The International Whitewater Hall of Fame moved to the banks of the South Fork American River to honor members of the Class of 2011 October 14-16 at the Sierra Nevada House. This year’s inductees include Explorer – Richard Bangs (USA); Champion – JP Burny (Belgium/Luxembourg); and Advocate – Oliver Cock (UK).
“The event went really well,” says IWHOF board chair Risa Shimoda, extending a special thanks to sponsors NABLA, PIF, PPA, the Sierra Nevada House, California Canoe & Kayak, Jackson Kayak, Kokatat and more. “Richard, his wife and son, and Tom Johnson and his daughter made a showing, the DVD came out nicely and the paddling trip was great.
The International Whitewater Hall of Fame (IWHOF) recognizes and honors individuals who have made significant contributions to whitewater related activities. The first class of honorees was inducted in 2005. To date, 39 honorees from the United States, Australia, France, Germany and New Zealand have been inducted into the Hall of Fame.
“It was great to have the induction in California, particularly in Coloma, the backdrop for so much whitewater history, and the home to many pillars of the sport,” Shimoda adds. “It was great to see past inductees and friends of the sport on the river and at the ceremony.”
Keith Miller, owner of California Canoe & Kayak, chaired the local host team and sponsored the IWHOF paddle on the South Fork of the American River with Rob Lesser, IWHOF Class of 2005, and Tom Johnson ’06. “Our state has a rich whitewater history — we’re the home of renowned river advocate Martin Litton from the inductee class of 2006, and the late world river explorer Lars Holbek, from the class of 2009,” says Miller.
Info: www.iwhof.org .
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The International Whitewater Hall of Fame (IWHOF) is a program of the Paddlesports Industry Foundation, a non-profit educational organization that seeks to recognize and celebrate significant contributions to paddlesports.