Since deciding to retire as a competitive athlete, I decided to take my programming efforts to new heights and focus on what I can do to be the best possible transporter of knowledge. I want to share what I know of a positive sporting environment and fair play with anyone interested. I want to take my different approach of coaching and creating a new “social culture” of competitive sport and make as many healthy athletes as possible.

In the days of drug enhanced athletes, social and cultural wars and poor sportsmanship in the Olympics, I feel that I need to try to do what I can to gain an interest in this new culture of sport that the FRPA has started over the last four years. I have been asked several times in the last several months, whether it was when I was coaching the Chinese in Athens or when I have been trying to open the FRPA doors to the Canadians or other US clubs, “Why are you doing this?”

Well it serves many purposes of many levels, which are way too many to list in this webpage. The primary goals are personal character development through which we create the best athletes in the world. It goes well beyond sport! As we all push to beat one another from country to country or just within a single team we pull all our friends and training partners along. If everyone understands and respects this positive culture of being drug free, fair playing, good sportsman and good overall people, then we have a win-win situation. This will push the few that want to play by their own rules out of the game or choose to be accepting of this positive life approach. There is also a strong desire to create an environmental awareness throughout the world's rivers.

I want to see our sport grow in numbers never seen before. By achieving our goals we can do this. Sponsors will want to place their logos on our athletes who promote a healthy approach to life and cross cultural collaboration. This means that athletes of all socio-economic groups can take part. Our athletes will be able to have good gear and acceptable housing when traveling.

We are all made of water and water surrounds us no matter where we travel. So why not use this environment to spread love, environmental awareness, sport and extend a hand to help a stranger succeed using a paddle. This is one of the few sports that puts people on an uncertain playing field. Our sporting medium (whitewater)  is always changing. Most people's strongest fear, drowning, is real. We must truly depend on someone to allow us to learn the basics. From there we have gained a new friend. Trust is born. Imagine a Palestinian working with an Iranian or Israelite... Imagine a Chinese working with a Japanese. Imagine a North Korean working with the South Korean. Imagine a Chinese athlete working with an American or Canadian Athlete to build fences in a horse corral.

Well folks, it has all been in the works or has happened. http://www.whitewaterracing.org/gallery/

Now how can our local existence on this planet make a difference in some way that is global? Many people have in one way or another had an important influence or interaction with the FRPA and can help us spread this positive support for sport and just human need to exchange communication. How can this communication be positive and lead to creating more recreational or competitive athletes.

I am excited to work with any and all nations at some point in the future and learn more about this part of the world. I just wanted to share this with everyone that knows of the interest in spreading paddlesport to this country and surrounding others. Through sport, is my goal to bring the Olympic Motto and Ideals to help merge a better understanding of cultures and personal identity amongst people of the world.

Please help us spread the enthusiasm to your friends, co-workers and families. We need all the support we can get to make this a global effort outside of the small Colorado community in which the FRPA began. Where do the kids of the FRPA go with this. Our athletes will be traveling and living with the athletes of China in November for a couple of weeks. These same athletes we visit and train with will once again visit the US for camps and stay in our homes as well continue to spread culture to our families and friends. We then will continue to push on another towards the goal of “One World.... One Dream” as we head into the 2008 Olympics in Beijing.