Employee List

Tom has been teaching on and off for CCK since 1994. He started paddling in 1985 and shortly after moving to California in 1992 started teaching for UCSF’s Outdoors Unlimited. There he met his wife, a student in one of his classes, and soon they began teaching together. His enthusiasm for the sport led to the encouragement by the CCK owner to become a certified instructor. Since his first days teaching he has taken instructor training from some of the best and most respected paddlers and instructors in the world. He has combined this knowledge to create an atmosphere where much of the guess work is easily removed from the student. Tom can often be found paddling the spectacular rivers of California and around the world and has several major first descents to his name. Tom’s wealth of knowledge, experience, strength, patience and calm nature quickly make the students feel at ease, gain confidence and truly have a great time.

I began kayaking in 1988 when I bought my first kayak so I could use it for camping in the Sierras. Never did I know that original purchase would turn into a career and lifestyle. I started working for California Canoe & Kayak in 1995. With two brief departures to other venues I always seem to find my way back home to CCK. I can easily remember my first experience on the water and enjoy watching others start and grow with the sport. Nothing brings me more pleasure than passing on what I have learned over the years to others. I raced citizen class for numerous years and enjoy the fitness of kayaking. I like long distance paddling but am content with a short paddle with anyone who is starting out and just wants to get on the water. Today I paddle for fitness and peace of mind the water brings me. Outside of CCK I have volunteered my time with the US Olympic Committee in Puerto Rico, and the United States. I have also volunteered with USA Canoe & Kayak working on the Sprint Nationals in 1993 and volunteered with the Lanier Canoe & Kayak club hosting the 2004 World Sprint Championships with 74 countries participating. Hope to see you in our store someday or on the water, peace.

“Paddling is a journey, not a destination”. - Kenny Howell
Kenny’s journey into the universe of paddling began in 1978 on San Francisco Bay, and the journey continues ever further and farther. From Costa Rica to Alaska, from the Hawaiian Islands to Florida’s Gulf coast, he keeps searching for the “perfect paddle day”! “Sometimes, the perfect day is racing across the Molokai Channel on my surfski with 100 other athletes. Another day, it’s messing around on Stand Up Paddleboards with my kids on an alpine lake in the Sierra Nevada.” For over 10 years, Kenny wandered the wilderness of the American West and Baja California guiding sea kayak and whitewater raft trips. “Baja’s Sea of Cortez was my home away from home for many winters. By each spring though, I couldn’t wait to head north and hit the rivers. All summer we traveled from amazing river to river, guiding in Oregon, Idaho, and Alaska. I've paddled on about 25 whitewater rivers, including the Colorado in the Grand Canyon – which was like a trip to Mecca for a river boater. Paddling is for life. The more I paddle, the more enjoyment I get out of it.” In 1996, with his first child on the way, Kenny realized he needed a “real job”, and lucked out with California Canoe & Kayak as the Program Director. “Now, instead of traveling in the “circus”, the circus comes to me! Seriously, this has been my dream job, to run the finest paddling school in the West. There is no greater pleasure in life than turning people on to paddling. We literally change people’s lives by introducing them to a beautiful, healthy, adventurous sport. We help build community through our programs. I am so proud of our instructor staff. Many of our instructors took their first strokes with us as students, and now have reached the heights of professionalism as a CCK instructor! There are a lot of places to go kayaking, but if you really want to LEARN to kayak, come to California Canoe & Kayak.” When not scheduling the large crew of instructors for the busy CCK schedule of classes and trips across northern California, or gearing up for his “favorite trip” with a group of high school students, Kenny can be seen training hard for the next paddle race on his beloved Epic surfski. “The surfski is an exciting, demanding craft. For me, it’s the pinnacle of the ocean paddling experience. It keeps you in great shape. I love chasing ocean swells, the camaraderie of the racing community, and it's another great excuse to get on the water!” “The kayak may be the most perfect boat ever conceived by man. You wear it like an extension of your body. It protects you from the elements. You can dance on the water in a kayak, gliding almost effortlessly through fantastic seascapes. You can explore big lakes, wild rivers, or surf big breaking waves. And the coolest thing about it, the kayak is a palindrome – it’s spelled the same backwards or forwards!” Kenny lives in Montara, near CCK’s Pillar Point Harbor shop, with a view of the Farallone Islands. He only paddles on days ending in “y” ,and loves to surf with his wife and two children.

Greg Meyer has been a naturalist and kayak trip leader since 1985, with extensive experience in the outdoors, from Alaska to Antarctica. His special interests are the biology of birds and mammals, and the natural history of the American West. An enthusiastic kayaker, he is an Instructor Trainer for the American Canoe Association. Greg's trips to Elkhorn Slough and Santa Cruz in Monterey Bay are great for novices or experts.

Raised in the land-locked Midwest, Marcé Wise ran away to sea more than fifteen years ago, and found her true home. Now an Advanced Open Water Instructor Trainer Educator for the ACA, Marcé has owned her own kayak school, trained Eco-Challenge teams, organized expeditions in Baja and British Columbia, and has been on the California Canoe & Kayak instructor team for eight years. Marcé is tough to miss on the water, with her sunny smile, pink dry-top, purple kayak and matching fingernails. Don’t let the "glam" look fool you though – her "most favorite thing" to do is spend the day in the exposed rock gardens off the California coast, dancing and soaring through the salty spray.

It all began for me in September 1996. I was at the end of the Fort Mason Center Pier watching the Blue Angels with my son, Alex. I happened to look down and I saw the most amazing thing; a guy in a bright red sea kayak rolling and playing and practicing the most intricate maneouvers! Blue Angels move over! Well.. we each have our own style and within a few months I was out there too. In the beginning I was a self-taught solo paddler. By the spring of 1997 I was paddling the Open Coast and teaching myself how to survive in that environment. I spent days in little protected coves playing in little waves trying to get the feel of it. One day on the outside I saw my first Blue Whale. I was downwind and the exhale smelled like the forest floor under the Redwoods. One of my favorite trips was to launch at Horseshoe Cove, head North out the gate to surf at Muir Beach. After coming back in I'd usually swing around Alcatraz and get back to Horseshoe via Angel Island and Raccoon Straight. I paddled by myself for over a year and in hindsight I was very fortunate that nothing ever happened! So eventually I met Marce' Wise, Deb Volturno and John Lull and began the enlightening transformation from a solo paddler to a group paddler and eventually to an Instructor. In the process of my life change I met Diana, my future wife! Now, I'm the first to promote safety and the value of good instruction to truly enjoy this wonderful sport of Sea Kayaking!

Ben started paddling canoes with his grandfather on fishing trips. He enjoys river and sea kayaking as well as stand-up paddle boarding. Ben has been employed with CCK on and off since 200l. He has managed and taught the roll class for two years. In addition, he has competed in casual sea kayak races for two years. He's surfed at Santa Cruz, Bolinas, Montara, and Pacifica. Ben has paddled numerous places including Lake Tahoe, Tomales Bay, Mokelumne River, Eel River, American River, Merced River, Mark West Creek, Marin Headlands, and Sea of Cortez in Baja.

Sou has been kayaking for 11 years. He started his kayaking career with CCK working on the dock and in retail. He has followed the natural progression toward becoming an instructor and has now been teaching for 6 years. Some of the classes he teaches at CCK are Kayaking Basics, Beginning Sea Kayak, and Sea Kayaking II. Sou's longest trip was a 300 mile paddle from Redding to Oakland, down the Sacramento River, although his favorite place to kayak is the Elkhorn Slough at Monterey Bay. Out of all the paddling gear, his favorite is his Carbon Paddle!

Marcus started kayaking when he moved to the San Mateo coast from the Sierras at the turn of the century. He became an ACA sea kayaking instructor with CCK in 2003 and was awarded his Advanced open coast instructor’s certification in 2009. Marcus enjoys paddling in rough open coast environments where he loves to play in the rock gardens and sea caves. Marcus hasn’t restricted his paddling to Northern California. He has paddled up and down the west coat, the Eastern seaboard and gulf waters. Internationally Marcus has paddled in Canada, Mexico, Costa Rica, Tibet and New Zealand. While on a 2 month kayaking expedition in New Zealand in 2006 Marcus was a guest speaker at Coastbusters, New Zealand’s national sea kayaking symposium. Marcus also enjoys surf kayaking and a little white water action as well. Marcus also loves sailing and is a sailing instructor for the Half Moon Bay Yacht Club.

Tyler has been working for CCK since 2004 when he was but a wee lad of 16 years. His primary focus in the kayaking world is pushing his personal limits on California's epic whitewater rivers. Tyler has only been kayaking since 2003, but with through the mentoring of some of the whitewater kayaking's top paddlers; Tyler has been able to progress very rapidly to become a great paddler in his own right. Tyler is a semi-pro athlete who enjoys official sponsorship from one of the worlds best helmet makers "Sweet" as well as being selected to be a sponsored pro-paddler for the legendary Pyranha kayak brand. Tyler can be spotted shralping local play waves or boofing big drops on Sierra creeks. He is also helping to pioneer new avenues for Stand Up Paddling by thrice taking an inflatable SUP down the Class III+ South Fork Gorge. Other times you will find him attending class full- time at Sac State, working as a Volunteer Fire Fighter for El Dorado County or shredding Nor-Cals hollowed ski slopes.

Certifications: > EMT-1 Kayaking Events: > Brush Creek Race, 2008, "Best Carnage Award" > Cherry Creek Race, 2008 > Tobin Race, 2008 > Reno River Festival Competition, 2005, 06, 08, 09 > Collegiate Nationals, 2007 >American River Festival, 2008 Skiing Events: > Buckle Up Big Air Competition, 2007, "Best Crash Award" > USASA National Championships, 2007, 1st place SlopeStyle, 1st place HalfPipe, 1st place OverAll. > Colligiate Nationals, 2007, 6th place SlopeStyle > Newschoolers.com West Coast Session Invitational, 2007 > Silver Belt Bonzi, 2009 > North American Freeskiing Championships, 2009

Lai has been working at CCK since the summer of '04. His interests include whitewater kayaking, rafting, sea kayking, and kayak fishing. Lai prides himself as an avid outdoors man. Lai's knowledge of all things kayak and canoe related makes him an integral part of CCK's retail team. Lai claims that any one looking for him on a summer day need look no further then the South Fork of the American river.

Charles started paddling sea kayaks in 1996 when he moved to San Francisco and decided that he needed to do something with all this water. One thing led to another and he eventually obtained ACA certification as a Coastal Kayak instructor as well as a British Canoe Union 4-star paddler award. Charles started teaching for CCK in 2005 and has taught all the classes offered except rolling.

Originating from the UK and now a resident of Marin Co. CA, Sean began kayaking at the age of ten with the Boy Scouts and often paddled alone, exploring the relatively sheltered waters of St Austell Bay on the south coast of Cornwall, England. He was always curious to see what he would find beyond the horizon and dreamt of a continuous journey around every headland and across every bay until eventually he had paddled all the way around Great Britain. Sean took part in his first kayak race in 1978 and has competed in many disciplines of paddle sport since then including white water slalom and downriver racing, marathon, sprint, wave ski, surf life saving and surf kayaking with success at national and international level. He began expedition sea kayaking in 1996 and in 1998 set a record for the fastest crossing of the Irish Sea in 11 hours 6 minutes. In 2004 he achieved his childhood dream by completing the first solo circumnavigation of the UK and Ireland by sea kayak; the first ever to include all of the inhabited islands. The 4500 mile expedition took 183 days and is the longest kayak journey ever undertaken in British waters. Sean raised over £10,000 for charity and was nominated as the Royal National Lifeboat Institute’s ‘Individual Supporter of the Year’. His achievement was featured in the DVD ‘This is the Sea 2’ by Justine Curgenven (Cackle TV). In 2005 Sean assisted British kayak manufacturer Valley Sea Kayaks with the design of a new High Performance surf kayak called the ‘Rush’. He began participating in kayak surfing competitions in 2006 as a way of promoting the new kayak and in 2007 became the World Masters Champion and gained 2nd place in the Open category of the High Performance Class at the World Surf Kayak Championships. In September 2008 Sean attempted to break the record for the fastest circumnavigation of Vancouver Island. He completed the 700mile (1000km) circumnavigation in 17 days, 4 hours and 49 minutes taking over 6 days off the previous record. In September 2010 Sean will attempt to complete the first circumnavigation of the Channel Islands of California. Sean is an ACA Level 4 Coastal Kayak Instructor and Level 3 Surf Kayak Instructor. He is supported by Werner paddles, P&H sea kayaks, Kokatat Watersports Wear and Snap Dragon Designs spray skirts.

Matt has been whitewater kayaking for ten years and loves his time on the river. His favorite river is the Upper Animas near Silverton, Colorado. He has traveled to Chile, Argentina, and Ecuador to explore the whitewater gems there. Matt recently moved from Colorado to Oakland to continue his music career and explore the rivers of California. Matt is a certified ACA whitewater instructor and loves teaching kayaking.

Bryant is an avid kayaker and California Canoe & Kayak’s Valley Program Manager. His paddling journey began a decade ago paddling the swells off Catalina Island in Southern California. He is an ACA certified Instructor Trainer in both Coastal Kayaking and Advanced Whitewater. Bryant’s paddling career includes former head instructor for the UCLA Marina Aquatic Center. In 2006 he captained the U.S. National Kayak Polo Team at the World Championships in Amsterdam, Netherlands. Bryant also works in the Rancho Cordova shop and as an Instructor for CCK in both our Whitewater and Sea Kayaking programs. Bryant has put his paddling adventures and experience on film and has created a DVD titled Paddle California. This is the first of a series. You can follow his adventures at paddlecalifornia.blogspot.com Certifications: ACA Coastal Kayak and Whitewater Instructor Trainer, ACA Swiftwater, Rescue 3 WRT, Wilderness First Responder

Our Sacramento Store Manager has been paddling since he was 9 years old. Jeff spent his early years paddling open canoes and sailing Lasers with the Boy Scouts all over Northern California. After H.S. Jeff joined the U.S. Air Force and while serving at Vandenberg AFB (located on the beautiful Central Coast near Santa Barbara) Jeff helped develop and start a White Water Rafting Team for the base recreation program. Jeff became the lead guide and program manager for the new Whitewater Rafting Program at Vandenberg AFB and subsequently spent summers teaching week-long guide schools and running trips on the Class IV and V sections of the Kern River in Souther California. Jeff was also instrumental in bringing other paddler sports to the base program as well by procuring boats to leading sea kayak excursions on San Luis and Morro Bays. In 2005, after almost 10 years in the USAF, Jeff left his military days behind and came to work for CCK to pursue a job that was more in line with his life philosophy of "do what you love". After his 1st summer in the Sac store in 2005, Jeff moved to San Diego and took up surfing and furthered his sea kayak experience on the beautiful and mild San Diego coast. He earned a Bareboat Charter Captain Certificate in the British Virgin Islands in 2006 and got SCUBA certified. Jeff's dream is to one day sail around the world and kayak in as many places as possible. When not helping customer at the CCK Shop in Rancho Cordova, Jeff can be seen paddling the local waters on the American River and San Francisco Bay; as well as SCUBA diving in Monterey or Skiing @ Kirkwood in Tahoe. What is Jeff's favorite part of the job? "Seeing people's eyes light up when they discover the pure joy of kayaking for the first time!; I love helping people invest in themselves!" Certifications: PADI Certified Open Water Diver ASA Bareboat Charter Captain ARC Wilderness First Responder ARC Swiftwater Rescue

Matt’s first experience with kayaking was taking a Beginning Sea Kayaking class from CCK in November of 2005. He knew as soon as he sat down in the boat that he’d be doing it a while, and he began to chew through all of the classes that CCK had to offer. Later in the spring of 2006 one of the CCK instructors suggested he should teach which pushed Matt even further into the downward spiral of kayaking fever. As a marine biologist, Matt enjoys sharing his love of marine critters and the marine environment with anyone who’ll listen.

Steve has made it a point to live close to salt water over his entire life. He now calls Moss Beach and the San Mateo coastside his home. When he is not otherwise engaged in accelerating intense ion beams, Steve is likely to be found on the coast or in the Bay – attacking and riding lines of surf, playing in the numerous local rock gardens, flying along with the local currents, and learning exotic rolling techniques. Besides teaching for CCK, Steve is also active in local paddling clubs and frequently attends paddling symposia. Steve is an ACA Certified Coastal Kayaking instructor, holds Wilderness First Aid and CPR accreditation, and is excited to share his passion and safe enjoyment of the sport he loves.

Lisa discovered kayaking in 1997 through an introduction to camping by kayak seminar. After finding out what a sea kayak was, she set out to find the right boat for longer trips and camping – and ended up building her own. Her first trip was an unsupported 10-day trip on west coast Vancouver Island with five men she'd never met. Since her first trip, she has week-long trips to the coast of Maine, Belize, Vancouver Island, and frequent shorter trips along the California Coast. Lisa frequently plies the waters of San Francisco bay, the northern California coast, and the Sierra Lakes and still prefers a night in a tent alongside the water to any night in a five star hotel. Lisa mixes her culinary skills with her planning skills to keep her fellow paddlers fed on longer trips.

When she isn't kayaking, Lisa is a Structural Engineer. Lisa loves to introduce new students to kayaking and getting to places by water while sightseeing by kayak. When the water isn't freezing, she'll do a little whitewater on the side.

Dave is a lifelong paddlesports enthusiast. Dave grew up paddling the rivers of Virginia in the summer time. These days Dave can be found at CCK's Sacramento Store helping paddlers choose the best gear for their own adventures. When not working in the shop Dave enjoys all aspects of kayaking. Well on his way to becomming a very well rounded paddler, Dave can be seen mid-week paddling the South Fork of the American River or out on San Francisco Bay somewhre between Alcatraz and Angel Island or just practicing his roll at the Sunday pool sessions. Dave is also a student of traditional paddling and boat building and has completed work on his second home-made boat: a very seaworthy Innuit design skin-on-frame.

Taylor Cavin has been paddling canoes since childhood and kayaks from his mid-adolescence to the late adolescence in which he currently resides. The switch to the kayak as craft of choice was made in 2002 once he realized its superior resistance to filling up with water. Having learned to kayak on the wild, rolling streams of the Southeast US, in 2007 Taylor moved to the climes of California to teach for CCK and enjoy the vast reserves of nature's most precious resource: granite. He has also kayaked in six countries discovering that kayaks are as ungainly out of the water as they are elegant in the water, but finding that the hassle is well worth the opportunity to evangelize about the kayak along the way. Taylor is certified in First Aid and CPR.

By day, a kayaker. By night, a gentleman. Byron is one of the finest employees at California Canoe & Kayak. Byron has been a team player at CCK for three years. He shares his kayaking expertise at our Oakland and Rancho Cordova locations on the sales floor and enjoys helping customers with questions about all kayak gear. This summer, you'll find him spending his weekends at the new CCK whitewater outpost in Coloma.

As a transplant from the East Coast over 10 years ago, Neil quickly developed a great appreciation of Northern California's waterways. Taking his first kayaking courses in 2006, he has strived to expand his skills and knowledge of kayaking ever since. During that time, he's paddled many miles, from local lakes, to white water, to the surf and swells of the ocean. Perhaps his favorite thing about kayaking is the great variety of experiences it presents.

Neil is an ACA Certified Coastal Kayaking Instructor, and began teaching Sea Kayaking for California Canoe and Kayak in 2008. He looks forward to meeting you on the water.

As the Graphic Design/Marketing Assistant at CCK Andrea is able to combine two of her passions, art and the outdoors. Graduating Cum Laude in 2002 from Edinboro University of Pennsylvania, she earned a bachelor’s degree in Applied Media Arts. She majored in Photography and minored in Graphic Design and Psychology. Currently she is continuing her education by pursuing a Masters Degree in Art Therapy and MFT at NDNU. Andrea brings a combination of her education and seven years experience in advertising and marketing to CCK. She worked for corporate companies as a graphic designer and photographer and has done multiple freelance projects. By using her graphic skills to maintain purepaddlesports.com she keeps customers aware of current sales and new products available online. You may speak to her if you call the 800 number and have questions or need assistance reserving your spot in one of the many classes or trips CCK offers. Andrea represents the average outdoor enthusiast. She enjoys doing anything outside, including hiking, skiing, or mountain biking. She has spent time on the water canoeing in Pennsylvania and wake boarding in Maryland. Andrea proves to be surprisingly athletic time and time again. Learning the ins and outs of kayaking in California is her latest adventure. Among the multiple rewards, kayaking is an opportunity for Andrea to soak up sunshine and relax on the water while getting an excellent workout.

Peter joined the CCK ranks in 2010 and has been kayaking for about two and a half years. He discovered the joy of paddling first through kayak polo, but also loves being on the river and ocean. Peter recently made the US National Kayak Polo team and traveled to Milan, Italy the summer of 2010 for the World Championships.

This is Andrew's second summer as part of the CCK crew. On most days you can find him on our dock, where he will get you comfortably fitted in your kayak and launch you into the Oakland Estuary where your kayaking adventures begin! He supports the retail staff and aids with boats repairs. As member of the Contra Costa County Search & Rescue Team, you might also find him assisting in a search effort on the water. Andrew built his own sea kayak and is currently building a second wood boat. In addition to kayaking, Andrew also enjoys climbing mountains, swimming/biking/running triathlons, and especially juggling torches. He is a recent high school graduate and will be attending Cal Poly this fall as an economics major.