A passion for stand up paddling, filmmaking & rivers together with an enchantment for watersheds creates Contours: A Story of First Waves, a film about protecting the environment. Watch this short, yet powerful film about inspiring community through watersports, by Rishi Sethi and Ian Smith.

Contours:  First Waves on Stonycreek River, Johnstown, PA

A search for standing waves and rivers led Ian Smith to Johnstown, Pennsylvania. Upon arrival, what he discovered was a polluted body of water and the inspiration to empower Johnstown’s citizenry to clean up their environment through the skills of paddle surfing & film. Watch this 9-minute film, Contours, A Story of First Waves, showcasing the most recent of First Waves’ initiatives to see the smiles first hand of kids experiencing the thrill of river surfing on Stonycreek River and learning that they can play an important role in protecting their city’s watersheds.

“If the raft is the harbinger of adventure, then riding a wave is the catalyst of conservation. The act itself is imbued with a need for harmony with the river.”

Storytelling is a profound way we inspire each other. Ian & crew collaborate with Johnstown’s passionate youth to plant trees along the riverbed and focus on the health of the watershed. Together, they create an incredible memory told through education and film while building a legacy to care for this river far into the future.

Learn more about First Waves at: www.firstwaves.org