Red River PaddleCast, hosted by Brad Friesen, dives into the stories, grit, and river magic behind the Red River Paddle Challenge. Each episode brings you conversations with past, present, and future paddlers, plus the community leaders who help shape our sport. Fans will love the behind‑the‑scenes insights, wild adventure tales, training wisdom, and the shared passion that fuels this growing paddling community.
In this episode, Sandy Hudson shares how she built Kayak Manitoba from a pandemic side project into a 6,000-member hub, why the simplest gear is often the best gear, and how one book became a go-to guide for anyone wanting to paddle Manitoba.
In this episode:
- Why Sandy chose a lightweight youth kayak and how it changed her paddling life.
- How Kayak Manitoba grew from 50 members to thousands by focusing on community, not noise.
- The best beginner-friendly places to paddle near Winnipeg, including Island Lakes and Harbour View.
- What makes launches, river flow, and seasonal conditions matter more than people realize.
- Why she wrote How to Kayak Manitoba and how it answers the same questions beginners keep asking.
Brad and Sandy also get into the Red River Paddle Challenge, including what it takes to support paddlers at checkpoint three, why having a strong crew matters, and one unforgettable moment that shows exactly what this community is all about.
If you love paddling, are new to kayaking, or want to find new places and people to paddle with, this episode is packed with useful insight, local knowledge, and genuine inspiration.
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