Charlie Pool

 

Charlie MacArthur
SUMMER - In the summer, Charlie runs the Aspen Kayak and SUP Academy. Charlie has been certifying and coaching students and instructors in the art of river running, freestyle and racing techniques since 1990.  He has coached a junior world champion and many other budding superstars. Compiling a solid competitive background in downriver racing (Gore Canyon class five classic three time winner ), adventure races ( Eco Challenge 7th place in Fiji ‘02, and SUP events.

His latest passion is the new sport of Stand Up Paddling. SUP combines elements of Nordic skiing, surfing and kayaking: using a long canoe paddle while standing up on a modified long board and surfing waves and running the river like kayaker.  He tested and co designed with shaper Dave Parmenter the first SUP board for the river which is named after him and called the CMAC ATB( all terrain board) along with two other inflatable designs for the river.  He organized with Paul Tefft the first White Water National Stand Up Paddle Championships held in Glenwood springs in 2009. Charlie was second over all in 2009 and 2010.

Finally, Charlie produced the first “How To”  stand paddle dvd called ‘RiverSUP’ with Paul Tefft and his two 11 year old SUP phenom kids Gwyneth and Clark. 

WINTER- Charlie has taught skiing for 30 years for the Aspen Skiing Co.  Based out of Snowmass Ski Area, he has been coaching the public and instructors in the disciplines of  Telemark, Alpine and Snowboard.  A ski area trainer and examiner for Alpine and Telemark, Charlie is fully certified in Snowboard instruction and was selected to the country’s elite teaching group, the P.S.I.A. Nordic Team 2008-2012 and the Alpine Demonstration Team from 2000- 2004.  Charlie’s enthusiasm has led him to also attain accreditation in Freestyle and Children’s specialties as well.  Heading up the Telemark skiing program for the Ski and Snowboard Schools of Aspen, Charlie recently started popular new children’s programs for telemark skiing and also created “Fresh-In-Tele-Gence”, the first interactive telemark dvd for Rocky Mountain PSIA. A Rocky Mountain nordic committee member, he has also raced cross-country in the first seven all night 36 mile 6,000 ft, elevation gain Elk Mountains Grand Traverse from Crested Butte to Aspen Co.  He and his teammate placed as high as sixth place.

 

Conor
Conor was born and raised right here in Aspen. He was blessed with an early introduction to river and snow sports at the age of 2 and learned how to roll at the age of 13 from the Aspen Kayak Academy and Charlie himself. As his father was a kayaker and outdoor enthusiast/educator Conor took to these actives with a passion that has never ceased.

Conor established a background in sports with 8 years of competitive cross country and Nordic skiing (4 of which were at the NCAA level). A year after graduating from Whitman College in 2005, Conor headed out to Japan for a whole different type of adventure. There he had numerous invaluable experience in another culture, began instructing, met his future wife, and taught English in Japanese schools. Ultimately it was his passion for the mountains and the rivers and his desire to share those passions with his family and others that brought him back to the Aspen area in early 2010.

 

CONTACT US

phone
970-925-4433

e-mail
aspenkayakacademy