Where Reflections Was Born

In 2013 I bought my first kayak from a franchise sporting goods store.  I also bought a paddle and life jacket with it but got no instructions or advice when buying it, but in all reality, I might not have listened if I had.  In my mind, I was 35 at the time, a combat veteran of the U.S. Army and could do it on my own.  I was no different than many new paddlers that I see today as I frequently went out in my kayak by myself and not wearing my life jacket or not wearing it properly.  Sadly, on multiple occasions, the group I was with even had alcohol in our coolers and were still not always wearing our life jackets.  Thankfully, this is a stage I moved away from before I ended up in a bad situation.

As I started venturing into other types of paddling such as overnight trips, whitewater paddling, and trip leading I started to see things that concerned me with my paddling behavior.  I decided to start getting educated and paddling safe.   That moved changed my life.

Since then, I have learned why everything I was doing was wrong.  I served as the Safety Chair for one of the clubs where I started my journey as an American Canoe Association (ACA) instructor.  I have earned multiple American Canoe Association (ACA) certifications and upgraded a few of those to the levels that I currently hold.    These courses have broadened my knowledge of paddlesports and paddlesports safety.

When I first started, I didn’t know what I didn’t know.   Fortunately for me, I was able to safely make it through that phase and learn safer ways to paddle before it was too late.  I now know what I didn't know and what I currently don't know but more importantly, I know how to stay safe on the water while also keeping it enjoyable.  For years I have done all that I can to spread that knowledge through many non profit events and classes but it wasn't enough.  My goals now are to pass on that education and passion for paddlesports through my business as it has less restrictions than the other events.

I started Reflections Kayak and Canoe to offer these services across the state and help paddlers find the joy of paddling.  I have recruited many fellow instructors and guides who share my passion to be in our network and offer you experiences in many locations from the Charlotte to Jordan Lake to Swansboro and everything in between.  We want to be your local experts for everything paddlesports in Eastern North Carolina and beyond. Whether you're just starting out or looking to improve your skills, we're here to help you discover the joy of kayaking and canoeing.   We are not based in one location which saves on operating costs and allow us to offer our customers a great price and the opportunity to build a plan that fits them.  We have multiple instructors in our network so if we cannot fill your needs, we will find an instructor that can.