Sunday, June 04, 2006

Tassie paddler taking on the world

by: Jordan Hooper - UTAS online journalism 2006

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Comments: Leave your comments at the end of the article. There are currently 8 comments for this article.

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photo: ©2006 Steven Bates, uk (Click image to enlarge)

Tasmania is a kayaker’s white-water paradise.

Combine large mountainous regions all over the state with high rainfall and you have a recipe for white- water bliss, either as a recreational or competitive paddler.

Champion Tasmanian born and bred paddler, Liam Hooper, who is currently conquering the rapids of North America, says Tasmania’s white-water brilliance has enabled him to pursue a career in paddling overseas.

In the past 11 years he’s enjoyed success in numerous National championships and also representing Australia in the 2000 Sydney Youth Olympics.

Now the the 23 year old’s passion for paddling has prompted him to relocate to the United States where he is a kayaking instructor at Blue Star Camps in Hendersonville, North Carolina.

Liam first started kayaking when he was in year seven at Devonport High school, in the state’s North West. Suffering from a small amount of atrophy of the muscle surrounding his knees his physiotherapist suggested he should try and find a low impact sport. Liam’s High School physical education teacher suggested he kayaking a go, and sure enough he fell in love with the sport.

After having raced in slalom and down river kayaking competitions and hurling himself down the most unnerving Tasmanian rapids ,Liam ‘s love of kayaking took him to North America in March 2003.

Challenge in America

Liam’s currently an assistant director in the outdoor adventure program at Blue Star Camps, a large Predominantly Jewish Co-education Summer camp for Boys and Girls ages 5-17. The camp is situated on a 625-acre private estate, seven miles from the town of Hendersonville and 27 miles from the resort city of Asheville, lying directly in the middle of the Blue ridge and Smoky Mountain ranges of Western North Carolina.

“It is such an awesome experience for Australian paddlers and I have been able to improve my skill and experience level due to the huge variety of difficult white water at my finger tips”, says Liam.

“Also I have had the opportunity to influence many young people who started with a small interest in kayaking and after developing their skills and providing them with white water experience, many have walked away with the same burning desire I have for paddling.”

The ever-challenging and mighty rivers that Liam has tackled thus far are the Green river, the Nantahala, 1996 Olympic games venue the Ocoee, the French Broad, the Tuckasegee, the Pigeon and last but not least, the Chattooga which is part of the watershed which was used to film the very disturbing adventure film ‘Deliverance’.

“It certainly elicits a very eerie feeling negotiating those rapids with scenes from the movie in the back of your mind” laughs Liam.

Whitewater kayaking has grown to be a huge sport in the US, with the paddlesport industry in America supporting professionals who generate their income from sponsorships and participation in events.

‘Kayaking is much more popular in America’, says Liam.

“However, America has a far bigger population and Australia has limited white water rivers, most of which are in fact found in Tasmania”.

“I think the most noticeable difference between Tasmanian and North American rivers is the ease of access. With such large numbers converging on the rivers here daily, almost all of the popular runs have fantastic access.

Although kayaking in Tasmania, or Australia for that fact, may never reach the popularity levels that has occurred in America, Liam believes that the lack of accessibility - navigating unsealed forestry roads, and undertaking long bush walks to access the rivers, is really half the experience of Tasmanian kayaking; getting immersed in the wilderness!

Posted by The Skipper on Sun, June 04, 2006 at 07:58 AM
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Comments from taz in hobart

I have a “burning desire” for you to hold me close liam. close enough to feel your warm, comforting breath on my cheek.
nah not really though, glad to see you’re killing it over there you crazy, crazy man. taz

Posted by taz  on  06/08  at  09:49 AM

Comments from

Hooper, long time no hear! Nice work buddy. Met a guy in Vail who knows you. Showed me some pictures of you kayaking some crazy waterfalls in the US from a magazine.
PB

Posted by  on  06/10  at  12:44 AM

Comments from in hobart

tear the bag mate… one day you may even back-flip of the tahoon bridge! stoked for you, stoked tassie has you as an ambasitor!

Posted by  on  06/14  at  11:50 AM

Comments from in Margaret River, WA

Hi Liam,
I’m from Gath sports and we are interested in providing you with our latest Gath Gedi to have a play with.  We currently sponsor many white water paddlers and kayakers and they love the new Gedi.
If you are interested please email me at
Best regards
Holly @ Gath from Margaret River, WA

Posted by  on  08/08  at  03:26 PM

Comments from in Devonport

Thought I would have exclusive rights to your story Liam?!
Good stuff by you - how far you’ve come from that first eskimo roll u showed me in sub-zero conditions.
Not sure I agree with doogal in having you as an ambassador for Tas - u certainly have your moments.... tongue laugh

Posted by  on  12/26  at  12:18 PM

Comments from in northern nsw

I am a teacher at a high school on the north coast of nsw,as i am trying to get kayaking going. I need to know a few facts, you may be able to help me find the answers or direct me in the right direction for the answers.What cert. do I need to take students to the river. What numbers of students to adults do you need?

Posted by  on  03/29  at  10:12 PM

Comments from

G’day Lothar,

Firstly you will need to acquire your whitewater proficiency certificate, which is generally run over a weekend, and involves you showing that you are capable of handling yourself on class 2-3 whitewater. From there you need to get your whitewater instructors cert. level 1, which enables you to instruct people on whitewater technique, in a flatwater enviroment. whitewater instructors cert. level 2, will enable you to take students on basic whitewater. You are required to be a capable paddler, execute and instruct ww rescue, set up z pulleys etc. This is the way it was in tassie a few years ago, and it takes a good few years to get through the levels.
Check with http://www.nswcanoe.org.au
I’m off to Nepal to go creeking on Monday. It will be nice to have some water to paddle, hasn’t been much around here for a while.

Good luck

Mark

Posted by  on  03/30  at  10:03 AM

Comments from in Iceland

My Q is where does 1 get such a cool helmet smile?

Posted by  on  07/02  at  07:32 AM

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