AW Volunteer of the Month Presented by Kokatat - Keith Kishiyama
Posted: 10/05/2016
By: Theresa Simsiman
We would like to recognize lifetime American Whitewater member, Keith Kishiyama, for organizing
the ACA sponsored Rock Creek Slalom and Tobin Downriver Race for the 2016 Feather River Festival.
Keith’s experience designing the annual Mokelumne River Slalom and organizing the annual
Cherry Creek Race made him the perfect candidate to take over the paddling fun at this
year’s Feather Fest.
Keith started paddling in 1991 and slalom racing in 1993 on the very same river he first kayaked,
the Mokelumne River. Soon he started designing slalom courses utilizing his engineering
background plus his rock climbing skills to design the courses and set the anchors for the ropes.
Since 2001, Keith has set up and designed the annual Mokelumne slalom race sponsored by
Loma Prieta Paddlers. He also maintains the only permanent slalom course left in California
at the Nugget on the South Fork American River.
In 2007 Keith took over organizing the informal Cherry Creek Race on the Tuolumne known as the
“Grand Daddy” of California Class V racing and a tradition for the California
paddling community for the last 23 years. It is a memorial where paddlers that are no
longer with us are honored and celebrated by paddling downstream (a bit faster than usual) to
keep their spirits alive and the river stoke going strong.
Keith’s many friends continue to benefit from his ability to fix boats, paddles, cars and
in his well packed suburban you just may find that bolt you needed! American Whitewater is very
fortunate to have Keith as a contributing member of the paddling community and we appreciate all
the hard work he put into the Feather River Festival.
In recognition of Keith’s efforts he will be receiving an X-Jacket from Kokatat.
Pictures by Keirith Snyder and Bill Wagner