Event Management and American Canoe Association Contract Instructors


Community

About
Gift Cards
Client Feedback
ELI GEISENBERGER
Event Management & River Master
ACA River Kayak Instructor
Paddling since: 2004
Hometown: Lancaster, PA
Rivers run/seas toured: Potomac, Chattahoochee, Shenandoah, Gualey, New, Lehigh, Kennebec, Dead, Gunpowder, Cheat, Youghiogheny, Big Sandy, Harveys Creek, Muddy Creek, San Juan, Nolichucky, Chesapeake Bay
Favorite spot: Southern Fried Stakeout, Chattahoochee, River
Best memory: My First Air Screw on Good Wave on the Chattahoochee River
Favorite piece of gear: Jackson Rockstar V!!!
When I'm not paddling, I like to: Skiing, Snowboarding, Climbing, Sailing, Give back to the Boy Scout Troop I grew up in!
Advice for new paddlers: When progressing gets hard keep pushing yourself to get over the hump.
SYDNEY CARTER
ACA River Kayak Instructor
Paddling since: 2002
Hometown: Appleton, WI
Rivers run/seas toured: Penobscot, Kennebec, Dead, ME; Yough, New, WV; Potomac, MD; Red River, Wolf River, Lake Superior, WI; Jackson, WY; Les Calanques, France
Favorite spot: Toss-up between the sea caves of Lake Superior, and Maryland Chute at sunset.
Best memory: Paddling an IK through the first rapid on the Seboomook section of the Penobscot!
Favorite piece of gear: SPF 70
When I'm not paddling, I like to: Trail run, rock climb, cross-country ski, gravel bike, bake, cheer on the US Women's soccer team, debate the best way to start a campfire, reorganize my paddling bag, think about international migration policy.
Advice for new paddlers: Any day on the water is a win, get out there!
TOM DOLAN
ACA River Kayak Instructor
Paddling since: 2006
Hometown: Washington D.C.
Rivers run/seas toured: Great Falls/Potomac, Lower Yough, Upper Yough, Lower Gauley, Middle Gauley, Upper Gauley, Savage, Lower Big Sandy, Cheat, Cheat Dry Fork, Shannanondoa, New River
Favorite spot: Maryland Chute!
Best memory: My first time running the Spout
Favorite piece of gear: My playboat
When I'm not paddling, I like to: I like to take care of my plants.
Advice for new paddlers: Just boof it!
THOMAS "COWBOY" SUPPAN
ACA Coastal and River Kayak Instructor
Paddling since: 2011
Hometown: Whitehall, PA
Rivers run/seas toured: Potomac, Occoquan, Chesapeake Bay, Baja, Mexico (Ensenada area); Myrtle Beach, SC; Southport, NC; Kiptopeke, VA; Hampton Bay, NH; Lake Winnipesaukee, NH; Peck's Pond, PA.
Favorite spot: Baja; Mexico
Best memory: My son's first roll
Favorite piece of gear: NDK Romany Sport
When I'm not paddling, I like to: Build things such as kayaks, paddleboards, and Greenland Paddles.
Advice for new paddlers: If it isn't fun, you aren't doing it right!
BRETT OLEXOVITCH
ACA River Kayak Instructor
Paddling since: 2010
Hometown: Hershey, PA
Rivers run/seas toured: Potomac, Roaring Fork, Indian River Bay, Atlantic Ocean
Favorite spot: Maryland chute!
Best memory: Any sunny day on the Potomac!
Favorite piece of gear: Astral Green Jacket
When I'm not paddling, I like to: Snowboarding, Hiking, and Concerts!
Advice for new paddlers: Chillax, the faster you can calm your mind the better you can hone your skills.
JAMES HOPENFELD
ACA River Kayak Instructor
Paddling since: 2012
Hometown: Rockville, MD
Rivers run/seas toured: Potomac, Shenandoah, Yough, New, Snake, Grand Canyon; Sea Kayaking: New Zealand, Alaska coasts
Favorite spot: Maryland chute late on a summer evening!
Best memory: Summers in LA with my family as a kid.
Favorite piece of gear: Werner Double Diamond paddle
When I'm not paddling, I like to: Dancing in the ballroom, Riding a horse or a bike, on a yoga mat, or tending the garden.
Advice for new paddlers: Appreciating the beauty of a river is just as important as learning new skills!
NIKOLA SPATAFORA
ACA River Kayak Instructor
Paddling since: 2005
Hometown:Florence, Italy
Rivers run/seas toured:Yough, Cheat, Big Sandy, Blackwater, Tygart, Gauley, New, Ottawa,Colorado, Lochsa, Salmon; Naranjo, Pacuare, Reventazon, Sarapiqui (Costa Rica); Quijos, Oyacachi, Cosanga, Jondachi, Piatua, Misahualli (Ecuador).
Favorite spot: It's a toss-up between the Upper Yough and the Upper Gauley!
Best memory: Watching the full moon rise over the rim of the Grand Canyon.
Favorite piece of gear: Watershed Ocoee drybag
When I'm not paddling, I like to: Climb, backpack, ski, bike-anything outdoors, really.
Advice for new paddlers: Challenge yourself every day, but above all enjoy the ride... Few people get to experience the world the way we do.
SUNNY PITCHER
ACA River Kayak Instructor
Paddling since: 1993
Hometown: Baltimore, Maryland
Rivers run/seas toured: Potomac, Shenandoah, Futaleufu, Naranjo, Savegre, Blackwater, Severn, Gunpowder, Middle Fork of the Salmon, Youghiogheny, Caribbean, Gulf of Mexico, Atlantic, Pacific, Abel Tasman Sea, Chesapeake Bay
Favorite spot: Center Chute, Potomac River
Best memory: My first wave wheel
Favorite piece of gear: AT2 Superlight paddle
When I'm not paddling, I like to: Walk in the woods
Advice for new paddlers: Use your torso muscles!

Be Safe. Be Skilled!

Potomac Paddlesports
Potomac, MD 20854

Text / Voice: (301) 881-2628

Office Hours:

7 Days: 8:00am-6:00pm