Werner Paddles :: Our Athletes

Athletes:

	Russell Farrow: Russell sums up his paddling passion by saying, "The feeling of freedom and completeness whenever I push off from shore is unparalleled. The places I've seen, people I've met, all because of kayaking.....incredible" Russell is a partner at Sweetwater Kayaks in Florida. In addition to sea kayaking, his outdoor background includes mountain biking and climbing. These sports have taken him all over the world; Scotland, France, Switzerland, Canada, Andorra, Spain, Morocco, Hawaii, and North America. In 2005, Russell organized the Labrador 2005 Expedition and paddled down the northeast coast of Labrador Some call it one of the most challenging coastlines in the world. In 2007 he paddled in Florida (leading trips in the everglades), the Outer Banks of North Carolina, Mexico, San Diego, Deception Pass, Washington, Alaska, Scotland, Outer Hebrides, and Georgia. He and his "Team Sweetwater" won the IR Vacation to Hell grant, and the summer of 2008, will be paddling in the high Arctic of Canada.
	Hayley Shephard: Hayley has spent her entire life surrounded by the sea. She was born and raised in New Zealand, moved to Canada and took up residents on a 31foot sail boat which she owned and operated and is now residing in the northern regions of Vancouver Island. Her profession as a teacher extended gradually into the wilderness and as Expedition Leader and naturalist, Hayley has lead people into the world’s richest natural environments by sea kayak, sail boat and Russian ship. She spends her winters in Antarctica, and her summers exploring the High Arctic. As well she pilots vessels in the remote, northern inlets of the Pacific Northwest where grizzly and black bears roam and in Orca and Humpback whale riddled waters. In her spare time, Hayley has taken to her kayak and became the first woman to sea kayak around Vancouver Island and the Queen Charlotte islands alone. While guiding and gallivanting around Islands by kayak, Hayley enjoys capturing the true essence of nature through photography and writing. Her images and adventure articles have been published in various magazines; she has traveled the globe with entertaining slide shows and recently had published a children’s book entitled “Leave Only Footprints”. Her sights are now set on being the first person to attempt a solo sea kayak journey around South Georgia Island in the aid of helping to Save the Albatross.
	Mark Schoon: Mark is passionate about learning and sharing kayaking. This passion makes him one of the most sought-after coaches on the east coast. It all started with canoeing and camping with his father in the Boundary Waters, and has developed into a lifelong passion for the water and outdoors. Mark has paddled in the British Isles, Nova Scotia, and various locations around the Atlantic, Pacific Northwest, Gulf of Mexico, and the Great Lakes. In April 2006 he paddled the entire coast of Maine, from Kittery to Canada. His next adventure is a circumnavigation of Scandinavia, sponsored in part by Werner Paddles. Mark is a full-time kayaking instructor and guide. He is a Licensed Maine Sea Kayak Guide, BCU Coach Level 4 (Sea), BCU A3 Assessor, BCU 5 star (Sea), and a BCU Canoe Safety Test Assessor. He still finds time as the co-owner of Carpe Diem Kayaking Company www.carpediemkayaking.com in Bar Harbor, Maine.
	Bryan Smith: In 2003 Bryan was part of a six-member team that completed the first descents of the Lohit and Dalai Rivers in the remote Northeast corner of India's Arunachal Pradesh. Since then he has gone on to complete numerous first descents in British Columbia, Washington, and most recently Peru. His team "The Range Life" won the first ever IR Vacation to Hell in 2007 http://huallaga.irvacationtohell.com/. He holds the BCU 5 star Sea Award, Coach 4 Sea and Coach 3 River and has become a strong figure in paddlesports education. His ability to walk in both the sea kayaking and whitewater disciplines has allowed him to produce exceptional films over the past couple years. In 2006 he produced "BC Summer 2006" which won best overall film at the National Paddling Film Festival. In 2007 his film 49 Megawatts made Planet in Focus, Canada's premiere environmental film festival and his sea kayaking film Pacific Horizons was a finalist at the Banff Mountain Film Festival. To learn more about Brian check out http://www.therangelife.com.
	JON BOWERMASTER: For the past 20 years Jon Bowermaster has been writing about adventure, the environment and exotic corners of the world for a variety of national and international publications. For the past few years most of his writing and adventuring has been done on behalf o the National Geographic Society. Jon has recently completed the last expedition of eight to the Antarctic Peninsula for His Oceans Eight project. Look for Jon to be traveling the world talking about his adventures and the social and environmental impact of the areas he visited.

	Tanya Faux: Tanya is a remarkable paddler. Not just for her recent accomplishments, which include the first decent of the King Edwards River in Kimberley’s Australia, or top place competitive finishes; World Freestyle Kayaking Championships: 2007 Silver Medalist, Everest Award: Female Paddler of the Year 2007, and Reno River Festival Champion three years running. Tanya is remarkable for her connection to place. For Tanya the river has become her home, her teacher, her inspiration and her friend. “A river’s bloods flow deep within my soul. I get an enormous feeling of euphoria every time I get on a river, stand by a river, drink from a river, sleep near a river, listen to the river, or even think about the river. I can feel deep with in me, I must live with it forever! The river keeps me happy, keeps me together. It is like my therapy,” says Tanya. Water conservation and river conservation go hand in hand and to that end Tanya donates her time and energy to protecting the Kimberly Wilderness from industrialization check it out at www.savethekimberley.com.
	John Grace: Being the owner, producer, and filmmaker of Penstock Productions makes this guy have one of the most hectic jobs in the industry. Covering news and information for both Kayak Journal and Lunch Video Magazine - LVM takes him from coast to coast, and country to country. "I have been paddling since I was nine years old. The water, the boat, the paddle all are a big part of me. I was always the kid swiping my parent’s camera to get some shots of my friends skateboarding, or running around at Christmas putting it in everyone’s face. Eventually I just committed to following my passions and found a way to combine the two. I am always grateful each day I can keep it working"
	California Woman’s Raft Team: Coming together at the last minute to compete at the National Raft Race in Gore Canyon in 2006, this group of river veterans has upped their game. With a renewed focus and the US National Raft Race on the horizon, this team of seven women has been racking up first and second place finishes. With over 60 years of combined guiding experience, these ladies know their way downstream - fast.
	Jesse Coombs: Jesse is one of today's leading adventurers. With calm confidence and a friendly smile Jesse explores the most intriguing and remote corners of the earth. Jesse redefines the limits of adventure travel and whitewater kayaking as he pioneers first descents on previously unthinkable stretches of the worlds most remote and untamed creeks, rivers and waterfalls. Jesse, a co-producer of Clearh2ofilms, is renowned among the extreme sports community for his achievements. He's been in magazines such as Men's Fitness, Canoe and Kayak Magazine and was named National Geographic Adventure Hero of 2006. Jesse is also a featured paddler on oregonkayaking.net and jacksonkayak.com. Jesse is making a social impact as well by starting a nonprofit corporation in his name to steer kids away from illegal drugs. The Jesse Coombs Foundation introduces children and teens to outdoor sports, showing them that "the greatest excitements in life are achieved without drugs.".
	Tanya Shuman: Tanya is arguably the most recognizable and prolific female whitewater kayaker in the sports history. Her trademark smile and demure nature coupled with her unbelievable competitive longevity have made her a favorite with aspiring female and male paddlers alike. Although her competitive record sometimes overshadows her passion for river conservation, she has been a long-time American Whitewater Ambassador where she has written numerous articles and published many images to help bring more awareness to our nation's rivers. Her love for the sport never goes unnoticed. She strives on bringing more women into the sport of kayaking through her demos/clinics and has recently launched www.riverangels.com. River Angles is a website with contribution from top female paddlers to foster the growth and development of all levels of woman in kayaks.
	Boyd Rupplet: As a Microbiology student at the University of Memphis, Boyd still finds time to travel, kayak, and share his passion for living everywhere he goes. Recently, Boyd found himself in the rainforests of Costa Rica filming for Hotel Charley Vol. II, exploring his new love for expedition kayaking. Aside from kayaking Boyd enjoys skydiving, snowboarding, climbing, caving, mountainboarding, backpacking, and just enjoying life with his friends and family.
	Taylor Cotes: Shy of 5’ tall and less than 100 pounds, Taylor Cotes has packed a ton of life into her 13 years and she is not slowing down anytime soon. “Paddling hooked me in a way no other sport ever has. Have you ever had the urge to suddenly have a certain type of food, maybe? Well, that’s how paddling is for me. I have cravings for it when I’m not out there on the water. Right now my favorite place to be on a river is right in the middle of all the big waves,” says Taylor. Taylor’s maturity and athletic skill has helped her in paddling but she is in no way one dimensional. Taylor is one of the youngest persons to ever summit Mt Rainier, Washington and has been a straight A, Honor Student for the past five years. Her aspiration, beyond her next paddling session, is to be a Mission Specialist for NASA.

	Jeff Krieger: Growing up in Hawaii, Jeff has been fishing and diving all of his life. He is equally at am at home on the kayak with a Werner paddle in my hand. Jeff specializes in "Big Game" from the kayak. He has been featured on the small screen in Inside Sport Fishing episodes "Threshers, Yak Style", and " No Bad Days." Can you imagine catching marlin from a kayak? Jeff has guided trips to Catalina Island, for camp, fish, dive and paddle adventurers. A licensed guide in California for 15 years, Jeff operates Rhynobar Kayak Guide Service and invented the Rhynobar. Check out Jeff and learn more about the Rhynobar at www.rhynobar.com.
	Jason Morton: Jason Morton is a licensed guide and the face behind KayakSportfishing.com, a guide service and online resource dedicated to the art of kayak fishing. Jason also produces some of the largest kayak fishing events in the nation and has been featured on Fox Sports TV kayak fishing for thresher sharks and hoop netting for lobsters. When he's not on the water, he and can be found speaking at various seminars and trade shows on the West Coast. His largest unassisted catch from the kayak is a whopping 10.5 ft / 235lb thresher shark he caught while kayak fishing off the coast of Malibu, CA.
	Jim Sammons: A San Diego native, Jim has spent most of his life on or near the water. He started La Jolla Kayak Fishing, a fishing guide service where he does trips locally in San Diego and to northern and southern Baja. Jim holds the distinction of landing the first, and only California caught Marlin from a kayaking. Check out his website at www.kayak4fish.com
	Ashley "Druminator" Williams: Ashley has been kayak fishing for around 7 years now along the east coast of North Carolina. “Kayak fishing has been a big part of my life and has introduced me to many new places and many new friends. I hold an annual event in North Carolina where kayak anglers, new and old, can come together and meet new faces and help others get into the sport. I enjoy exploring and guiding along the waters of North Carolina and Werner Paddles help me to make the most of my paddle adventures."

Gary Wise: Gary is part of the new breed of waterman. “I was born in Sydney Australia and was lucky enough to be able to spend most of my free time at the beach. I got involved with Surf Lifesaving and immediately developed a love for all surf sports, surfing all different types of boards, surfboat rowing, rescue board paddling, and surf skis. Some strictly fun, some such as surfboat rowing mostly for the competition.” Last year Gary got hooked on stand-up paddling, whether it is surfing or ocean races. “Paddling a stand-up paddleboard is in my opinion the most enjoyable workout you can do! I'm looking forward to years of enjoying the waterman lifestyle and spirit,” says Gary.

Tony Mueller: Tony has been enjoying ocean sports for the past 22 years. In years past, northern California paddlers knew him as a strong competitor at local kayak, and surfski races. Lately however, he has been showing up at both northern and southern California race sites and showing well as a standup paddleboard racer. This “stand up guy” has been using Werner paddles since early on. Tony lives in Santa Cruz and enjoys training, shaping his own boards, and traveling to compete in the next race, wherever that may be.

	Phil & Mary DeReimer: Phil and Mary DeRiemer of DeRiemer Adventure Kayaking, have been leaders in the field for over twenty years. It is their goal to provide the best in whitewater guiding and instruction to groups and individuals. Whether you are new to the sport, interested in making plateau breakthroughs, or wanting an exceptional wilderness or international trip, you'll find they encourage your progress and your confidence, and ensure that you'll have fun along the way.
	Paul Kuthe: The Pacific Northwest provides a training ground that rivals those anywhere in the world. It is there that Paul crafts his own skills, as well as those of his fellow paddler. As Program Director at Alder Creek Canoe and Kayak he enriches the paddling experiences had by all who paddle with him. Whether it’s dropping class V creeks or paddling out to surf a big set... combining a love of paddling big water, and traveling deep into the wilderness allows Paul to excel in varied conditions. Paddling has always been, and will continue to be, an escape, a livelihood, and a way of life. I live to boat.
	Josh Bechtel: For such a young guy, Josh has a lifetime of experiences. This is his 15th year paddling whitewater and he has now turned his attention on teaching both kayaking and academics. Josh teaches front loops and fractions to the aspiring young paddler enrolled in World Class Kayak Academy. WCKA is a traveling high school for kayakers. You will find Josh in Zambia, Uganda, Chile and Argentina this year. Josh says, “It has been great to be able to combine three of the greatest passions in my life, kayaking, teaching and traveling.”
	Whitney Lonsdale: Whitney has worked and paddled around the world in places like Nepal, Chile, Uganda, China and New Zealand for the last 15 years. In the last 10 years she has spent most her time leading groups of high school students around the globe - combining her passions for kayaking, teaching and traveling. When she is not traveling around with World Class Kayak Academy, she can be found writing and editing for Kayak Session Magazine or teaching kayaking for Endless River Adventures. The people she paddles with have always been a huge part of why Whitney kayaks, and she finds that more and more important. She loves being on the water with the World Class students because every day they are so excited about paddling. They definitely help her stay motivated to keep learning and trying new things.