Team Jackson Kayak adds NORAM Champ Ruth Gordon

ROCK ISLAND, TN – North American Freestyle Champion and three-time Canadian Freestyle Team member Ruth Gordon is the newest member of the Jackson Kayak Factory Team.

Jackson Kayak founder Eric “EJ” Jackson first met Gordon when she was in her early teens and just learning to paddle at Wilderness Tours on the Ottawa. Jackson said ultimately it is Gordon’s positive attitude, competitive drive and ambition that landed her on the team. “Ruth continues to push the ceiling in freestyle kayaking and shares my passion for getting new participants to join the sport,” said Jackson.

According to Jackson, he has noticed the steep climb toward excellence Gordon has been on during the past five years Other top achievements in 2005 included top ten finishes at the World Freestyle Kayaking Competition in Australia and the Big Cahones Night Rodeo on Canada’s imposing Ottawa River where she was the top-ranked female, even though there wasn’t a female division, and finished ahead of two-thirds of the men’s field.

Gordon believes that by being part of Team Jackson Kayak she can better pursue her professional goals of fostering the growth of women in kayaking while keeping it fun for those who are already involved, continuing to push herself to add new moves to her repertoire, podium in all events this year, and become 2007 World Champion.

Gordon has been featured in playboating and sea kayaking films and instructional materials as well as print and online magazines. Gordon’s travel schedule this year includes major competitions and whitewater festivals throughout the US, Europe and Canada such as Teva Mountain Games at Vail, Lyon River Festival and the inaugural ICF-sanctioned World Cup taking place on the Ottawa, Watertown and Rock Island, TN this fall.

The full roster of Team Jackson Kayak includes Jackson and his children Emily and Dane Jackson, Clay Wright, Stephen Wright (not related to Clay), Jay Kincaid, Tobias Bersch, Nick Troutman, Devon Barker, Jessie Stone, and Ruth Gordon. Founded in 2004 and based in Rock Island, TN, Jackson Kayak is one of the top four brands in whitewater kayak sales and the first and only to produce performance kayaks for children.