Hermann and Christa Kerckhoff (CAN)

Carving out a unique program, that combines structured learning in a resort environment with a twist of European flare; entrepreneurs and national whitewater champions Hermann and Christa Kerckhoff were pioneers in their field by opening the first commercial whitewater school in the world.

Both Hermann and Christa were competitive slalom racers: By 1968 they were men’s and women’s Canadian paddling champions, respectively.

In 1972, they began Madawaska Kanu Centre, Canada’s first whitewater paddling school. Carving out a unique program, that combines structured learning in a resort environment with a twist of European flare. In the early days, Madawaska, referred to as MKC, hired World Whitewater Champions from Europe as guest instructors. This included great names like Norbert Sattler, Gerhardt Peinhaupt, Gisela Grothaus and Bernd Heineman in C-1.

Hermann Kerckhoff negotiated the first whitewater management plan in the world with Ontario Hydro. As a result of their negotiation, the Bark Lake water control dam releases more water in the day and less at night in order to create the best whitewater. Water gushes through for six and a half hours a day from Monday to Thursday at a minimum rate of 26 cubic metres per second, while at night the river becomes gentler, as little as three cubic metres per second. (On Fridays the students are taken to other rivers.) That arrangement is now part of the Madawaska Management Plan.