Paddle Green Stewardship

The ACA is incredibly lucky to have volunteers and partners who care about waterways as much as we do! A great big thank you goes out to all the people who have helped to keep our water trails healthy!

If you, or an organization you are a part of, would like to organize a clean-up, we can help you by providing insurance, Paddle Green Bags, or publicity! 

Check out this inspirational video from the StreamSweepers about a clean-up on the Rapidan and Robinson Rivers! www.youtube.com/300TiresandanOldSofa 

Check out some of our Stewardship opportunities here: www.americancanoe.org/Stewardship

Paddling Challenge

Are you looking for a new paddling goal this coming year? Maybe you are hoping to paddle more than you did last year, maybe you are hoping to pick up a new discipline, or maybe you would like to participate in a 72-mile race! Whatever your next paddling goals are, we can help you achieve them! ACA skills courses are taught all over the world and we regularly partner with various races for you to compete in. 

On January 1st, registration opens for the South Dakota Kayak Challenge. Racers have 30 hours to complete this course on the Missouri River! If you are the kind of person to take on a challenge, this is the race for you.

For more information, please follow: www.sdkayakchallenge.org

For the ACA schedule of events, please follow: www.americancanoe.org/Events

"Hey, I'd Eat This At Home!"

Does anyone need inspiration this holiday season to make their families smile? Check out this recipe from Michael Gray's book, available on our eStore!

Bananas Nigel Foster

Inspired by dear friend Nigel, and like Nigel, its easy going and crowd pleasing.

Ingredients:

One greenish banana per person

Butter

Rum

Brown Sugar

Dark Chocolate chips

Peel bananas and split lengthwise. Heat a small amount butter in a saute pan over medium heat, brown bananas round side down for a bit, turn, sprinkle in brown sugar and a good tot of rum...this will probably catch fire; don't panic, just don't be looking into the pan if you value your brows. Stir till caramelized a bit and turn two halves onto each plate or bowl, sprinkle liberally with dark chocolate pieces and then spoon the caramel rum sauce from the pan over the melting chocolate. Get ready for applause.

From page 159 of "Hey, I'd Eat This at Home!”

If you would like to read more, buy the book here! www.americancanoe.org/I'dEatThisAtHome

Our Adaptive Paddling Program

The ACA would like to personally thank Janet Zeller for her 25+ years of service and dedication to the ACA’s Adaptive Paddling Program. The program was initiated in the late 1980s by Janet and several other talented and motivated ACA instructors including Colin Twitchell and Anne Webre.

 

Janet has dedicated her time to sharing her passion for paddling with paddlers of all abilities, all over the country, and she has hosted dozens upon dozens of Adaptive Paddling Workshops to further share her knowledge and experience with other instructors who share the goal of identifying the unique abilities of every paddler.

 

The ACA Adaptive Paddling program has grown to include many extraordinary Instructors, Trainers, and Educators, and the family structure they have formed is due to Janet’s  leadership and passion for the program.

 

Please join us in congratulating Janet on the legacy that she leaves in the hands of the ACA Adaptive Paddling Program, and wishing her well on her continued paddling journey. Janet – thank you for everything that you have done to make paddling accessible for people everywhere!

Check out the Adaptive Paddling Program here: www.americancanoe.org/Adaptive

The Land Wa'a - Hokulea

Have you heard about the Hokulea? This large canoe is taking a trip around the world and has recently spent a lot of time on the East Coast! We are so proud of our friends and are pleased that they are happy to partner with us as well! We are honored to be part of such a powerful experience and be able to make it easier by loaning them a Subaru to help make their voyage flow smoothly. 

To learn more about their story, please follow: www.hokulea.com/the-land-waa/

ACA's State Director Conference in Puerto Rico

Thanks to Omar and Jessica of Paddle Paradise, ACA Puerto Rican members threw a fiesta for the State Directors to kick off the ACA's State Director Conference in Gurabo, PR this weekend.

ACA members from Alaska to Florida joined together for a working, yet fun, weekend. From dinner at Barrachina's (where the Pina Colada was invented) in Old Town San Juan to kayaking in the bioluminescent bay in Fajardo, the conference had plenty of time for networking opportunities.

But, when the State Directors rolled up their sleeves for the working portion of the conference, a significant amount of positive synergy was achieved.  From discussions on how to handle potential boat registrations to enhanced social media techniques (thanks Tim Chandler!) to how to provide better benefits to members in each state, the volunteer State Directors are working hard on behalf of paddlers across the United States.

For more information about how ACA volunteers are making a difference in your state, please visit: www.americancanoe.org/StateDirectors 

Urban Surf 4 Kids

The ACA would like to highlight Urban Surf 4 Kids because of their positive influence on orphan and foster kids through paddlesports and community involvement! Their mission is to empower these kids through having fun, and then by giving back to their community by service projects. There are chances to volunteer
and donate to their cause! 

To learn more about this organization, please follow: www.urbansurf4kids.org

To get involved with the ACA, please follow: www.americancanoe.org

Fall and Winter Paddling

Fall and Winter paddling can be peaceful and beautiful. Ensuring that you are dressed for the weather will help keep you and your loved ones happy this season! Making sure that you are properly dressed,  are wearing a PFD, and letting someone know your paddling are important steps to make before beginning your paddle!

Check out the Boat U.S. article about it here: www.boatus.com/ColdFacts

To learn more about our safety tips, please follow: www.americancanoe.org/SafetyTips

The ACA relies on our members, donations and our sponsors to continue to do great things.  One such sponsor, Werner Paddles, has a storied 51 year history of designing and handcrafting paddles for touring, fishing, SUP, whitewater and canoe.  Family owned and still handcrafted in Sultan, WA we are proud to have support from a company like Werner.  To watch this exciting short video of their paddles on the water, please follow https://vimeo.com/Werner 

If you would like more information about ACA's partners, please follow www.americancanoe.org/Partners

World Paddle Awards

The World Paddle Awards (WPA) are awarded annually to celebrate the most remarkable men and women in the world of paddlesports. The Nominees for the World Paddle Award are in! Now is the time to make your voices heard! Please join us in cheering on Michele Eray, former USA Olympic Coach, as well as the US Nominees, Sage Donnelly, Peter Holcombe, and Dr. Jessie Stone! 

If you would like more information about the WPA nominees, please follow www.worldpaddleawards.com/nominees

Legend of Paddling Award

The ACA is proud to announce that this year's Legend of Paddling Award is in the name of Joe Glickman. This award is presented each year to an individual for their legendary contributions to paddlesports. Recipients of this prestigious award are inducted into the ACA Paddlesport Hall of Fame. 

Joe "Glicker" Glickman was the wordsmith of paddlesports. The way he was able to convey the thoughts of all paddlers in an engaging, insightful and comical way was second to none. Joe was a father, husband, athlete, writer, filmmaker, friend, and an all-around good guy. As a two-time member of the U.S. National Marathon Kayak Team, he was an inspiration to all who knew whim and a legend in every sense of the word. The passion he had for paddlesports and ensuring its future success was limitless. His vivacity, kindness, and energy was infectious but it was his selflessness that touched the lives of so many.

In memory of this incredible man, the U.S. Surfski Championships have announced that they will be awarding the "Glicker Inspirational Paddling Medal" to the top non-elite finisher in the long course, who is racing in the U.S. Surfski Championships for the first time. 

As an international advocate, coach and mentor to many paddlers, Joe will be sorely missed but his legacy will last forever. A couple of weeks before Joe passed away, his good friend Russ Anderson jokingly implemented a new policy into his training program nicknamed OMMFG (One More Mile for Glicker) where one extra mile would be added on at the end of each session to pick up a little bit of the slack as Joe couldn't paddle as much. 

Hundreds of paddlers are now donning OMMFG stickers which are dedicated to Joe and the everlasting impression he has left on the international paddlesports community. 

Joe passed away on May 24, 2015 after losing his baddle with Pancreatic Cancer. 

The ACA appreciates monumental efforts and love that Joe gave to the paddling community. 

If you would like more information about the ACA National Awards, please follow www.americancanoe.org/Awards

Excellence in Instruction Award

The ACA is very pleased to announce that this year's Excellence in Instruction Award is presented to Lyle Phetteplace! This award is presented annually to an ACA member for his or her outstanding contribution to paddlesports instruction. 

Lyle is a currently certified ACA Level 4: Swiftwater Rescue Instructor Trainer and Level 4: Whitewater Kayaking Instructor Trainer. He is also certified as an ACA instructor in Level 2: Essentials of SUP, Level 5: Advanced Swiftwater Rescue, Level 3: Coastal Kayaking, and holds the Adaptive Paddling Endorsement. He is indeed an experienced and well-rounded instructor, who actively uses each of his certifications in his personal/recreational and professional life.

Lyle is the owner and operator of a Colorado-based paddling school called Renaissance Adventure Guides. His school employs a multitude of ACA certified instructors, and is well known in Colorado as being a premier paddling educational program. This paddling school offers year round instruction in Colorado and the surrounding states, as well as international paddling schools and certification programs in Central and South America. Lyle is the first ACA Instructor Trainer to offer River Safety & Rescue certification programs in Costa Rica.

In July of 2016, Lyle was recognized and awarded the “Lifesaving Award” by the Garfield County, Colorado Sherriff’s office for a kayak based rescue of an unresponsive woman. He is the only civilian to ever have received this award. He observed the scene from the river bank, and responded immediately and was able to rescue the woman, who had been floating in cold water for almost 5 miles, and who would have likely drowned if she had been flushed through a large rapid towards which she was drifting.

Lyle is a founder of the non-profit organization, Epic Experience. Epic is an adventure camp program for adult cancer survivors. The primary adventure activities of this camp program are whitewater kayaking and SUP. As the paddling program director for this organization, Lyle is responsible for maintaining absolute comfort and safety of these individuals, but also for facilitating their thriving in the face of cancer diagnosis and treatment via their experiences in learning to whitewater kayak and SUP.

In sum, Lyle is most deserving of this award due to the aforementioned details of his contributions to his local and national/international paddling community. An example of impeccable ethical and honorable character, Lyle has made a life changing impact on so many people who may not have otherwise been able to experience the joy of paddling. He truly does embody the ACA mission, and makes the world a better place to paddle.

Lyle, thank you for everything that you do for the paddlesports community! 

If you would like more information about ACA Naitonal Awards, please follow: www.americancanoe.org/Awards

ACA's Third Presidential Award

We are proud to announce that the third Presidential Award has been presented to C.C. Williams! This award is given annually to individuals for outstanding service to the ACA on a national level. 

Charles "C.C." Williams, a native of Fort Mill S.C., is passionate about teaching and learning through the outdoors. A paddler and ACA instructor since 2005, he has spent the past 5 years teaching and guiding students of all levels as they discover the waterways of South Carolina. He is currently an Active Learning & Living (A.L.L.) Outdoors coordinator for the City of Rock Hill Parks, Recreation and Tourism Department, a Level 4: Swiftwater Rescue Instructor, a Level 4: Whitewater Kayak Instructor, and a Level 2: Essentials of River Kayaking Instructor Trainer.

C.C. was instrumental in organizing the inaugural ACA Level 1 / Level 2 Instructor Symposium in September in South Carolina.

The ACA and the City of Rock Hill Active Learning & Living Outdoors program teamed up to offer the first symposium designed to address the specific needs of Level 1 & Level 2 Kayak, Canoe, and SUP instructors.

Thank you for all that you do for paddlesports!

If you would like more information about ACA Awards, please follow www.americancanoe.org/Awards