For May 2026, the American Canoe Association (ACA) is proud to recognize Brian Davis as ACA Instructor of the Month for his dedication to building a community of safe boaters in his hometown of Saluda, North Carolina.
Holding ACA certifications in Whitewater Kayaking and Swiftwater Rescue, Brian believes that instruction is about more than technique. For him, it is about preparing students to feel capable in dynamic environments. Prior to Hurricane Helene, Brian worked full-time for H20 Dreams which has since had to conclude operations, unable to recover from the damage left by the storm. Brian continues to teach everything from beginner paddling lessons to advanced coaching and swiftwater rescue courses, never wavering in his commitment to helping paddlers develop their skills and stay safe.
Among his favorite places to teach kayaking are Wilson Creek and Section 9 of the French Broad River where paddlers can build a progression from technical maneuvering to larger, more powerful water. For swiftwater rescue, he increasingly teaches at Stackhouse Rapid where realistic rescue scenarios help students develop practical, real-world skills.
Brian’s own introduction to whitewater kayaking began with overconfidence. While mountain biking in Charlotte, North Carolina, he spotted paddlers at the Whitewater Center. From the grace of the paddlers he saw and his own experience in a flatwater kayak, Brian assumed whitewater couldn’t be too difficult. Fortunately, fellow paddler Pablo McCandless convinced him to take a lesson before jumping in on his own. That first experience proved humbling.
“During that hour-and-a-half lesson, I flipped and swam out of my boat more than five times,” Brian recalled. “It quickly became clear that whitewater kayaking was much harder than I expected—but I was hooked and determined to figure it out.”
What started as curiosity eventually became a calling. After one particularly meaningful paddling trip, Brian realized there was more to life than the traditional corporate path. After years of working toward financial freedom, he left office life behind to pursue teaching, paddling, and giving back to the community full-time.
“When you bump into me on the river, ask me about the life changing trip. It is a pretty cool story!”
As an instructor, some of Brian’s favorite moments come long after a course ends. Whether it’s hearing that a student finally landed their first combat roll, paddled a river they once thought impossible, or embarked on an international paddling adventure, those follow-up conversations remind him of the lasting impact instruction can have.
Today, Brian remains passionate about strengthening paddler safety across the Southeast. Despite the challenges Helene brought to H2O Dreams, he continues working to keep swiftwater rescue education alive through quality instruction, practical rescue skills, and risk-awareness training.
For Brian Davis, paddling is no longer just a hobby. Paddling is a lifestyle rooted in service, safety, and helping others discover what they’re capable of on the water.
When asked if there was anything else that he would like to share, Brian let us know that his sister-in-law, Jenny Proctor, recently interviewed him about his passion for kayaking, instructing, and his love for the Green River Narrows. “She’s an author and loosely wrote a book inspired by my wife’s and my story. If you’re bored and looking for something to read, check out How to Kiss Your Best Friend.”
Thank you, Brian, for your continued commitment to building a community of safe and thoughtful paddlers! It is instructors like you who make the ACA great!