The evening’s program will include the induction of this year’s honorees, presentation of the DVD that honors their accomplishments with a keynote speech by past inductee and C1 slalom racing icon Jon Lugbill.

Purchase Options
Either purchase your sponsorships online through our secure Google Shopping Cart by clicking the “Add to Cart” Buttons, or Mail your check or money order to the address below.

Mail sponsorship or ticket purchase checks, payable to Paddlesports Industry Foundation, to:
Paddlesports Industry Foundation c/o Rachel Wisner, PO Box 62, Newaygo, Michigan 49337 USA.

If you have any questions, please contact either Risa Shimoda at rshimoda@iwhof.org or Matthew S. Urdan at msurdan@iwhof.org. We thank you for your generous support!

Purchase one ticket for yourself, or get a table of ten and save!
Sponsorships are also available. Please visit our Sponsorship Page to purchase.
Space is limited, so sign up today!

Table Sponsor $425
Induction tables of ten (10) can be purchased for a 15% discount off of the standard price.

Directions to Bretton Woods Recreation Area

From Virginia:
Take I-495 North to Route 190 West (River Road) toward Potomac. Continue on River Road through the traffic light in the Center of Potomac Village and proceed another 8 miles. You will pass Violets Lock Road on the left and Bretton Woods will be the next drive on the left. (Bretton Woods is on the left immediately before River Road ends at Seneca Road.)

From Points North in Maryland:
Take I-270 South to Route 118 South toward Germantown. Continue on Route 118 for approximately 6-7 miles and turn left at the light at Route 28 East (Darnestown Road). Drive 0.7 miles and turn right at the traffic light onto Route 112 South (Seneca Road). Drive 2.8 miles and turn left onto Route 190 East (River Road). Bretton Woods is the first drive on the right.

From Bethesda (near Montgomery Mall):
Take Fernwood Road to Democracy Road and turn right. Proceed 3.7 miles and turn left onto Falls Road. Go to the traffic light at River Road (Route 190) and turn right. Follow River Road for 8 miles. You will pass Violets Lock Road on the left and Bretton Woods will be the next drive on the left. (Bretton Woods is on the left immediately before River Road ends at Seneca Road.)

From Points East in Maryland:
Take I-495 South to Route 190 West (River Road) toward Potomac. Continue on River Road through the traffic light in the Center of Potomac Village and proceed another 8 miles. You will pass Violets Lock Road on the left and Bretton Woods will be the next drive on the left. (Bretton Woods is on the left immediately before River Road ends at Seneca Road.)

From Gaithersburg (near Lakeforest Mall):
Take Route 124 (Montgomery Village Avenue) past I-270. Continue on Montgomery Village Avenue and it will become Quince Orchard Road. Follow this to the intersection of Route 28 (Darnestown Road). Make a right on Route 28 and continue about 4 miles. Make a left onto Route 112 (Seneca Road). Continue another 2.8 miles and turn left onto Route 190 (River Road). Bretton Woods is the first drive on the right.

Five Individuals from Five Countries Chosen by International Electorate

(Gatlinburg, TN) – The International Whitewater Hall of Fame (IWHOF) Board of Governors has announced its 2010 Inductees. The eldest of this year’s class was born 100 years ago and the five individuals elected hail from as many nations. A celebration of these individuals’ contributions will be held at the 2010 IWHOF Induction Ceremony on September 25, 2010 outside of Washington, DC at the Bretton Woods Recreation Center:

Pioneer – Theo Bock (Germany) was renowned as the country’s first river explorer, an accomplished racer, and the organizer of the first German national championships.

Explorer – Mikey Abbott (New Zealand) is paddling’s first truly global adventurer having completed multi-day self-supported expeditions in all major mountain ranges in the world.

Champion – Michal Martikán (Slovakia) has won more Olympic medals than any other individual in four Olympic Games (2000-08).

Advocates

• Helen Brownlee (Australia) has contributed to the sport at the international level for over 50 years from co-founding the Australian Canoe Federation to contributing to the success of canoeing at the 2000 Sydney Olympics.
• Risa Shimoda (USA) has been an active river steward and organizer for grassroots advocacy, freestyle paddling, and whitewater park promotion.

“We are extremely proud to have an opportunity to honor these paddlers,’ notes Ed Council, Chief Executive Officer for the Paddlesports Industry Foundation. “This group, as in the past, represents heroes we know, or should get to know due to the their tremendous drive and dedication to the treasures humans can find only on rivers.”

The International Whitewater Hall of Fame is a program of the Paddlesports Industry Foundation, a 501c3 non-profit organization whose mission is “to recognize and honor individuals who have made significant contributions to whitewater related activities.” IWHOF was founded in 2004 and is endorsed by the International Canoe Federation and International Rafting Federation. Honorees are chosen through nominations submitted through its Affiliates, a screening committee and a body of international electors. IWHOF welcomes the contribution of time, in-kind and financial resources from paddlers, the industry, and members of the public.

For more information contact Matthew Urdan, msurdan@iwhof.org, 865-304-3428 or visit www.iwhof.org.

# # # #

ADVOCATE
Helen Brownlee, Australia
Risa Shimoda, United States

CHAMPION
Michal Martikan, Slovakia

EXPLORER
Mikey Abbott, New Zealand

PIONEER
Theo Bock, Germany

More detailed information and brief biographies of the newly elected honorees will be available in an upcoming press release.

The induction ceremony and dinner will be held September 25th, 2010 at the Bretton Woods Recreation Area in the Washington, DC area. We are still firming up details for the induction weekend and expect to have them available shortly. It is our sincere hope that you will all be able to attend. Please return to this site for up-to-date information as it becomes available.

Should you have any questions, please feel free to contact me at any time.

Matthew S. Urdan
Program Director
International Whitewater Hall of Fame
667 Turkey Nest Road
Unit 1
Gatlinburg, TN 37738
msurdan@iwhof.org
865-304-3428

Program manager Matthew Urdan looks forward to strong participation this year. “Based on the enthusiastic participation, endorsement from the International Canoe and Rafting Federations, and the great feedback from 2009, we look forward to hearing from paddlers around the world to nominate their whitewater champions through one of the affiliate organizations listed at www.iwhof.org,” he says.

Nominations will be accepted through April 30th, at which time a panel of screeners will review the submissions. The IWHoF electorate, comprised of whitewater experts from around the world will vote on the inductees. “Inductees aren’t honored randomly, but because someone nominated them,” says Risa Shimoda, IWHOF Board of Governors Chair. “We’re encouraging paddlers to put forward their favorite whitewater icon by utilizing this nomination procedure.”

Urdan adds that no further action is necessary on the part of the nominating individual or organization other than filling out the nomination form. But he adds that people should update their nominations each year for the life of the nomination. “Nominating individuals and organizations are asked to include as much published information with submissions as is possible,” he says. “This can include documents, articles, photographs, news clippings, DVDs, video footage, Websites, story links, blogs and more – basically any information that’s helpful in evaluating a nominee. Should the nominee be elected, this information will also be used in the production of the annual DVD highlighting the honoree’s achievements.”

During the nomination period, IWHoF will also be auctioning off a Jackson Kayak All Star signed by IWHOF Inductee Eric Jackson! Those interested are asked to send bids (starting at $600) to Risa Shimoda.

IWHoF encourage all honorees, electorate members and other interested parties to join the IWHoF Faceboook Page to start discussions, upload photos and video, receive IWHoF-related news and interact with others in the whitewater community. Send questions about nominations to Matt Urdan, IWHoF Project Manager or Risa Shimoda, or contact Risa Shimoda by phone at: 301-502-654.

If anyone who knows kayak innovators who are not online- some of the older paddlers- and could provide them a paper copy of the survey, that would be very helpful. Both Word and PDF files are available at www.theriverchasers.com/theriverchasers_005.htm. These responses can be returned via email or regular mail.

Thanks for you help and participation.

Cutting the Anniversary Cake (Pictured from left: Rafael Gallo, Ken Buck representing Bill Mason, Nancy Wiley representing Lars Holbek, Andrey Kolchevnikov representing Mikhail Kolchevnikov; Not pictured: Stepanka Hilgertova, Pavol & Peter Hochschorner)

The day of the induction certainly had an international flavor as it began with a commemorative raft trip and slide show celebrating Project RAFT Nantahala ’90. Led by Nantahala Outdoor Center founder and IWHOF Honoree Payson Kennedy, several of the participants of the original Project RAFT assembled and rafted the Nantahala River as other friends and family kayaked along or followed the trip taking photographs.

Commemorative Project RAFT Nantahala '90 Participants. Standing from left to right: Chris Stec, Matt Urdan, Ed Councill, Svetlana Kolchevnikov, Andrey Kolchevnikov, Susan Buck, Ken Buck, Richard Montgomery, Payson Kennedy, Chuck Stanley, Nancy Wiley, Claudia Gallo (sister), Michael Mayfield. Sitting from left to right: Rafael Gallo, Alejandra Gallo, Roberto Gallo, Claudia Gallo (daughter).

In the evening, the sold-out dinner and induction program began with the premier of the 2009 IWHOF Honoree DVD. This short film highlights the amazing contributions and achievements of our Honorees. The web version of that presentation is below in this post, and always in the sidebar to the right. You can toggle between small version and full screen by clicking on the toggle icon on the film presentation application’s menu bar. (After the 2009 film plays in the sidebar, the films from 2005 through 2008 cycle through, so you can learn about the great achievements of all our honorees.)

Pictured from left to right: Andrey Kolchevnikov representing his father, Honoree Mikhail Kolchevnikov; Honoree Rafael Gallo; Camera-man and Author Ken Buck representing Honoree Bill Mason; Nancy Wiley representing her life partner, Honoree Lars Holbek; Not pictured: Stepanka Hilgertova; Pavol & Peter Hochschorner)

Our honorees are extraordinary people because they fell in love with the adventure and romance of whitewater rivers. They challenged themselves to achieve their best as athletes and citizens, as adventurers and inventors. They are our inspiration and we hope their stories will inspire you too.

IWHOF Honorees that will be in attendance:

• Rafael Gallo
• Nancy Wiley, Chuck Stanley, Richard Montgomery and family representing Honoree Lars Holbek
• Svetlana Kolchevnikov and Andrei Kolchevnikov representing Honoree Mikhail Kolchevnikov
• Filmmaker and Cameraman Ken Buck representing Honoree Bill Mason
• Representatives of Stepanka Hilgertova and the Hochshorner Brothers still to be determined.

EVENT SCHEDULE
8:00 AM – 9:00 AM, Breakfast at River’s End Restaurant
An informal breakfast for IWHOF Honorees and their families.

9:30 AM – 12:00 PM, Commemorative Nantahala ’90 Project RAFT Raft and Kayak Trip
Immediately after the IWHOF breakfast, honorees and their families will meet at our Rafting Center and board a special Rental’s Shuttle Bus. IWHOF Honoree Payson Kennedy will lead a raft trip commemorating the Nantahala ’90 Project RAFT Event held here at NOC back in 1990. IWHOF Honoree Mikhail Kolchevnikov organized the Chuya Rally in 1989, which was the first Project RAFT event held to inspire World Peace and International Cooperation among Americans and Russians. The Chuya Rally evolved into Project RAFT, and the first event held outside of Russia was the Nantahala ’90 Event, which was a week long celebration of international cooperation, rafting competitions, and a parade in Atlanta, Georgia.

The Honorable Ronald K. Machtley, Congressional Representative from Western North Carolina, said of the event on the floor of the United States Congress:

“Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize an organization and an event that has helped promote world peace through the sport of rafting. The Nantahala 1990 Rally is an international rafting event that is being held for the first time in the United States. The event began in the Soviet Union in 1979. There, it was limited to Soviet participants until 1988 when one international team entered the competition. In 1989, the competition was opened to over 300 participants from 17 countries. The Nantahala 1990 Rally will promote international peace and friendship by bringing together outdoor enthusiasts from around the world.

I would like to offer my best wishes to the Nantahala 1990 Rally and all its participants from around the world. I hope that the competition will be a great success.”

As Honoree Mikhail Kolchevnikov’s work led to this event, and Honorees Payson Kennedy and Rafael Gallo participated in the event 19 years ago, we thought it would be fitting and appropriate and fun to commemorate this event this year.

Rafts will be guided down the Nantahala River by Andrei Kolchevnikov, Rafael Gallo, Payson Kennedy, and Nancy Wiley along with Risa Shimoda and Matt Urdan. (For the most extreme ride, you’ll want to be in Matt Urdan’s raft.)

Private boaters and rafters who wish to boat alongside IWHOF Honorees are welcome to join the flotilla. All you need to do is arrive no later than 9:00 AM at the Rafting Center at NOC with your boat, purchase a Forest Service Permit, pay a nominal Rental’s shuttle fee and hop on the Shuttle Bus. If you wish to paddle a raft or ducky, you may rent one from the Rafting Center for a nominal fee. The shuttle bus will leave promptly at 9:30 AM and it will take approximately two hours to run the Nantahala River. We will take out at Slow Joe’s Café where lunch and a slide show will follow immediately.

For more details or if you have any questions, please contact Matt Urdan at 828-488-7191.

12:30 PM – 1:30 PM, Lunch and Project RAFT Slide Show at Slow Joe’s Café
The Raft trip will take out at Slow Joe’s Café, where lunch will follow along with a Slide Show on our Flat Screen Televisions. The slides were taken in 1989 at the Chuya Rally and in 1990 during Project RAFT on the Nantahala and at other venues that hosted the event. The public will be welcome to join us and mingle with IWHOF Honorees and other whitewater boating legends.

5:00 PM – 10:00 PM, Induction Dinner and Program

• 5:00-6:00 guests will arrive and mingle.
• 6:00-7:00 the viewing of the 2009 IWHOF Honoree DVD will take place upstairs at Relia’s Garden
• 7:00-8:30 dinner will be served
• 8:30-10:00 will be the IWHOF program that will include the presentation of awards, speeches, and remarks.

It’s going to be an absolutely incredible day. If there’s any possible way that you can join us for even part of the day, you should plan to do so for this once in a lifetime experience.

Sponsorships are still available and donations of any kind are most welcome!

If you have any questions or need further information, please let me know. And don’t forget to purchase your dinner ticket as soon as possible! Seats are limited for dinner and they are going fast!

Best Regards,

Matthew S. Urdan
IWHOF Program Director
828-488-7191 Office
828-788-1498 Cell

Dinner Tickets and Reservations.
The Induction Dinner for our 2009 Honorees will be a small and intimate formal affair. Due to the nature of the Nantahala Outdoor Center Guest Appreciation Festival (GAF) and “Nantyfest” NOC’s campus will be jam-packed with rafters, kayakers, outdoor retail dealers and representatives and festival-goers. This is the biggest event NOC hosts each year so we expect dinner tickets and dinner reservations to sell out fast. Quantities are limited this year due to limited restaurant space. Please make your dinner reservations ASAP so you will not be disappointed. Dinner tickets are $50 each plus tax and can be purchased by telephone by calling 888-905-7238 or by going online to www.noc.com, clicking on the “Book Now” screen and following the directions on screen. Search “Other Programs” on September 26, 2009 as illustrated in the screen shot below:

It will probably be easier for most of you to call the toll free number and make your reservation rather than using the online booking system. When you make your reservation, you will be asked to give the name of everyone in your party you are paying for, and provide your choice of entrée for the dinner. You may choose chicken, fish, or vegetarian. If you book online, the place to designate your choice of entrée is in the comments field, which is one of the last screens you’ll see in the online booking process.

Lodging.
Because the Induction Dinner and Event is taking place during NOC’s busiest festival of the year, lodging on site is severely limited. There are a number of lodging options available on site. If you book your dinner ticket online, you will also have the option of selecting lodging from available options at the time you make your reservation. You may also choose to find your own lodging at a local hotel or Bed and Breakfast. There are a number of hotels in a lot of different price ranges in the Bryson City area and nearby communities of Cherokee and Murphy, NC. A list of these options is below:

Discounted Lodging
The Best Western Hotel in Murphy is offering a 20% discount off their rack rate for reservations made by September 15, 2009; and a 15% discount for reservations made up until September 25th.

To receive your IWHOF Discount at the Best Western Hotel in Murphy, you need to contact the hotel directly to make your reservation and mention the IWHOF Event. You can contact the hotel by phone or email at 828-837-3060 or reservations@bestwesternmurphy.com.

Bryson City Lodging:
Microtel–Brand New Hotel, nice rooms 828-488-7900 Sleep Inn–828-488-0326 Ridge Top Motel–828-488-6363 Fryemont Inn–very nice and probably expensive–828-488-2159

Cherokee Lodging:
In Cherokee about 7 miles east of Bryson City–on the Native American Indian Reservation, there are a lot of Hotels because of the Casino
Harrah’s Cherokee–Casino, very nice–828-497-7777 Holiday Inn–877-863-4780 Holiday Inn Express–828-497-3113 Comfort Suites–828-497-3500 Quality Inn–828-497-4702 Hampton Inn–828-497-3115 Baymont Inn–828-497-2102

Murphy Lodging:
In Murphy, about 25 miles west of NOC, there are hotels as well.
The Hampton Inn is very nice–828-837-1628 Best Western–828-837-3060 Holiday Inn Express–877-863-4780 Days Inn 828-837-8030

Travel.
I know a number of you may be flying into Atlanta-Hartsfield International Airport. Some of you will be renting a car. If you choose to rent a car, I strongly recommend purchasing the insurance coverage the rental agency offers you to avoid any additional expenses the rental car company would charge if there is damage to your vehicle. NOC will be packed with visitors during the induction weekend with visitors from all over the southeastern United States. Last year, the rental car of one of our honorees was damaged by a small collision when it was parked in a parking lot near the Nantahala Outdoor Center.

Schedule of the Day.
We hope you will all arrive prior to Friday morning so that you have time to rest before the induction event and perhaps do some traveling in the area. We are located on the southern side of Great Smoky Mountain National Park, which is the world’s most attended national park with over ten million visitors each year. The National Park is also designated a World Biosphere Preserve and the Appalachian Trail, which runs from Maine to Georgia, pretty much divides the park along the North Carolina and Tennessee State Line. The scenery is breathtaking.

But on Saturday, September 26th, the peak day of GAF and Nantyfest, we are considering a number of activities to promote the International Whitewater Hall of Fame and each of our Honorees. One of the most exciting activities we are considering is a possible Raft Trip on the Nantahala commemorating Project RAFT 1990, which was held on the Nantahala River. Honoree Rafael Gallo was a part of that event 19 years ago and the event itself was a direct result of the work Honoree Mikhail Kolchevnikov did in Russia, creating the Chuya Rally, which evolved into Project RAFT and which later evolved into the International Rafting Federation and the World Rafting Championships.

A complete IWHOF Induction Event Schedule with full details will be posted here soon.

Finally, at 5 pm, we will all gather upstairs in Relia’s Garden, with Honoree William Nealy’s art displayed on the walls, for our formal dinner, a video presentation, and the 2009 IWHOF Induction Ceremony.

On behalf of the IWHOF Board of Governors, we are all looking forward to welcoming you and having a very special weekend together. If you have any questions about the event, please contact Program Director Matt Urdan.

The International Whitewater Hall of Fame (IWHOF) Board of Governors has announced the Class of 2009 Honorees, whitewater legends whose accomplishments have contributed significantly to both the sport and business of whitewater around the world.

“We are particularly excited about the breadth of this year’s honorees and their breathtaking accomplishments,” notes Risa Shimoda, Chair, IWHOF Board of Governors. They hail from six countries and their nomination and election reflects participation from 74 affiliate organizations and 100 electors from 29 countries.”

Pioneer – Mikhail Kolchevnikov (deceased) – Russia
Mikhail organized the 1978 Chuya Rally in Siberia which evolved into Project RAFT, a partnership with American rafters to override the political animosity between their two nations. Project RAFT hosted 50 teams on the Chuya, Nantahala (USA), Reventazón and Pacuare (Costa Rica), and Coruh River (Turkey) from 1989 to 1993 and its successes became the roots of the International Rafting Federation and World Rafting Championships.

Explorer – Lars Holbek (deceased) – United States
Lars Holbek logged over seventy first descents worldwide on many of the world’s top-quality whitewater rivers such as the Futaleufu and Stikine. Laid back, fun-loving and dedicated to pushing the limits of whitewater paddling, Lars led the charge in one of the greatest periods of exploratory kayaking the sport has seen and co-authored The Best Whitewater in California in 1984, which continues to be the undisputed authority for California paddling.

Champion – Stepanka Hilgertova – Czech Republic
Stepanka Hilgertova competed in five consecutive Olympic Games, winning Olympic Gold Medals in 1996 (Atlanta) and 2000 (Sydney). She also took 1st Place at World Championships in 1992 (Augsburg) and 1996 (Barcelona) and many European Championship races. Stepanka’s popularity as an Olympic victor is a prime reason for the tremendous popularity of whitewater slalom in the Czech Republic, and she is now regarded as their “First Lady of the Olympics.”

Champion – Pavol Hochschorner and Peter Hochschorner – Slovakia
These double canoe partners have won Gold Medals in three Olympic Games, nine World Cup Championships, and two World Championships. They have also completed the canoe slalom “Grand Slam,” winning Gold Medals in the Olympics, World Championships, European Championships and Whitewater Slalom World Cup.

Advocate – Rafael Gallo – Costa Rica
This founder of one of the most well-respected rafting companies in the world has led the fight to save the Pacuare River from the first dam threat in the 1990’s and protected 2,000 acres of rainforest along that river. Founder of the International Rafting Federation, Rafael has helped increase international rafting standards, awareness, and has promoted the sport throughout the world.

Advocate – Bill Mason (deceased) – Canada. An award-winning naturalist, author, artist, filmmaker and conservationist, Bill Mason’s books, paintings, films and environmental advocacy have each had a tremendous impact on generations of wilderness travelers and whitewater paddlers. The most successful filmmaker in the history of the National Film Board of Canada, Bill Mason is perhaps best known for the Path of the Paddle series of films which introduced new skills and enjoyment of whitewater to canoeists worldwide during the 1970s and 1980s.

2009 IWHOF inductees will be hosted September 26, 2009 at the Nantahala Outdoor Center in Bryson City, North Carolina, USA by the NOC Foundation. The International Whitewater Hall of Fame, a project of the Paddlesports Industry Foundation, recognizes individuals whose accomplishments have contributed significantly to whitewater activities.

For more information contact Risa Shimoda (301) 502-6548 rshimoda@iwhof.org.