I'm the newest of the Gnar Fairies, my name is Kait Clow and I'm here to represent the ladies up here in Canada. I grew up in a small town one hour north of Toronto called Everett. My backyard was a dream come true; acres of Forest and a beautiful river to explore started the fire in my soul that is my passion for the outdoors!
I was never really into sports until I discovered snowboarding; after a few bumps and bruises I was in love. I've always been lucky that my parents were encouraging and supported any of my dreams. I started racing snowboard cross at 12 and soon after I joined a team the Ontario Snowboard Club (OSC.) My life became a whirlwind of races and training. Competing in provincial, national and north american races I was riding with the best of them. Until that one day... Its the race that changed everything. Halted my Olympic dreams. I had a crash at a Mont. Tremblant national race and my season ended shortly after that; I was on the wait list to get knee surgery to build me a new ACL.
So life took a big turn for me. I didn't give up in my dreams; just changed the direction. I signed up to study Outdoor Adventure (ODA) at Algonquin college. Two years of playing in the Ottawa Valley from the river to the forests I felt like I was home again. I worked hard, played hard and partied hard with some of my favourite people in the world, my fellow ODAs.
After two quick years I had fallen in love with not just the Ottawa River; but white water in general. I felt a new challenge. Learning how to kayak was one of the
most challenging, frustrating and rewarding sports I had even tried. I bought myself a playboat and started searching for jobs in the valley.
This past summer I worked at OWL Rafting on the Ottawa River as a raft guide and video kayaker. It was a busy summer and if I wasn't working on the river I was playing on waves, improving my skills and falling more and more in love with this sport.
With the IFC freestyle world championships on the Ottawa River I was able to boat with some amazing kayakers who pushed my nerves and my skills. Surfing garb wave and baby face all summer long has me stoked for next season when the river will be high, cold and burly again.
Being part of the Gnar Fairies wasn't ever planned, it just was a case of connections that happened to work-out. I need to throw out a huge thanks to my Kiwi buddy for connecting me with Gnar-Lee.
In a few days I leave for a month long adventure in the UK and Iceland with some family and old friends. Once I get home i'm off for the winter to Whistler-Blackcomb BC to work as a ski and snowboard instructor. I can't wait to share my gnarly upcoming adventures with all of you!
- Gnarly Kait
PS to check out my personal adventure click here for my BLOG or follow me on Instagram: @believenkait
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