Wayne Dickert

Paddling School Director

Age: 49
Height/Weight: 5' 8" / 165 lbs
First Year Paddling: 1977
First Year at NOC: 1986
Favorite Boats: Pyranha Burn and Esquif Spark
Favorite Rivers: Santeetlah and Tallulah

Fun Facts: Wayner has been a part of NOC since he started paddling competitively in 1981. At first a summer camp instructor, he went on to teach canoeing in 1986 and kayaking in 1997 for NOC's paddling school. Since then, Wayner has taught canoeing and kayaking full-time for NOC, or part-time while serving as director of the Nantahala Racing Club and slalom development director for USA Canoe and Kayak.

Wayner became Paddling School Director in 2000 and is thrilled to be working with such an exciting group of professional instructors. He will paddle just about any craft from open canoe playboats to tandem decked kayaks. He served in an advisory position for the development of the US National Whitewater Center in Charlotte and developed the Rapid Progressions approach to learning, a philosophy that has made NOC's Paddling School so successful.

His happiest moment in paddling is when the light bulb goes off in a student's head, signaling new confidence in his/her personal abilities.

1996 Olympic Team, Ocoee River, TN
Qualified for 10 National Teams.
National and North American canoe champion

Books
US Canoe and Kayak Team - Athlete Progressions Manual
Basic Canoeing - 2003 National Outdoor Book Award
Basic Kayaking - 2005 National Outdoor Book Award

Video/DVD
River Runner's Edge - 2004 National Paddling Film Festival Award
The Kayaker's Toolbox - 2006 National Paddling Film Festival Award

Television
Live and taped programs with NBC, ABC, CNN, PBS, ESPN, OLN

Boat Designer - part of the design team for:
"The Patriot" Olympic Gold Medal C2 (1992)
Dagger "GT" Outside Magazine's best design of the year in 2002
Helped with many other successful designs from several manufacturers.

Married to Joanna Foster with no children. She says that he is the only child she needs. (He of course takes that as a loving compliment.) She also has her own successful CPA business in Bryson City, serving Swain, Macon and Jackson counties.

Student at Gordon Conwell Theological Seminary Charlotte, NC
Working towards a Master of Divinity degree from Gordon Conwell Theological Seminary Charlotte, NC

"Lay Leader" - River of Life Ministry providing worship services for anyone visiting or local to the Nantahala area looking for an opportunity for Christian fellowship. River of Life is a non-denominational service sponsored by First United Methodist Church in Franklin, NC. Services are held every Sunday this summer at 8am in the NOC Group Rafting Pavilion. All are welcome.