Freeland – A Blackwater Story dives into the history of the Blackwater River in the Monongahela National Forest in West Virginia, and the kayaking community that has developed around it. Blackwater Canyon contains world class whitewater, with 17 miles of Class IV-V+ rapids. This river is home to the birth of steep creeking, and A Blackwater Story reviews the early history of the sport, told by those who were here to live it. The film explores the topic of death in whitewater, and the impact social media plays on the next generation of whitewater kayakers.

Director Biography – Justin Harris

Justin Harris is a photographer, content creator, and filmmaker living deep in the mountains of West Virginia. He is an avid kayaker and skier and began his career in action sports photography. His exploration into video came during his tenure as the Media Director of a small West Virginia ski resort. After the success of The Red Creek Sessions and A White Grass Story, Justin chose to tell the story of the fabled Blackwater River in West Virginia, and the 40 years of history within it involving the whitewater kayaking community. His third film is by far his largest endeavor, and it is considered a follow up film to the award winning ‘Freeland ~ A White Grass Story’.

Director Statement

“A Blackwater Story is the story that, as a kayaker, I always wanted to tell. I chose to build the foundation off three main ideas… utilizing a descent of the river as a historical timeline, mixing footage from the 80s and 90s with modern day drone and SLR footage to tell a story, and recording the history of our sport through the storytelling of the original generation of creek boaters. Having the opportunity to tell this generation’s story is a true honor as a filmmaker. As a kayaker, it is everything. Rarely in history do athletes of a given sport have the opportunity to share experiences and stories with those who pioneered the sport. I felt it was of vital importance to document these times properly. And my hope is that 10, 20, even 50 years from now, this film is an archive of a generation and the sport they created.”