Lots of strong music and shots of Western US rivers.
Prijon Wildwasser Sport USA, Inc. PO Box 4617, Boulder, CO 80306
Best Paddling Image - Derek Eggers, Lexington, KY
1997 NPFF Winners
People’s Choice Ender Award & Professional Winner: Best of Show
Professional :Open VHS 65 min - The Adventures of Johnny Utah; River Stories From a Different Point of View - An adventure in storytelling and an inquiry into ” why”... people boat.
Paul Bonesteel / Tom DeCuir 416 Harold Ave. NE Atlanta,Ga 30307
Amateur Winner: Best of Show - Beyond The Missionary Position
Amateur: Hair boating VHS 22min - The gloves are off and the boaters are swimming. Buzzellmania Productions heads west to Colorado’s Big South then back east with the Horizontal Extreme Team on New York’s Bottom Moose. Also, as a bonus, kayaking superstar Corn Anderson attempts the 108 foot vertical Hardwood State Park Bridge Falls!
Rick Gusic PO box 420, N. Versailles, PA 15137 412-782-6801
Professional Winner: Instruction - Retendo! The Art of Precision Playpaddling
Professional : Instructional 3/4" video 33min - This video unlocks the secrets to cartwheels, squirt turns, and an array of exciting moves. You’ll learn all the new moves like Whippets, McTwists,Splitwheels and Screwups. Animation and other visual tools explain and simplify the most complex moves. Featuring rodeo stars: Scott Shipley, Chris Spelius, Marc Lyle, and others. Hosted by Kent Ford.
John Davis / Performance Video 2923 Aquino, Sacramrnto,CA., 95833
Amateur Winner: Recreational / Scenic - Deep Creekers at Dry Meadow Creek
Amateur: Rec/Scenic VHS 7min Beautiful - “Edge of the World” boating in California . Editing and digital Effects by Joshua Offill, Video by Chris Nuthall featuring music by Private Ale.
Winston Offill / Joshawk Videos box 9341, Ceder Pines Park,CA 92322
Amateur Winner: Club - Paddle On
Amateur: Club VHS 18 min - Various Chota Canoe Club trips on streams in Tennessee with music featuring Chota’s own Russell Hopper. Canoe and kayak enders on the Obed, and Tellico Ledges.
Ron Crass / Chota Canoe Club 410 S. 17th St. #215-D,Knoxville, TN 37916
Best Paddling Image “Standing Surfer”, Joel LeCaptain
1998 NPFF Winners
Paddler’s Choice Award & Amateur Winner: Best of Show -Tales of the Paddlesnake
"Tales of the Paddlesnake" includes top to bottom runs showing every major rapid in Alabama's Little River Canyon and Georgia's Tallulah Gorge. Rapid names and levels are superimposed. This piece also includes tape of attacks by and the subsequent capture of a vicious Paddlesnake, known for it voracious paddle biting behavior.
Milt Aitken 715 North River Forest Court, Marietta, GA 30067
Professional Winner: Best of Show - Thule Bheri: Himalayan Whitewater
In the Fall of 1995, an international team of 6 kayakers set off for the kingdom of Dolpo located in Northwestern Nepal to attempt a first descent of the Thule Bheri River. 2 of them had scouted the river previously but were turned back by water levels that were just too high. This is the story of their successful return expedition which was not only an intense whitewater journey, but a journey back in time as they encounter the cultures and peoples of this remote region whose way of living has not changed significantly for thousands of years.
American Adventure Productions / Debbie Karls 312-G AABC, Aspen, CO 81611
Professional Winner: Commercial & Professional Winner: Instruction
Essential Boat Control
A music filled instructional video pushing the foundations of good kayaking. Created for the intermediate to expert paddler, this video is not a topical smattering of tricks to impress your friends. This is the REAL THING.
Paul Bonesteel / Tom DeCuir WaterworksProductions PO box 190, Topton, NC 28781
Amateur Winner: Humor - Spreading The Disease
Buzzellmania Productions is back and wishes to apologize ahead of time for this video’s lack of plot, clean kayak lines, big “name” rodeo stars and environmental awareness. Other than that, the video is not bad! Get ready for 13 short stories that explore the sport we know as “kayaking”.
Rick Gusic 96 Eastern Ave.,Aspinwall, PA 15215
Wave Sport 1998 Promotional Video
This is an action packed, high adrenaline, whitewater kayaking video. The purpose of this video is to showcase Wave Sport whitewater kayaks. All of the models are depicted and various clips of each model are present. Wave Sport is bringing the reality of exterme whitewater kayaking to the general public with this fast paced, exciting video.
Chris Emerick /WaveSport 240 Arthur Ave., Oak Creek,CO 80467
Best Paddling Image Scott Harding, Fort Jones, CO
Best River Safety Poster Ages 16 – Adult: Scott Strohm & Kathy Brown, Hilliard, OH
9-15 yr old Category: Jade Vantreese, Lexington, KY
8 and under: Rachel Moore, Lexington, KY
1999 NPFF Winners
Paddler’s Choice Award & Amateur Winner: Best of Show
Silent Thunder - The Legend of Team C
An in-depth look at a team of boaters the corporate kayak world wouldn’t sponsor in a million years. A group htat checked their egos at the door long, long ago. The result? A few laughs, a couple of interviews and an elite group of skilled and moderatly skilled boaters taking their shot at fame and unfortunately (or fortunately, depending on your view) getting pummelled on some of the country’s best whitewater.
Rick Gusic 96 Eastern Ave., Aspinwall, PA 15215
Professional Winner: Best of Show -Significant Consequences the image of paddling from both sides of the lens
A gripping editorial/documentary that looks at whitewater paddling in 1998, the increased deaths of paddlers, river accidents and the documentationof this. Includes a spellbinding segment of a near death experience of a kayaker in Western Quebec. The video is ment to be both enlightening and thought provoking. The tone is sincere and quite somber.
Lynn Clark/ Greenhouse Productions Box 12 Foresters Falls, Ontario, Canada K0J1V0
Professional Winner: Conservation - "La Grande Canyon Whitewater"
An interestingg and entertaining look at Washington State’s La Grande Canyon of the Nisqually River. the Nisqually is one of several runs around the country that has been opened to boating through the AWA’s intervention into the Federal hydroelectric relicensing procedure. This informal video details La Grande’s class 4 and 5 rapids in the depths of a spectacular vertical walled canyon while providing a brief background on the project.
Randolph Pierce / Wildside Images 10051 14th Ave NW, Seattle.WA 98177
Professional Winner: Safety - Whitewater Self Defense
Whitewater Self Defense helps kayakers avooid trouble and deal with unexpected problems.The emphasis is “everyday” river safety and rescue,including fundamental skills every whitewater paddler should know. Includes new and proven safety techniques. Contributors include Charlie Walbridge, Ellen Decuir, Kent Ford and over a hundred other paddlers. (edited for the NPFF from 59 minutes)
Performance Video and Instruction 550 Riverbend, Durango,CO 81301
Professional Winner: Commercial - Code Red. Team D Freestyle
Your mission:Watch. Failure to perform this duty will result in your deportation to some flat country made of sand. Above all, DO NOT show this video to people who suffer from a fear of heights,wussiness or any other contdition which may preclude them from living through Team D’s Freestyle operatives in action!
Dagger P.O. Box 1500 Harriman, TN 37748
Amateur Winner: Open Category - Rivers Run Through Us
"Rivers Run Through Us" is as video about River Enthusaists of all nature. The audience will encounter images of prestine wildlife , rafters , kayakers aswell as other exciting well known places and people. It is a fun to watch, good feel'n and entertaining video that any whitewater enthusiast is sure to enjoy! It starts out in the West coast, Montana ,Idaho, Colorado, just to name a few places,and then finishes in West Virgina. All in all it is a "riverdiverse" video!
Tony Beardall / Capsize Productions 116 S. Bozeman Ave. Bozeman, MT 59715
Amateur Winner: Digital - Virml Creek
“Virml Creek” is a three-dimentional computer-generated run down a whitewater slalom course. The graphical world is implemented in VRML (Virtual Reality Modeling Language) making it suitable for viewing and exploration on the web. In addition to free-form exploration of the virtual course, “HelmetCam” and “CableCam” views used to produce the images track an animated run down the course.
Mike McGurrin 8407 Hunt Valley Dr., Vienna, VA 22182
Best Paddling Image : 35mm “Scott Bristow in Great Falls”, Julie Keller, Tucker, GA
Best Digital Image: “Surf The Universe”, Keith Aitken, Black Mountain, NC
Paddler’s Choice Award & Professional Winner: Extreme Boating
Twitch 2000 - Four expert boaters, including Tao Berman, in the US, Canada and the Dominican Republic. Spectacular scenery, unadulterated adrenaline.
Eric Link Videolink PO. Box 122 Leavenworth, WA 98826
Amateur Winner : Best of Show - More than Plumbing/The North Fork Feather
A history and potential of the North Fork of the Feather as a recreational resource.
Dave Steindorf 179 Valley Ridge Dr. Paradise, CA 95969
Professional: Best of Show - The Breaks of the Mountain: The Russell Fork Gorge
A documentary about issues an Appalachian coal mining community faces while developing a tourist economy around a river gorge noted for its whitewater paddling. The video focuses on the Russell Fork of the Big Sandy River as it flows from Haysi, Virginia to Elkhorn City, Kentucky. The documentary looks at the threats the extractive industries of coal and timber present to this rare gorge, explores the promise of a sustainable ecotourism industry, and looks at the threats that tourism brings to the quality of life in a small town.
Tom Hansell Appalshop 91 Madison Av Whitesburg, KY 41858 thansell@appalshop.org
Amateur: Open Category - Rainy Days
Rainy Days was a project for a documentary film class at the University ot Oregon. it is intended to be an introduction to kayaking for not-yet paddlers while at the same time entertaining for seasoned boaters. It is also meant to offer an alternative to Oregonians' number one winter pastime: whining about the rain. The footage was shot during a two week period in January, 1998.
Dan Nicholson 1701 Augusta St. Eugene, OP 9740S
Amateur Winner: Extreme Boating - TabazeTour
A taste of the extreme in New Zealand and Chile. Some first descents and quality river running. Intense and sweet as all good runs are.
Peter Simpson 36ScottSt Southport, UKPR9
Paddler’s Choice Award & Amateur Winner: General Boating
The Get On the Bus Tour
What happens when you get a bus, cram it full of Class V fiends, and load it with as many kayaks as the suspension will hold? A hell of a good time that spans 30 days, 10,000 miles of road, and more paddling than you can shake a rubber chicken at. Accompanied by tasty tunes from The Propellerheads, Ozomatli, Molotov, and Lou Reed, this flick is packed with action, seasoned with humor and served with the faint smell of stale beer.
Rob Howell, 1793 McLendan Ave, Atlanta, GA 30307
Professional Winner: Best of Show - Give Us a River - 2001
Professional:General Boating 7 min. VHS, mini-DV - “Give us a River” is adapted from Bob Belton's original 1963 film. This video reminds paddlers of the proud heritage of canoesport. Those who went before us should be our heroes. Look, leam, and go boating.
John Davis and Kent Ford, Performance Video, 915 Fee Dr., Sacramento, CA 95815
Accomplished Winner: Best of Show - Nepal in the Fall
140 slides taken in the fall of 2000 on the Sun Kosi, Tamur, Kamali, Marsyangdi, and Bhote Kosi Rivers.
Julie Keller, 4271 Bonaparte Dr., Tucker, GA 30084
Professional Winner: Documentary - Ocooe Whitewater Rodeo 2000
The action, the suspense, the excitement of the fastgrowing sport of Whitewater Rodeo.
American Whitewater, PO Box 842, 2 S. Main St #29, Weaverville, NC, 28787
Accomplished Winner: General Boating - Rainy Daze
Follow these paddlers as they take you to some of the best runs that the Northeast has to offer.
Barney Bonito, 83 Gray St Apt.2, Amherst, Ma 01002
Paddler's Choice Award - Thunderballs: The Retum of Team C
From the creators of "Spreading the Disease" and "Silent Thunder" comes the return of the infamous "Team C". These formidable athletes are bringing all new swims, carnage and gruesome brutality back to video. Join them in battle and get ready to strap it on!
Buzzellmania Productions / Rick Gusic 96 Eastern Ave. Pittsburg, PA 15215
Amateur Winner: Best of Show - Costa Rica , January 2001
Six friends spend two weeks exploring the rivers, beaches and culture of Costa Rica.
David Kahn, 451 Arnell Lane, Auburn, AL 36830
Accomplished Winner: Best of Show: The Search
Video highlighting top athletes in the sports of surf kayaking and wave skiing as they travel aboard a 53-foot trimaran in search of surf.
Vince Shay 286 Boeker St. Apt#3, Shell Beach, CA
Professional Winner: Best of Show - Main Stream
For four years we made videos so extreme stores refused to carry them… until NOW. See the best Good Gravy has to offer on a Main Stream frame of mind.
Ben Aylesworth / Good Gravy Productions,1156 Yonge St 2ed floor, Toronto, Canada M4W2L9
Professional Winner: Documentary -America's Most Scenic Rivers
A digital slide show of America's most scenic rivers from the Grand Canyon to the Potomac with stops in Idaho, Colorado, Tennessee along the way.
Julie Keller, 4271 Bonaparte Dr. Tucker, GA 30084
Professional Winner: Instruction - The Kayak Roll
The Kayak Roll demonstrates and explains a smooth and effortless roll. Crystal clear underwater footage, animation, and explanations make this a video you don't want to miss! This two part video is designed for every skill level, beginner to teacher. The progression section presents a step by step learning experience enabling you to learn an effortless roll from scratch. The diagnostic section offers solutions to help you tune-up or teach that labored roll.
Performance Video / John Davis 2923 Aqumo Dr. Sacramento, CA 95833
Professional Winner: Commercial - International Paddle Adventures
A video on paddling adventure trips of Kayak International, focusing on Chile's magical rivers and kayaking destinations in Canada.
Ken Whiting, Box 200, Clayton, Ontario Canada, KOA1PO
2003 NPFF Winners
Paddler's Choice /Best of Show Accomplished - The Paddlesnake Hunters
They hunted paddlesnakes in Alabama, Georgia, North Carolina and New York, but they found something more dangerous!
Trout Lips Video, Milton Aitken, GA
Best of Show Professional - PAIN KILLERS 2
Painkillers are the true heroes of Whitewater. They feel no pain and have NO FEAR.
Olaf Obsommer, Germany
Best of Show Amateur - Washington Whitewater: A little Backyard FUN
With over 300 runs and a year around boating season, Washington is a great place to be a Whitewater paddler. This film features a few of our favorite places.
Thomas O’Keefe, WA
Winner Accomplished Documentary - The Search 2: More Paddlesurf Chronicles
The Search for the perfect wave brings a group of paddlesurfers to the Panama: in an attempt to promote the exciting sport of surf kayaking.
Vince Shay, CA
Winner Professional Instructional - Fast Track to Kayaking for Beginners
Beginner progression that starts with boat outfitting… This is an edited version just for the NPFF. Sam Drevo,OR
2003 Best Paddling Image Josh Edgar Launches off Small Falls, ME By Karyn Roy, Fairfield, ME
Best of Festival and Paddler’s Choice winner - Cheat River Canyon
The Cheat River once was West Virginia's busiest rivers, filled with rafters and kayakers. Since 1970, the canyon has held countless stories and tales. It has watched crowds come and go. It has seen floods completely change its banks. The Documentary highlights some of those more memorable moments over the past three decades." -Rick Gusic
Best of Amateur Division - White Noise 2
New England Creeking & Playing. Alex Kinsey & Goudi Vandal
Best of Professional Division - Playboating with Ken Whiting
Playboating is the sequel to the NPFF's 2000 winner of ""Best Instructional: Play Daze. "Playboating" is a step-by-step guide to all playboating moves, and was the winner of Paddler Magazine's 2003 Readers Choice, ""Best Instructional. .
Ken Whiting
Winner Accomplished - General Boating - Local Hero
Local Hero features creek and squirt boaters from various parts of East Tennessee. Lots of carnage,big drops and big black attacks..
Benjamin Hayes
2004 Best Paddling Image Clay’s Boof at Climax by David Allnutt
2005 Best Paddling Image: Boof at Gorilla, John Michael Cox
Paddler's Choice & Best Of Amateur:A Russian Wave
Two expedition white water kayakers, Becky Bristow and
Dunbar Hardy, were hired by the Russian Government to assess whitewater
rivers and tourism potential in Northeastern Russia. Upon their arrival in
Russia, all indications were that they were in for an incredible adventure,
but a much different on e than they were hired for. They soon realized that
the Russians understanding of whitewater was completely different than
theirs. A Russian Wave is a humorous look at dashed expectations, adventure
and cultural differences.
Amateur-Documentary
Becky Bristow
Canmore,Canada
Paddlers Choice Award - Sickline3
Whitewater kayaking - one of the most fluid and
thrilling outdoor sports today: movement, speed, thrill. It's a lifestyle, a
never-ending expedition through a world of water. Jens Klatt and Olaf
Obsommer hooked up with some of the worlds sickest kayaking athletes - and
banned it all on tape. SICKLINE 3: Sick Line combines different people from
different countries doing all the same: searching the Sick Line! Explore new
rivers like the upper Sorba in Italy or the Tysselva in Borway with Arnd
Schaftlein, Francesco Salvato and Corran Addison. Follow Kiwi Ben Brown to
New Zealand and the English Deb Pinneger and Cheesy Robertson on a roadtrip
through severaal events in Europe. See the Whitewater Warriors Abbott and
Allard getting big air on rocky slides and Japeneese Motoko Ishida fighting
with big waterfalls!
Professional-General Boating
Olaf Obsommer
Nussdorf am Inn, Germany
Best Of Festival / Best Professional Instructional:The River Runner's Edge
This energizing instructional masterpiece unlocks the
secrets of competent river runners: Water reading, strategies, strokes,
maneuvers, and basic playboating. All are presented in a manner that
demystifies and enlightens. Novice and experienced kayakers alike will
profit from this upbeat production designed to set your foundation right!
(edited for the NPFF to 15min Actual length 110 min.)
Professional-Instructional
John Davis
Sacramento, California
Best Of Accomplished - Freestyle Trilogy: the art of Kayaking
Freestyle Trilogy" explores kayaking as a art form,
though a series of conceptual poetry and images provided by WaterMaps.info.
Accomplished - General Boating
Andrea Desky
Ashville, North Carolina
Best Accomplished Documentary: The Grand Canyon
Yes. Another 'Grand Canyon' at the film festival.
Something some might say is as needed as another playboater on the Ocoee.
Despite the abundance of these videos in the past, this entry forges ahead
with a somewhat different look at the Canyon. It blends in past history with
a present day trip. It provides a nice mixture of education, part video
guide, and presents a nice 'feel' for what's involved in one of paddling's
greatest adventures.
Accomplished - Documentary
Rick Gusic
Pittsburgh,Pennsylvania
Best Professional General Boating: Twitch V
Twitch Paddlers Tao Berman and Josh Bechtel team up
with NO Big Names' Ben Stookesberry and Eric Seymour to run first descents
in Washington, Idaho, Alaska, British Columbia & Argentina.
Professional-General Boating
Eric Link
Levenworth, Washington
Best Professional Documentary: Long Live A Free Magpie
In 2004 a Quebec dam producer slipped through a
loophole in Quebec legislature and set to work on plans to dam the Magpie
river in Northern Quebec. A handful of whitewater leaders got wind of the
plan and joined forces to put an end to the plans.
Professional-Documentary
James Mcbeath & Lisa Utrenki
Almont, Canada
Still Image Winner – Sturgeon Falls by Renee Fawcett - Minneapolis, MN.
Best of Festival & Best Professional General Boating : In-Flux by David Arnaud
In-Flux transports you to places seldom seen, extreme rapids or aerial freestyle sessions; it gathers together all the different aspects of kayaking in an epic trip around the world. The stage is set for discovery of fascinating cultures and backdrops recorded in a way that's refreshingly different and unique! From the narrow, volcanic canyons of Reunion Island to the mighty Lachine rapids in Montreal, from the valleys of the Moroccan Atlas to Lake Baikal in Siberia; from the steep creeks of the Italian Alps to the powerful Norwegian rivers; all this footage without forgetting the famous "Hawaii sur Rhone" wave in France; a truly inspiring tale of whitewater paddling in extraordinary places that will make everyone want to pack their bags and get out there.
http://www.thinkliquid.net/in-flux/
Paddler’s Choice Award: Wet-House by Ammen Jordan
Wet-house is the story of six fiercely independent boaters from the four corners of the planet; united by their shared thirst for big water and high adventure.
http://www.wet-house.com/
Best Accomplished Documentary:
Please Send Help -- The Cheoah River Release Story by Rick Gusic
During September of 2005, AW would score a huge success by gaining access to the Cheoah River. AW would get the water flowing on a section of river that had been dewatered for decades. By chance, Buzzellmania Productions was also in the area that day...with the cameras rolling. This documentary captures the turbulent and tension filled day that sparked weeks of arguing on Boatertalk. Sit back and watch exactly what happened!!!
Best Amateur General Boating: Lemonade by Jeffrey Hazboun
A story of 3 kayakers on their first out of country expedition and the problems they overcome to find 1st descents. http://www.eyesthatsee.com/hazboun/crkayaking.html
Best Professional Documentary: Where the Sun Never Sets by Rob Coffey
First Descents and Wilderness Expedition kayaking in the Arctic Circle area of Norway.
http://www.liveoncemedia.com/index.htm
Best Professional Instructional/Safety: The Kayaker's Toolbox by Joe Holt
The Kayaker's Toolbox is an intelligently designed, fully comprehensive instruction DVD for the novice whitewater paddler. With more then 2.5 hours of instruction shot entirely in vivid High Definition, it teaches boat control, water reading, river maneuvers, rolling, and safety plus much more.
http://www.paddlefilms.com/Toolbox.htm
Best Accomplished General Boating: Dakib by Joel Decker
Dakib is a film about kayaking the steep, cold rivers of the Lake Superior Region. The film puts a central focus on the fun aspect of the Minnesota paddling season and the tight group of paddlers who we've come to know and depend on.
http://www.fluidgrooveproductions.com/