Mary Hebrank

Paddling School Instructor

Age: 39
Height/Weight: 5'7" / 115 lbs
First Year Paddling: 1997
First Year at NOC: 2006
Favorite Boats: Dagger Mamba 7.5
Favorite Rivers: Futaleufu (Chile), Pacuare (Costa Rica), Nantahala (NC)

Fun Facts: Mary first came to NOC in 1997 to learn to paddle from the legendary instructor Tom "Grace Under Pressure" DeCuir. She was immediately hooked and began spending her teacher's salary on boats and gear, much to the dismay of her husband. In 2006 she traded her classroom for the great outdoors and came back to NOC as a full time kayak instructor. Her calm, patient and supportive teaching style combined with her contagious enthusiasm for having fun has made Mary a big hit with NOC guests.

As a permanent resident of the Nantahala Gorge, when she's not paddling on a nearby river you can usually find her out on her road bike or at home fixing up her 1940's farm cottage. In the cooler months, Mary commutes to the Raleigh/Durham area of NC where she conducts workshops for science teachers during the winter. Despite her busy winter schedule, Mary is still able to sneak away every winter to her favorite paddling destinations of Costa Rica and Chile. Mary is also a supporter and volunteer for the Habitat for Humanity's Global Village program and often travels to other countries to help build homes for the needy.

Degrees and Certifications:

• BS, PhD (Biology), Duke University
• NC Teaching Certificate, UNC-Chapel Hill
• ACA Whitewater Kayak Instructor
• Wilderness Advanced First Aid
• Swiftwater Rescue