Flowing through canyons with rims lined with towering old growth forests, the Gordon River snakes its way from Vancouver Island’s mountains out to the open ocean of British Columbia’s West Coast.
The Gordon River Flows West into the Ocean near Port Renfrew
Peaceful and tranquil as it is, for one weekend every March the peace is broken by scores of whitewater kayakers who navigate rough forest service roads with kayaks, generators, tarps, lights, kegs, barbecues and bands, and light up the weekend with fresh boofs, freestyle raps, and punk music (among other genres).
This year the event was back following a two-year hiatus, with years of up pent-up energy culminating into a whirlwind of awesomeness. Turnout was great, with round about 100 people gathering in the West Coast Forest to paddle and party the weekend away.
Video Credit: Emma Wehner
At the heart of the festival is the Gordon River itself. Consisting of four main sections ranging from Class II to Class V, it has a little something to offer to paddlers of all skill levels.
The events namesake ‘race’ takes place on the Upper section of the river, which consists of several kilometers of clean, friendly, and fun Class IV. Regarding flows, serendipity graced the event this year with rain in the week before the event providing close to ideal flows, making it the first Gordon Race in my memory with water levels that were not totally terrifying, or boat breakingly low.
Racers Lines Up at the Start Line
The event formally starts Saturday, with shuttles running all day for the Upper, and groups going out independently to the rest of the Gordons sections. The afternoon marks the start of the race itself, and spectators gather at the bottom of a steep path in the canyon to watch the action.
Racing Through Triple Drop as Spectators Watch from the Heart of the Canyon
Photo: Scott McBride
In the evening following the race, kegs are tapped and barbecues lit as performers play on a timber-frame stage in the forest. As winners are announced ties are broken with infamous sumo suit wrestling matches.
Once prizes are delivered, a punk band plays to a bouncy shoeless crowd. When they’re finished the DJ’s take the stage and the party continues until the kegs are dry and the campfire burns low in the late hours of the evening.
Sumo Suits Tell the True 11th Place Winner…
In the morning kayakers crawl out of cars and tents and collect around camp stoves brewing hot coffee. Warmed and caffeinated, clean up ensues as people sort through gear that is strewn about like a yard sale after a tornado, and those up to the task gear up for some last laps before heading home.
There is something special about the Gordon Race, and this year was no different. What makes it so special is harder to pin down exactly, but it has something to do with the natural beauty of the area, the quality of the whitewater, the aesthetics of the festival grounds, and the group of awesome people that are the Vancouver Island kayaking community and make the event happen every year.
Video Credit: Emma Wehner
If you’re interested in making your own voyage to explore Vancouver Islands whitewater, be sure to check out my complete Vancouver Island Whitewater Kayaking guide below. It will help you build a hit list of rivers to paddle, and plan your trip so you will actually be able to paddle them when you arrive ☺
Read my Complete Guide to Kayaking Vancouver Island
Video Credit: Emma Wehner
Happy Paddling Amigos
- Koby
AQ Outdoors Contact
Edmonton: (p) 780 463-4892 (e) info@aquabaticsedmonton.com
Calgary: (p) 403 288-9283 (e) info@aqoutdoors.com
