2025 End of the Year Recap
2025 was a fantastic year for me and Whitewater Workshop. I am so thankful for how much support I receive from my friends and family. And honestly, my boating community as well. Thank you for being a part of it and all of the support you give me.
Here are some of the things I’m most proud of from last year:
ACA Excellence in Instruction 2025
In August I was awarded the Excellence in Instruction Award at the American Canoe Association’s Swiftwater Rescue Conference in North Carolina. This award is colloquially known as the “Instructor of the Year” of the whole ACA. I was chosen from among approximately 7000 kayak, canoe, swiftwater, sea kayak, and raft instructors for my work on multiple curriculum committees, my community building online, my advocacy work in Colorado, and my involvement with Colorado Whitewater and Team River Runner. This was honestly a total surprise (note the Hawaiian shirt I was wearing because I wasn’t expecting to need to go up to accept an award!). And as much as my imposter syndrome says that I’m not as deserving as others, I am so happy to be recognized for all the work I’ve done since changing careers in 2020.
Welch Ditch Dam: Before and After
Clear Creek Dam Modifications
You might already know this but I’m the Access and Conservation Director for the local paddling club the Colorado Whitewater Association. In 2025, my big project was getting modifications made to a dam on Clear Creek that splits the Lower and Tunnel 1 Down sections. It went from a class V+ river wide hole to a class III+ wave train. This project required multiple people from CW attending so many meetings and finally last spring, I got to oversee the excavators making changes.
In 2026, I’m working with American Whitewater to lobby for a change to trespassing laws in Colorado that would make it safe and legal for boaters to scout, portage, and have incidental contact with the river bed and banks.
Me and Luc Mehl (author of the Packrafter’s Handbook) kayaking and watching seals in Portland, Maine.
So many others!
Had 338 bookings including 82 roll lessons and 63 swiftwater rescue students.
Hired Employees!!! Thanks Brock, Michael, Connor, Sandi and Devon for joining and teaching lessons with us this year. They are all superb instructors who I hope teach here again in 2026!
Presented at the ACA National Swiftwater Rescue Conference. Here’s my presentation on Heuristic Traps.
Attended the Wilderness Risk Management Conference and met up with Luc Mehl (author of the spectacular Packrafters Handbook)
Taught my first Instructor Certification Workshop on my own. Let me know if you’re interested in becoming an instructor. Colorado Whitewater might even pay for it if you decide to volunteer with them.
Organized the Golden Community Rodeo
Kayaked the Middle Fork of the Salmon for the first time.
5th time down the Grand Canyon but the first time I’ve kayaked the whole thing!
And then some non-boating things:
Visited family in Maine and in Birmingham, AL.
Rode a bike from Pittsburgh, PA to Cumberland, MD with my parents.
Climbed Ancient Art and Castleton Tower in Moab, UT.
Thank You All!
I honestly am still in disbelief at what an amazing year it was. 2026 is shaping up already with a big lobbying push for legislation, teaching in Borneo, and a river trip to Peru. We’ll see what else I can squeeze in there!
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Roll Classes on Sale
Prices on roll classes are changing. We’re adding an option to work with any of our staff for $109 but working with me personally is going up to $139. I just couldn’t keep up with the demand teaching them all myself and wanted to add a lower cost option for people to still get high-quality instruction.
For the next 2 weeks though, 3-packs of lessons are on sale. Get a 3 pack with me for $295 or a 3-pack with our staff for only $250. After the sale ends prices will go up to $375/295. Book a roll class now!
See you on the river in 2026!
-Nik.
PS. Made it this far? I like to include a random outdoor related thing with each email: I know who I’m going to support for Attorney General in Colorado in the the upcoming election: David Seligman. That link will take you to a video he did about the stupid river access laws we currently have in Colorado and how he wants to make it a major issue of his campaign. I love it.
