The Steve Kelly Standard: A Legacy Etched in Discipline and Devotion
For decades, Steve Kelly has embodied the spirit of Olympic sport—not through medals or endorsement deals, but through quiet…
Kaycee Maas
Western North Carolina Paddlers Lead River Restoration Efforts After Hurricane Helene
Paddlers supporting MountainTrue cleanup efforts of the French Broad River in North Carolina In late September 2024, Hurricane Helene brought…
Announcing the 2025 Recipients of the Marge Cline Memorial Grant
Voyageur Canoe Training Program / Image Credit: Crossroads of America Council, Scouting America The American Canoe Association is proud to…
Announcing the 2025 L.L.Bean Club Fostered Community Grant Recipients
NariNauka Program 2024 / Image Credit: Canyon River Instruction The American Canoe Association, in partnership with L.L.Bean, is thrilled to…
Paddling Action Heats Up at OKC Riversport for the Second Weekend of U.S. Canoe Slalom & Kayak Cross Team Trials 2025 Pan American Championships Results
Photo Credit: COPAC Online After an exhilarating first weekend of racing at the 2025 Canoe Slalom & Kayak Cross Pan…
Kick Off Your Paddling Season at the Canoe Slalom & Kayak Cross Pan American Championships!
March 21-23, top athletes from North, Central, and South America will battle for the title of Pan American Champion…
Registration is Now Open for the USA Canoe Sprint Team Trials
The road to international competition starts here! Registration is now open for the USA Canoe Sprint Team Trials, taking…
Instructor of the Month: Wolf Albury
Wolf Albury’s journey into sea kayaking began under the guidance of the late, great Russell Farrow of Sweetwater Kayaks in…
Welcome to the Newest ACA Pro School, Paddle-N-More!
We are thrilled to welcome Paddle-N-More to the distinguished group of ACA Pro Schools! Located in the heart of New…
North Carolina Bridge Access Ban
Senate Bill 220 was filed in the legislature on February 27, 2025 by Senators Rabon, McInnis, and Britt. The legislation…
Action Alert: Staffing Cuts at Land Management Agencies
At the direction of the new administration, land management agencies, including the National Park Service (NPS) and the U.S. Forest…
ACA Executive Director, Beth Spilman, Selected to Serve on the Board of Directors of the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Endowment
We are excited to share that Beth Spilman, the ACA’s Executive Director, was recently appointed by the National Governing Bodies…
We Are Hiring! Open Position: Chief Operating Officer
The Opportunity We are currently accepting applications for Chief Operating Officer, who will lead key initiatives to grow our impact…
U.S. Performance Center: Developing Personal, Sport-Specific Training Plans for U.S. Canoe/Kayak National Team Athletes
Sprint National Team athlete, Nathan Humberston, works with U.S. Performance Center Staff in Charlotte, North Carolina. The ACA is a…
2024 Impact Report
2024 was an amazing year for the American Canoe Association! Thanks to the tireless work of our small but…
Instructor of the Month: Joey Taguding
Joey Taguding, ACA Coastal Kayaking Instructor, is a dedicated advocate for paddlesports safety and ACA Instructor of the Month! Often…
Stay Informed & Engaged on Local Paddling Issues: The ACA is Here to Help!
As the oldest and largest paddlesports organization in the United States, the ACA has always been a passionate advocate for…
Instructor of the Month: Ingrid Haddon
We are proud to shine the spotlight this month on Ingrid, a dedicated Coastal Kayaking and Flatwater Stand-Up Paddleboarding (SUP)…
Victory! The EXPLORE Act Passes and Has Become Law
Victory! The Senate passed the EXPLORE Act and has it been signed into law! The Expanding Public Lands Outdoor Recreation…
Instructor Certification Expiration Date & Renewal Requirements
By the end of the 4-year certification period, the following minimum maintenance requirements must be met for ACA instructor certifications…
ACA Regional Activity Council (RAC) is Helping Rally Paddlers for State and Local Advocacy: Updates from Georgia and the Nolichucky River
By: Bill Caruso, ACA New Jersey State Director and Chair of RAC State and Local Policy Committee One of the…
Instructor of the Month: Bob Myron
We are proud to recognize Bob Myron as our Instructor of the Month! With over 30 years of experience as…
USA Canoe Polo National Team Battles Adversity at the 2024 ICF Canoe Polo World Championships
The 2024 ICF Canoe Polo World Championships in Deqing, China, offered an unforgettable experience for the USA Canoe Polo National…
Action Alert: Stop CSX Transportation Railroad Rebuild From Destroying the Nolichucky Gorge
ACA state and local volunteers have worked together and in partnership with American Whitewater to help you reach more elected…
Congratulations to the 2024 ACA Annual Award Recipients
During our Annual meeting on Sunday, November 24 we announced the incredible and very deserving recipients of the 2024 ACA…
Election for Team USA Athletes’ Commission (Team USA AC) Representatives and Athlete Representatives on the ACA Board of Directors
The ACA is holding an election for Team USA Athletes’ Commission (Team USA AC) Representatives and Athlete Representatives on the…
Achieving Lasting Conservation Victories with Outdoor Alliance
In 2002, two leaders in the paddling community, Pam Dillon (then Executive Director of the American Canoe Association) and…
Inaugural Surf Kayak Revival in the PNW
Last month, the ACA Surf Kayak Committee hosted the first Surf Kayak Revival event, a Level 2-3: Surf Kayak Instructor…
Be the Next ACA State Director in Your State
The ACA Regional Activity Council (RAC) is looking for the next generation of State Directors and supporting team members!…
Hurricane Helene Relief Resources
LAKE LURE, NORTH CAROLINA – SEPTEMBER 28: The Rocky Broad River flows into Lake Lure and overflows the town with…
Trip Report: Outdoor Alliance 10-Year Anniversary D.C. Fly-in
Photo by Torch Pictures This September, the American Canoe Association joined Outdoor Alliance in Washington D.C. to celebrate 10-years of…
Paris 2024 Witnesses a Stunning Paralympic Debut by Jillian Elwart and a Medal Winning Performance by Blake Haxton.
This September 6-8, Blake Haxton and Jillian Elwart raced in the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games. Windy conditions characterized the three…
Paris 2024 Paralympics – How to Watch Paracanoe
Every event of the Summer Olympics and Paralympics will be broadcast live on Peacock, making it the most comprehensive live coverage…
2024 ACA Annual Meeting & Recording
Watch the recording of the 2024 ACA Annual Meeting on YouTube. The ACA Board of Directors invites you to attend…
Nevin Harrison Adds a Silver Medal to Her Collection and Jonas Ecker and Aaron Small Become the Firsts USA Men’s Kayak Double to Race in an Olympic A Final in 24 Years
Canoe sprint racing at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games concluded on August 10 with the Women’s Canoe Single 200m Final…
“Isolation, Microaggressions, and Empowerment — My Experience as the Only Black Woman Raft Guide on the Arkansas River in Cañon City, Colorado” by Jamilah Toure
Representation matters in outdoor spaces. Jamilah Toure shares her experience as the only black woman raft guide on the Arkansas…
Evy Leibfarth Earns the First U.S. Women’s Slalom Olympic Medal in 20 Years with Breakout Performance in the Women’s Canoe Single Event
USA Canoe Slalom Olympic Team finishes strong after a busy eleven days of racing at the Paris 2024 Olympics. Canoe…
Strong First Day of Racing for Both Evy Leibfarth and Casey Eichfeld
Photo of Evy by Alex Davidson/Getty Images | Photo of Casey Eichfeld by Kevin Voigt/Getty Images Evy Leibfarth and Casey…
We are officially one day out from the Paris 2024 Olympic Opening Ceremony!
Team USA Canoe/Kayak athletes are on the ground in Paris and gearing up to compete. July 25, 2024 Team USA…
ACA Partnerships Conduct 43 Volunteer-Led “Kayaking 101” Classes in 7 States to Kick Off National Safe Boating Week
On May 18, in what may have been the largest ACA led safety training event in ACA history, the ACA…
Introducing Team USA’s Paracanoe Team Who Is Set to Race at the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games
Everything has led to this, and it’s just the beginning. Learn more about our athletes’ dreams becoming a reality as…
Meet the Team USA 2024 Canoe Slalom Olympic Team
Everything has led to this, and it’s just the beginning. Learn more about our athletes’ dreams becoming a reality as…
Team USA’s 2024 Canoe Sprint Olympic Team Announced
Everything has led to this, and it’s just the beginning. Learn more about our athletes’ dreams becoming a reality as…
U.S. Slalom Athletes Have Been Busy on the World Cup Circuit
Kyler Long Racing at World Cup 2 in Prague / Photo Credit: Jed Hinkley The first three ICF Canoe Slalom…
ACA Forms Stand Up Paddling Competition Committee to Select USA Stand Up Paddling National Team
The American Canoe Association (ACA) is excited to announce the formation of a Stand Up Paddling (SUP) Competition Committee, tasked…
7 American Paddlers Currently Set to Compete in the 2024 Olympic & Paralympic Games
Paddlers won’t want to miss this Summer’s Olympic and Paralympic Games! There will be canoe/kayak events each day of the…
Finally! A Streaming Channel Just For Boaters — America’s Boating Channel
Did you know that there is a free streaming channel full of content just for boaters? America’s Boating Channel, sponsored…
Team USA Media Summit 2024 Panel Discussions
On April 15-17, three of the top canoe/kayak athletes in the USA were invited to New York to meet with…
Watch the 2024 Canoe Slalom Olympic Team Trials Live on NBC!
Photo Credit: Rob Giersch / Athlete: Bug Lokken The 2024 Canoe Slalom Olympic Team Trials are being streamed live on Peacock,…
ACA Regional Activity Council Receives Communications Award at the 2024 IBWSS for Community Impact
At the 2024 International Boating and Water Safety Summit, the ACA Regional Activity Council received a communication award for the…