Sharky is one of my favorite people. He
is from Canada, and was part of the "keener" program
at Wilderness Tours. The Keener program is a coached, chaperoned,
teen kayaking program on the Ottawa River that has produced
many a happy kid and many champion kayakers. While at the
Keener program, back in 1995, I arrived with my Adventure
Schools trip from Washington, DC and needed a helper. Sharky,
then 15 years old, was available and had the personality to
work with my students. He helped me all 6 days on that trip,
and quickly became a celebrity among our group. Ask any of
the students on that trip today about Sharky and they all
have fond memories and funny stories.
Every year I came up to the Ottawa and
each year Sharky was at Wilderness Tours and moving up the
ranks. He also made the Canadian Squirt team and was competitive
in the men's pro class in freestyle. Sharky graduated from
the Keener program and became a full fledged kayak instructor
for Wilderness Tours Kayak School, now renamed, Ottawa Kayak
School (www.ottawakayak.com).
Sharky became the co-manager of Ottawa
Kayak School with James Roddick and the school has continued
to draw an international client base each year on the Ottawa.
Meanwhile, Sharky set his eyes on becoming an engineer and
just when I found out he was an engineering student, he announced
to me this summer that he has now graduated. I was both happy
for him and sad, worrying that he would become an engineer
instead of using his incredible skills as and instructor and
kayak school manager. This summer, the IFC voted to make the
world championships for freestyle every year, and better yet,
voted to make Ottawa Kayak School/Wilderness Tours the host
of the 2006 World Freestyle Championships. Sharky is working
full time on the event, along with the kayak school. All I
can promise you is that Team Jackson Kayak Team member, Sharky,
with the help of my great friend, Joe Kowalski (owner of Wilderness
Tours and Ottawa Kayak School) will not let the world down
in 2006, just as they have make the kayaking world better
with their awesome kayak school, lead by Sharky.
Here Sharky is shown announcing for the
Canada Cup/Canadian Team Trials/Ottawa Rodeo event on Labour
Day (Canadian Spelling)
