In this episode of Following Waters, Brett sits down with Jed Hinkley — Olympian, multi-discipline athlete, and national sport administrator — for a conversation that bridges personal journey with the future of competitive paddle sports in the United States.

Jed reflects on his athletic beginnings as a six-year-old alpine racer, his transition to Nordic combined by age twelve, and his rise to represent the United States in the 2002 Winter Olympics. He shares memories from World Junior Championships, insights from years of elite athletic development, and the lessons he carried into his later work supporting sport pathways at USA Nordic and now at the American Canoe Association.

Together, Brett and Jed explore the challenges and opportunities in building a stronger pipeline for young paddlers. They discuss infrastructure needs, coaching development, the vital role of community-based programs, and the often-overlooked connection between recreational paddling and competitive pathways. Jed also highlights the huge — and largely untapped — potential within summer camps as entry points for developing future athletes.

This episode offers a thoughtful, forward-looking perspective on how to grow the sport’s competitive base while honoring the joy and culture of paddling that draw people to the water in the first place.

1. Jed’s early athletic life and transition through multiple winter sports
2. His journey to becoming a 2002 Olympian in Nordic combined
3. Lessons from coaching, development, and sport administration
4. How USA Nordic shaped his understanding of athlete pipelines
5. His current role at the American Canoe Association
6. Why competitive paddling in the U.S. faces unique challenges
7. The opportunity to build stronger youth pathways and coaching systems
8. Bridging rec-focused paddling communities with competitive programs
9. The overlooked potential of summer camps as talent incubators
10. What a sustainable, intentional future for U.S. paddlesports could look like

Jed Hinkley is an Olympian, coach, and sport development leader whose career spans elite athletic performance and national-level program building. After competing in the 2002 Winter Olympics in Nordic combined, Jed moved into coaching and sport administration, supporting youth development, national pipelines, and high-performance structures at USA Nordic before transitioning to the American Canoe Association. His work focuses on strengthening competitive pathways, expanding access, and building systems that help young athletes thrive.

Drop Jed a line at: jhinkley@americancanoe.org

Drop me a line at: bmayer@americancanoe.org

Brett Mayer is the host of Following Waters, a storytelling platform sponsored by the American Canoe Association that explores education, stewardship, adventure, and competition across the paddlesports world. His work