Pioneers – International Whitewater Hall of Fame

Bill Masters

Bill Masters is the Steve Jobs of the modern whitewater kayak industry. He took kayaking from the club days of fiberglass boats being manufactured in limited numbers and designs in the backyards and garages of America to the worldwide exposure it enjoys today.

Bob McNair

Bob’s Basic River Canoeing was THE manual in the 1970’s and 1980’s for basic whitewater techniques used by many to learn and teach whitewater canoeing.

Bryce Whitmore

Carl Luther

Carl Luther, known as “CIL,” was an ardent kayaker and through his writing and photography introduced the public to kayak touring which included all levels of kayaking, including whitewater.

Genevieve and Bernard de Colmont and Antoine de Seynes

The French Trio brought the latest technology of whitewater kayaking to America in 1938, while becoming the first to take kayaks down the mighty Green and Colorado rivers.

Graham Mackereth

Graham has been a major contributor to the success of the whitewater paddlesports industry worldwide and involved in designing and building kayaks commercially for more than 40 years. Pyranha’s motto “For Enthusiasts, By Enthusiasts” sums up the essence of the company.

Hermann and Christa Kerckhoff

Carving out a unique learning program, entrepreneurs and national whitewater champions Hermann and Christa Kerckhoff were pioneers in their field by opening the first commercial whitewater school in the world.

Jim Snyder

For over forty years, Jim Snyder has never hesitated to create his own “charc,” building boats and paddles that barely resemble whatever the rest of the whitewater world is currently using, but will be in the future.

Tony Prijon, Sr.

Tony’s touch as a designer has impacted more than 45 years of the world of whitewater as few others have. Given his and the sport’s focus on competition, much of the efforts of his company revolved around slalom and wildwater.