2007 Nominee Biographies

Candidate: Burt Hauthaway (deceased)

Pioneer Accomplishments:

• One of the first successful American designers and builders (1960s)
• One of early designers and builders of spoon blade kayak paddle
• Designed canoes and kayaks for slalom and downriver/wildwater
• Assistant Coach (’69 World Championships)

Other Accomplishments:

• Slalom competitor (early 1960s), competed in Europe in 1965
• Whitewater photographer
• Proponent of “wee lassie”-style short open canoes paddled with kayak blades as an all around recreational boats, predating rec kayaks by twenty years

Bart was largely an unsung hero as an avid paddler, designer and builder, coach, and whitewater photographer. Not only a meticulous craftsman in what he designed, but also in how he built his canoe, kayak, and paddle designs and his boats were the first to be commercially produced in the United States. He provided a full-line of his own kayak and C-1 designs as well as a few of the top European designs of the time, including the Czech C-1. Old Town Canoe Company later picked up four of his designs [the slalom, the junior slalom (mini-slalom) and two downriver kayaks] in 1969 to make up their new line of whitewater kayaks in preparation for the ’72 Olympics, loaning six kayaks of Bart’s design to the ’69 World Championship team. Bart was also an accomplished slalom competitor who freely gave of his time, talents, and skills in encouraging the development of young competitors throughout the New England area.

Candidate: Ray McLain (deceased)

Category: Pioneer
Niche: Citizen Racer and Instructor/Trainer
Years Active: 1970’s to 2003
Home Base: Green Bay, WI USA

• Founded Green Bay Paddlers United (WI)
• ACA Instructor and Trainer for open canoe, decked canoe, and kayak (1984 to 2003)
• Coach for numerous young racers including Rebecca Giddens (’04 Olympic Slalom K-1 Silver medalist, two-time Olympian ’00 and ’04, and ’03 World Champion Slalom K-1)

Other Accomplishments:

• Slalom competitor in all open and closed canoe classes (1980’s-1990’s)

Ray left an indelible mark on whitewater paddling. He was a highly regarded instructor/trainer, citizen racer, and advocate of slalom paddling technique until his death in 2003. He provided years worth of guidance, instruction, inspiration, and leadership for youth of all ages. Ray was also involved in the early development of the Wausau Whitewater Course. The course hosted the Champion Series of slalom races which brought helped bring slalom to a new level bringing forward names like Ritchie Weiss, Dana Chladek, and Rebecca Giddens. As evidence of Ray’s contributions, the Wausau Kayak/Canoe Corporation and Green Bay Paddlers United established the Ray McLain Paddling Scholarship Fund to provide financial support to qualified up-and-coming paddlers in the whitewater kayaking in Wisconsin and the Midwest. Perhaps one of his best known students is ’04 Olympic Silver medalist Rebecca Giddens, who not only credits Ray with getting her into the sport but being a coach and inspiration up until his passing. Ray was also a fierce competitor himself helping many C-2 and C-2M partners win a wide variety of medals in the bow of his boat.

Category: Pioneer
Niche: Competitor, Designer, and Manufacturer
Years Active: 1950’s to present
Home Base: Rosenheim, Germany

Pioneer Accomplishments:

• Designer and builder of Prijon racing paddles-renowned in racing circles
• Founded Prijon Kayak Company (1962)
• Designer of series of wildwater/downriver and slalom kayak designs which dominated international competition throughout the 1960’s and 1970’s.
  - Prijon Special Slalom kayaks swept K-1 slalom at the ’72 Olympics
• Introduced blow-molded kayaks into kayak market in 1980s. Designs include the Taifun, T-Slalom, T-Canyon, Tornado, Invader, and others.
• Partnered with Eskimo Kayaks to produce creek boats including the Topolino, Gatttino, and others.
• Introduced the Hurricane (1993) which launched the play boat genre

Other Accomplishments:

• Wildwater competitor (1950’s-1960s)
  - 1958 German Wildwater Champion (Gold)
  - 1959 World Wildwater Championships, Gold K-1

Toni’s touch as a designer has impacted more than 45 years of the world of whitewater as few others have. Given his and the sport’s focus on competition, much of the efforts of his company revolved around slalom and wildwater. His pioneering work in design extended to include a broader influence on the paddlesport industry and the popularization of plastic kayaks for every aspect of paddlesports including creek boating, playboating, recreational whitewater, and sea kayaking. Although handing off much of his company’s activities to his son, Toni continues his involvement and influence in kayak design as well and continuing active involvement in paddling on rivers around the world.

Candidate: Walt Blackadar (deceased)

Category: Explorer
Niche: Solo and self-supported exploration
Years Active: 1964-1978
Home Base: Salmon, ID USA

Explorer Accomplishments:

• First (and solo) descent, Turnback Canyon on the Alsek, British Columbia (1971)
• First descent, Devils Canyon on the Susitna, Alaska (1972) following later with two other descents
• Numerous early and big water descents including the Middle Fork of the Flathead (Montana), and the South Fork of the Salmon and the Bruneau (Idaho).

Other Accomplishments:

• Rafter (1950s-1960s) and all-around outdoor sportsman
• Lead organizer and guide of numerous trips including a trip down the Middle Fork of the Salmon for 22 paddlers (1968) and the Grand Canyon (1970) for 40 people including 27 paddlers.

Walt changed the face of kayaking in the 1970s from a conservative slalom philosophy in the U.S. to a “go get it” whitewater attitude. Not only did he develop a U.S. style and technique for big whitewater, but he created the hype and popularity becoming the basis for today’s whitewater stars. In 1971, Walt soloed Turnback Canyon on the Alsek (at the time was considered by some as whitewater’s Everest), among the biggest accomplishments of its time. His solo descent was ahead of its time and became significant in terms of its solo, self-supported extreme of exploration. His article chronicling his solo descent, featured in Sports Illustrated, propelled him to almost a cult hero overnight making him the legend that became the face for the public epitomizing big water river running. ABC’s American Sportsman produced short films of the paddling doctor (he was a surgeon) running the Colorado (1975) and the Susitna (1977). He was also featured in The Edge, a feature length film about adventure sports (1976). Walt died on the South Fork of the Payette in Idaho in 1978, pinned on a submerged log.

Candidate: Mick Hopkinson

Category: Explorer
Niche: International exploration
Years Active: 1971 to present
Home Base: Murchison, New Zealand and Jackson, WY USA

Explorer Accomplishments:

• Benchmark first descents of the most difficult stretches of Inn and Oetz rivers in Switzerland and Austria (1971)
• First descent of Blue Nile in Ethiopia (1972)
• First descent of Dudh Kosi in Nepal (1976)
• First descent of Braldu in Pakistan (1978)
• First descent of Karnali in Nepal (1987)
• First descent of many of the most technical sections of the Indus in Baltistan (1990)
• Numerous first descents in 1990’s to present in New Zealand and Canada

Other Accomplishments:

• Slalom racer during 1960’s (Britain)
• Owner of New Zealand Kayak School, a kayak school providing instruction and guided trips

Mick began his whitewater career with ten years of training for slalom competition, developing and honing his technical skills. Following in the British expeditionary mountaineering model, he along with a small team including fellow Brit Mike Jones, spent seven years exploring and making first descents of the most technical runs in the Alps before moving onto the Himalayas. Their first descents of the most technical sections of the Inn and Oetz rivers, catalogued as Class VII in German guidebooks, became the benchmarks for all that followed. Their documented first descent of more than 200 miles of the Blue Nile in 1972 (two years before Richard Bangs raft descent) included 60 miles of Class V rapids. The Dudh Kosi first descent was chronicled in Dudh Kosi - Relentless River of Everest, and award-winning film at the Banff Film Festival. Mick was also a member of the Karakorum expedition (Braldu in Pakistan) where fellow team member Mike Jones lost his life, the Karnali expedition (Nepal), and the “Taming the Lion” team which made first descents of many of the huge rapids on the Indus. In the 1990’s, he explored rivers in New Zealand and Canada making numerous first descents. Mick continues exploring unrunnable stretches of rivers as well as teaching and guiding for his company.

Category: Explorer
Niche: International exploration
Years Active: 1970’s to present
Home Base: Cabin John, MD USA

Explorer Accomplishments:

• First descent Linville Gorge, North Carolina (1973)
• First descent Great Falls of the Potomac, Maryland (1975)
• First descents of Thimpu, Paro, Fo, and Amo rivers, Bhutan (1981)
• First descent of Santa Maria, Mexico (1985)
• First descent of Tsango Po, Tibet (1998)
• First descents in Newfoundland

Other Accomplishments:

• Instructor for over thirty years at kayak schools in the DC area: Valley Mill Camp, Calleva, and Liquid Adventures introducing hundreds of students to whitewater
• Coached many of the top U.S. athletes including Olympians, national champions, and U.S. National team members the likes of Andy Bridge, John Weld, Joe Jacobi, Norm Bellingham, and Elliot Weintraub
• Owner of Liquid Adventures, a kayak school providing instruction and guided

Although Tom began his career as slalom and wildwater racer in the late 1960’s, exploration and pushing the envelope of whitewater runs became his passion. Living in the Washington DC area, he first explored the Potomac, including Great Falls itself, and rivers in West Virginia including the upper Blackwater. Tom was also part of a team consisting of his brother, Jamie, and Wick Walker who attempted the first descent of Linville Gorge in North Carolina. He later teamed with Jamie, Wick, and others for first descents in Bhutan, Mexico, and Newfoundland. However, perhaps one of his better known first descents and pioneering explorations was on the Tsango Po in Tibet, a river considered the Everest of whitewater, and where fellow team member Doug Gordon lost his life. Aside from his passion for exploration, Tom also created his life work around whitewater as an instructor and coach for more than thirty years.

Candidate: Dana Chladek

Category: Champion
Sport: K1w Slalom
Years Active: 1978-1996
Home Base: Bethesda, MD USA

Champion Accomplishments:

• Silver at ’96 Olympics
• Bronze at ’92 Olympics
• Gold Overall Medalist: ’88 World Cup
• Two-time Silver Medalist: ’89 and ’91 World Championship

Other Accomplishments:

• President of Rapidstyle (1988-2005), a manufacturer of whitewater paddling clothing

At the ’96 Olympics and less than ten months after shoulder surgery, Dana overcame a harsh first run flip with an incredible second run which equaled the gold medalist’s best run earning her the silver and her second Olympic medal. She is the only American to win two Olympic medals in whitewater slalom. Her first was the bronze at the ’92 Olympics. Her Game Face Poster reads, “I’m not a big thinker, I just paddle.” After retiring from competition after the ’96 Olympics, she devoted more time to her company, Rapidstyle, a manufacturer of fashionable and functional paddling clothes until 2005. Today, Dana continues to coach and introduce young paddlers to the sport. She and her husband Thierry Humeau, a fellow Olympian and World Championship medalist, work together running Telecam Films, a TV and video production company focusing on programming touching education, humanitarian, and development issues.

Candidate: Eric Evans

Category: Champion
Sport: K1 Slalom
Years Active: 1977-1989
Home Base: Putney, VT USA

Champion Accomplishments:

• Nine-time National (USA) Champion: ’69, ’71 through ‘78
• Olympian: ’72
• Wildwater Champion (USA): ‘72

Other Accomplishments:

• Sports Commentator for ABC’s Wide World of Sports coverage of whitewater championships (1980’s)
• Racing editor and writer for Canoe & Kayak Magazine (1978-1981) and Whitewater Racing (1981)
• Author of Fundamentals of Kayaking, The Kayaking Book, and Whitewater Racing (1970’s-1980’s)
• Author of Mental Toughness Training for Cross-Country Skiing

Eric dominated the U.S. men’s slalom scene for more than ten years during the 1970’s. He was the man to beat in the U.S. and exemplified the first generation of the newest athletes to the sport: young, athletic, and determined. Eric set the tone and stage for all U.S. kayakers who followed, through his determination, training programs, and demonstration of his athletic abilities and sportsman-like conduct on and off the water. After retiring from competition, he continued his involvement in whitewater as a writer and sports commentator writing numerous books about whitewater kayaking. Always the athlete, Eric applied his determination and athletic skills to cross-country skiing and also became an active as a participant and official in competitive rowing and lacrosse.

Candidate: Richard Fox

Category: Champion
Sport: K1 Slalom
Years Active: 1977-1993
Home Base: Australia (formerly Great Britain)

Champion Accomplishments:

• Five-time Gold Medalist: ’81, ’83, ’85, ’89, and ’93 World Championship
• Three-time Gold Overall Medalist: ’88, ’89, and ’91 World Cup
• Silver Overall Medalist: ’90 World Cup
• Four-time Gold Medalist: ’82, ’84, ’86, and ’88 Europa Cup
• Olympian (fourth place finish): ‘92
• Bronze Medalist: ’79 World Championships

Other Accomplishments:

• Awarded Order of the British Empire
• Co-founder of Slalom World Cup series
• World Championship and Olympic Games commentator
• Successful slalom kayak designer
• Head coach of Australian ‘00 Olympic Team
• Current National Performance Director for Australian Canoeing for ’08 Olympics

Richard is the most decorated slalom kayaker in the history of the sport winning ten World Championship gold medals, including five individual titles. He was the innovator of smooth slalom techniques emulated by many and was the first to use a double torque kayak paddle during the ’89 World Championships. He was also known as an ambassador of the sport donating gear and his expertise to help up and coming paddlers. After retiring from competition, Richard continued to share his slalom racing and training expertise, moving from Great Britain to Australia to be the Head Coach for the Australian ‘00 Olympic team and played an active role in the ICF campaign to include slalom in the ’00 Olympics. He is currently responsible for the Australian Slalom and Flatwater programs building toward the ’08 Olympics.

Candidate: Cathy Hearn

Category: Champion
Sport: K1W Slalom
Years Active: 1976-2002
Home Base: Durango, CO USA

Champion Accomplishments:

• Gold Medalist: ’79 World Championship
• Silver Medalist: ’81 World Championship
• Two-time Bronze Medalist: ’89 and ’97 World Championship
• Two-time Bronze Overall Medalist: ’89 and ’97 World Cup
• Two-time Olympian: ’92 and ‘96

Other Accomplishments:

• Outrigger Canoe World Championship Women’s team member (1993 and 1994)
• National and Olympic Team coach for Italy (2004)
• US National Team coach (2005-2007)

Cathy began her two-decade winning career in international competition with an unprecedented three gold medals (’79 World Championship) in slalom, slalom team, and wildwater team events. She has always been extremely competitive in all types of whitewater including C-1 (her first whitewater boating experience) and C-2, and in wildwater in addition to slalom. Cathy has shared her knowledge during most of her career providing affordable and volunteer coaching nationally and internationally. She is the current U.S. National Coach, primarily working with the C-1 and C-2 national team athletes. Cathy is also a certified practitioner of the Feldenkrais Method which she has incorporated specifically for coaching of paddling technique.

Candidate: Jamie McEwan

Category: Champion
Sport: C1 and C2 Slalom
Years Active: 1971-2001
Home Base: Lakeville, CT USA

Champion Accomplishments:

• Bronze at ’72 Olympics (C-1)
• Gold Overall Medalist (C-2): ’88 World Cup
• Silver Medalist (C-2): ’87 World Championship
• Silver Overall Medalist (C-2): ’89 World Cup

Other Accomplishments:

• 4th place finish (C-2) at ’92 Olympics
• Co-founder of New England Cup Series for slalom and wildwater races on Class III-IV rivers
• Team member of expeditions and first descents on rivers in Bhutan (1981), Mexico (1985), British Columbia (1995 and 1996), including the Tsang Po River in Tibet (1998)

The last competitor in the C-1 event, Jamie stunned the international whitewater community with his bronze medal win at the ’72 Olympics. His win inspired many young U.S. whitewater competitors, which he has further supported by his involvement and financial support of whitewater from the grass-roots to the national team level. Jamie continues to be an advocate and supporter behind-the-scenes for slalom in the U.S. He is also a writer of numerous articles about whitewater as well as books for children.

Candidate: Gilles Zok

Category: Champion
Sport: C1 Wildwater
Years Active: 1977-1989
Home Base: St. Romain, France

Champion Accomplishments:

• Four-time Gold Medalist: ’81, ’83, ’85, and ’87 World Championship
• Two-time Silver Medalist: ’77 and ’79 World Championships

Other Accomplishments:

• Team member, Raid (1995, 1997, 2003)
• Team Captain, Eco-Challenge Australia (1997)
• Team Captain, River Eco (2000)

Gilles dominated wildwater canoeing through most of the 1980’s and was often described as “a monster to which was grafted a canoe and a paddle.” Not only was he a superb athlete, his uncanny ability to read water combined with his tactical decision-making made him virtually unbeatable. These qualities were often emulated but not often equaled. After retiring from competition, Gilles applied these same legendary qualities to the sport of adventure racing around the world.

Category: Advocate
Niche: Coaching and Slalom Competition
Years Active: 1971-present
Home Base: Bethesda, MD USA

Advocate Accomplishments:

• Coach, USA Whitewater Slalom Team (1977-1992)
• International advocate for whitewater slalom racing on a world stage (1989-1999)
• Co-creator of Slalom World Cup (1987-1992)
• Advocate helping to ensure whitewater slalom inclusion in Olympics (1989-1999)
• Fundraiser and supporter of US Team (1997-2004)
• Supporter providing assistance in getting the ’92 and ’96 Olympic courses built as well as the Dickerson (USA) course for training (1990-1995)
• ’92 Olympic Team Coach: USA won C-2 Gold and KIW Bronze
• ’04 Olympic Team Leader: USA won K1W Silver
• Author of five books including: The River Masters: A History of the World Championships of Whitewater Canoeing; To Win the Worlds: A Textbook for Elite Slalomists and Their Coaches; The Ultimate Run: Canoe Slalom at the Highest Levels; The Danger Zone: Downriver Canoeing at the Highest Levels; and Two Trips to the Top: A Case Study of Rebecca Giddens and Oliver Fix

Other Accomplishments:

• National Wildwater Champion (C-2): 1970
• ’72 Olympic team alternate (C-2)
• C-2 slalom and wildwater team member (C-2): ‘71 and ’73 World Championship

Bill vastly influenced whitewater slalom in the U.S. and internationally for thirty years. Over his illustrious career, he coached athletes who won 57 medals in World Championship, World Cup, and Olympic competitions, 27 of them gold. Among these athletes include the C-1 athletes of the 1980’s who dominated world competition, including Champions Jon Lugbil and Davey Hearn. His books have provided invaluable insight into the world of championship slalom competition.

Candidate: Kent Ford

Category: Advocate
Niche: Instructor, Writer, Producer, Athlete
Years Active: 1977-present
Home Base: Durango, CO USA

Advocate Accomplishments:

• Producer/writer for Performance Video (1990 to present) for educational/instructional paddlesport books and videos including Whitewater Self-Defense, The Kayaker’s Edge, Solo Playboating, The River Runner’s Edge, The Kayak Roll, Breakthrough, The Kayaker’s Playbook, Take the Wild Ride, The Citizen Racers Workshop, Drill-Time Solo Playboating II, The C-1 Challenge, and Retendo
• Pro-bono producer/writer of conservation videos including Animas La Plata- At What Cost, which was partially responsible for downsizing of the project, and Dolores River, which advocated better balance in flow management
• Producer/writer of ACA/U.S. Coast Guard Video Productions for National Paddlesport Safety System for coastal kayaking, rafting, and whitewater kayaking
• Announcer at World Championships, World Cups and Olympic Games(1989 to present)
• Founding participant of The Annual Whitewater Symposium (2005)
• Present of past board member of San Juan Citizen’s Alliance, American Canoe Association, USA Canoe Kayak, and Chairman of ACA SEIC (2001-2005)
• Technique contributor to Canoe Magazine (1985-87) and Paddler Magazine (1999-2004)

Other Accomplishments:

• National C-1 Champion: 1977 and National C-2 Champion: 1987
• Member of U.S. Whitewater team (C-1): 1979, 1983, 1985
• Member of Gold Medal C-1 Slalom Team: ’83 and ’85 World Championship
• Member of Silver Medal C-1 Wildwater Team: 1979
• Assistant coach for Whitewater Slalom Championships and head coach for the U.S. Junior team
• First Descents of Animas Gorge (CO) and Moctazume (Mexico)

Kent’s unique background includes more than twenty years of teaching, paddling, coaching and international whitewater racing. His twenty plus videos and books on paddlesports have influenced the education of a half million paddlers and have made him one of the most recognized paddlers in whitewater worldwide. Kent is a founding participant of The Whitewater Symposium, a three-day annual event that seeks to advance the sport of whitewater kayaking by bringing together top paddlers, industry representatives, instructors, and program leaders to address current issues within the sport. He is also a veteran of over 330 rivers in 27 countries and has been a member of expeditions in the Soviet Union, Costa Rica, Turkey, and Mexico.

Candidate: Dave Kurtz

Category: Advocate
Niche: Competition, Coaching, Design and Boat Construction
Years Active: 1957-present
Home Base: State College, PA USA

Advocate Accomplishments:

• Leader of Boy Scout Explorer Post 32 with whitewater canoeing as an integral part of their activities (1957-1972)
• Introduced racing to Penn State Outing Club (1959)
• Designer of DK series of kayaks (1960s-1970s)
• Started the US International Slalom Canoe Association (1965-1973)
• Created and used canoe and kayak molds to build 160+ boats for paddlers of all ages (1965 to present)
• Created and maintains slalom training facilities in Bellefonte, PA (1965 to present)
• Devised and implemented National Paddler Race Ranking System (1970-1994)
• Created club (Mach One) supporting junior paddlers introducing and coaching many new racers (1999-present)

Other Accomplishments:

• Competitor in World Championships in C-1 Slalom and Wildwater (1963, 1965, 1967)
• Three-time National C-2 Slalom Champion (1966, 1967, 1968)
• Masters National K-1 Champion (1973)
• ACA Certified Instructor, Swift Water rescue (all together 50+ years)
• ICF Certified Judge (1965 to present)

Dave introduced literally hundreds of paddlers to slalom racing over the last fifty years and has influenced many others through his activism and involvement in the national slalom community. As a chemist, he experimented with resins and boat layups as well as designing whitewater canoes and kayaks. In the 1960s, he was instrumental in making the Canoe Division of the Penn State Outing Club the major center for solo canoeing in the U.S. Dave is still very active in supporting and coaching young paddlers in slalom racing.

Candidate: Bill Mason (deceased)

Category: Advocate
Niche: Writer, Film-maker, Artist/Photographer, Instructor and Environmentalist
Years Active: 1942-1988
Home Base: Ontario, Canada

Advocate Accomplishments:

• Author of Path of the Paddle, Song of the Paddle, and Canoescapes
• Film-maker/producer of Path of the Paddle and Song of the Paddle series of films
• Film-maker/producer of Coming Back Alive, an instructional film on recreational boating safety

Other Accomplishments:

• Film-maker/producer of numerous award-winning nature films including The Voyageurs, Paddle to the Sea, The Rise and Fall of the Great Lakes, Death of a Legend, Vyr of the Wild, In Search of the Bowhead Whale, Wolf Pack, Face of the Earth, Pukaskwa National Park, The Land that Devours Ships, and Water Walker.

Over a lifetime, Bill contributed to the sport of whitewater in many ways. His award-winning films and books educated and encouraged a whole generation of wilderness paddlers. He is perhaps best known in paddling circles for the instructional Path of the Paddle and Song of the Paddle series of films and books which gave practical knowledge and skills to flatwater and whitewater paddlers and canoe trippers. These books, though, were much more than simply instructional books and films. They also conveyed a passion for living in the outdoors and enjoying the wilderness along with a responsibility for caring for the environment. He produced many other award winning films over his career that nurtured an understanding, love, and stewardship of the wilderness. He also shared his passion for canoeing as a painter and photographer with works published in his own books and several other books and magazines.

Candidate: Willam Nealy (deceased)

Category: Advocate
Niche: Writer/Illustrator-Artist, Instructor, and Publisher
Years Active: 1975-2001
Home Base: Hillsboro, NC USA

Advocate Accomplishments:

• Produced river maps during the 1970’s and 1980’s for rivers including the Gauley, New, Upper Chattahoochee, Yough, Nolichucky, French Broad, Arkansas, and other rivers.
• Author/Illustrator of Whitewater Home Companion, Kayaks to Hell, Whitewater: Tales of Terror, Kayak: A Manual of Technique, and Kayak: the Animated Manual of Intermediate and Advanced Whitewater Technique
• Illustrator-Artist for The Squirt Book: the Illustrated Manual of Squirt Kayaking Technique (1997) and Squirt Boating & Beyond: How to Rip in Anything That Squirts (2001), both written by Jim Snyder

Other Accomplishments:

• Co-founder of Menasha Ridge Press, a publishing company promoting outdoor books, including river guides
• Author/Illustrator of The Mountain Bike Way of Knowledge, a manual on riding technique in the style of his whitewater books

William, heralded as “Whitewater’s Poet Laureate,” was one of the best known ambassadors of the sport. He brought a self-deprecating sense of humor and wealth of practical knowledge to all of his work. Before becoming a world-famed cartoonist, he began drawing river maps of the more popular rivers in the southeast U.S using his now hall-mark cartoonist style. William is perhaps best-known internationally for his groundbreaking book, Kayak: A manual of Technique (translated into five languages), which combined expert paddling instruction along with artful caricatures and parodies of the whitewater enthusiasts themselves. He captured the essence of whitewater paddling and whitewater paddlers. The quality of his work transcends its subject.

Candidate: Risa Shimoda

Category: Advocate
Niche: Industry Professional, Volunteer, Athlete, Conservationist
Years Active: 1978-present
Home Base: Takoma Park, MD USA

Advocate Accomplishments:

• Executive Director American Whitewater (1988-1990 and 2001-2004)
• Founder of National Organization of Whitewater Rodeos (1989)
• Member of founding advisory committee and speaker the Annual Whitewater Symposium (2003-2006)
• First Descents Paddle-a-thon co-chair, chairing/leading the Whitewater Courses and Parks conferences, the Potomac Festivals, volunteer outreach advisor liaison for Team River Runner
• Past or present board or steering committee member for Adventure Sports Center International, American Whitewater, International Whitewater Hall of Fame, Nantahala Outdoor Center, National River Cleanup Week, National Review Group (hydropower relicensing reform), North American Paddle Sports Association, Outdoor Industry Alliance, Trade Association of Paddlesports

Other Accomplishments:

• Slalom K1, C1 and C-2 mixed competitor (1983-1986)
• Member US National Freestyle Kayak Team at World Freestyle Kayak Championships (1993, 1997, 1999, 2003, 2005, and 2007)

Risa has been a key contributor to the growth and evolution of whitewater in the U.S. for more than 25 years. She first made a name for herself as a hold-nothing-back eastern squirt boater and creeker who developed a taste for big water. However, it has been through her volunteerism and her professional training in marketing that she has made her greatest contributions to whitewater. Over the last 25 years, she has been a board member, president, and Executive Director of American Whitewater. Many important river access and conservation issues were successfully advocated during her tenure. She created the glue for a renegade AW board when it was on the brink of extinction in the early 90’s and revived a grassroots connection with members during some very financially trying times of declining funding membership and funding. Risa was also the Marketing Director for Perception and Watermark Paddlesports in the ‘90s and fully supported river conservation through the company at every opportunity. Risa presently owns her own company providing consulting services for the outdoor industry including environmental advocacy and municipalities with river access and is involved with promotion and development of whitewater parks. Her list of board affiliations in the outdoor recreation and conservation field is unsurpassed by few in the sport.