KELLY'S ACADEMY
MEET THE INSTRUCTORS
Meet our passionate Academy team working to share their love of kayaking, paddle boarding and river surfing with the next generation.
Makinley-Kate Hargrove
Hi, my name is Makinley-Kate Hargrove, I am a 18 year old professional water sport athlete competing for Team USA. I am a 2x World Champion, 2x World Cup Gold Medalist, and 6x U.S. National Champion. Beyond competition, I volunteer regularly in communities across the U.S. getting people into the sport I love.
Alec Voorhees
Alec Voorhees was born and raised in Meridian, Idaho, and basically grew up on the Payette River! Starting to paddle at age 6 in his own kayak, he has been paddling for the majority of his life! Fast forward to now, Alec is one of the most complete paddlers in the world having made podium in 2 World Championships as a Junior (2013,2015), and won the GoPro Mountain Games Steep Creek Championships (2016), as well has multiple top 5 finishes in the most prestigious kayak race, the North Fork Championship! Alec has also been nominated for “Male Rider of the Year” and “Male Paddler of the Year” multiple times, and continues to travel the world!
Alec has been teaching at Kelly’s for 8 years now, and loves the opportunity to teach and inspire kids in his local area at one of the best whitewater parks in the country! Each year Alec is blown away at the enthusiasm and good times with the students, and is able to tap into his roots of growing up a kayaking kid for unique insight!
See you at Kelly’s Academy!
River James Cogan
I was born and raised in McCall, ID. I started out taking whitewater kayaking classes at the academy, and just kept coming back. I started kayaking the summer of 2012, but really got into it in 2016 (when I fell in love with the sport). Last year was my first year coaching, and I’m stoked to help others improve, while I do so myself with my teaching skills.
I also enjoy going rock climbing, running, backpacking, and one-on-one tutoring. My senior year of high school, I spent lots of my time going to an afterschool program, and helping out where I was needed.
I graduated high school this year, and will be attending the University of Idaho the fall of 2020.
Mary Claire Hargrove
My name is Mary Claire Hargrove I am a 16 year old athlete, on the USA whitewater freestyle kayaking team. With ten years of experience, I am dedicated to the sport and passionate about sharing my knowledge and skills through volunteer work and clinics.
Cole Naugle
Cole has been kayaking for over 11 years and Teaching for 4 years. Cole has a strong passion for being on the water and loves spending time outdoors and can usually be found camping, kayaking, or skiing whenever he gets the chance.
Kira Tenney
Kira Tenney has been teaching stand up paddle boarding and kayaking at Kelly’s since 2017. Born and raised in Idaho, Colorado, and Maui, Kira grew up kayaking Idaho’s amazing Payette and Salmon rivers. Since, she has been fortunate to be part of international kayak expedition teams and to instruct kayak, whitewater safety, and stand up paddle boarding in over 15 countries. Most recently, Kira worked in Bhutan with Tourism Council of Bhutan and the country’s six raft and kayak companies, and in Bolivia with Madidi National Park and local indigenous river conservation advocates on local kayak, raft, and whitewater ecotourism training, river conservation education, and leadership development. No matter how far and wide Kira travels, every year she looks forward to returning to the smiles of Cascade, Idaho and the genuine fun and amazing team and participants of Kelly’s Whitewater Academy.
Hayden Voorhees
Hayden was taught how to kayak by his dad when he was only 6 years old on the Payette river. He started to compete in freestyle competitions at age 9 and since has been ranked national champion multiple times in his age groups. He has been named Grom (junior paddler) of the year and has been nominated as U21 paddler of the year multiple times. Now he one of the most well rounded kayakers in the world with freestyle, creeking, and waterfalls.
He’s been teaching at the Kelly’s Academy for 6 straight years and comes back with more enthusiasm and experience every year! Teaching at Kelly’s is always a highlight of his year because of how much fun it is to watch someone get as stoked on the water as he is! Since he was taught at such a young age he is able to bring new and fun ways of teaching to the academy.
Visit Us
Open Daily
10am - 7pm Memorial Day Weekend
through the end of September
Cost
Free! Donations are accepted in the
Welcome Center and parking lot areas.
