TEAM Z - PADDLING AND COMPETING AROUND THE U.S.

Team Zoar is a small group of dedicated kayakers who compete in freestyle competitions and extreme races around the U.S.  It started with a few friends who have worked and paddled at Zoar Outdoor for several years now. 

• MEET THE TEAM

• RECENT RESULTS

• TEAM Z BLOG

• EMAIL TEAM Z

 

Jim Sullivan:  Team Z  Manager

Paddling since he was twelve thanks to his father, Jim is one of the best paddlers around. With a smooth and consistent style Jim gets it done on the water and on the slopes in Big Sky. Having taught for Zoar and Liquid Skills his instruction is world class and boats to match it. In the North East he was so dominant at the annual Deerfield rodeo organizers had to change the rules to beat him.

Sponsors:  Zoar Outdoor

Nickname? 

Clutch

Hometown? 

Longmeadow, MA

Who inspired you most while getting into kayaking? 

My friends were my inspiration when I began paddling.  We all worked and lived at camp together and pushed each other to learn new skills and develop our tricks.

Favorite band/music? 

No favorites, but I like music that tells a funny story

What was your best moment on a river? 

I’ve had many memorable moments on many rivers, hard to say a best one.  Some include winning the Deerfield rodeo, paddling in Chile, doing my first self-support trip with great friends in northern Quebec, and running big drops in New York.

What was your worst moment on a river? 

I’ve also had many bad moments on many rivers.  Some of these include a skirt implosion while competing on the Ottawa, getting beat down in a hole and then run over by a raft and beat down some more, and getting temporarily pinned underwater in a creek boat.

Who would you put money on to win a three way mud wrestling match, Christina Aguilera, Lindsay Lohan or Paris Hilton? 

Lindsay Lohan, can I ref?

What is your dream paddling destination? 

I think the next dream I want to make come true is heli-boating in New Zealand, or paddling in Costa Rica

How do feel about being involved with Team Zoar? 

It’s fantastic.  We’ll travel to events and promote Zoar.  I’m also real excited to work with some of the young kids around here and develop their potential.  It’s also a great way for some of the students I’ve taught to see what I’m up too. 

What do you have planned for the coming season? 

One of my big plans for the season is to create some videos for students to have that are specifically tailored to the clinics we offer at Zoar.  Of course I’ll also be doing some local trips to some great paddling spots in the Northeast

Who are your sponsors?  None any more.  I used to be sponsored by Wave Sport and Rock Hedz, but I buy gear cheap anyways and don’t need 'em.  No hard feelings; I still use a Rock Hedz helmet and paddle Wave Sport boats.

What does kayaking hold for you over other activities?

I kick ass at kayaking and don’t in other sports.

 

Elaine Campbell : Newest Member of Team Z

 

What year did you start paddling? 2002

What year did you start working at Zoar? 2008

Occupation (when not teaching at Zoar or in the off season):   Paddling

What certifications and other cool awards do you have?  First Aid, CPR

What is your favorite paddling memory?  Meeting my husband Jeff! 

What is your favorite food or color or superhero or something you would like
to disclose?  Snacks

What is something you like to do when you are not paddling?  Eat or sail

Why do you teach at Zoar?  I want to get more women involved in the sport of freestyle kayaking!

What kind of boats do you paddle and how many do you own?  Wave Sport Project 45 & Wave Sport Habitat 74

What other sports do you do? snowboard

How did you start paddling?  My brother Mark and I learned together.  It was my 22nd birthday gift from him.

Sponsors:  Wave Sport, Shred Ready, NRS

Website:  www.elainecampbellkayaking.com

 

Fergus Coffey : Member of Team Z

 

The true International Man of Mystery, born in the States to a Brit and a Kiwi, Fergus has the full globe experience. Having started paddling slalom in the UK and then moving across the pond 6 years ago he brings that clean style to the creeks and waves around North and South America. Well versed in many paddling realms, his true passion for whitewater is racing steep creeks as fast as possible.

Sponsors:  Zoar Outdoor, Liquid Logic, Snapdragon, IR

Nickname?

Fungus or Fluffy depending on who you ask.

Hometown?

Romsey in Hampshire County back in the Old World

Who inspired you most while getting into kayaking?

Rob Kinder, a friend from back in England, is probably most responsible for getting me excited about kayaking. It was his communications project in Year 9 in Secondary School that made me aware of what Slalom was and it was he and his family that helped me into the sport and drove me around to the events those first few years.  Whether it was inspiration or a friendly competition it was Rob’s presence that was the biggest influence.

Favorite band/music?

My old favorites from England are still the best: Sleeper, Supergrass and The Levelers. But recently I found the Cold War Kids and the Silversun Pickups.

What was your best moment on a river?

No matter how many cool rapids I run and waves I surf my most memorable day on the river was floating down a class two section of the Buller river in New Zealand with my dad, Tim. It was early in the morning and the whole way down just watching shoals of trout swim around beneath us. 

What was your worst moment on a river?

I went back to the spot on the Ottawa where my friend Kathy had died to surf her last wave. I was by myself and it just gave me the creeps.

Who would you put money on to win a three way mud wrestling match, Christina Aguilera, Lindsay Lohan or Paris Hilton?

Christina, always, without a doubt.

What is your dream paddling destination?

Russia is somewhere that I have always wanted to visit, paddling or not. Beyond that BC is where I really want to go.

How do feel about being involved with Team Zoar?

Team Zoar is my project and so I feel extremely privileged to have Zoar behind the program. Bruce and the rest of the managers have given this a lot of support and to be able to work in this kind of environment is extremely satisfying.

The group of people that we have here at Zoar and the community that we are a part of is a great thing and I am looking forward not just to the coming year but to see what the next generation, that are already killing it, will go on to do.

What do you have planned for the coming season?

Hill climbs and mountain biking is taking the foreground right now but the first major event will be the Teva Mountain Games in Vail at the end of this month.After that the summer will be in full swing, but look out for some sneaky trips in September.

Who are your sponsors?

Snapdragon are great and thank you Zoar Outdoor

What does kayaking hold for you over other activities?

Every activity holds prospects for adventure, travel, friends and the ability to challenge yourself. However none that I have ever tried have provided me the feeling of accomplishment that looking back up at a huge rapid gives you and the sense of peace you feel dropping over the lip.

Mike Porter:  Member of Team Z

While Mike has only come into this sport recently he has been able to take off at an amazing rate. His calm demeanor and high level of athleticism allow Mike to drop into most things with a little grin and come out the bottom in style. While not only being an amazing kayaker, he is also a great trumpet player and pro snowboarder and is creating an explosion knitting wool hats. Keep an eye out for Poto Products in the near future.

Sponsors:  Zoar Outdoor, Pyranha, Shred Ready

Nickname? 

poto, magoo.

Hometown? 

Long Branch, NJ - Huntington, MA

Who inspired you most while getting into kayaking? 

Jonny b.o.d., Nate Kai, Jimmy, Ferg

Favorite band/music?

Radiohead/Felix da Housecat/Bob Dylan 

What was your best moment on a river?

Going big at Lachine, paddling with a big crew on the Dryway and Ottawa.

What was your worst moment on a river?

Low water…bummer; skirt implosions; beatdowns - they all sort of suck.

  

Who would you put money on to win a three way mud wrestling match, Christina Aguilera, Lindsay Lohan or Paris Hilton?

Christina for sure, but I’d much rather see them on Celebrity Jeopardy—no talking or singing for a whole thirty minutes!

What is your dream paddling destination?

White Nile or Stikine, they look scary and fun.

How do feel about being involved with Team Zoar?

It’s great.  It’s nice having a supportive group like Zoar as a platform to realize our potential.  The best part is paddling with all of the kids in the area, watching their talent develop and seeing how excited they get about the sport. 

What do you have planned for the coming season?

I’ve got some snowboard tricks that I’d like to turn into kayaking tricks.  Like magic hey.

Who are your sponsors?

Zoar Outdoor, Pyranha kayaks

What does kayaking hold for you over other activities?

Despite it being an individual sport, you’re always with other people, relying and trusting in everyone’s abilities to help each other if they're in need.  There is a higher sense of awareness, trust and reliability than in other individual sports.  I guess that’s a good thing. 

 

Tino Specht : Member of Team Z