2006 has been the most amazing year for me ever. So what happened you might ask? What new rivers did you paddle? What places did you visit? The truth is that I didn’t paddle any new rivers or visit any new places.

So why was 2006 so great?

On August 26, 2006 I became a Dad. My Girlfriend Chantal Cox and I are now proud parents of a baby boy (Aiden William Barker). That explains why i didn’t get to paddle a lot. Chantal was put on bed rest for four months before the baby was born so needless to say I had to stay close to home and my only option was surf kayaking in the Atlantic Ocean.

Needless to say having our son far makes up for missing kayaking trips over the summer. Plus we have a 3rd generation whitewater kayaker on our hands. His Grandfather is no other than the Legend Harold Cox.

So did you get any good kayaking in?

Yes and No.

In 2006 I worked with Red Bull to put together the first ever freestyle and boater x competition at the Reversing Falls in Saint John. We had been looking for a way to hold an event there for years and we could never get together insurance and the money it takes to hold the event.

It was great. We had paddlers from all over the Maritimes and Maine. Red Bull athlete Patrick Camblin came down to compete as well.

Due to organizational reasons i didn’t get to paddle the event. Although I still had a great time. I plan to compete this year.

Needless to say the Reverse was a success and it will be on again this year. I will be announcing the dates soon.

My best times paddling in 2006 were the following:

Some great ocean surf sessions with Mark Richard in Nova Scotia.

The Reversing Falls (HighTide) surfing Viagara in October.

Paddling various rivers and surf around Nova Scotia with Ruth Gordon and her boyfriend Klass.

I got to paddle a giant pumpkin the the annual pumpkin regatta in Windsor, Nova Scotia.

So what’s in the works for 2007?

Well i just moved to Saint John New Brunswick. I know have the Reversing Falls in my back yard plus I am going to get together with the other paddlers to find new creek runs in the Saint John area. There are over 100 creeks and rivers within an hour and a half of Saint John and we will be adding more runs to the already impressive list of creeking destinations in New Brunswick.

I also plan to get to Montreal and Ottawa this summer as well as Maine. I also hope to squeeze a trip to Newfoundland in the Fall.

Here’s to 2007 I hope your year will be as good as mine.