The Pemi is one of my favorite rivers to paddle in the fall. There is a fun class II-III run that is pretty fun but what really draws me to this river is the Pemi Park and Play. This is a fun little playspot at the takeout that was one of my go to spots during college. The Pemi Park and Play is certainly lacking when compared to the world class spots on the Ottawa and even some of the local high water playspots but it is a short drive and is often at the perfect level during the summer and fall. While this spot is a little shallow for cartwheels and many of the vertical moves, it is great for learning to surf, spin, roundhouse and blunt. At the right levels loops are possible and I’m pretty sure that a McNasty might go. There is also a really fun seal launch that drops you right into the surf.
The level looked perfect so I loaded up the Jitsu and headed up to meet a friend. The hole was a little on the shallow side but the hole was retentive enough to stick moves. The Jitsu made spins easy and the quick edge transition on the Jitsu made blunts feel smooth and snappy. We surfed for a few hours trying all kinds of different moves, goofing off and having a great time. It was a nice crisp fall day and the first bits of foliage were just starting to peek out.
It was a great day out on the water and I’m definitely hoping to get back to the Pemi again soon.
