Paddling News

Art Miller sure has a lot of paddles in the water.

The 64-year-old retired Kodak engineer and founder of Kayak Adventures teaches people of all ages and abilities how to whitewater kayak at three locations in the region: the Monroe Community College pool, Rock Park in the lower Genesee River and Cascade Falls at the Keuka Outlet in Penn Yan, Yates County. Art Miller sure has a lot of oars in the water.

The 64-year-old retired Kodak engineer and founder of Kayak Adventures teaches people of all ages and abilities how to whitewater kayak at three locations in the region: the Monroe Community College pool, Rock Park in the lower Genesee River and Cascade Falls at the Keuka Outlet in Penn Yan, Yates County.

Scouts, underprivileged children in the city and students at Rochester School for the Deaf are among those that have learned their strokes under the gentle stroking of Art Miller.

"No, I don't rest," he says. "Over the years, we've developed a really nice bunch of people. Everything is about safety, values and doing it right. The message seems to really work."

So much so that Miller has been asked to speak at the Paddlesport Association of America national conference next spring and to prepare a DVD of his skill development program that other instructors around the country can use.

"The main reason I was asked is that we're unique - the only place in the country that is doing such extensive workshops in the pool for all ages, including up to 60- and 70-year-olds," Miller says. "They know we've built this program up and there's a market for this if it's done right."

Miller began his winter instructional program in the MCC pool 14 years ago with four students and 20 hours of pool use. This past winter saw Miller use more than 300 hours of pool time and every program was near capacity.

Students generally graduate from the pool, where they learn basic strokes and safety maneuvers, to Rock Park, where there is steady Class I to III water. From there, those with the necessary skills can compete at the competition course at the more challenging Keuka Outlet.

Miller witnessed firsthand again how well his instructional program is working at a recent whitewater slalom race he organized on the Canandaigua Outlet during the annual Wild Water Derby.

Of the 60 competitors, 90 percent were Miller's former students and he proudly states that they handled the Class III water "without much trouble at all."

Working in conjunction with the Shortsville Manchester Area Chamber of Commerce, Miller plans to develop that stretch of water in Ontario County that was used for the race into a permanent whitewater facility.

"We're not looking for money, just volunteer help to clean it up and get it going, just like we did in Penn Yan," says the junior Olympics development coach for the USA Canoe and Kayak Association. "There are ways to develop areas and get good recreational paddling without $25 million whitewater parks. Around here, we don't have that kind of money, but we can use our natural resources."

Miller will begin shooting his instructional DVD next week with Video Propulsion of Scottsville and sound engineer Mark Webster donating their services.

For information on Miller's many programs, call (585) 704-2372, e-mail This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or go to www.kayak-adventures.org.

Article Source: democratandchronicle.com