Melissa DeMarie: Paddle Heroes Award 2019 Recipient

Cali Collective Chief Instigator, Melissa DeMarie, was recognized by the American Canoe Association California Chapter with the Paddle Heroes Award for 2019.

The ACA California Executive Council created the California Paddle Heroes Award to recognize and honor members of the California paddling community who prioritize and consistently:

• Help share paddlesports by making others feel excited, welcome, and safe

• Help protect and conserve public waterways and access to those waterways by paddlers

• Are motivated by a deep love of the out-of-doors and paddlesports, celebrating paddlesports as their career, hobby, or passion

Alex Morris, California State Director of ACA, is excited about the opportunity to honor members of the California paddling community.

“California has a rich and expansive paddling community that literally ranges from SUPs in San Diego to ocean and river kayakers in remote northern reaches of our state,” Morris said. “From time to time, key paddlers show exceptional leadership in community building, sharing of paddle-sports, or creating legacies form which future paddlers benefit. Our ACA California Paddle Heroes Award recognizes four such impressive individuals. We’re fortunate to have such effective paddle heroes leading and ‘bracing’ our sport with their generosity, vision, and paddling contributions.”