International Whitewater Hall of Fame

As an affiliated organization to the International Whitewater Hall of Fame, the ACA is proud to commend the following 2009 IWHoF Honorees:

• Pioneer - Mikhail Kolchevnikov - Russia
• Explorer - Lars Holbek - United States
• Champion - Stepanka Hilgertova - Czech Republic
• Champion - Pavol Hochschorner and Peter Hochschorner – Slovakia
• Advocate - Rafael Gallo - Costa Rica
• Advocate - Bill Mason – Canada

Copyright 2009. International Whitewater Hall of Fame

This past Saturday, at the Nantahala Outdoor Center (NOC) in western North Carolina, these international honorees or their representatives joined together for a day of festivities. From a raft trip with 2005 IWHoF Honoree Payson Kennedy to presentations by 2008 IWHoF Honoree Eric Jackson and Olympian Wayne Dickert, it was a day filled with celebrating the signifcant accomplishments of the above Honorees.

The ACA would like to commend NOC team member Matt Urdan for organizing this memorable event.

To learn about the ACA's own prestigious national awards, which will be bestowed at the upcoming ACA National Paddlesports Conference, visit: ACA Awards.

Paddle Safe - Paddle Often,
Christopher Stec
Safety Education & Instruction Department

ACA National Club Rendezvous

I know everyone is anxiously awaiting the arrival of the ACA National Paddlesports Conference October 23-25 in Fredricksburg, VA. I'm no different.

The ACA has arranged a compelling agenda for members, clubs, instructors and vendors as a highlight of the status of paddlesports in the United States. I'm busy preparing some introductory materials for the "Clubs Roundtable Discussion" occurring within the National Club Rendezvous track of the conference.

This session, held for the first time last year, proved immensely successful in allowing open discussion of how clubs can better serve their own members, what clubs' needs are and how ACA and clubs can better serve each other's and paddlers' needs. We really hope you can make it to this session and bring with you a pocket full of good ideas to share with ACA and other clubs. Even if you cannot make it though, I invite you to send me your ideas prior to the conference so that I can help you promote them.

Paddling clubs ARE the grassroots of paddlesports in this country and your voice is important at the national level. When I ran for membership on the ACA Board of Directors, I did so on the platform of service to, and support of the club perspective. Having come from the presidency of my local club, I believed (and still do) that there can be a mutually beneficial relationship between ACA and these local organizations. Make your opinion a positive step in nurturing that relationship.

Larry Ausley

ACA Secretary and Board of Directors

ACA Recreation Committee Chair

L5 River and L3 Coastal Kayaking Instructor

larry.ausley@gmail.com

National Paddlesports Conference

The date is rapidly approaching, mark October 23-25 on your calendar and plan to travel to historic Fredericksburg, VA to attend the ACA's National Paddlesports Conference.

• Educational sessions
• Call of the River video premier
• Instructor Updates
• Adaptive Paddling Programs
• Exhibitor area
• Paddling Club specific workshops
• Socials!
• River trips
• Much more...

From pre and post conference workshops to Wilderness First Aid to Instructor certification courses to canoe poling, join us for the significant paddlesports event of the year.

Paddle Safe - Paddle Often,
Christopher Stec
Safety Education & Instruction Department

ACA Safety Education Video Wins 2009 Telly Award

Lifejackets Float. Do You?

2009 Bronze Telly Award Winner - Film / Video Category

This important question is answered along with sharing a great deal of river safety in the newest ACA Safety Education video with the same title. Join the narrator on a short (13 minute) journey that is both entertaining and eye opening as you discover the many challenges moving water presents.

Available from the ACA for just $9.95
Call 540-907-4460 x103 to order your copy today!

30th Annual Telly Awards Winners Announced
Telly again proudly honors the very best commercials, videos, films and internet work
www.tellyawards.com

New York City, NY -- (June 29, 2009) The Winners of the 30th Annual Telly Awards have been announced. With nearly 11,000 entries from all 50 states and around the world, this year’s 30th anniversary has been one of the most competitive and successful in the long history of the Telly Awards. Founded in 1979, the Telly Awards is the premier award honoring outstanding local, regional, and cable TV commercials and programs, the finest film and video productions, and groundbreaking web commercials, videos and films. Winners represent the best work of the most respected advertising agencies, production companies, television stations, cable operators, and corporate video departments in the world.

Congratulations to the ACA for a great product and Walkabout Productions for your excellent work!

American Canoe Association
Safety Education and Instruction Department
sei@americancanoe.org
www.americancanoe.org

Essential Eligibility Criteria

The ACA Board of Directors recently approved Essential Eligibility Criteria (EEC) for all ACA skills courses, assessments, and certification workshops.

These essential eligibility criteria are crucial as they provide prudent participation guidelines for people of all abilities participating in ACA courses.

For more information, please visit: www.americancanoe.org/eec

To learn more about the ACA's essential eligibility criteria, join us at our upcoming National Paddlesports Conference as we'll have experts from across the country presenting on the topic.

Paddle Safe - Paddle Often,
Christopher Stec
Safety Education & Instruction Department

Collegiate Championships

ACA Collegiate Canoe & Kayak National Championships

When: October 10-11, 2009
Where: Fredericksburg, VA
Venue: Rappahannock River

Join the Virginia Outdoor Center, and the American Canoe Association as we host the Collegiate Canoe & Kayak National Championships. No specialized equipment needed, and no experience necessary, although the more you have increases your teams chance of winning a medal!

These downriver races, in both canoes and kayaks, will be held on both whitewater and flatwater, the fastest time from point A to B, wins.

If your school or program does not have access to canoes or kayaks, we will have extras available at the race.

· Camping is available on site

· Pre-registration is required

· Website is updated

For all the information, including registration, camping, and a course map, go to www.americancanoe.org/CollegeChampionships

Paddle Safe - Paddle Often,
Christopher Stec
Safety Education & Instruction Department

Recreational Boating Statistics

The U.S. Coast Guard announced the publication of the 2008 boating safety statistics, reporting a rise in recreational boating fatalities.

In 2008, two thirds of all fatal recreational boating accident victims drowned, and of those over 90% were not wearing their lifejacket. So...Wear It!

Also in 2008, over 100 people died while canoeing, kayaking and rafting.

Rear Admiral Kevin Cook, the Coast Guard's director of prevention policy, emphasized the importance of boating education saying, "The 2008 report shows a clear link between safety and boating education...The statistics indicate that boaters who have taken a boating safety course are less likely to be involved in an accident."

Recreational Boating Statistics 2008

If you are interested in helping the ACA in our quest to lower those figures, please consider joining the ACA's Safety Education & Instruction Council.

Paddle Safe - Paddle Often,
Christopher Stec
Safety Education & Instruction Department

Dixie Division Annual Meeting

The Dixie Division's Annual Meeting will take place on October 3-4 at Relia's Garden Restaurant at the Nantahala Outdoor Center in western North Carolina.

Gordon Black of the Cahaba River Society is the Chair.

The Dixie Division encompasses:

• North Carolina
• South Carolina
• Georgia
• Florida
• Alabama
• Tennessee
• Kentucky

All ACA members are invited to attend.

For more information please visit the ACA's About Us webpage.

Paddle Safe - Paddle Often,
Christopher Stec
Safety Education & Instruction Department

Freestyle Canoeing

On September 12 in Peninsula, OH, the ACA will host the Freestyle Canoeing National Championships.

This canoeing discipline has been described as "ballet on water." Extremely precise and effficent strokes are used to move a canoe through the water, in sync with music.

This type of canoeing truly is art, expressed on the water.

Some of the strokes used in freestyle canoeing are: Christie, Axle, Post, Jam, and Gimble.

Did you know that an Inner Gimble is a canoe stroke where the entire paddle is under the water: blade, shaft and grip?!?

2009 Freestyle Canoeing National Championships

Paddle Safe - Paddle Often,
Christopher Stec
Safety Education & Instruction Department

National Paddlesports Conference

The date is rapidly approaching, mark October 23-25 on your calendar and plan to travel to historic Fredericksburg, VA to attend the ACA's National Paddlesports Conference.

• Educational sessions
• Call of the River video premier
• Instructor Updates
• Adaptive Paddling Programs
• Exhibitor area
• Paddling Club specific workshops
• Socials!
• River trips
• Much more...

Spaces are beginning to fill up, reserve your spot, register today!.

Paddle Safe - Paddle Often,
Christopher Stec
Safety Education & Instruction Department

Paddler Revitalized!

That's right, Paddler Magazine will be back in 2010 starting with the Spring (March/April) issue!

With a new look and great content, watch your mailboxes and read Paddler from cover to cover to get ready for the upcoming paddling season.

Paddle safe and paddle often,

The crew at Paddler Magazine & the ACA

Nominations

The nomination deadline for the ACA's Annual Awards is this Friday, September 4th!

Each year, the American Canoe Association’s Board of Directors accepts nominations for a series of national awards that recognize individuals, clubs and organizations for a wide range of paddlesport accomplishments:

Legends of Paddling

Excellence in Instruction

Sanctioned Event of the Year

Green Paddle for Waterway Conservation

Joe Pina Volunteer of the Year

Stroke of Achievement

J. Henry Rushton

The award recipients are honored each year at the Annual Banquet at the ACA National Paddlesports Conference.

For a full description of each award, a list of previous recipients, and this years nomination form, please visit: www.americancanoe.org/Awards

Don't delay, nominate today!

Paddle Safe - Paddle Often,
Christopher Stec
Safety Education & Instruction Department