Wednesday, September 28, 2011

Film Festival - Kentucky Waterways Alliance


Even if you can't make the entire ACA National Paddlesports Conference this weekend, join us for the Reel Paddling Film Festival in Louisville, KY this Friday night.



  • Date: Friday, September 30


  • Time: 8:30pm


  • Venue: The Galt House


  • Location: Carroll Ford Room


  • Cost: only $10

  • Benefit: Proceeds benefit the Kentucky Waterways Alliance and the ACA



  • Tickets are sold online or at the door.



    Purchase your paddling film festival tickets today!

    Monday, September 26, 2011

    KFC Mayor's Cup Race


    In conjunction with KFC, the city of Louisville, and River City Canoe & Kayak, the ACA is producing the inaugural KFC Mayor's Cup Race.

    When: This Friday and Saturday


    Where: The Warf at Waterfront Park


    Cost: only $25


    Classes: Professional & Recreational


    Boats: Kayak, SUP & Canoe


    All proceeds benefit: Dare to Care


    Complete KFC Mayor's Cup Race information

    Sunday, September 25, 2011

    ACA JPE





    ACA Journal of Paddlesports Education is up and running!


    The ACA Journal of Paddlesports Education has been online for two weeks and has been growing.


    Articles submitted to the Journal of Paddlesports Education since its launch:




    • Weird Strokes Can Teach Flexibility and Balance


    • The Progressive Vector Pull (a.k.a. "swigging)


    • State Boating Laws and Rules for Paddlers


    • AND MORE!



    Friday, September 23, 2011

    Sneak Peak - 2012




    What do the Grande Ronde River, Cumberland Island, SOAR inflatables and China have in common?





    2012 ACA Backcountry Paddling Excursions - learn more




    Wednesday, September 21, 2011

    Educational Sessions Announced!

    Photo courtesy of Mike Aronoff - CKAPCO


    Photo Courtesy of Mike Aronoff - CKAPCO



    The Educational Sessions for the 2011 National Paddlesports Conference are now online!




    Tuesday, September 20, 2011

    KFC Mayor's Cup

    Louisville, KY


    In conjunction with the upcoming ACA National Paddlesports Conference, KFC and the City of Louisville have teamed up to host a fun canoe, kayak, and SUP race!


    Experienced or beginner, there will be fun for every race class.


    Basic Details:


    Friday, September 30

    3:00pm

    Sprint Races (500 & 1,000 meters)

    Warf at Waterfront Park


    Saturday, October 1

    8:30am

    Long Course (6 miles)

    Warf at Waterfront Park



    Monday, September 19, 2011

    New Resource Tool for PAC's


    Calling all ACA Paddle America Clubs!

    Did you know? There's now an easier way to notify the ACA Insurance Department of your upcoming club trips and events.

    The NEW Online PAC Event Submission Form

    Try it today!

    Friday, September 16, 2011

    Reel Paddling Film Festival


    Do you live in Kentucky?

    Even if you can't make the entire ACA National Paddlesports Conference later this month, join us for the Reel Paddling Film Festival.

  • Date: Friday, September 30
  • Time: 8:30pm
  • Venue: The Galt House
  • Location: Carroll Ford Room
  • Cost: only $10

  • Tickets are sold online or at the door.

    Purchase your paddling film festival tickets today!

    Thursday, September 15, 2011

    The ACA at Gauley Fest!


    Kelsey Bracewell, SEI Coordinator, will be paddling the Lower Gauley with Anna Levesque and Girls at Play in their "Ladies on the Lower G Fundraiser for American Whitewater."

    They will be meeting at Swiss, the take-out for the Lower Gauley, and run shuttle from there. The cost is $40 and all proceeds go to AW. If you're interested in paddling with Girls at Play, call 916.580.9352 to register.

    Come visit the ACA booth anytime during the weekend to meet Kelsey and learn more about what's happening at the ACA!

    Have you met the rest of the ACA staff?


    Tuesday, September 13, 2011

    Help the ACA help YOU!

    The ACA has a new survey up on our website!

    We strive to represent all paddlesports, so your feedback is important to us! Take a couple moments to answer a few questions that will help the ACA focus our stewardship initiatives and promote cleaner paddling environments.

    Take the survey online today

    Monday, September 12, 2011

    Keynote Speaker - ACA National Paddlesports Conference





    The ACA is excited to announce that Tori McClure will be the featured Keynote Speaker at the upcoming ACA National Paddlesports Conference in Louisville, KY later this month.



    A few of her significant accomplishments:


    • President - Spalding University

    • NOLS - Board of Trustees

    • First woman to ski to the geographic south pole

    • First woman to row solo and unassisted across an ocean



    Spots are still available for the NPC, register online today.

    Friday, September 9, 2011

    ACA Launches Journal of Paddlesports Education!




    ACA offers new tool and resource for instructors!

    The launch of the ACA Journal of Paddlesports Education marks a giant step for paddlesport instruction and education. This journal offers a medium for ACA Instructors, Trainers, and Educators to exchange ideas and knowledge to help advance the realm of paddlesports education. The intended categories for article submission include: discipline/cross-discipline specific instruction, best practices, paddling education history, and discussion of education topics.

    The Journal of Paddlesports Education lauches with articles such as:

    • Teaching and Learning Paddlesports
    • Teaching Tips for Kayaking - A Work in Progress
    • The Missing Piece in the Forward Stroke Puzzle: Torso Rotation in Fifteen Minutes or Your Money Back
    • AND MORE!

    Thursday, September 8, 2011

    The Chattooga and the ACA



    The ACA has continued efforts to partner with American Whitewater (AW) in an effort to open the Chattooga River's headwaters to boaters. This week, the ACA signed AW's letter of petition to the United States Forest Service opposing the environmental assessment (EA) of the titled "Managing Recreation Uses in the Upper Segment of the Chattooga Wild and Scenic River Corridor.” The EA violates many basic laws, regulations, and policies regarding land and resource management, and "transparently aims to reach a predetermined goal of limiting paddling." We will continue to work with AW to try to bring equity to the recreational use of the Chattooga and open its waters to boaters.

    More about ACA's public policy initiatives.

    Wednesday, September 7, 2011

    September SEI Focus Released!


    The latest edition of the SEI Focus is now available online!

    This issue's highlights include:

    • New SEI Department Staff
    • Launch of the ACA Journal of Paddlesports Education
    • ACA National Paddlesports Conference
    • News regarding SEIC meeting
    • ACA Instructor Audit Information
    • Important Dates

    Read Now

    The SEI Focus is a monthly electronic newsletter from the Safety,, Education, and Instruction Department that provides valuable information to Instructor, Clubs, and Affliliates.

    Tuesday, September 6, 2011

    The ACA has an active board...

    both on and off the river!

    Dave Holl, our Board Treasurer, was recently featured in the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department's magazine, advertising their Paddling Trails. Thanks, Dave, for being such a role model on the water!

    Add your own water trail to our website!




    Monday, September 5, 2011

    Conference & SUP Summit Schedules



    New schedules for the upcoming National Paddlesports Conference and SUP Summit have just been posted online.




    Registration for both events is still open, learn more, and join paddlers in Louisville, KY later this month!

    Saturday, September 3, 2011

    The ACA has teamed up with Nat Geo!


    The ACA has collaborated with National Geographic on their Trails Illustrated Maps, providing tips for on-water trip planning, boating safety, and the importance of wearing a life jacket!





    Friday, September 2, 2011

    Travis Festa

    All the best, Travis!




    After a great year of service to the ACA in the SEI Department, Travis is moving on to paddle new waters.




    We're sad to see him go, but truly appreciate all he did to maintain the quality of service ACA Instructors have come to expect from the National Office.



    All the best in your future endeavors!


    -The ACA Staff




    Travis Festa








    Contact Kelsey, Trey or Eli in the Safety, Education, Instruction & Outreach Department.









    Thursday, September 1, 2011

    New ACA Staff Member









    Eli Crispell - Paddlesports Training Grant Coordinator

    A native of Northern Maine, Eli attended Saint Michaels College in Vermont and became immersed in their Wilderness Program. After graduation he traveled the country working as an instructor, teacher, and professional guide in some of the wildest and most remote areas North America has to offer. Eli is passionate about introducing people of all ages and backgrounds to safe and fun outdoor recreation and has honed these skills by working for organizations like the University of Alaska, Outward Bound and the Boys and Girls Club. By becoming part of the ACA he hopes to continue encouraging safe responsible recreation and sparking a passion for paddling in the community. While paddling is his first love, he also enjoys the professional and recreational sides of rock and ice climbing, Nordic and alpine skiing, mountaineering, backpacking, and his newest pursuit, skijoring.