It all begins at 5 p.m. Friday, April 22!
That’s when Port Angeles’ Barhop Brewery kicks off the third Port Angeles Kayak & Film Festival with a welcome party featuring locally produced adventure films, food, drinks and more.
Participants may register on site for more than 20 diverse on-the-water and dry land paddling classes offered throughout the festival weekend, April 23-24.
Expert kayak instructors and expeditioners will eat, drink and make merry with local paddlers while enjoying the work of Olympic Peninsula producer John Gussman and other award-winning professional filmmakers.
Paddling classes for all
Classes ranging from Introduction to Sea Kayaking to Advanced Rescue Techniques will be offered from 8 a.m.-3:30 p.m. Saturday and from 8 a.m.-2 p.m. Sunday.
The classes will be taught by 17 experts specializing in all genres of kayaking and stand-up paddle boarding.
New this year is instructor Kenny Howell, who offers an introductory surfski clinic to give participants a taste of this fast paddle craft.
Creative paddlers can learn the art of adventure videography in a seminar presented by expedition kayaker and adventure filmmaker Justine Curgenven.
Other new classes include “How to Choose & Rig Your Fishing Kayak” and “Intro to Kayak Photography,” presented by Gussman.
Demo beach
Among the festival’s unique features is the demonstration beach, at Hollywood Beach next to Port Angeles City Pier.
Recreational, touring, sit-on-top and surfski kayaks as well as stand-up paddle boards will be available for test driving. Visitors can pick them up, test their weight, check out the quality of construction and learn first-hand about different designs and materials.
Represented brands include Hobie, Delta Kayaks, Dagger, Wilderness Systems, Werner, Perception, Eddyline, Epic, Swift Paddles and Kokatat Watersports Wear. Special pricing is available throughout the weekend. The demo beach is open Saturday, 9 a.m.–5 p.m., and on Sunday, 9 a.m.–3 p.m. ‘Sea Kayaking the World’
The adventure films continue on Saturday evening at Peninsula College’s Maier Performance Hall. Beginning at 7 p.m., Justine Curgenven gives a keynote presentation entitled, “Sea Kayaking the World,” featuring clips from her award-winning films, highlighting paddling excursions along the wild coastlines of Russia, Antarctica, New Zealand, Patagonia and the Aleutian Islands. Peninsula College Maier Performance Hall is at 1502 E. Lauridsen Blvd., Port Angeles.
Tickets are $10 and are available online or at the door.
Registration, ticket information
There are four ways to register for events:
• Guarantee your space by reserving online at www.portangeleskayakandfilm.com.
• Call 417-3015.
• Register on site at the festival check-in tent.
• Register at the welcome party at Barhop Brewery & Taproom on Friday, April 22. A film screening is set for 5-7 p.m., with live music following. Barhop is at 124 W. Railroad Ave., Port Angeles.
Note 1: Demo beach passes are $10 (refundable with kayak purchase).
Note 2: Film festival/keynote presentation entry fee is $10.
Note 3: A portion of the proceeds from class registrations, Keynote Presentation entry and Demonstration Beach passes benefit the Feiro Marine Life Center, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit corporation promoting marine education and conservation, located at the Port Angeles City Pier.
Festival organizers and sponsors
The Port Angeles Kayak & Film Festival is made possible through the collaborative efforts of two Port Angeles kayak companies, Sound Bikes & Kayaks and Adventures Through Kayaking.
Sponsors include Barhop Brewing, Feiro Marine Life Center, Harbinger Winery, Immersion Research, Olympic Peninsula Paddlers, Olympic Peninsula Tourism Commission, Peninsula College, Port Angeles Regional Chamber of Commerce and Werner Paddles.
