Adam Masters
Founder
Adam Masters, founder of Bellyak, has been a lifelong kayaker and after years of hand paddling, decided to lie prone on his kayak and run a small creek. He immediately coined the term Bellyak and set out to build prototypes so that he could share the thrill of prone kayaking with his friends. In the process, he opened the world of paddlesports to a much larger segment of the population. Now everyone, including adaptive paddlers, can use a Bellyak for everything from recreational lake use, to whitewater paddling.
In His Genes
Adam not only grew up around kayaks; he comes from a long line of paddlesport visionaries. His father, Bill Masters, started Perception Kayaks in 1975. Perception Kayaks would revolutionize the sport. Thanks to his innovations in rotational molding, Bill singlehandedly pushed kayaking into the mainstream by creating well-designed, less-expensive plastic kayaks. You can learn more about Bill here.
Adam’s uncle Allen Stancil taught him the ins and outs of prototyping. Allen, who helped design many of the classic kayaks that developed the sport, went on as one of the co-founders of LiquidLogic Kayaks. In addition, Jim Snyder, whitewater pioneer and the inventor of squirt boating, helped form Adam’s love of paddlesports and his eye for design. Many others also shared their insights with Adam, spurring him to manifest his instinct for playing in the water into a new and advanced sport for people of all abilities.
Adam is the chair of the American Canoe Associations Prone Paddling Committee as well as a Level 4 Swiftwater Rescue Instructor. Adam’s off water pursuits include bluegrass fiddling and off road unicycling.
Callan Welder
Instructor Ambassador Second Best Bellyaker in the World
Callan is the second best Bellyaker in the world, and was Adam’s inspiration for evolving the design. In the early phases of bellyak, when the boats were all foam and fiberglass, Callan was right there helping the sport evolve on Section 9 of the French Broad in Madison County. Callan lives in Marshall with his wife Allison and Daughter Lily, and runs his acupuncture practice in downtown Marshall. You can check him out at www.marshallacupuncture.com.
“I started bellyaking about 5 years ago and haven’t looked back. I used to kayak and raft but nothing is as exciting and fun as the bellyak. I love the powerful connection with the water and the flexibility with the craft. You can paddle face down, or sit on your butt or knees. Surfing is absolutely my favorite thing to do on the bellyak. There are so many moves and ways to surf that it becomes and endless adventure. I can’t wait to teach my daughter when she gets old enough, she’s gonna love it.”
Natalie DeRatt
Marketing and All Around MVP
Natalie has a background in raising giant hairy dogs, is originally from England and has bobsledded for Team USA and GB. When she’s not working her social media and marketing magic for Bellyak she loves to be outside pottering around and has the most fun exploring the world. Natalie loves donuts way more than is normal for a person who has competed in two Olympic Trials for track and field. She can’t swim well without her flippers.
“Bellyak gives the best thrills since the bobsled.”
Lance Elzie
Paddlesport Extraordinaire
Lance has been involved in paddlesports instruction for a couple of decades. He is a wilderness medicine instructor, wilderness lifeguard instructor, Leave No Trace Master Educator, and has several instructor certifications from the American Canoe Association (ACA). When Lance found out about Bellyaking he was thrilled because it involves two of his favorite things paddling and laying down. Lance’s other passion is hammocking – he is trying to start a national team.
“Learning the fundamentals of Bellyaking is easy – if you can swim you can Bellyak.”
Sara Weidemann
Bellyak Fitness
Sara is a full-time Fitness Director at a community center in Minnesota! She has a background in corporate and community fitness and holds certifications in Personal Training, Group Fitness, Yoga, Mat Pilates, PiYo, Kettlebells and Water Aerobics!
Sara strongly believes in the necessity for an active lifestyle, encompassing a balance of all the components of fitness. She tries to help clients achieve a balanced lifestyle that encompasses all dimensions of health & wellness.
“I’m really excited to bring Bellyak to the lakes of Minnesota and to show the Minnesotans what they have been missing!”
Kyle Morgan
Team Adaptive Bellyak
Kyle joined the Bellyak team in 2014. In 2010 a tragic accident left him paralyzed from the shoulders down. Pre injury Kyle loved being on the water but post injury that lifestyle seamed non existent. Kyle always had a “Never Give Up” attitude so when the chips weren’t in his favor he went all in and began push the limits of a wheelchair bound lifestyle. “I strolled across Bellyak on Facebook and from the moment I saw it, I knew I could use it because without hand function you’re limited to what you can do but that doesn’t mean it’s impossible”. Kyle said. “Being on the water again is such a freeing feeling, I’ve never been on top of Mount Everest but I’m sure the feeling you would get being there is breath taking, that’s what I get out of the Bellyak”. “To have something one day and it be gone the next was beyond devastating, so to be able to work and keep myself motivated to get to where I am today is absolutely breath taking. I’m doing things people said couldn’t be done for someone in my condition, I took that as an insult. I’m not going to let someone tell me what I’m capable of.”
Kyle is known as “Chief Motivator” at Bellyak…you can read more of his story here.
