River Rafting Whitewater Expert Witness

Expert Witness No.578

Colorado

Specializing in:River recreation accidents, rafting, canoeing, kayaking, adventure travel, eco-travel, domestic & international, tour guide, whitewater rafting, out-fitter, aquatic accidents on rivers.

River issues experience:

Executive Director of a national organization for river enthusiasts throughout the United States, 1978 to present.

Executive Secretary of the American Canoe Association, the Olympic affiliate in the United States for international canoe and kayak racing, 1976-1978.

Has researched, written, and edited hundreds of articles on river running.

Has gathered and analyzed river accident reports from around the United States and the world, and written numerous articles about river accidents.

Has testified about river issues at various hearings of government agencies and legislative committees regarding river safety, river conservation, and public access to rivers.

Has prepared numerous press releases, and spoken at press conferences on river subjects.

Has testified as an expert witness in river accident cases involving rivers in the United States and Canada.

Has reviewed numerous books, articles, and videos about river running and safety.

River business experience:

Instructed kayaking and rafting in Colorado, Utah, and California for twelve seasons. Hired and supervised other instructors.

Rented canoes, kayaks and rafts to the public for four seasons.

Operated and guided kayaking and rafting trips on the Bio-Bio River in Chile, one of the world's most difficult major river trips, and on other rivers in Chile and Argentina, for nine seasons. Hired and supervised other guides.

River running experience:

Has run all the major recreational rivers in the United States, and various rivers in other countries, using canoes, kayaks, rafts, and dories.

Raced in numerous state and regional river races, and in the 1974 U.S. National Whitewater Championships.

River film production experience:

Organized and led a filming trip to the rivers of Chile to produce a one-hour film, The Bio-Bio: Lost River of the Mapuches, which aired on ESPN television in the United States and other countries as part of the Expedition Earth series. Hosted and translated for Jose Aylwin, (the son of Patricio Aylwin, the President of Chile,) on the expedition.

Filmed and produced a one-hour video, Kayak Chile.

Filmed and produced a half-hour video, The Chilko River Accident: What Happened and Why. (This reenacted and explained a very publicized rafting accident in which five men died, including executives from Procter and Gamble and Mattel Toys.)

Education:

Graduate studies in land use policy, University of Washington, Seattle, 1975.

Bachelor of Arts, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, 1974.

Diploma of Hispanic Studies, University of Barcelona, Spain, 1971.

Other experience:

Raced in various sailboat races, including the 1968 Transpacific Race (Los Angeles to Honolulu.)

Experienced alpine and nordic ski racer, rodeo contestant, and rock climber. Certified in CPR. Certified ski instructor.

Spanish-English translator for the Colorado Springs court system, and for Pacific Chemicals Engineering (a Colorado corporation with operations in Chile) at various times.