About Us
Great to meet you!
Eli Geisenberger and his organization All Out Adventures LLC operate Kayak DC! Eli is an Eagle Scout, ACA Kayaking Instructor, Team Jackson Kayaker, multi-class kayak competitor, craftsman, and an overall industrious and hard worker. Eli has been managing and teaching kayaking programs over the past 10 years that have made him a key figure in the Washington, DC kayaking community.
Meet The Instructors
Learn more about Eli, his team, and Kayak DC below!
Eli Geisenberger
Mason Hargrove
Sydney Carter
John Su
Reuben Middleton
Jason “Cheddar” Bates
Szombie Szabo
James Hopenfeld
OWNER & RIVER MASTER
Eli Geisenberger
ACA River Kayak Instructor
Paddling since: 2004
Hometown: Lancaster, PA
Rivers run/seas toured: Potomac, Chattahoochee, Shenandoah, Gualey, New, Lehigh, Kennebec, Dead, Gunpowder, Cheat, Youghiogheny, Big Sandy, Harveys Creek, Muddy Creek, San Juan, Nolichucky, Chesapeake Bay
Favorite spot: Southern Fried Stakeout, Chattahoochee, River
Best memory: My First Air Screw on Good Wave on the Chattahoochee River
Favorite piece of gear: Jackson Rockstar V!!!
When I’m not paddling, I like to: Skiing, Snowboarding, Climbing, Sailing, Give back to the Boy Scout Troop I grew up in!
Advice for new paddlers: When progressing gets hard keep pushing yourself to get over the hump.
Read More: Citizens of East Alabama (Feb 9, 2022)
VISITING PRO INSTRUCTOR
Mason Hargrove
Paddling since: 2014
Hometown: Phenix City, AL / Columbus, GA
Rivers run/seas toured: North Fork of the Payette, Chattahoochee in Columbus Ga, Agua Azul, or Upper Gauley
Favorite spot: Salida, Co – Boat Ramp Hole, Columbus, Ga – Donkey Kong, Ambush or Good Wave
Best memory: Any time I get to spend on the water with my family or friends!
Favorite piece of gear: Kayaks! There are so many fun ones to play with!
When I’m not paddling, I like to: Play golf or mountain bike!
Advice for new paddlers: Don’t feel like you have to do the hardest things! Kayaking is meant to be fun so do what you think is fun!
Read More: Citizens of East Alabama (Jan 12, 2022)
INSTRUCTOR
Sydney Carter
Paddling since: 2002
Hometown: Appleton, WI
Rivers run/seas toured: Penobscot, Kennebec, Dead, ME; Yough, New, WV; Potomac, MD; Red River, Wolf River, Lake Superior, WI; Jackson, WY; Les Calanques, France
Favorite spot: Toss-up between the sea caves of Lake Superior, and Maryland Chute at sunset.
Best memory: Paddling an IK through the first rapid on the Seboomook section of the Penobscot!
Favorite piece of gear: SPF 70
When I’m not paddling, I like to: Trail run, rock climb, cross-country ski, gravel bike, bake, cheer on the US Women’s soccer team, debate the best way to start a campfire, reorganize my paddling bag, think about international migration policy.
Advice for new paddlers: Any day on the water is a win, get out there!
INSTRUCTOR
John Su
Paddling since: 1996
Hometown: Rockville, MD
Rivers run/seas toured: Potomac, Cheat, Gauley, Big Sandy, Johns Creek, Moose, Black, Beaver, Snake, Savage, Shenandoah, James, Stoney, Chesapeake Bay, New, Youghiogheny River, FB9, Tellico, Chattooga 3 & 4, Nolichucky, Cheoah, Big Laurel, Pigeon, Nantahala, Ocoee, Holtwood
Favorite spot: Upper Ocoee
Best memory: Running Chattooga Section 4 in a full slice
Favorite piece of gear: My wood paddles
When I’m not paddling, I like to: support Team River Runner when I can by fixing cracked kayaks or repurposing them into hand paddles. Follow me @trrhandpaddles
Advice for new paddlers: Aside from have fun, go at your own pace, TRY your hardest not to compare yourself to other paddlers. We advance at our own pace so be true to yourself.
Reuben Middleton
ACA River Kayak Instructor
Paddling since: 2021
Hometown: Lancaster, England
Rivers run/seas toured: Lune, Kent, Leven, Tees, Derwent, Irish Sea, Potomac, Susquehanna, Tohickon creek, Muddy creek, Buck-Branch creek.
Favorite spot: Anywhere I can kayak
Best memory: My First Waterfall Descent
Favorite piece of gear: Palm PFD
When I’m not paddling, I like to: Rock climb, Do Parkour, Drink Coffee, Spend time with my wife
Advice for new paddlers: Be consistent with your kayak practice.
Jason “Cheddar” Bates
Paddling since: 2013
Hometown: Lynchburg, VA
Rivers run/seas toured: Arkansas, Big Thompson, Chattooga, Cheat, Cheoah, Cherry, Cranberry, French Broad, Gauley, Green, Guil, Guisanna, Imst, Loisach, Middle Fork of the Salmon, Murg, New, Nolichucky, Ocoee, Potomac, Roaring Fork, Rosanna, Sanna, Soca, Tellico, Tohickon, Vaal, Vesubie, Yough, Watauga, Wills Creek, Wilson Creek
Favorite spot: Rocky wave after attaining from Carderock, the reward is so sweet!
Best memory: First time doing the Gauley marathon and how delicious that beer tasted afterwards.
Favorite piece of gear: Our Minivan
When I’m not paddling, I like to: Battle father time so I can keep paddling, weight train, yoga, and cardio. Be an uncle.
Advice for new paddlers: Make paddling a habit!
Szombie Szabo
Paddling since: 2017
Hometown: Chicago, IL
Rivers run/seas toured: Tohickon, Lehigh sect 1 & 2, Nesky, Brodhead, pocono, roaring branch, rock run, shohola top & lower, Raymondskill falls, mongaup, dryway, stony, lower, upper & top yough, lower big sandy, middle fork, tygart, valley falls, Holtwood, Scudders falls, Chattahoochee (goodwave), town creek, west river, cheoah, tallulah, Nantahala, lock, wick, Wilson, new river, gauley, valley falls, beaver -taylorville, beaver-mossier falls, savage, Chattooga sect 4, Harveys Creek, Fifebrook, millers creek, great Miami river, Arkansas river, Potomac, & The Grand Canyon.
Favorite spot: Any wave I can find & surf!
Best memory: The ones spent with friends!
Favorite piece of gear: Jackson Kayak Mixmaster & Jackson Kayak Rockstar V (Such a Hard choice! Both are SOOOOOOOOO Good!)
When I’m not paddling, I like to: GO PADDLING!! Spend time with my wife, Fly fish, skill build, & video game
Advice for new paddlers: Anger and frustration will only hold you back, only compare yourself to prior self – no one else.james
James Hopenfeld
Paddling since: 2012
Hometown: Rockville, MD
Rivers run/seas toured: Potomac, Shenandoah, Yough, New, Snake, Grand Canyon; Sea Kayaking: New Zealand, Alaska coasts
Favorite spot: Maryland chute late on a summer evening!
Best memory: Summers in LA with my family as a kid.
Favorite piece of gear: Werner Double Diamond paddle
When I’m not paddling, I like to: Dancing in the ballroom, Riding a horse or a bike, on a yoga mat, or tending the garden.
Advice for new paddlers: Appreciating the beauty of a river is just as important as learning new skills!
What Others Are Saying
Reviews from others are the highest compliment that we can receive. Check out what others in the Washington, DC area have said about our kayaking lessons and adventures!
Make This Year Amazing!
Learn a new skill, meet new friends, and see the Potomac River like never before with Kayak DC!
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