Stand Up Paddling Program for Youth in the Fraser Valley!

Fraser Valley Rippers

Pure Life Paddle Boards is stoked to announce the start of our new youth SUP development program, the Fraser Valley Rippers. This program is designed to get more of our young people on the water and enjoying our environment. The focus of the program will be on developing proper paddling skills and techniques, water safety skills and decision making, and environmental awareness. There are two options within the program, each designed to cater to the needs, goals and ages of interested individuals.

Option 1:  -less competitive with a focus on fun paddling and skill/strength development

- 10 sessions, meeting once a week for 1.5 hours (Saturdays)

-ages 8-12

Cost: $200 plus GST includes board, paddle, life jacket, leash rental ($150 plus GST with own gear)

Option 2: -more competitive with a focus on race specific paddling skills and fitness 

-21 sessions, meeting twice a week for 3 hours total (Wednesdays and Saturdays) plus 8 Cultus Lake SUP Series races

-ages 10-16 (flexible based on sign-up)

Cost: $400 plus GST includes board, paddle, life jacket and leash rental, as well as the $10 entrance fees for the 8 Cultus Lake SUP Series races ($300 plus GST with own gear). Sibling 

Special – in an effort to help lower costs for those families with more than one active kid, the first enrolled will be full price, second will be 20% off and third will be 30% off (any more than that and we can chat!).

I am a Paddle Canada SUP instructor for flatwater, river, surf and touring skills, and hold safety certifications in swift water rescue and a wilderness first aid. Ideally, I would like to see this program grow and be able to offer the paddlers involved opportunities to further develop their paddling skills in the river, surf and touring environments.

I also believe paddle boarding is a great way for families to enjoy the outdoors together. Many parents are already involved in paddling and may be looking to improve their own skills and paddling fitness as well. Because of this, parents will be 100% welcome to come and paddle with their kids during the training sessions.

Looking forward to getting your kids (and possibly yourselves) out on the water!

For dates and details, contact Ken Larsen @ Pure Life Paddle Boards Inc. at 604-798-2349 via email

River Cleanups - Are You Going to Participate?

Since moving out to the Fraser Valley we have become very involved in our local river cleanup community. Illegal dumping is a huge issue in the Fraser Valley and unfortunately, in many other municipalities. It's difficult to understand "why" people would do this and "how" to fix it so we do our part by helping to cleanup, educate and "bring back more than we go out with". I am a Director with the Chilliwack Vedder River Cleanup Society and my husband, Mark maintains their website and data.

The first community cleanup we attended this year was run by the Fraser Valley Salmon Society (FVSS) and generously supported by Dean (Werk) and his crew at Great River Fishing Adventures. The FVSS is a non-profit society that ensures and advocates for the rights for all anglers in non-tidal waters and works with the Department of Fisheries & Oceans as co-managers in conservation and habitat protection. The FVSS is also heavily involved in the training and education of anglers and the public to sport fishing. Dean is President of FVSS, was born and raised close to the Fraser River and runs his business, Great River Fishing Adventures up and down the river. Please check them out.

Dedicated volunteers braving the miserable weather; collecting garbage on one of the gravels bars of the Fraser River.

The weather was less than ideal but we had approximately 20 like-minded folks come out to pick up garbage on the gravel bars and banks of the Fraser River. I was very fortunate to head out on one of Dean's boats with Aggie and her son, Chris - two, very active anglers and members of the FVSS. With the help of boats provided by Dean and others, we were able to access gravel bars and bring out a lot of garbage. We pick up everything from fast food packaging, clothing to abandoned campsites with tents, cooking gear and more.

View from the boat

While some of us were 'on the water' others headed to a notorious dumping spot at Old Orchard. This area is accessible by car/truck and we know this area well as we have used it as a 'take out' for our paddling trips. It is always a depressing mess and once again, a lot of garbage was collected.

Thanks to Great River Fishing Adventures for sharing their boats and fuel to get volunteers to the remote gravel bars.

If you care about keeping your local waterways clean, get involved with local organizations doing river cleanups or start your own. Here in the Fraser Valley and in Chilliwack specifically, we have a community full of people that are passionate about this issue and plenty of others who provide us with lots of garbage to pick up.

Volunteers enjoying the bbq hosted by Fraser Valley Salmon Society - thanks, Aggie!

Upcoming cleanups are as follows:

Saturday March 28th run by Fraser Riverkeepers and Woodtone - meet at Gill Road in Chilliwack at 10 am. Free BBQ for volunteers at 1pm. Please bring appropriate clothing and footwear - this event will go rain or shine.

Saturday April 18th run by Chilliwack Vedder River Cleanup Society - registration starts at 8:30 am at the Great Blue Heron Nature Reserve at 5200 Sumas Prairie Rd, Chilliwack, BC. Refreshments generously provided by Tim Hortons and the Chilliwack Water Store. Please bring your refillable water bottles and coffee mugs as we want to discourage single use containers.

Cultus Lake Summer SUP Series

Ken Larsen of Pure Life Paddle Boards in Chilliwack, BC is doing great things in the Fraser Valley programming from a Beginning SUP course, to warm locale tours in Costa Rica to River SUP.

to introduce people of all ages and abilities to Stand Up Paddle boarding (SUP).  Pure Life Paddle Boards offers a variety of

We want to help Ken promote SUP and are excited to let  you know about two fantastic programs you want to get involved with:  Cultus Lake SUP Series and the Youth Program, the Fraser Valley Rippers (we will tell you more about Ken's youth program in an upcoming blogpost)

What is the Cultus Lake SUP Series?

A series of 8 fun races hosted by Main Beach Boat Rentals and Pure Life Paddle Boards, intended to continue growing the paddling culture and community at Cultus Lake. The events will follow the same format as last year with each race including shorter and longer course options, followed by a barbeque and numerous draw prizes donated by local businesses.

Who is this series intended for?

These events are truly all-inclusive! Everyone is welcome to come and participate, regardless of paddling experience. Last year saw participants with age differences spanning decades, parents paddling with kids, countless first time paddlers and even dog owners paddling with their four legged companions. Two different course length options will be available for every event.

Where does this series take place?

All events are run out front of Main Beach Boat Rentals at Cultus Lake.

What is the cost to participate in the SUP series?

The cost is only $10 per event and includes race entry, a post-race barbeque, and an entry ticket for the prize draw. If you are in need of equipment, Main Beach Boat Rentals is providing gear for a reduced rate of only $10 more.

When do the events take place?

They start May 13th and continue every second Wednesday right through to August 19th. Registration runs 6-6:45pm and the races start at 7pm with BBQ and prizes afterwards.

The Fraser Valley Celebrates Canada Water Week!

Thanks to our friends at the Water Wealth Project in Chilliwack, BC for the content in this blogpost and for hosting Canada Water Week in the Fraser Valley!

Join the fun right here in the heart of the Fraser Valley for our week long series of water-loving events for Canada Water Week -- a celebration of water from coast-to-coast-to-coast, held annually in the third week of March to coincide with World Water Day on March 22.

Join WaterWealth + Friends at one (or all!) of our FREE Canada Water Week events:

Monday 17th, 11am - 1 PM
Get To Know Your Home Waters Walk

Meet @ Vedder Rotary Trail parking lot at the south end of Peach Rd.
Family friendly, wear good walking shoes, dress for the weather, cancelled in the event of  *heavy* rain (call to confirm with Natalie if any doubt, 604-798-8990).

Monday 17th, 6:30 - 8:30 PM
A Watery Film Night: "Watermark"

Bldg 10 - 7201 Vedder Rd. (Sto:lo Research and Resource Management Center)
Family friendly, light refreshments provided, wheelchair accessible venue, newly released and award winning film.

Wednesday 19th, 7-9 PM
Water Champions Cafe

Sardis Secondary School (TBC), 45460 Stevenson Rd.
Childcare available (please confirm your family's need w/ Natalie, 604-798-8990), light refreshments provided, wheelchair accessible venue.  Nikki Rekman Sales and the Chilliwack Vedder River Clean Up Society will be participating in this public forum

Friday 21st, 4-9 PM
Wet Your Whistle Happy Hour(s) + Pub Night

Major League Pub, 45768 Gaetz St
Art raffle, info tables w/ many water-focused community organizations, $1 from all drinks sold between 6-9 pm (excluding specials) goes to support WaterWealth.  Nikki Rekman Sales and the Chilliwack Vedder River Clean Up Society representatives will be there.  Join us.

Saturday 22nd, 1-2:30 PM
World Water Day Community Celebration

Central Community Park, 45951 Victoria Ave
Family friendly, live entertainment, rain or shine, wear blue and show your WATER PRIDE!

+++ You can find our Water Week event series on Facebook as well! +++