Portfolio Items
Carl Luther
PioneersCarl 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.
Klaus Lettmann
AdvocatesLettmann’s kayak designs and their materials construction set the standard for the early whitewater industry throughout the world and was the basis for what we know today.
Mick Hopkinson
ExplorersMick Hopkinson began his whitewater career with ten years of training for slalom competition, developing and honing his technical skills before completing benchmark first descents of the most difficult stretches in the world.
Mikhail Kolchevnikov
ExplorersKolchevnikov founded a number of national rafting competitions in Russia and was also a pioneering river runner compiling an impressive list of First Descents on Class V and VI Rivers.
Pavol and Peter Hochschorner
ChampionsPavol Hochschorner and Peter Hochschorner are the best Slalom C2 team ever. Anyone who has been a fan of Slalom racing has heard of the Hochschorner twins from Slovakia.
Stepanka Hilgertova
ChampionsStepanka Hilgertova started to compete in whitewater slalom in 1980 at the age of 12. Since that time she has competed in five straight Olympic Games.
Theo Bock
AdvocatesTheo Bock was renowned in his day as Germany’s first river explorer, an accomplished racer, and the organizer of the first German National Championships.
Michal Martikan
ChampionsMichal Martikan has firmly established himself as one of the best C-1 paddlers of all time beginning with his arrival on the international scene at 16 as the youngest winner of a World Cup slalom canoeing event.
Jean-Pierre Burny
ChampionsJean-Pierre is often considered one of the greatest whitewater downriver paddlers of all times. He was the dominant force in K1 downriver racing in the 1970’s winning four world championships over a ten-year timeframe, from 1969 to 1979.
Oliver Cock
AdvocatesOliver J. Cock’s contributions to whitewater kayaking became an integral part of the foundations of the British Canoe Union (BCU). His whitewater films, many from the 1940’s and 1950’s provide a valuable documentation and history of early whitewater paddling and training.