Kent Ford
Kent Ford's highly acclaimed books, videos and instruction have made him one of
the most recognized paddlers in whitewater sport worldwide. Kent's unique background includes twenty years of international whitewater racing and coaching, combined with similar experience teaching recreational boating to all levels of paddlers. His eighteen dvds, videos, and books on paddlesports have influenced the education of half a million paddlers.
Kent's paddling resume includes ten years as an instructor and several as manager for the Nantahala Outdoor Center, which is the largest canoe/kayak school in the World. A member of the U.S. Whitewater Team almost every year since 1977, Kent posted several top 7 finishes in World Championships and was twice World Champion in C-1 slalom team. He worked as the public address announcer at the last four Olympics and several World Championships. Kent has worked as an assistant coach for the Whitewater Slalom World Championships and as head Coach for the US Junior Team.
Kent is the technical producer of eighteen instructional books and videos known worldwide as the best instructional videos in outdoor sports. These include: The Kayak Roll, The River Runner's Edge, Performance Sea Kayaking, Whitewater Self Defense, Solo Playboating!, and Performance Mountain Biking.
A veteran of over 330 rivers in 27 countries, Kent has been a member of expeditions to the Soviet Union, Costa Rica, Turkey, and Mexico.
Kent holds a BS. in Mechanical Engineering from Carnegie-Mellon University and resides in Durango, Colorado.
MISCELLANEOUS CONTRIBUTIONS TO PADDLESPORT:
1990 on- Producer for Performance Video. Responsible for the education of tens of thousands of paddlers worldwide.
1998 pro-bono Producer Animas La Plata- At What Cost Video expose of Bureau of Reclamation Dam project. Partially responsible for downsizing the project by 2/3. Led multiple lobbying trips from Colorado to DC.
2002 pro-bono Producer Dolores River Video advocating better balance in flow regime in Dolores River
2003 Board of Directors San Juan Citizens Alliance. Helped initiate Water Program, including hire of one staff member for river protection.
2000 Producer of Whitewater Self Defense... a whitewater safety training film that considerably contributed to the advancement of understanding of whitewater safety techniques.
1989 - present Public Address Announcer at World Championships, World Cups, and Olympics. Coordinating Music, scoreboards, announcing for spectator enjoyment. Frequently invited to foreign venues to announce major events. Athens Greece Olympic Venue frequently cited as "hip", sold out every day.
2000 Sydney, 2004 Athens Pioneered use of wireless microphone to do Olympic Whitewater Foreruns for spectator enhancement
2005 Organizer Whitewater Symposium (Founding Participant) The Whitewater Symposium is a three-day annual event that seeks to advance the sport of whitewater kayaking through bringing top paddlers, industry representatives, instructors and program leaders together.
Whitewater Organization Advocacy:
Founder, Three Rivers Paddling Club, Pittsburgh
Concrete Canoe Collegiate Champion, 1978-80 for Carnegie-Mellon Team
American Whitewater Longtime member and supporter
American Canoe Association Life Member, former member Board of Directors (3 years)
USA Canoe Kayak, former member board of Directors (6 years)
ACA SEIC Chairman 4 years
1980 John Fitts Award for contributions to paddlesports in Pennsylvania, Three Rivers Paddling Club
2005 William Nealy Award for contributions to visual arts of paddling, Bluegrass Whitewater
First Descents: Animas unrunnable gorge, Colorado, Moctazuma River, Mexico
Articles/Books Written:
ACA/ US Coast Guard Video Productions
National Paddlesport Safety System Sea Kayaking
National Paddlesport Safety System Rafting
National Paddlesport Safety System Whitewater Kayak
Quickstart your Kayak
Quickstart your Canoe
Kayaking for Whitewater and Sea,Human Kinetics Press, 1994
Paddler Magazine Technique Contributor 1999-2004
Canoe Magazine Technique Contributor 1985-87
Watermark Sports Owners Manual educational DVD distributed in every Perception/Dagger kayak 2005-2006
COMPETITIVE ACCOMPLISHMENTS:
A member of the U.S. Whitewater Team almost every year between 1977 and 1995, Kent often finished in the top 7 in World Championships. A three time National Champion, Kent was a two time World Champion in C-1 slalom team. This was the second time in history the same team had won twice.
1983, 1985 World Champion C-1 Slalom Team
1979 Silver Medal World Championship Team Downriver C-1
1977 National Champion C-1 Slalom
1983 National Champion C-2 Slalom