Jurassico Gathering, Veneto, Italy

Once renowned for its famous world-class freestyle wave, the Mis River in Italy now hosts an annual gathering every first week of September. On September 6th-7th, the Jurassic Kayak Festival celebrated its seventh edition, reuniting hundreds of paddlers from Italy and beyond on the Mis, Cordevole, and Piave Rivers in northeastern Italy.

Springing from the Dolomites, the Mis River joins the Cordevole before flowing into the Piave River, offering a joyful class II-III descent for all ages and skill levels. These rivers can be difficult to paddle at the right levels without rain, but the dam release guarantees great conditions during the festival, making it the perfect chance to tick them off your bucket list.

This year, more than 200 kayaks, canoes, and SUPs of all shapes and colors dotted these outstanding braided stretches of rivers, framed by the dramatic Dolomitic peaks in the background. The festival kicks off on Saturday with a paddle down the river, followed by dinner and a party in the evening, and then does it all over again on Sunday.

Each edition brings something new, as the riverbeds are constantly reshaped by annual floods. One year, a hole might form in the middle of the river, and the next, the entire channel may shift to the opposite side. What never changes, though, is the tradition of a good Sunday lunch, Italian-style, to celebrate the past two days on the water.

Words: Luigino Alducci | Photography: Giorgio Schiavon

L’article Jurassico Gathering, Veneto, Italy est apparu en premier sur Kayak Session Magazine.