Great New Benefit For Kayak Fishing Clubs!

Are you a kayaking group or organization with a fishing component? Your group may be eligible to participate in the ACA insurance program as a Paddle America Club or an Affiliate Organization! 

Learn more about the ACA Kayak Fishing Insurance Program today.

If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to contact the ACA Insurance Department.

The State Director Application Deadline is April 15th!

If you've been meaning to submit an application for your state's volunteer State Director position, don't delay much longer.

If you would like to be directly involved in promoting paddlesports and the ACA in your state, don't miss your opportunity to apply as a State Director.  

Complete your State Director application online before the April 15th deadline.

Outfitter, Livery, or Guide? Read this

Like our other membership categories, the ACA Outfitter, Livery, and Guide membership comes with its own set of benefits. Some of these include:

• INSURANCE - You'll get access to a broad selection of exclusive insurance products, all at a special rate.
• PROMOTION - All outfitter, livery and guide members receive recognition across the ACA's different social media networks, Water Blog, and Journal of Paddlesport Education monthly enewsletter.
• RAPID MEDIA SUBSCRIPTION - You'll get a free 1-year subscription to each of the 4 Rapid Media magazine titles. 

Visit our website to read about all the benefits to this newest type of membership, and please don't hesitate to contact us with any questions. 

Level 4: Advanced Whitewater SUP Instructor Certification Exam (ICE)

The 1st Level 4: Advanced Whitewater SUP ICE will be held at the U.S. National Whitewater Center in Charlotte, NC, April 24-25, 2014.

Come join us for this inaugural course, and stay for the Tuck Fest over the weekend!

Hope to see you there!

For more information, check out the ACA calendar or contact Trey Knight at tknight@usnwc.org

Congratulations to April Kokatat Instructor of the Month, Grier Fricks!

Grier began her paddling career as a raft guide at the Natahala Outdoor Center (NOC), guiding commercial raft trips on the French Broad River. Since that time, she has relocated to Kane'ohe Bay, Hawaii, where she works at Holokai Kayak & Snorkel.

Learn more about Grier's story...

The ACA would like to thank Kokatat for sponsoring the Instructor of the Month program. Do you know someone who deserves to be recognized? Submit a nomination here! 

See The World's Best Paddling Films

The RPFF World Tour is an international film tour screening in 110 cities. At its first showing in Toronto in March, the 9th annual RPFF drew the largest premiere audience in festival history. 

Click here for a list of this year's award-winning films, and be sure to attend the RPFF at our ACA Paddle Green Event in June!

Become an ACA State Director

ACA members who are truly passionate about our mission for paddlesports now have an opportunity to apply for a State Director volunteer position. This is your chance to make a positive difference for paddlers in your state!

Applications will be accepted through April 15th.

Details can be found here: State Director Program

We look forward to reviewing your application!

The Best Use of 1980's Nostalgia Ever

With their new advertising campaign, Maritime New Zealand channels the decade of mullets and acid wash jeans to make an important statement about lifejackets. 

The ad features two American police officers, Brandon Reynolds and Joe Lyons, in the midst of a bust on the docks. Comparing lifejackets to bullet-proof vests, we think the ad succeeds in all its Starsky and Hutch-like glory. What do you think?

Source: Maritime New Zealand.

2 New Crosstrek Hybrids Join the ACA Subaru Fleet

We're proud to call Subaru the official vehicle of the ACA, and we're super excited to welcome two new Crosstrek Hybrids to our fleet of Subaru vehicles!

The Subaru Crosstrek Hybrid is the most fuel-efficient and lowest-emissions All-Wheel Drive hybrid crossover vehicle in America. It can also go off-road and clear 8.7 inches of bumps, rocks, and drifted sand and snow. 

In other words, it's easier on the environment AND equipped for adventure! The Crosstrek is also ACA office dog-approved. 

Stella gives the Crosstek her paw-stamp of approval.

Subarus make our various paddlesport initiatives possible. Our Stewardship Coordinator uses the Outback to help haul the marine debris collected during Paddle Green clean-up events to the local recycling center. To increase ACA membership and support paddlesports recreation, the ACA Membership Coordinator drives the Forester to paddlesports events throughout the country. Our Education Coordinator uses her Crosstrek to get to rivers, lakes, and other instruction locations. 

ACA employees depend on their Subarus to get them to work safely in the morning, and home again at night. Subaru helps us make the world a better place to paddle. Every day. 

Become a State Director and Strengthen Your Paddling Community

State Directors will have the opportunity to foster relevant ACA programs depending on the unique needs of each state. 

Paddlers will be able to convey their ideas, along with state and local issues, to their State Director, and the ACA can then provide support and assistance. In addition, through this enhanced volunteer network, more paddlers will learn about the ACA and all the work ACA members do for paddlesports throughout the country.

If you or anyone you know would be a good fit for a State Director role, please complete the State Director Application by April 15th.

Top 5 Reasons to Attend Paddlefest 2014

This year's CKS Paddlefest is expected to be bigger and better than ever. From May 23-26th, paddling enthusiasts from all over the country will gather in beautiful Buena Vista, Colorado for an action-packed weekend full of outdoor fun!

Here's why you need to check it out:

1. BV Pro Kayaking Rodeo - Watch the best freestyle kayakers from around the world compete in the Buena Vista Whitewater Park in South Main.
2. Gear sales - Get huge savings on the latest gear for 2014.
3. Something for everyone - Are you a flatwater paddler? Kayak fisher? Whitewater enthusiast? Paddlefest has it all. And you may even be inspired to try something new!
4. Evening fun - The fun doesn't stop at sundown. Live music and various film screenings will continue into the night. And the whole event is family-friendly.
5. For a good cause - Registration for CKS Paddlefest supports the Boys and Girls Clubs of Chaffee County and the Buena Vista Optimist Club. 

The ACA is an official sponsor of this event. If you decide to attend, please stop by our booth to say hello! We look forward to seeing you.

ACA Pro School Spotlight

Rocky Mountain Outdoor Center offers professional ACA-certified instruction and guided trips in the beautiful Arkansas River Valley. The Pro School's outpost sits along Highway 285 between the famous Brown's Canyon Wilderness Area and the towering 14,000 foot peaks of the Sawatch Range.

Activities include kayaking, rafting, inflatable kayaks, standup paddling, and more. At Rocky Mountain Outdoor Center, you're invited to 'Choose Your Own Adventure' in their wonderful outdoor playground.

ACA Pro Schools are some of the best organizations across the country to find top quality ACA certified instruction. Current ACA members also receive discounts on certain Pro School instructional programs. 

To see a full list of ACA Pro Schools, click here. 

Registration Now Open for ACA Collegiate Race Series National Championships

Attention all collegiate racers and coaches! Registration for this year's ACA Collegiate Race Series National Championships is now open. 

What's new for 2014?

• SUP race (flatwater) for team points! 
• using the BIC SUP One Design Challenge
• Two kayak classes: 
• K-1 Long Boat (9'-13'2")
• K-1 Short Boat (9' and under)
• Overall Team Winners have been divided into two categories:
• Men's Championship
• Women's Championship

Whether you have an experienced paddling program, or one that's just starting up, we hope you'll join us for this fun, team-building competition. Register online today.

Date: March 29-30, 2014
Location: Dillsboro, NC
Venues: Tuckaseegee River & Cedar Cliff Lake 

Please visit the Collegiate Race Series National Championships website for more info. See you in NC next weekend!

Put a Sail on It!

The March issue of Canoe Sailor is hot off the press! Read it online here.  

Did you know that canoes have been used for sailing since before 1870? Check out the ACA's Canoe Sailing Committee for more info on how you can give this great sport a try!

New Kayak Fishing Excursion for 2014

Have you participated in one of the ACA's Members Only Backcountry Paddling Excursions yet? If so, then we don't need to tell you how much fun they are. For those who haven't taken advantage of this membership benefit yet, we hope you'll consider joining us for our NEW Kayak Fishing Excursion scheduled for this summer. 

This trip will take you to Sugar Island, Ontario and the famous West Brand of the Ausable River in upstate New York. During the 8-day excursion, you'll enjoy fly fishing, kayaking, snorkeling, paddleboarding, and even canoe sailing (if you're so inclined).

Please visit our website for a sample itinerary and to request additional information about the 2014 Members Only Kayak Fishing Excursion. 

New ACA Instructor Patches

Becoming an ACA Instructor, Instructor Trainer, or Instructor Trainer Educator is hard work. Wear your certification with pride with one of our all new custom, 3-color ACA patches! 

Order yours from the ACA eStore today.

State Director Application Announcement

Are you interested in helping the ACA focus its efforts in your state? This is your chance.

We are currently seeking volunteers for our new State Director Program. Online applications will be accepted starting tomorrow, March 14, through April 15, 2014. 

Please review the details of the State Director Program and don't hesitate to contact us with any questions. We're always happy to hear from you!

Are You Using This Free Service For Paddlers?

Even the most cautious and experienced boaters run into unexpected problems on the water. That's why the US Coast Guard recommends that all recreational boaters, paddlers included, take advantage of the FREE Vessel Safety Check program. 

The US Coast Guard Auxiliary offers non-law enforcement vessel safety checks to paddle crafts. There is no charge to these checks and you will not suffer any consequences if you don't pass. The only purpose is to keep you safe! 

Learn more about this life-saving service here, and request a vessel safety check today through this simple online form.

How does it work? A certified vessel examiner will come to you, and the inspection only takes 30-45 minutes. If you pass the examination, you'll receive a distinctive VSC decal to show off your safety smarts. 

The ACA would love to see more paddlers taking advantage of this free program. 

ACA Pro School Spotlight

Charleston County Park & Recreation Commission (CCPRC) offers a variety of canoeing, SUP, and kayaking skills classes and trips, including educational outings for beginners to expert paddlers. From day trips and weekend skills classes to certification courses, the ACA certified paddling instructors and trainers at CCPRC are always focused on safety and fun. 

Serving over 25,000 individuals of all ages and abilities annually, CCPRC's Outdoor Adventure Program is the first of its kind to be accredited by the Association for Experiential Education. CCPRC also brings you the East Coast Paddlesport & Outdoor Festival every April!

ACA Pro Schools are some of the best organizations across the country to find top quality ACA certified instruction. Current ACA members also receive discounts on certain Pro School instructional programs. 

To see a full list of ACA Pro Schools, click here. 

Announcing the New ACA State Director Program!

In an effort to better understand paddling issues across the country and help your local paddling community, the ACA is seeking members who are interested in volunteering for our brand new State Director Program.  

State Directors will help the ACA be more effective at the state level, whether it's through assistance with an educational activity, supporting an environmental action, or providing tools for a clean-up.

State Directors can also assist new or potential ACA members locally with things like finding paddling clubs or instruction, organizing a stewardship opportunity, or helping people contact the ACA if there is an issue that needs national attention.

The ACA will begin accepting applications for State Directors on March 14. In the meantime, please read about this important new volunteer program here:  State Director Program.