Instruction and Jackson Kayak

Hello everyone,

I’ve been instructing whitewater kayaking for 14 years now. When I was in College, I instructed for a fantastic student lead outdoor program called Wilderness Pursuits at Western State College in Colorado. I then took my degree in Recreation and Business and started managing a local kayak shop in the Gunnison Valley in Colorado. We carried other brands other than Jackson at that shop and I still remember how much patience was needed to replace bolts that were lost, or to move seats that took an hour to move, or spending extra time getting a student outfitted in a boat.

I want to express my gratitude for Jackson Kayak on making my life as a whitewater kayak instructor and a shop manager, that much more amazing. I now direct the Whitewater Program at California Canoe and Kayak in Lotus, California. We put most of our students in the Jackson Zens, Karmas, and Fun Runners. It is amazing how much time we save in outfitting our students. The Jackson outfitting is comfortable, easy for students to figure out, and since the outfitting is so easy to customize to different size people, this saves time and allows for more teachable moments on the river.

Another thing I have to thank you for is your craftsmanship. As a manager I have seen lots of customers come back asking for bolts that have been lost, complaining of leaks, and just plain poor craftsmanship of the kayak in the first place. I can tell your employees are happy and you treat them well because since I have been involved with Jackson, I have not seen one customer come back unhappy.

Again, thank you Jackson for continuing to make great designs and a great product. I am stoked to be involved with your company.

Sincerely,

Matt Parker
Whitewater Program Director
California Canoe & Kayak