WAVpaddling Instructor

Renaud

Renaud is a nationally certified River Kayaking Instructor with Paddle Canada, past executive member of the Manitoba Whitewater Club, and has been a proud member of the WAVpaddling Instructional Team since 2004.

He is thoroughly trained in instructional concepts, aquatics, and river rescue skills and has instructed and guided on rivers across Canada, the United States, and Nepal. His superb teaching abilities, safety awareness, and technical paddling skills make him one of the provinces top river instructors.

Regular WAV students may have noticed Renauds absence during the summer of 2005. It was during that time that he was chosen to lead a 100 day, Voyageur style canoeing expedition from Montreal to Winnipeg (historically accurate to 1806, including the Birch bark canoe, period clothing, pea soup and salt pork!). The expedition was filmed and made into the television series Destination Nord ouest. Viewed by over 1 million viewers per week, the series was listed by critics as one of the top 10 television shows in French Canada for 2006.

Paddling philosophy:

I was 18 and in need of some adventure. So I started traveling and kayaking in search of challenge and excitement. What I found was much more than a simple rush but a great opportunity for personal growth. I learned to manage fear and remain effective in even the scariest or most stressful situations. Now that I am back and settled in my native Manitoba, I continue to explore the variety of amazing paddling opportunities this province has to offer, from peaceful to heart pumping.

When teaching, I strive to provide a safe and comfortable environment where students can test and push themselves at their own speed. I put special effort into teaching my students to be aware of their surroundings and to provide them with the knowledge required to make informed decisions in a whitewater environment. As an instructor, I try to pass on my passion for paddling to everyone of my students.