Path of the Paddle: Solo Basic

This short film from canoeist Bill Mason illustrates the joy and poetry of paddling solo. All the basic strokes used to control the canoe are rendered with perfect clarity through animated lines.
Directed by Bill Mason - 1977 | 27 min
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[@MJ-qt4dm]

Awe Bill...you are sorely missed. It has been over 50 years since you made most of these videos and this is one old codger who still remembers the lessons you taught. Thank you for introducing me to a lifetime of adventures.Mike

[@paolo4002]

A legend for sure. New paddlers can learn more in these 28 minutes than 2hrs searching youtube vids. Fantastic!!

[@ForestRiver-pw7qy]

💯! I've been in and on the water for 40 years and I felt I gained new understanding and appreciation for the Art of Paddling. Dude was so smooth ❤ and obviously having a blast! Headed down to the Susquehanna from Cayuga Lake, Ithaca, NY tomorrow. CANT. HARDLY. WAIT. Chesapeake or Bust baby!!!

[@NatureBetsLast]

I have

[@ri-jm5tn]

Gosh, I haven’t seen this for 50+ years and it’s still as relevant as ever👍

[@Bobobaggins93747]

Bill Mason was a legend in his own right 💕💕 He inspired me as I worked away in my corporate cubicle, dreaming of owning a red canoe and taking it on adventures. Thank you Bill for your knowledge and for sharing your mastery

[@jamesvarga312]

Wait... That's Bill Mason?

[@engroovedsplash]

This sums up everything needed for a novice. Thanks NFB for making this available. 😊

[@gregoryhaid853]

I have been paddling since the 60's. Never get tried of watching this great Canadian who still inspires the heck outa me. Thank you for posting.

[@BurtReynoldstash]

I love all the videos, the voyageur ones a favorite too

[@tumbleweed6658]

Never gets old watching Bill Mason work his prospector canoe like a boss. His path of the paddle books made me look like I knew what I was doing on the open water and has kept me safe in high winds. Thank you NFB for sharing these treasures.

[@justinsmith623]

When I got into paddling, I ran across all of these Bill Mason videos. I went out and tried everything he said and eventually got pretty good at it. I also follow Paul and Becky. Their whole family is a treasure.

[@stevebacks9953]

This video taught me all I needed to know 30 years ago. I still love to watch Bill paddle. He was just amazin.

[@dylanleeevins]

Absolutely underrated - both film and art.

[@sergeaquin1758]

Tanks now i will make the trip after 4 Hear watching how to make backpaking
Something was missing now i knock why
Again big thanks for your sharing

[@davidwilkins1888]

I love everything about these films.

[@LakeVermilionDreams]

This video taught me enough to teat my canoe last summer and paddle around a lake. When I got back, a lady whose family does weeks-long trips across Canada's wilderness complimented me and didn't believe I was a newbie! Thanks, Bill Mason!

[@deganmccloskey3230]

This taught me how to canoe best instructional videos I’ve found even now and with so much style.

[@Primo489]

A wonderful, magical film & an inspiration for paddlers.

[@wetcanoedogs]

this is another video i would watch before a big canoe trip.
reminders on stuff you forgot over a long winter.

[@ianpaul6931]

Best canoe instruction video. Thanks for downloading!

[@jackkrag]

thanks for that..love to see a master

[@ForestRiver-pw7qy]

God Bless Canada and God Bless Bill 🇨🇦

[@miloslavsvoboda4602]

Kontrazáběr, traverz a pomalé vyhoupání vlny, to je prostě jednoduchý recept na sjetí slušné řeky. Pomalu a v klidu, mazácky.;-)Ch.

[@bruliet]

Thanks for uploading this!

[@scottiebaldwin]

Bill Mason is glorious. What a hunk. He’s basically the outdoor enthusiast’s version of Michael McDonald. ❤ Hubba hubba.

[@rogerclyde2720]

Awesome

[@cindy_Bottoms]

This was so helpful for this beginner solo paddler.

[@bigfoot9421]

I wish I had some poutine while I watched this!

[@janeilertpedersen]

Awesome canoe paddler

[@nn.roberts]

Great video. Thanks 👍

[@Otisthelesser]

This is awesome.

[@LightspeedTutorials]

here i am in 2023 paddling on a chair watchin screen

[@laurencedubois1792]

Does anyone knows where this was filmed?

[@mattvaandering]

Lake paddling was on Lake superior (pukaskwa np). I think much of the white water was filmed on Lake superior tributaries and/or the petawawa river in algonquin pp

[@thomasgriffith3747]

What are the specs of the canoe being used here?

[@jeff-fp7lf]

16 foot Prospector

[@davidwilkins1888]

16 foot chestnut prospector

[@jmarker99]

Patron Saint

[@jmarker99]

🛶