City of Tempe, AZ
Home MenuTempe Town Lake Boating Instructors
Meet the Boating Staff
| Ryan Allison Boating Coordinator •Kayaking & SUP Instructor• •ACA Level II Kayak Touring Instructor• Ryan learned how to kayak on Arizona lakes and rivers and has almost 20 years of kayaking experience. His favorite quote is "HI!" and he enjoys mountain biking when he isn't on the water. |
| Emily Burkett Assistant Boating Coordinator •Rowing, Kayaking & SUP Instructor• •USRowing Level 3 Advanced Coach• •ACA Level II Kayak Touring Instructor• Emily grew up around the water, taking her first sailing trip at one week old. She learned how to row over 20 years ago and has raced all over the country, winning multiple national championships along the way. She has coached all level of athletes, from beginners to elite and enjoys getting people on the water in any capacity. |
|
Bob Glass Bob G started rafting and whitewater kayaking over 30 years ago and got into flat water kayaking by taking a class offered through the City of Tempe. He enjoys a very hands on teaching style and lots of one on one attention. While he isn't coaching he enjoys baseball and hanging out with his grandkids. His favorite quote is "don't waste time worrying about things over which you have no control" by Albert Ellis. |
|
Declan Mayo-Shanahan Declan learned how to row with the City of Tempe's junior program over 5 years ago. He has been instructing various classes with the city for 2 years now and has also worked at different city facilities as a lifeguard and swim instructor. When he isn't boating he enjoys gaming and his favorite quote is "sometimes I'll start a sentence and I don't even know where it's going. I just hope I find it along the way" by Michael Scott. |
| John Ciani •Rowing & SUP Instructor• •USRowing Level 3 Advanced Coach• John is a native Phoenician who started rowing at the University of San Diego. He then coached for the USD women for 4 years before returning to Phoenix. He has been coaching all level of rowers in Arizona since 2002. John's favorite quote is from the philosopher Aristotle: "We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, therefore is not an act rather a habit". |
| John Selman •Kayaking & SUP Instructor• •ACA Level II Kayak Touring Instructor• John learned how to row from his father over 30 years ago. He loves all man powered water sports, including kayaking, SUP, outrigger canoeing and surfskiing. While not at the lake he works as a luxury real estate broker and enjoys cooking great food with friends. |
|
Kelly Irwin BIO COMING SOON |
|
Kelly Walsh
|
| Kenna Dowds •Rowing & Kayaking Instructor• •USRowing Level II Rowing Coach• •ACA Level II Kayak Touring Instructor• Kenna loves the water so much she named her dog Hobie after the kayaking company! She has been rowing for over 10 years and coaching full time for the past two years. She loves giving individuals from all walks of life the opportunity to enjoy some time on the water and if they can reach some personal goals during that time that's even better! |
| Nataly Cardona •SUP & SUP Yoga Instructor• •ACA Level I Kayak Touring Instructor• •SUP Yoga Teaching Training Certificate• Nataly learned how to paddle 5 years ago in Connecticut and soon after got trained in SUP Yoga. She enjoys rock climbing and mountain biking in her off time. Nataly's favorite quote is "a man is but a product of his thoughts, what he thinks, he becomes" by Ghandi. |
|
Ryan Hearn BIO COMING SOON |
|
Sam Thiele BIO COMING SOON |
| Sophie Heywood •Rowing Instructor• Sophie learned how to row over 15 years ago with the City's junior program. During her rowing career she has many local and regional medals and raced at junior worlds twice. Sophie just recently came out of retirement to make a run at the 2020 Olympics. Her favorite activities outside of rowing are traveling, coffee breaks and hanging out with other people. |
| Teresa Benza
•Kayaking & SUP Instructor• BIO COMING SOON |