My journey in paddling started with a simple “mistake” my parents made — sending me to Camp High Rocks in the early 1960s. I fell in love with whitewater immediately. As a young camper, I was making the canoe do things some of the counselors couldn’t. I returned year after year, eventually serving as a counselor for seven seasons. That camp wasn’t just a summer getaway — it became the launchpad for a life spent chasing rivers.
I joined the ACA in 1973 to race in the Southeastern Nationals on the Nantahala River, and it wasn’t long before I found myself contributing off the water as well. Bunny Johns asked me to join the National Instruction Committee in 1977, and by 1979, I became Vice Commodore for the division of the ACA representing the Southeast. Back then, we had just $300 in the bank. By the time I retired in 2001 — after 22 years — we had over $24,000, most of it raised through educational events and programming. We donated generously every year to conservation causes, national programs, and competition centers of excellence.
As a competitor, Wildwater racing became my true passion. After getting my start paddling aluminum Grummans down Section II and III of the Chattooga, I trained hard, raced everywhere from the Nantahala to the Soča in Yugoslavia, and competed internationally. In 1984, my C-2 partner, Scott Overdorf, and I won Nationals and Team Trials on the Peshtigo River and raced at the World Championships in Garmisch, Germany. A year later, I claimed the C-1 Masters National Championship. I kept at it for decades, eventually winning the Grand Masters gold medal at the 2006 World Championships in Karlovy Vary, Czech Republic.
Alongside racing, I served as a Wildwater Judge and Chief Judge at several World Championships across Europe. I was an Instructor Trainer Educator for the ACA, a Red Cross Instructor for canoeing and kayaking, and even helped launch the Red Cross Small Craft Safety program nationwide. Over my career, I’ve logged more than 8,000 hours of instruction, taught CPR and First Aid, and served as a swiftwater rescue technician and EMT. In 2009, I was honored with ACA’s highest recognition — the Legends of Paddling Award — and inducted into the Paddlesports Hall of Fame. From those early days on the rivers of the Southeast to a lifetime of competition, instruction, and service, paddling has been the current that’s carried me through it all. I wouldn’t trade the journey for anything — it’s been the ride of a lifetime.
The ACA extends our heartfelt thanks to David Mason for sharing his story with the ACA Story Project. From camper to counselor, competitor to coach, and volunteer to visionary leader — David’s journey through paddlesports is one of passion, service, and dedication. We are honored to count him as a lifetime member and grateful for the decades of energy, humor, and heart he’s contributed to the ACA community.
About the Author
David Mason is a lifetime member and past Commodore of the American Canoe Association. A member since 1973 and was awarded ACA’s Legends of Paddling Award in 2008 and inducted into the ACA Paddlesports Hall of Fame. With over 8,000 hours of instruction and a legacy of leadership, Dave continues to inspire generations of paddlers with his knowledge, humility, and love of the river.