…be individual, multiple individuals, and/or teams.   History: The Higgins & Langley Memorial awards were established in 1993 by members of the Swiftwater Rescue Committee of the National Association for Search and Rescue (NASAR) in honor of Earl Higgins, a writer and filmmaker who lost his life in 1980 while…

The ACA supports teams across many different paddling disciplines, including the Olympic and Paralympic disciplines of Sprint, Slalom and Paracanoe, and other International Canoe Federation disciplines such as Freestyle, Wildwater, Stand Up Paddling, Canoe Polo, and more.

The ACA signed on to a letter, led by the Winter Wildlands Alliance, alongside our partners in the human powered outdoor recreation community to support the fundamental intentions of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). NEPA is a fifty year old bedrock piece of environmental legislation that establishes a broad…

ACA boaters might be interested in how canoeists and kayakers have come together to create “Operation Renew Prosthetics,” (ORP) a program to provide prosthetics for Ukrainian soldier amputees. Our first soldier, Oleksandr Chaika, arrived at Dulles on September 28. We expect more soldiers will be coming later. Here’s how it…

…from 10:00am – 2:30pm EST & 5:30pm – 8:00pm EST. Don’t have Peacock? Watch for free through the NBC/NBC Sports App or on NBC.com! We will add links to watch the second weekend of trials when they become available! Weekend 2 – Day 1 – April 26 – OKC RIVERSPORT…

…It is in this spirit that Outdoor Alliance brought together the first cohort of the Grasstops Collective. Comprised of 20 outdoor enthusiasts from around the United States, this cohort has met virtually twice a month beginning in May before coming together in Washington D.C. for Outdoor Alliance’s 10-Year Anniversary Fly-in….

…with your past account to then choose the ‘Forgot Password’ prompt to create a new password. Members who have not created an account previously should visit this link to create a new account. Please contact ACA Staff Member Stanton Collins at scollins@americancanoe.org with questions regarding SafeSport and background check compliance….

…essential both for public policy decisions and to determine what type of education is most appropriate in our paddling communities. In March of 2024, the ACA distributed a survey titled, “Paddling Accident and Safety Equipment Survey – Helmets.” This survey was created to gather information regarding the frequency and type…

…– and you are invited! The ACA SEIC and Board of Directors recently approved revisions to the ACA Surf Kayaking curriculum, aimed at making the discipline more accessible at entry levels. The Eugene River House Outdoor Center is partnering with the ACA Surf Kayak Committee to offer an instructor training…

…event by competing in World Cups throughout the summer as well as training at the Lee Valley Whitewater Centre, which as built for the 2012 London Olympic Games. Fresh off her U23 World Championship victory a month prior, 20-year-old Evy Leibfarth threw down with the best of them, finishing 7th…

…the moment, our daily lives may feel upended. Things are certainly different, but wandering into the waters that flow so close to home, I am reminded of the opportunities and the certainty that the paddling community will always find pathways to renewal, community, and coexistence in light of any challenge….

To grow our community of paddlers, the Regional Activity Council (RAC) hosted a competition for instructors in all ACA disciplines who teach Level 1 and Level 2 courses. The goal of this initiative was to encourage our instructors to safely welcome new and prospective paddlers to the community by teaching…

Kyler Long Racing at World Cup 2 in Prague / Photo Credit: Jed Hinkley The first three ICF Canoe Slalom World Cups took place this month in Augsburg, Germany; Prague, Czech Republic; and Krakow Poland. World Cup 1 – Augsburg: 10 U.S. National Team athletes competed. We are very excited…

Dear ACA Community, In these unsettling times I am amazed by the acts of courage and selflessness exhibited by the heroes among us. On behalf of all paddlers, please allow me to express my heartfelt gratitude to every ACA member who serves as a healthcare worker, emergency services provider, retail…

…time to devote to the ACA; Our partners including the United States Olympic & Paralympic Committee, the United States Coast Guard, the Outdoor Alliance, L.L. Bean, and others who help support our mission; The myriad of volunteers – too many to be named – who keep our instructional curriculum relevant,…

The ACA Rafting Committee recently completed a comprehensive review and revision of their Level 3 and Level 4 Whitewater Rafting (Paddle & Oar) curriculum documents. Currently certified rafting instructors should familiarize themselves with the currently published documents so they are fully aware of the revisions. In addition, the Rafting Committee…

…latest stories: Recreation New ACA National Office Staff, Members of the Board of Directors, and Athlete Advisory Council Representatives Recent State Director Program Community Success Stories This Year’s ACA and L.L. Bean Club Fostered Community Grant Recipients Education Brand New ACA Hand Paddling Program Recently Released ACA Level 5 Rafting…

…helping instructors with new classes, and making final preparations for the Tokyo Olympics which begin in one short month! Some brief highlights about many initiatives currently underway: Our Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Board Committee is meeting weekly to map out a course for future initiatives. The ACA has signed a…

…regional representative will work to galvanize stakeholders across their region across all SEIC disciplines and ACA silos (e.g. coastal kayaking, river canoe, whitewater kayaking, SUP, safety & rescue, competition, DEI, etc.) within their region to organize regional initiatives and execute those initiatives in conjunction with the RAC Council. The RAC…

…commitment, offering immense rewards for those dedicated to the advancement of paddlesports and community engagement. While board membership is a voluntary position, individuals are elected to serve on two-year terms, ensuring continuity and effective governance within the organization. To learn more about the Board of Directors position click here!  …

…completing connecting trails on the upper Current River and creating unique hike-paddle options for visitors. Since my return in to the Riverways in 2008, Reta Barkley has been my partner and constant companion. The park considered us a “two-for-one deal” and she has been a great source of support and…

…her debut season in 2019, her performance in posting fastest times in both the canoe and the kayak on Friday showed she had no ill-effects from the prolonged competition break. Her time of 85.44 in the kayak was more than three seconds quicker than the next best paddler, two-time Olympian…

Ian Ross is best known as a sprint canoe athlete who has competed in World Cups and World Championships. Those who know him better think of him as a modern-day cowboy who will do whatever it takes to help people in need. While at a training camp in Germany, Ian…

…Association accepts the PSF program for their accreditation, so now is the time to engage with this seasonal market and make relationships in your community! One ACA program that has seen popularity and growth is the Paddlesports Safety Facilitator (PSF). SEIC Vice Chair, Trey Rouss has graciously provided a great…

Join as an ACA Paddle America Club (PAC), Affiliate Organization, Outfitter, Livery, or Guide (OLG), or Apply to Become an ACA Pro School.

…links below to read the written testimony submitted to the legislature, and to listen to Mr. Roth’s oral testimony. Written testimony can be found here. If you’d like to watch the zoom meeting, please click here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TR-rYY6nr-U Brent Roth’s testimony within the video begins at 1 hour and 23 minutes….

…Joe Pina Volunteer of the Year The J. Henry Rushton Award (for Organizational Excellence) Nominations for the 2020 ACA National Awards are due by Sunday, September 27th. For more information, and to submit a nomination, please visit: www.americancanoe.org/awards Thank you for assisting us in recognizing excellence in the paddling community!…

…J. Henry Rushton Award (for Organizational Excellence) Legends of Paddling Award Havens Leadership Award Nominations for the 2021 ACA National Awards are due by Monday, October 25th. For more information, and to submit a nomination, please visit: www.americancanoe.org/awardnominations Thank you for assisting us in recognizing excellence in the paddling community!…

…links below to read the written testimony submitted to the legislature, and to listen to Mr. Roth’s oral testimony. Written testimony can be found here. If you’d like to watch the zoom meeting, please click here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TR-rYY6nr-U&feature=youtu.be Brent Roth’s testimony within the video begins at 1 hour and 23 minutes….

…Bean and the ACA have teamed up to sponsor the CFS Program The recipients of the 2020 L.L. Club Fostered Stewardship (CFS) Grant Program are: Anchorage Waterways Council Blackstone River Watershed Council Great Falls Foundation Kayak New Mexico Middle Grand River Organization of Watersheds N-Compass, Inc. (Iowa Project AWARE) Savannah…

To submit a grievance or complaint to the ACA Grievance Committee, please complete the form below. To report SafeSport-related allegations of emotional or physical misconduct to the ACA, submit this form. All allegations of sexual misconduct, should be reported immediately to the United States Center for SafeSport….

…arrive Friday and leave either late Sunday or Monday. For athletes flying in, we can source boats locally. Cost of the camp is free, but athletes and coaches are required to book their own transport and accommodation. If you are interested in attending, please register below: For ATHLETES (If you…

These “Scan If Found” stickers help people return lost or stolen gear to you, and they also help first responders save lives!…

…term support for your upcoming schedule of courses, but it also provides much longer-lasting benefits in making connections with state and regional leaders who are looking to support and promote ACA paddlesports education, events, and programs. Let’s build this network together!   Have questions or more ideas? Connect with us!…

…that rely on defining navigability through commerce. Unfortunately, Georgia is a state that continues to rely on outdated definitions of navigability. Essentially the term “navigability” continues to be conflated with the idea of legal passage. The paddling community prefers the two to be legally separate, but so long as they…

ACA Members, Athletes, Coaches, and Supporters, A quick note regarding international Canoe Slalom and Canoe Sprint competitions: The International Canoe Federation (ICF) has postponed the final decision regarding the Canoe Slalom Junior/U23 World Championships, Ljubljana (SLO), until June 15, 2020, and the final decision regarding the Canoe Slalom World Cups,…

Fall 2020 Upcoming International Competitions Slalom 2020 ICF Canoe Slalom World Cup (Ljubljana, Slovenia) – October 16-19 2020 ICF Canoe Slalom World Cup (Pau, France) – November 6-9 Sprint Olympic Hopes Regatta 2020 (Szeged, Hungary) – September 19-20 2020 ICF Canoe Sprint World Cup (Szeged, Hungary) – September 24-27…

…his community and stepped up to the plate with Sioux Empire Paddlers. Sioux Empire Paddlers now has over 250 members and has taught over 600 students spanning more than 50 events every year. Through the club’s nonprofit status, Mitchell was able to apply for and obtain grant funding to help…