The Paddlesports Industry Foundation has announced the 2008 slate of nominees from which six honorees will be elected to and inducted  into the International Whitewater Hall of Fame (IWHoF) this Fall. 


“We are once again proud to showcase the world’s paddling greats,” notes Risa Shimoda, Chair, IWHoF Board of Governors.  “We are thrilled to represent a true multi-national collaborative, which this year includes 68 affiliated organizations representing 56 countries.”


The nominees for 2008 are:


Advocate: Kent Ford (USA), Klaus Lettmann (Germany), Bill Mason (Canada), Joe Pulliam (USA), Risa Shimoda (USA), Chris Spelius (USA)


Champion: J.P. Burny (Luxembourg), Dana Chladek (USA), Eric Jackson (USA), Jamie McEwan (USA), Danielle Woodward (Australia), Gilles Zok (France)


Explorer: Brad Dimock (USA), Mick Hopkinson (Great Britain/New Zealand), Scott Lindgren (USA)


Pioneer: Bart Hauthaway (USA), Carl I. Luther (Germany), James F. Segerstrum (USA)


Nominations for the IWHOF are submitted in four categories:



  • Advocate-an individual or team who has contributed to or who is currently helping towards the advancements of whitewater activities;
  • Champion-an athlete, coach or team currently or previously engaged in any competitive whitewater discipline;
  • Explorer-an individual or team currently or previously engaged in any area of whitewater exploration; and
  • Pioneer-an individual or team who made significant contributions to the sport.   

Two nominees will be elected in each of the Advocate and Champion categories, one in each of the Explorer and Pioneer categories. Brief nominee biographies are available at www.iwhof.org.

As IWHoF is becoming more international in composition. This year 55% of its members come from the USA vs. 78% in 2006. 


“We are excited about this increase in world-wide participation,” notes Matt Menashes, Executive Director of the Paddlesports Industry Foundation. “We look forward to reaching even more paddlers through greater participation next year.  Honorees elected in both 2007 and 2008 will be inducted into the International Whitewater Hall of Fame at a formal ceremony October 4-5, 2008 in Bryson City, North Carolina.

The International Whitewater Hall of Fame (IWHOF) recognizes and honors individuals who have made significant contributions to whitewater related activities.  The first class of honorees was inducted in 2005.  Development plans for a permanent hall of fame and museum are currently underway.  (www.iwhof.com)   IWHoF is owned by the Paddlesports Industry Foundation whose mission is to promote paddlesports and celebrate its greatest contributors