This year’s induction ceremony will take place Saturday, Sept. 25, from 6:00 pm to 8:30 pm, in conjunction with the 2010 US Slalom National Championships Banquet and the National Slalom Foundation outside of Washington, DC at the Bretton Woods Recreation Center, located at 15700 River Road, Germantown, Maryland.
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.
Sponsor a table for $425 and purchase tickets online at www.iwhof.org; or mail checks payable to the Paddlesports Industry Foundation, to Paddlesports Industry Foundation c/o Rachel Wisner, PO Box 62, Newaygo, Michigan 49337. Questions? Email rshimoda@iwhof.org or msurdan@iwhof.org.
Who’ll be getting the honors? The eldest of this year’s class was born 100 years ago and the five individuals elected hail from as many nations. Following is a sneak peak:
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,” says 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.