Charlemont, MA- Tino Specht, member of Zoar Outdoor’s Team Z was one of the recent recipients of the 2010 Reel Paddling Film Festival for “Best Environmental Paddling Film” with “Facing East”. The film documents the final descent of the Yangtze River in China before it was dammed. Specht was one of the co-directors and was one of the featured kayakers who made the historic expedition down the river. Awards were announced last week at the festival premier in Toronto Canada. The premiere kicks off the Reel Paddling Film Festival World Tour, an international paddling film tour with 37 short-listed films screening in 75 cities hosted by paddling shops, clubs and events.
Specht grew up in Charlemont on his family’s farm and learned how to kayak with the Zoar Outdoor Kayak Academy program while he was attending Mohawk Trail Regional High School. He took a keen interest early on and quickly became one of Zoar’s best kayakers. During 2007 he attended Huge River Academy, a traveling kayak school and satisfied his senior year graduation requirements. For the past 3 years he has worked as a kayak coach and Spanish teacher for Huge River Academy.
He is a member of Zoar’s Team Z, a group of gifted paddlers who are sponsored to compete in local and national races. He has had a passionate interest in kayak videography. Specht has been a great role model for aspiring young paddlers both locally and around the globe. In his spare time he travels the world with his kayak learning about world cultures, new rivers and new languages.
Media Contact:Karen Blom
800-532-7483 x107
PO Box 245
Charlemont, MA 01339
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Zoar Outdoor has offered guided outdoor adventures in the Deerfield River Valley since 1989 and celebrated its 20th anniversary in 2009. Zoar Outdoor provides seasonal guided whitewater rafting, kayak, and canoe instruction, rock climbing classes, bike and kayak rentals, canopy tours, lodging and retail sales from April through October.
