The Fairbanks Paddlers annual meeting and potluck dinner will be held Friday, November 4, 2011 at the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Fairbanks located at 4448 Pikes Landing Road, across from the Princess Hotel, off Airport Way.
Come swap paddling stories of days gone by, plan for next year’s season, and enjoy the food and entertainment.
The agenda will be as follows:
- 6:30 Gear Swap – Suggested 10% donation to the Fairbanks Paddlers.
- 7:00 Potluck – If you last name begins with A-Z, bring food!
- 7:30 Business Meeting – nominations will be accepted for new board members.
- 7:50 to 9:00 Guest Presentation
Dinner entertainment will feature a magic show performed by a prominent member of the local paddling community.
Following the dinner and meeting Paul Schauer will share perspectives of growing up paddling Alaskan Rivers and a multimedia presentation that highlights adventures on some of the state’s premiere whitewater runs.
Paul Schauer was born in Fairbanks and raised on rivers throughout the Last Frontier. Growing up in a paddling family and community, Paul spent countless childhood days floating Alaska’s rivers in a raft or canoe. At six weeks old, he was initiated to camping with boaters in the Alaska Range. He received his first kayak when he was 6 years old. With the kayak rigged with training pontoons, he began to explore the gravel pits and ponds around Fairbanks with family. Slowly, he graduated from training pontoons and advanced to moving current on the Delta Clearwater and Chena Rivers. After learning how to roll in Hamme Pool, he began to explore the Nenana River with the Fairbanks Paddlers club. Now, 20 years after receiving his first kayak, he continues to expand his horizons, exploring challenging rivers in the land of the midnight sun. At age 26, he has paddled more than 40 Alaskan rivers. During the past summer, Paul’s repertoire included over a dozen of the state’s premiere Class V whitewater runs. Paul’s growing YouTube library of artfully edited helmet camera videos document the kayaking and packrafting adventures he shares with his crew. Paul, a graduate of Lathrop High School and University of Alaska Anchorage currently resides in Anchorage, where he works as a hydrologist for the USGS.