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