Whitewater Legends Honored by the International Whitewater Hall of Fame - Southern Paddlers Represent

Silver Spring, MD - The International Whitewater Hall of Fame Board of Governors has announced the names of the Class of 2007 of the International Whitewater Hall of Fame (IWHOF) honorees. This newest class of whitewater legends includes a manufacturer, coach, and an artist/illustrator whose diversity represents significant accomplishment and contribution to both the sport and business of whitewater:

Walt Blackadar (deceased), of Stanley, Idaho is honored in the Explorer category not only for his first descents of Turnback Canyon on the Alsek (British Columbia) in 1971 and Devils Canyon on the Susitna (Alaska) in 1972, but for his impact on the U.S. whitewater sport. His article in Sports Illustrated in 1972 chronicling his solo descent of Turnback Canyon propelled him to almost a cult hero overnight making him a legend. Seen by millions of viewers on ABC’s American Sportsman in the 1970’s, Walt became the face of kayaking epitomizing big water river running.

Toni Prijon, Sr. of Rosenheim, Germany is honored in the Pioneer category for his life-long and on-going influence in the paddlesports industry. Toni’s touch as a designer has impacted more than 45 years of the world of whitewater as few others have. Although much of his focus through his company, Prijon Kayaks, has been on slalom and wildwater competition, his pioneering work in design has extended to include a broader influence and the popularization of plastic kayaks for every aspect of paddlesports including creek boating, playboating, recreational whitewater, and sea kayaking.

Bill Endicott of Bethesda, Maryland and William Nealy (deceased) of Hillsboro, North Carolina are honored in the Advocate category for their life-long contributions. Endicott, a coach and writer, influenced whitewater slalom in the U.S. and internationally for thirty years. Over his illustrious career, he coached athletes who won 57 medals in World Championship, World Cup, and Olympic competitions, 27 of them gold. Among these athletes include the C-1 athletes of the 1980’s who dominated world competition, including Champions Jon Lugbill and Davey Hearn, both inducted into IWHOF in 2005. His books have provided invaluable insight into the world of championship slalom competition.

William Nealy, an artist/illustrator, was often heralded as “Whitewater’s Poet Laureate” and was one of the best known ambassadors of the sport. His art captured the essence of whitewater paddling and whitewater paddlers. William began drawing river maps of the more popular rivers in the southeast U.S using his now hall-mark cartoonist style. He is perhaps best-known internationally for his groundbreaking book, Kayak: A manual of Technique (translated into five languages). It combined expert paddling instruction along with artful caricatures and parodies of the whitewater enthusiasts themselves.

Athletes Richard Fox of Penrith, Australia and Cathy Hearn of Charlotte, North Carolina are honored in the Champion category. Fox is the most decorated slalom kayaker in the history of the sport winning ten World Championship gold medals, including five individual titles. He was the innovator of smooth slalom techniques emulated by many and was the first to use a double torque kayak paddle at the ’89 World Championships. After retiring from competition, Richard moved from Great Britain to Australia to be the Head Coach for the Australian ‘00 Olympic team and played an active role in the ICF campaign to include slalom in the ’00 Olympics. He is currently responsible for the Australian Slalom and Flatwater programs building toward the ’08 Olympics.

Hearn began her two-decade winning career in international competition with an unprecedented three gold medals (’79 World Championship) in slalom, slalom team, and wildwater team events. She has always been extremely competitive in all types of whitewater including C-1 (her first whitewater boating experience) and C-2, and in wildwater in addition to slalom. Cathy has shared her knowledge during most of her career providing affordable and volunteer coaching nationally and internationally. She is the current U.S. National Coach, primarily working with the C-1 and C-2 national team athletes.

This announcement concludes a nomination process that began in February and elections by an electorate consisting of more than fifty nationally and internationally-recognized whitewater paddlers of the whitewater community. Formal induction of the newest class into the Hall of Fame will take place next year along with the 2008 Class of Inductees.

The debut presentations of the 2007 Inductee DVD will take place at the 5th Annual Whitewater Symposium (October 19-22) at ASCI in McHenry, Maryland. A screening will be held October 26th at the annual Guest Appreciation Festival at the Nantahala Outdoor Center in Bryson City, NC. Additional screening venue opportunities are being explored in an effort to share the accomplishments of these greats with both the paddling community and larger public.

-J.F.

Brumbelow Must Go

Cumberland Island National Seashore has seen its share of dirty dealings. The most blatant was the 2004 backdoor legislation that removed wilderness designation from portions of the island—marking the first time wilderness has ever been removed from the National Wilderness Preservation System. The sneaky deal brokered by Representative Jack Kingston and wealthy Carneige heirs on Cumberland Island violated thirty years of public input overwhelmingly in favor of keeping Cumberland Island wild.

However, Cumberland Island mismanagement has sunk to an all-time low under Superintendent Jerre Brumbelow. Under his watch, an illegal building was constructed on land that belonged to the American people. The structure was constructed--with Brumbelow's approval--in an attempt to extend retained rights on Cumberland Island for another wealthy island resident. Inmate labor from the local sheriff's department was used illegally to construct the building. And permits for the building and an adjacent dock have not been located. Criminal investigations are under way by the Georgia Department of Investigations. Superintendent Brumbelow's boss has already resigned.

And yet, Brumbelow remains superintendent of Cumberland Island. The National Park Service has not dismissed or transferred Brumbelow, despite his shady dealings with the sheriff's department and his authorization of a blatantly illegal private structure on publicly owned land.

The South's most pristine national seashore is being corrupted by the dirty dealings of Brumbelow and his cronies. The National Park Service needs to restore its integrity on Cumberland by showing Brumbelow the door. The National Seashore--and the 50,000 annual visitors who cherish this wild island--deserve better.

-W.H.

Merlefest 08

I have just been getting into the fall swing of things. But today's announcement of the Merlefest 2008 line-up suddenly has me excited for spring. If you live in the South, and you have a musical bone in your body, you need to check out this festival at least once. Details below:

Once again Doc Watson will host the four-day festival to be held on the campus of Wilkes Community College in Wilkesboro, NC on April 24-27, 2008. Tickets will go on sale November 13.

Doc and Merle's son Richard Watson will be joined by The Avett Brothers; Abigail Washburn & The Sparrow Quartet featuring Bela Fleck, Casey Driessen, & Ben Sollee; Sam Bush; The Carolina Chocolate Drops; Jerry Douglas; Levon Helm & The Midnight Ramble on the Road with Special Guests; Tim O'Brien; The Waifs; The Waybacks; Old Crow Medicine Show; Solas "Reunion,"with Karan Casey & John Doyle; Ricky Skaggs & Bruce Hornsby with Kentucky Thunder; Ralph Stanley & The Clinch Mtn Boys; Marty Stuart & His Fabulous Superlatives; Dan Tyminski Band; Alison Brown Quartet with Joe Craven; Donna The Buffalo; Blue Highway; The Claire Lynch Band; Dirk Powell & Riley Baugus; Tony Rice; Peter Rowan; Ollabelle; Sally Van Meter; Rhonda Vincent & The Rage; Pete Wernick & Flexigrass; The John Cowan Band; David Holt; The Infamous Stringdusters; Jorma Kaukonen; Hot Buttered Rum and many more.

-J.F.