Community
Indigenous Land Acknowledgement
Precision Paddlesports is based in the Mad River Valley of Vermont on the unceded territory of Western Abenaki tribes, members of the Wabanaki Confederacy. The Western Abenaki tribes are First Nation People that lived on, and cared for this land prior to the arrival of colonizing settlers.
Precision Paddlesports also offers classes, guided trips, and other paddlesport training on a wide range of rivers and bodies of water throughout the U.S. and abroad. We at Precision Paddlesports acknowledge that the land that we use to access the water and the waterways, were once inhabited or used by indigenous people. While we feel it is impossible to undo the harm and injustices that indigenous peoples have faced, we believe in the importance of acknowledging where we work and sharing this knowledge with those that we work with.
Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion
In order to contribute to a community and culture of positive change, we believe it’s essential to support opportunities to access and participate in outdoor recreation for anyone interested, especially communities that have traditionally experienced social, cultural or economic barriers to access. In pursuing this Precision Paddlesports will:
1) Acknowledge the injustices, wrong doings, and atrocities that BIPOC and LGBTQ+ communities have experienced (and continue to).
2) Take direct action to increase opportunities to access outdoor recreation and adventure sports. Precision Paddlesports is committed to addressing the issue of access through annual support of BIPOC led organizations, that focus on creating opportunities for BIPOC communities to participate in outdoor recreation.
In order to contribute to a community and culture of positive change, we believe it’s essential to support opportunities to access and participate in outdoor recreation for anyone interested, especially communities that have traditionally experienced social, cultural or economic barriers to access. In pursuing this Precision Paddlesports will:
1) Acknowledge the injustices, wrong doings, and atrocities that BIPOC and LGBTQ+ communities have experienced (and continue to).
2) Take direct action to increase opportunities to access outdoor recreation and adventure sports. Precision Paddlesports is committed to addressing the issue of access through annual support of BIPOC led organizations, that focus on creating opportunities for BIPOC communities to participate in outdoor recreation.
Coaching/Instructing Community
I have been extremely fortunate to have learned from and worked with many phenomenal instructors, guides, and coaches. Below is a list of some of those people or the paddling schools/outfitters that they operate. (Apologies to any friends/colleagues not listed. Please touch base.)
I have been extremely fortunate to have learned from and worked with many phenomenal instructors, guides, and coaches. Below is a list of some of those people or the paddling schools/outfitters that they operate. (Apologies to any friends/colleagues not listed. Please touch base.)
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- Jake Taylor (Hong Kong)
- Heather Herbeck (Washington)
- Rata Lovell-Smith & Phil Palzer (New Zealand)
- Steve Maynard (New York)
- Sami Hawkins (California)
- Josh Hall (South Carolina)
- Jordan Taylor (Maryland)
- Kent Ford (Colorado)
- John Garman (Virginia)
- Andy Round (California)
- Patrick Higgins (Alaska)
- Andy Lex (Wyoming)
- Elliot Jacobs (Idaho)
- Jim Sullivan (Massachusetts)