This month, we are proud to recognize 17 outstanding ACA Instructors whose collective effort brought life-saving education to an entire community in Jalcomulco, Veracruz, Mexico.
On December 10, this dedicated team delivered a free Drowning Prevention Workshop to 150 participants as part of the village’s annual Safety and Rescue Rendezvous. Attendees included river guides, kayakers, police, civil protection personnel, and local parents, all united by the shared goal of learning how to recognize and respond to a drowning emergency.
The workshop featured a powerful and informative presentation by Dr. Chris Davis, with translation provided by ACA River Kayak Instructor Aisha Jalil, ensuring the critical information was accessible to everyone in attendance.
The instructional team represented a truly international collaboration, with ACA instructors traveling from Mexico, the United States, and Canada to support the event. Their willingness to volunteer time and expertise reflects the heart of the ACA instructional community: using paddlesports knowledge to make waterways safer for all.
Participating ACA Instructors
- Dr. Chris Davis – Swiftwater Rescue Instructor
- Dave Bumgarner – Swiftwater Rescue Instructor
- Lynsey Nunes – Swiftwater Rescue Instructor
- Marcus Vanata – Swiftwater Rescue Instructor
- Ben Mudd – Swiftwater Rescue Instructor
- Arturo Pensado – Swiftwater Rescue Instructor
- Gervasio Rodríguez – Swiftwater Rescue Instructor
- Mario Geron – Swiftwater Rescue Instructor
- Paco Rodríguez – River Kayak Instructor
- Jaime Canseco – Swiftwater Rescue Instructor
- Aury Carrillo – Swiftwater Rescue Instructor
- Manu Lucia – Swiftwater Rescue Instructor
- Jim Coffey – Swiftwater Rescue Instructor Trainer
- Kedin Álvarez – River Kayak Instructor
- José Milán – River Kayak Instructor
- Jhonatan Cendejas – River Kayak Instructor
- Aisha Jalil – River Kayak Instructor
By sharing their expertise across borders and cultures, these instructors didn’t just teach skills, they helped strengthen a community’s ability to protect one another.
Congratulations to our January Instructors of the Month. Your impact reaches far beyond the river.
