Hailing from Norwich, NY, Ryan grew up kayaking and snowboarding in the lakes and hills of upstate New York. His love for outdoor adventure led him to SUNY Plattsburgh, where he studied whitewater kayaking, backcountry snowboarding, guiding, and coaching as part of the Expeditionary Studies program. During that time, he explored the whitewater of the Northeast and earned his American Canoe Association Level 4 Whitewater Kayak Instructor Certification. More recently, his dedication to coaching adventure sports has driven him to pursue awards through British Canoeing.

Currently, Ryan holds the British Canoeing Sea Kayak Leader Award and is working toward the Sea Kayak Coach Award. His adventures have taken him across the globe, from Slovenia and Wales to Nepal and Japan. Aligned with the Body Boat Blade ethos, Ryan embraces a learner-focused approach to instruction, believing that adventure sports foster self-discovery when students’ goals take center stage. When he’s not in a boat, you’ll find him exploring the rivers and trails of the Pacific Northwest or teaching snowboarding.