HAW RIVER CANOE - Key Persons
Job Titles:
- Bynum Outpost Coordinator & Guide
Ben Clarke is one of the few kayakers who will admit to being "totally unabashed" about tubing.
Bob Brueckner is the best definition of unassuming: no flashy gear, no boasting. If you met him, you'd probably not guess he's a sought-after kayak and canoe instructor. Well, unless you see him near Saxapahaw Lake, in which case he would be the guy in a dripping spray skirt, patiently explaining kayaking strokes to a beginner.
In addition to his conservation work with the Carolina Canoe Club, Bob has been guiding and teaching for the Haw River Canoe & Kayak Co. for over ten years. His favorite moments are the small marks of progress and the way a surprised enthusiasm can light up a student. Bob finds it "rewarding when you can see someone who finally figures out how to do a forward stroke." Such a simple thing to an experienced paddler can delight beginners; it's a first taste of confidence that hints at later gains.
Bob recalls helping a quiet, unsmiling guest surf a little rapid on the Neuse River and how a "grin started creeping across his face." This example is indicative of the value Bob finds in teaching: seeing people reach goals that previously seemed unattainable. What to some is just surfing, to others is a hint at a new lifestyle.
You may think you can't do it, but a good teacher-and Bob is, if anything, that-helps you realize you can.
Job Titles:
- Instructor, Guide & Operations Manager
Passionate about our rivers, Jacob Matheny began guiding on the Haw River in 2008. He soon found out there was more to paddling than just putting blade to water. The Greenville, S.C. native enjoys sharing what he, himself, has found worth experiencing, spending time on the river, and introducing the sport to as many people as he can. In the past Jacob has guided, run our summer camp program & our instructional classes, and now handles logistics for the company during the summer season. During the winter months Jacob enjoys running the dam releases in the southeast, with some of his closest friends; from moving flat-water sessions, where the water resembles glass, to some of Appalachia's most Classic whitewater runs.
Job Titles:
- President, Instructor & Guide
An aquatic biologist and environmentalist, Joe Jacob spent two decades working with The Nature Conservancy - serving as Director of Science for the Southeastern United States and working two years with the Conservancy's Alaska office - before launching his first paddlesports business.
Joe has a strong background in marine ecology. He has worked as a researcher in a marine lab, and taught at both the high school and university levels. He also is trained in first aid and is a certified canoe and kayak instructor.