ACA continues to grow in China

Through new and existing partnerships, the ACA continues to grow in China

In March of 2018, five ACA members spent time in China promoting paddlesports education.

Multi-discipline ACA Instructor Trainer Ivan Bartha of One Planet Adventures (www.oneplanetadventures.com) returned to China for his 6th visit.  Ivan conducted an external review for an outdoor school in Yangshou and then facilitated programs for another outdoor school in Yunnan Province.

One Planet Adventures mission is to provide outdoor leadership skills training using adventure, innovation, client centered culture and collaborative learning experiences while maintaining the highest industry standards.

One Planet Adventures, LLC is a proud Guide, Outfitter & Livery Member of the ACA.

Chair of the ACA's Coastal Kayak Committee John Browning, an ACA L4: Open Water Coastal Kayak Instructor Trainer, conducted one Kayak Instructor Certification Workshops (ICW) in Hong Kong and one in Malaysia in February and March.  Since September 2016, John has conducted four Coastal Kayak Instructor Certification Workshops (ICWs) in mainland China, four ICWs in Hong Kong, and one in Malaysia. He is also in the process of learning Mandarin. John can be reached at: seakayakerjb@gmail.com

ACA International Paddlesport Ambassador (and ACA Instructor) Dave Burden of Southeast Expeditions (www.southeastexpeditions.com) and Coastal Paddlesurf (www.facebook.com/CoastalPaddlesurfCo/) continued the ACA's ongoing partnership with Zhejiang University in Hangzhou. Along with Isa Cohen ACA Level 2: Essentials of SUP Instructor from Tula Adventure Sports (www.tulasports.com) in VA Beach, VA, they taught Introduction to SUP clinics to 32 students at Zhejiang University as part of Ms. Xu's outdoor recreation program.  Dave helped initiate the relationship between the ACA and Zhejiang University six years ago.

Finally, ACA Chief Operating Officer Christopher Stec mentored the first Level 2: Essentials of SUP Instructor Trainer in China.  After co-teaching with Chris at Zhejiang University in May of 2017 in a course organized by Ge Wu, Jackie Lo of Enigma Water Sports (www.ENIGMAWS.com), began pursuing his ACA SUP Instructor Trainer certification.

The SUP Instructor Certification Workshops were conducted on the Da Jiang Li River about 1.5 hrs from Guangzhou over eight consecutive days. 

"I was extremely impressed with Jackie's ability to connect with students and provide them with appropriate feedback to improve their SUP ability," commented Chris Stec. "Jackie organized and executed two well run ACA Level 2: Essentials of SUP Instructor Courses and I'm honored to recommend him as an ACA SUP Instructor Trainer in China."

A special thanks to John of the Pearl River Kayak Club (www.gzkayak.com/) for hosting these two SUP courses at his facility.

In addition, the ACA would like to acknowledge all the Instructors and Trainers who have taught ACA courses in China over the past several years.

For more information about the ACA's paddlesports outreach in China as well as a list of ACA members who have taught there, please visit: www.americancanoe.org/China