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Y ROUND
Born in England, Andy first began kayaking 20 years ago, paddling whitewater about18 years ago. By the age of 17, he was tackling class V whitewater in England. At the age of 19 he began traveling and paddling internationally. To date, he has kayaked throughout Europe, Nepal, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Peru, Chile, New Zealand, Fiji, Mexico, Canada, Tibet, and the US (including Alaska). He has completed 30 first descents in Ecuador, England, Tibet, New Zealand, and the French Alps. He has competed in freestyle kayaking and extreme down river racing for roughly 10 years. He was a member of the British freestyle team in 1997-1998 and the British kayak surfing champion in 1996. __________________________________________________________________________________________
HEATHER HERBECK 
Heather Herbeck first moved from Minnesota to the Northwest with her husband in 2004. The two made the move in order to pursue their passion for kayaking, and are currently residing in White Salmon, living their dream as part of the area’s community of world-class whitewater kayakers. An ACA certified whitewater kayak instructor and a Rescue3 certified Whitewater Rescue Technician. Heather’s accomplishments in the whitewater world are impressive: 1st place in the women’s expert extreme race – Oregon Cup 3rd place finish in the 2004 Gorge Games – Head to Head 2005 winner for the IR Big Gun Show Carnage Category Her favorite quote states, “Life’s journey is not to arrive at our grave safely in a well preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways, totally worn out, shouting…’Holy *#@$ what a ride!’” A female paddler in the often male-dominated arena of extreme kayaking, Heather claims that she works hard to “keep up with the guys” both mentally and physically while out on the water __________________________________________________________________________________________
JAY GIFFORD
Jay first got into a kayak at age 13 and has been kayaking for over half of his life. For the past decade, Jay has logged over 100 days a year on the water. Having recently moved to Hood River, Oregon, the majority of these days now occur on the world famous class V section of Little White Salmon River, located 15 minutes from Jay’s house. After graduating in 2004 with a B.S. in Anthropology and a concentration in Sustainable Development from Appalachian State University, Jay quickly moved abroad in order to paddle the rivers he had dreamt of, and experience the cultures he had studied. Over the next few years Jay traveled extensively in: New Zealand, Canada, Ecuador, Bolivia, Chile, and Peru. While traveling, he had the opportunity to paddle a multitude of unique rivers logging multiple first descents One of the highlights of his 6-month adventure in South America was being part of the team to complete the highest known descent of the deepest canyon in world, the Cotahuasi River in Peru. Jay enjoys writing about his experiences abroad and has won several awards for his stories. Jay Recently finished the PCT 50 Ultra marathon at Mt. Hood, Oregon.
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BRAD LUDDE
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Commonly known as one of the best professional kayakers in the world, Brad Ludden has traveled to over 40 countries as Nike’s first sponsored kayak athlete and can be seen gracing the cover of magazines such as Outside, Men’s Health and Men’s Journal. Brad was born, raised and still lives and plays in the northern Rocky Mountains. He spent his childhood hiking, camping, hunting, fishing, kayaking, biking, climbing and living outside. After graduating a year early from high school, Brad set out for a 6 month around the world epic. It was at the end of that trip that he realized the need to pursue kayaking as a full-time occupation as well as his desire to give the gift of kayaking to others. In 2001, at the age 20, Brad Ludden founded the non-profit foundation, First Descents in order to provide those affected by cancer the chance to utilize whitewater kayaking and other outdoor adventures in order to play a key role in their overall recovery process. After two years of planning and hard work and with the help of friends, fellow athletes and family, he hosted the first ever First Descents’ program. Since that first season, First Descents has become a nationally recognized outlet for young adults with cancer and Brad couldn’t be happier about it! When not performing life-threatening tricks on the big water or collecting kayaking accolades, Brad enjoys piloting his c-182 plane fondly known at the “Bug Smasher”, dabbling in real estate investments and hitting the slopes.
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ERIK BOOMER
Has guided trips on the Payette and Salmon Rivers of Idaho since the age of 14. He has also completed one of the most prestigious kayaking challenges in North America, the Triple Crown. This consists of kayaking three of the hardest multi-day rivers in North America in the same year. Boomer’s sponsors include Liquid Logic Kayaks, Kokatat, AT Paddles, and Teva shoes.
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KEEL BRIGHTMAN
Keel grew up in a small town in the techonic mountains in upstate NY. Following the footsteps of his father, an accomplished flatwater and whitewater canoe racer. he raced slalom for 6 years placing 5th and 6th at the jr olympics and nationals when he was 14. After finishing an associates degree at his local comunity college, Keel started raft guiding and teaching kayaking in the summers and bouncing around Utah and Idaho on winter ski missions. 4 years ago. On a snowy November day at the bottom moose, a conversation with Fred Macintire convinced him to move to Hood River for some winter kayaking. He discovered photography as a passion and started bringing it with him everywhere he goes. His time since then has been spent trying to balance life with kayaking, photography and life itself. When he’s not on the water Keel is hiking, camping, fishing, hunting, playing guitar, or sailing with my mom.
www.keelbrightmanphotography.blogspot.com
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ERIC JACKSON
US Team Member since 1989 in either Freestyle or Slalom, and Olympian.Owner and chief-bottle-washer – Jackson Kayak
2007 Freestyle World Champion, Four-time and reigning World Freestyle Kayak Champion, 2006 World Cup Champion, Ranked #1 in the World in 2006, Three Time Winner Teva Mountain Games.
Father of Dane and Emily, husband to Kristine. Live in Rock Island, TN (technically Walling), the world’s best place to call home.
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JESSE BECKER
Back in 1999, I had a couple of close friends at the time that wanted me to ride with them to pick up their new sea kayaks that they had just bought. I have always been into canoeing and such, so I decided to go see what the buzz was all about. Kayaking had not yet become a mainstream gig back then, and you rarely saw boats atop of cars. Needless to say, I took one out on Lake Michigan, and I was hooked! I had known a few people up in the Minneapolis area that had been into whitewater kayaking for a couple of years and I decided to give it a go. I bought myself all of the essentials, a roll instructional video, and a yellow Pyranha Inazone 222. I hade only gone out about 5 or 6 times that first season in 2004, but knew I was captivated. From there, I got connected to some local class IV-V boaters that had took me under their wing, per say, and I was introduced to creeking! We traveled all over, as much as we could. To the North Shore’s of Lake Superior, the big water runs and creek runs of West Virginia, Tennessee, North Carolina, Colorado, and of course the rest of what the Midwest had to offer in our backyards….which wasn’t much. This way of life is what eventually brought me to the Pacific Northwest, one of the only places on earth with boating, year-round. I now work in the Industry and paddle and bike as much as I can!
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JASON AYTES
NOC Paddling School Instructor
Team Riot Member
Jason lives, works and plays in Bryson City, N.C. When Jason isn’t teaching kayaking or working some other odd job you’ll find him paddling the local rivers or on a local biking trail. Jason’s philosophy in life is work hard, play harder. Jason has paddled in NZ, Chile, Canada, and all over the U.S. He enjoys not only kayaking away from home but always enjoys being a part of local cultures and communities.
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RYAN SCOTT
Ryan moved to the Pacific Northwest in 1999 and quickly picked up whitewater kayaking. In the past 8 years he has explored a large portion of the drainages in and around the Columbia River Gorge. Dedicating his time to whitewater media and exploration, many of his trips are documented in the DVD series, Northwest Video Scrapbook. Ryan’s list of whitewater accomplishments include 3rd place in the Gorge Games Extreme Race 2004, 1st place Upper Clackamas Festival Big Air 2008, First descents on Falls Creek & Kenobi Gorge in Washington State. As well as the N.F. of Greenpoint Creek & the Black Rock Fork of the South Umpqua in Oregon. His list of explorations clearly outweighs the competitions so don’t be surprised to see him combing the hills in the PNW in search of another great adventure.
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Rob Bart
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Willie Illingworth
A fifth-generation Oregonian, Willie grew up rafting the Rogue River
with his family, and knew he’d found his element when he first rolled a
borrowed slalom kayak in a Beaverton pool in 1999. Life happened for a
while, and 8 years passed before he sat in a decked boat again in July
2007. Since then:
* 230+ kayaking days in his first year
* 40+ pounds lost
* 60+ friends made
* 2 boats and 5 paddles broken finding his Zen
* a clean no-portage run of the White Salmon’s Green Truss in February
2008, once it thawed
* a smooth, if time-pressed, 3-portage personal first descent of the
Little White Salmon in July 2008, after a morning Truss run
* plans for WFR and ACA certification and a life-long involvement with
river sports
Willie credits kayaking with helping him survive his father’s passing,
and is honored to be among the esteemed paddlers featured on Liquid Zen.
He’s easy to bribe with beer, and his sometimes-updated blog is at
www.wetwillieblog.com.
