Episode SummaryIn this episode of Following Waters, Brett sits down with Jed Hinkley — Olympian, multi-discipline athlete, and national sport administrator — for a conversation that bridges personal journey with the future of competitive paddle sports in the United States.
Jed reflects on his athletic beginnings as a six-year-old alpine racer, his transition to Nordic combined by age twelve, and his rise to represent the United States in the 2002 Winter Olympics. He shares memories from World Junior Championships, insights from years of elite athletic development, and the lessons he carried into his later work supporting sport pathways at USA Nordic and now at the American Canoe Association.
Together, Brett and Jed explore the challenges and opportunities in building a stronger pipeline for young paddlers. They discuss infrastructure needs, coaching development, the vital role of community-based programs, and the often-overlooked connection between recreational paddling and competitive pathways. Jed also highlights the huge — and largely untapped — potential within summer camps as entry points for developing future athletes.
This episode offers a thoughtful, forward-looking perspective on how to grow the sport’s competitive base while honoring the joy and culture of paddling that draw people to the water in the first place.
What We Cover- Jed’s early athletic life and transition through multiple winter sports
- His journey to becoming a 2002 Olympian in Nordic combined
- Lessons from coaching, development, and sport administration
- How USA Nordic shaped his understanding of athlete pipelines
- His current role at the American Canoe Association
- Why competitive paddling in the U.S. faces unique challenges
- The opportunity to build stronger youth pathways and coaching systems
- Bridging rec-focused paddling communities with competitive programs
- The overlooked potential of summer camps as talent incubators
- What a sustainable, intentional future for U.S. paddlesports could look like
About Jed HinkleyJed Hinkley is an Olympian, coach, and sport development leader whose career spans elite athletic performance and national-level program building. After competing in the 2002 Winter Olympics in Nordic combined, Jed moved into coaching and sport administration, supporting youth development, national pipelines, and high-performance structures at USA Nordic before transitioning to the American Canoe Association. His work focuses on strengthening competitive pathways, expanding access, and building systems that help young athletes thrive.
Drop Jed a line at: [email protected]
About Brett Mayer
Drop me a line at: [email protected]
Brett Mayer is the host of Following Waters, a storytelling platform sponsored by the American Canoe Association that explores education, stewardship, adventure, and competition across the paddlesports world. His work blends two decades of river experience with a lifelong commitment to environmental education, access, and community.
Brett’s connection to water began long before he picked up a paddle — growing up outdoors, studying environmental science and policy, and developing a deep interest in the ways people form bonds with place. After a Division I soccer career, he transitioned fully into the natural world, finding in paddling a profound sense of connection and purpose.
In 2003, Brett began kayaking, eventually becoming a sponsored paddler working with several outdoor brands, traveling widely, and competing in a range of races. He later became an ACA Level IV whitewater instructor, founded and operated a river school and adventure-travel company, and spent years teaching young people to paddle. His career is distinguished by craft, commitment, and the simple love of being on the water. Over time, the miles on the water shaped him, and they helped him understand the sport in a way few others do.
His perspective deepened through personal tragedy while writing his graduate thesis, The Lived Experiences of Whitewater Kayakers, a four-year exploration of how paddlers form meaning, identity, and community on the water. Brett completed much of this work while grieving the loss of his closest friend on the Grand Canyon — a period that strengthened his dedication to safety, storytelling, and honoring the river community.
Today, Brett serves as Policy Director for the American Canoe Association, where he works on national access, public lands protections, paddlesports safety, and grassroots engagement. He has spent more than a decade collaborating with the Outdoor Alliance, advocating on Capitol Hill, and working with paddlers across the country to protect the places we love. He recently co-authored Smart Start, a modern introduction to paddling designed to welcome new participants and broaden access to the sport.
Across all these roles — educator, guide, athlete, researcher, writer, and policy leader — Brett has shaped a career that represents the full spectrum of ACA’s mission. Following Waters is his way of giving that back to the community: creating access through storytelling, honoring the people and ideas that sustain paddlesports, and opening a world of wonder for listeners the same way it was opened for him when he first sat in a kayak more than twenty years ago.
Above all, Brett believes that paddling isn’t just a sport; it’s deep medicine for the soul, a way to connect, steward, and grow.
About
- American Canoe Association (ACA) — Staff Profile: Brett Mayer
- Following Waters — ACA Story Project - personal essay
Research & Academic Work
- “The Lived Experiences of Whitewater Kayakers”
A phenomenological study exploring why people paddle, conducted during your graduate work in Adventure Education at Prescott College.
Media Appearances & Interviews
- Guest on “The Discomfort Zone” with Anna Levesque — Ep. 81: “Conquering vs. Connecting”
- Hammer Factor - Episode 23
Mentioned in this episode:
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