Accident Reports and Recognition

“American Whitewater was founded in 1954 to conserve and restore America’s whitewater resources and to enhance opportunities to enjoy them safely.”

The organization is the primary advocate for the preservation and protection of whitewater rivers throughout the United States and connects the interests of human-powered recreational river users with ecological and science-based data to achieve the goals within its mission. It is a represents a broad diversity of individual whitewater enthusiasts, river conservationists, and more than 100 local paddling club affiliates across America.

Charlie Walbridge was introduced to AW by a friend in 1968. He remembers reading the Safety Code before one of his early whitewater paddling trips. In 1973 “Golly, that’s falling water”, a description of his second trip down West Virginia’s Gauley River, was published in the AW Journal. It was the first of many articles.

A few years later, in 1975, Charlie was competing in a slalom race when one of the competitors was killed. He was shocked that a skilled, well-equipped paddler could die in a Class II rapid. Wanting to find out what had happened, he discussed the incident with everyone he could. He later wrote an accident report which was published in the American Whitewater Journal. That report coined the term “foot entrapment” and described this danger for the first time. Today the warning not to stand up in fast water is routinely given to all beginning whitewater paddlers and commercial rafting guests.

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That report sparked a life-long interest in learning from fatal accidents, near misses, serious injuries, and successful rescues in whitewater.

Other reports followed, which in turn led to magazine articles and books. While working as American Canoe Association Safety Chair he participated in outreach to first responders and government boating safety officers. He later became Safety Chair of American Whitewater and began writing an annual whitewater accident overview for the Journal. H. currently maintains the American Whitewater Accident Database. This is the largest collection of its kind, containing over 2200 entries spanning over 45 years. He participated in several updates and revisions to the AW Safety Code, drawing on information that came from these reports.

Charlie was on the American Whitewater board of Directors for 18 years and is currently an honorary director.

Charlie managed the Sang Run Access Area on the Upper Youghiogheny for AW with his wife, Sandy for almost 30 years. He represented AW with the Town of Friendsville and worked closely with Councilman Jess Whittemore to improve parking and river access. That effort raised almost $25,000. This support allowed Councilman Whittemore to obtain almost $160,000 in matching grants to complete the project and greatly improved relations with the Town. The Sang Run access is currently managed by Jesse Shimrock, a local paddler and businessman.

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“The freedom to take calculated risks, in business, love, or whitewater, is one of the most cherished prerogatives of a free people. I don’t try to discourage knowledgeable people from willingly assuming risks; but I do work to educate inexperienced paddlers so they don’t get into trouble inadvertently.”