| My Paddling
History I've been paddling whitewater since 1995. I started out paddling C1 (in a canoe), but quickly switched over to K1 (kayak). I have dabbled in hand paddling and have hand paddled the Class 5 "Bottom" Section of the Moose River in the Adirondacks the past few years. In the summer I sometimes even go surfing at the beach in my kayak. Since 1995 I've paddled well over 100 different rivers in 17 different States. I've spent about 900 days on rivers. In the last 15 years, most of those days have been class IV and V rivers. My preference has always been steeper runs and I've paddled a dozens of water falls in the 10-20 foot range along with a number of larger drops in the 30-60 foot range. I have a number of "first descents" in NJ, including Double Kill in Northern NJ in April of 2010. In my attempts to enjoy the sport on many levels, I've designed and built 7 different boats. (5 composite whitewater boats, and 2 cedar strip canoes) I've also built a few composite helmets and other odd and end pieces of equipment such as elbow pads and paddles. While I taught at George Watts Elementary School in Durham, NC, I shared my enjoyment of building things with my weekly boat building club. Over a 3 year period, the club, which consisted of 1st, 2nd and 3rd graders, built six 7' long rowboats and tested each one of them in a local pool. Each club member had the opportunity to paddle the boat they helped make While in NC I also worked evenings at the Great Outdoor Provision Company's store in Durham, NC, where I was the "boat guy". That job gave me the opportunity to be right up close to the whitewater boating industry at a time when some big changes were occuring, it gave me a chance to help a lot of people make decisions about what equipment and style of boating was right for them, and, of course, it also gave me the chance to get some good gear at a great discount. I am a member of the American Whitewater Affiliation and maintain around a dozen guide pages as a "steamkeeper". Rockaway Cr. from Mountainville to Mcreas Mills is one of the stretches I manage. I also administer the njwhitewater.info website, devoted to providing information about whitewater paddling in NJ. I am currently in the process of writing a guide book for NJ which I hope will continue where Ed Gertler's book "Garden State Canoeing" left off.  |
 Other Relevant Information I am CPR certified with past training in Infant/child CPR I have a very good working knowledge of First Aid procedures, especially as they relate to situations which arise "on the river" Over the years I have, unfortunately, gained lots of practical experience in river rescue and river first aid while assisting those who ran into trouble. I have taught 3rd grade for the last 3 years, 1st Grade for the10 years before that, and Kindergarten for the 5 years before that. I have coached track very successfully at every age level from 9 years through collegiate, including 7 years as a high school track coach in Morris County. I have taught advanced kayaking clinics for the Carolina Canoe Club and guided many a newbie down their first run of something new.
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