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Our Staff
At Charles River Canoe & Kayak, we're proud that our staff are paddlers. We've got sea kayakers, whitewater paddlers, surf kayakers, racers, and canoeists working with us. When you come to our shop, whether to purchase a boat, take a class, or rent for the afternoon, you know you're speaking with someone who knows the boat you're using and has real-world experience on the water.
Come down and speak with us — about anything: what to paddle, where to paddle, what gear to use, how to include your kids, whatever you like. You'll feel the Charles River Canoe & Kayak difference.
Larry Smith
with us since 1974
owner/instructor |
canoe: WE-NO-NAH ADIRONDACK
paddle: CAMP bent shaft
fresh-water spot: CHARLES RIVER, MASS.
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Larry joined Charles River Canoe Service in 1974 and has overseen its evolution to Charles River Canoe & Kayak, a full-service canoe and kayak center with four locations. After graduating with a masters degree in City and Regional Planning he was drawn to a Boston research lab. A career change brought him back to the outdoors to enjoy boating and cross-country skiing with Lincoln Guide Service. He organized the first "Run of the Charles" canoe and kayak race and began Weston Ski Track, the premiere urban cross-country ski center. Larry's latest excuse to be on the Charles is weeding the river of the invasive water chestnut plants. |
Dave Jacques
with us since 1975
owner/instructor/guide |
kayak: IMPEX SUSQUEHANNA
paddle: WERNER SHUNA 220cm
salt-water spot: WOODS HOLE, MASS.
fresh-water spot: LAKE WINNIPESAUKEE, N.H.
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Dave graduated from Rhode Island School of Design with a B.A. in Architecture in 1971, but followed his passion for the outdoors elsewhere. He climbed in the Everest region of Nepal for three months during 1972, ran the waterfront program at a major N.E. summer camp where he taught swimming, sailing, canoeing, waterskiing, and trip planning, then came to Charles River Canoe Service. He has been our Director of Guiding and Instruction since 1978. Dave holds ACA Certifications in canoeing and sea kayaking, and loves to share his knowledge with others. |
Mark Jacobson
with us since 1991
manager |
kayaks: TIGER ICF, P&H CETUS, EPIC V10L, THINK UNO, PYRANHA INAZONE, IMPEX HATTERAS
paddles: EPIC MID-WING, MITCHELL SEABLADE, LENDAL MCS KINETIC, LIGHTNING WW
salt-water spots: WOODS HOLE, ANYWHERE EAST OF SCHOODIC, VANCOUVER ISLAND
fresh-water spots: MYSTIC RIVER, STINSON LAKE, SQUAM
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Mark received a master's degree in Environmental Science before joining the Weston Ski Track and Charles River Canoe & Kayak. He has extensive experience in whitewater and sea kayaking, backpacking, backcountry skiing, and mountain biking. His current passion is kayak racing, in all types of boats from ICF kayaks to surf skis. His two children have given him a valuable understanding of paddling with kids, and he loves getting them out on the water. |
Kevin Horner
with us since 1998
asst. manager/instr./guide |
kayak: IMPEX CURRITUCK
paddle: LIGHTNING STD. TOUR 220cm
salt-water spot: ANY WAVE four feet or taller
fresh-water spot: KENNEBEC RIVER, MAINE
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Kevin worked as an adventure therapist after graduating from college. He serves as the Assistant Director of Instruction and Guiding at Charles River Canoe & Kayak. His favorite trips are Advanced Ocean Skills and Ocean Skills: Surf Zone. Kevin has paddled in Kenai Fjords, Alaska and in British Columbia, and considers kayak surfing his favorite boating pursuit. Kevin loves teaching, and is ACA-Certified as an open-water coastal kayaking instructor. |
Dan Smith
with us since 2004
asst. manager/instr./guide |
kayak: CURRENT DESIGNS EXTREME
paddle: WERNER IKELOS 215cm bent shaft
salt-water spot: LOWER HELL GATE, MAINE
fresh-water spot: UMBAGOG LAKE, N.H.
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Dan Smith graduated from Cornell and spent several years pursuing a Ph.D. in Biochemistry at Harvard before escaping to join Charles River Canoe & Kayak as a full-time instructor and guide. One of our most dedicated sea kayakers, Dan completed an eight-day, 120-nautical-mile, solo kayaking trip around Isle au Haut and Mount Desert Island in Maine during July 2006. He loves teaching beginners and considers tides and currents one of his specialties. |
Ralph Boynton
with us since 1981
full-time manager/instructor |
canoe: MAD RIVER EXPLORER
paddle: MOHAWK DOUBLE
salt-water spot: MARTHA'S VINEYARD's ponds/bays
fresh-water spot: RESTIGOUCHE, NEW BRUNSWICK
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Ralph has enjoyed canoeing since 1951, in addition to running a backpacking store, leading trips on the rivers of New Brunswick and Maine, and now managing our Boston rental operation. Ralph is an instructor in both canoeing and kayaking, and is a certified wilderness EMT. |
John Pyne
with us since 2006
full-time supervisor |
kayak: WILD. SYS. TEMPEST 165 PRO
paddle: WERNER IKELOS 215cm
fresh-water spot: CONWAY LAKE, NEW HAMPSHIRE
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John grew up canoeing, water skiing, and playing hockey in the Lakes Region of New Hampshire. He learned to kayak on Ossipee Lake's Danforth Bay and eventually led tours on the lake with Purity Spring Resort. He has extensive experience in a variety of areas in the outdoor industry. During the summer he works at our Kendall Square location in Cambridge, and during the winter manages the Kendall Square Community Ice Skating rink. |
Chris Tapper
with us since 2008
supervisor/instr./guide |
kayak: P&H CETUS
paddle: WERNER SHUNA 210cm
salt-water spot: WEST I., FAIRHAVEN, MASS.
fresh-water spot: SACO RIVER, N.H.
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Chris graduated from the University of Miami with a B.B.A. in entrepreneurship and pursued a career in architectural lighting design
before a moment of enlightenment led him to the world of paddlesports. Having always lived by the sea, he has a deep-rooted connection to the ocean and believes that, when paddling, one must stop a moment to enjoy the immense beauty of nature. He loves sharing his passion of paddling with others and doesn't care what or where you paddle, just as long as you do! |
Armand Mickune-Santos
with us since 2008
part-time instructor/guide |
kayak: P&H Quest LV
paddle: LENDAL NORDKAPP 214cm
salt-water spot: ELIZABETH ISLANDS, MA
fresh-water spot: NEMASKET RIVER, MASS.
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Armand (Mickey) Mickune-Santos is a seasoned coastal kayak instructor who recently joined the team both at Charles River Canoe & Kayak and Weston Ski Track. Armand is a veteran American Canoe Association Coastal Kayak Instructor Trainer Educator who has trained and certified many coastal kayak instructors who are presently working in the New England region. When not paddling Massachusetts's diverse coastline he works as a special education teacher and head softball coach at Dartmouth (MA) High School. |
Liz Cope
with us since 1999
part-time instructor/guide |
kayak: WILDERNESS SYSTEMS TEMPEST 165
paddle: WERNER IKELOS 215cm
salt-water spot: COHASSET HARBOR, MASS.
fresh-water spot: OTTAWA RIVER, ONTARIO
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Liz has served as a kayak instructor/guide since 1999, primarily as a guide for our kids camps but also teaching rolling and other classes. The best part of the kids camp, she says, "is spending every day on the water, rain or shine, hunting for crabs, navigating through fog, and playing in the waves with the kids." She graduated from Wellesley College in 2002, is a Certified EMT, and has paddled trips in Alaska, New Zealand, Greece, and Canada. |
Steve Hulbert
with us since 2005
part-time instructor/guide |
kayak: CURRENT DESIGNS CARIBOU
paddle: MITCHELL HORIZON 230cm
salt-water spot: GRAND MANAN ISLAND, N.B.
fresh-water spot: SQUANNACOOK RIVER, MASS.
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Steve Hulbert is an ACA-Certified River Canoeing and Sea Kayaking Instructor. He particularly enjoys Traditional Solo Canoe and Greenland Style Kayak paddling. Fall through Spring he works in Health and Environmental Education. Steve has paddled throughout New England, but his favorite paddling is in the coastal areas of New Brunswick, Canada. |
Sean Kimball
with us since 2003
part-time instructor/guide |
kayak: NECKY ELAHO
paddle: WERNER CAMANO 210cm
salt-water spot: MONOMOY ISLAND, MASS.
fresh-water spot: LAKE QUINSIGAMOND, MASS.
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Sean is an integral part of the Massachusetts kayaking community. Former president of North Shore Paddlers' Network, he is currently coordinating a Massachusetts Bay Water Trail and instructing and guiding with us! Sean is BCU Three-Star Certified and Four-Star Trained. His favorite trip involved island-hopping off Bar Harbor/Acadia National Park along the Maine Island Trail. When he's not paddling, he works in the corporate tax department at MathWorks. |
Doug Hurley
with us since 2002
part-time instructor/guide |
kayak: NECKY LOOKSHA 17 COMP.
paddle: WERNER SHUNA 215cm
salt-water spot: TOMALES BAY, CA
fresh-water spot: POTOMAC RIVER
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After two summers with Thompson Island Outward Bound and four winters as a full-time snowboard instructor, Doug now spends his days advancing cleaner electricity in hopes of combating global warming. He loves the thrill of coaching adults in a new physical skill that opens them to the other 2/3rds of the globe. His favorite trip was a five-day outing around the Boston Harbor Islands, including some brief moments outside The Graves staring off across the Atlantic. He's also lucky enough to live just a 1/4-mile portage from his local Wyman Lake, with wonderful views of Mount Wachusett. |
Adam Klauber
with us since 2004
part-time instructor/guide |
kayak: KAJAKSPORT VIKING
paddle: EPIC ACTIVE TOUR CARBON 217cm
salt-water spot: DECEPTION PASS, WASH.
fresh-water spot: ROCK CREEK, DC after 2" of rain
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Adam worked for Outward Bound and the National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS) after graduating from college, and founded the outdoor education program at Georgetown University in Washington, DC. He works as an environmental protection specialist for the U.S. Dept. of Transportation in Cambridge, Mass., and is thrilled to join us as a part-time guide and instructor to balance his indoor policy career with his passion for the water. His favorite kayak expedition was a trip from Sitka, on Baranof Island, to Ketchikan, Alaska. Adam loves teaching, and is ACA Certified as an open water coastal kayaking instructor. |
Mark Sprinkle
with us since 2003
part-time instructor/guide |
kayak: IMPEX SUSQUEHANNA
paddle: WERNER IKELOS 215cm
salt-water spot: COBSCOOK BAY, ME, at full flood
fresh-water spot: ARGO LAKE, QUETICO P.P., ONT.
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Mark grew up with a pack on his back and a paddle in his hands (not at the same time!), paddling canoes on lakes and rivers in North and South Carolina, Tennessee, and Canada. He has knocked around a bit in Alaska, Iceland, Tibet, and Norway. Introduced to sea kayaking by Dave Jacques more than ten years ago, he has never looked back and loves paddling the entire New England coast. Mark graduated with a Masters in Music from New England Conservatory, and performs and teaches classical singing at Boston College. Mark is Certified by the ACA as an Open-Water Coastal Kayaking instructor. |
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