Heliconia, the production team behind the award-winning television series Facing Waves, is excited to announce that the new season of the hit show is set to premiere on Outside TV and Bally Sports this June.
Facing Waves is now in its 8th season. For eight years, Canadian-based Facing Waves host, Ken Whiting, has travelled the globe and visited the world’s top paddling and water-based destinations. The show has taken him, along with occasional special guest hosts, to Jamaica, Alaska, Croatia, Papua New Guinea, Jordan, Taiwan, the Galápagos Islands, British Columbia, Florida, Wales, West Sweden and everywhere in between.
This season, however, the episodes were filmed closer to home. Due to COVID-19 and the global tourism lockdown in 2020, international filming was put on hold for the Facing Waves crew. Production plans of filming in Norway and Nunavut were put on hold.
Instead, the Facing Waves production team pivoted and turned their camera lens to world-class destinations that just so happened to be closer to home—the episodes in this season of Facing Waves were filmed entirely in Ontario, Canada.
“We really did work hard to come up with last-minute filming schedules and adventures for Season 8 of Facing Waves. Only one episode was filmed before the pandemic hit. The team took a step back, re-assessed what was feasible and safe, and came up with what might just be my favourite season of Facing Waves so far!” explains Whiting. “It was a fantastic opportunity to rediscover our own backyard. Ontario truly is world-class in the outdoor adventures that it has to offer.”
Season 8 episodes of Facing Waves will showcase paddling adventures along the Ottawa River, the Madawaska River, Algonquin Provincial Park, Bon Echo Provincial Park, and a Mothership adventure in Ontario’s Highlands; sea kayaking in the 1000s Islands; paddling the ‘Canadian Amazon’ and kayak fishing in Southwestern Ontario; and a summer sea kayak adventure and fall canoe trip in Killarney Provincial Park.
Facing Waves, North America’s first and only paddlesport TV series, is broadcast through Outside TV, Bally Sports (formally FOX Sports), and Nautical Channel to over 140 million households across 40+ countries. Season 8 will debut on Outside TV and Bally Sports this June. For more information on the series, visit www.facingwaves.com.
Tourism destinations interested in being featured on Facing Waves are encouraged to reach out to Heliconia’s Tourism Partnership Manager, Stefanie Manton-Ward, at stefanie@helipress.com.
MEDIA: For additional information, or to schedule an interview, please reach out to Heliconia’s Communications Manager, Lauren McIllfaterick at lauren@helipress.com.
ABOUT HELICONIA: Heliconia is an award-winning video production company that helps destinations and brands reach the US adventure travel audience. The company produces nine unique media projects, providing authentic storytelling opportunities for every adventure and every destination. These series include: Epic Trails, Epic Trails: Mountain Biking, Facing Waves, Adventure Cities, The Great Family Adventure, BA Fishing, Peak Experience, Chad Hoover Fishing and The Kayak Fishing with Jim Sammons. Heliconia has a proven formula that marries inspiring video production with guaranteed television and digital distribution, ensuring that your message is heard by the adventure travel community in a unique and impactful way. For more information, visit www.heliconia.ca.
