I have been working for Springriver Annapolis since 1997. I simply stopped in one day to visit a friend, who promptly put me in a kayak for the first time, and sent me off paddling on Spa Creek. I came back and asked, "Are you guys hiring?"
I came to Annapolis Canoe and Kayak (then known as Springriver) not knowing much about kayaking... I had some experience canoeing as a kid, but I had most of the same misconceptions about kayaking that the general public did. Fortunately I got into the sport at the time that it was really breaking into the mainstream, where I got to work in the retail side of the business with a lot of the individuals who started some of today's largest manufacturers. At first it was a bit intimidating coming to work with people at Springriver (and at the companies whose boats we sold) who had been around the industry long before it was such a popular sport. They all knew so much more about it than I could have ever imagined knowing. But the family atmosphere and laid back attitude sucked me in quickly! Having such knowledgeable mentors as Brad Reardon, David Young (now owner of Springriver Annapolis) and George Albrecht Jr, it wasn't long before I was talking to people about boats with confidence.
I consider myself very lucky to have stumbled so blindly into such a wonderful company to work with, where "selling" products isn't so much the daily goal as it is working with customers to educate and guide them in a direction that suits their wants and needs... and let the boats sell themselves. I like to say that kayaking is a very addictive sport. I'm proud to say that I've gotten a good number of friends and family members hooked, including my beautiful wife Julie, my brothers, sister, grandmother and nephew, and especially my parents, Don and Dorothy, two of the biggest kayaking addicts I've known!
Paddling is unlike anything else I've ever done in my life. It's so exhilarating yet relaxing at the same time. There's truly no other way to experience being on (or in) the water that can compare.
If you stop by... ask me about my new on-the-water addiction.... Stand Up Paddle Boarding! Trust me... just try it!
If I'm not at the shop, chances are you'll find me working somewhere in the music business. My wife Julie and I have a band called Sweet Leda that plays a few gigs a week all over MD and abroad... and I also manage Baltimore's best audio facility, Studio Unknown.
Check out my other passions here:
Ian Smith
"Kia Ora!" If you enjoy kayaking at any level then you've found the right place at Annapolis Canoe and Kayak. Having grown up primarily in Annapolis I've had the good fortune of being connected to ACK since the summer of 2004. Since then Dave, Jaime, Ed, and a host of other paddlers have taught me safety, techniques, and the joy of adventure that can only be experienced from a kayaker's perspective on the water. Whether slow paddling on Spa creek or powering across the Chesapeake Bay we have the hull design to fit your needs.
When not at the shop I'm likely to be found riding my bike around the city and playing pick-up ultimate frisbee games. I was raised to appreciate the outdoors. Hiking, backcountry camping, and kayaking help inspire me. I study Anthropology and Biology at Kansas State University with particular interests in cultural and environmental interactions. As stewards of the environment, kayakers are in a position to help preserve the beautiful waterways around Annapolis, and to spread the idea that nature can be enjoyed with out motors. If you're looking for a good read to enjoy after exercising your body then I recommend John Muir, Aldo Leopold, or Bill Bryson to exercise your mind. Feel free to ask me about good camping spots around Shenandoah National Park and my favorite country in the world..New Zealand! Happy Paddling!
Ian's sites www.tolweb.org/tree www.netvibes.com www.savageminds.org
Ray Mosko
“Geezer Jock”
“Chairman of the Club”
“Self Appointed Leader of M.R.Yaks”
Though not technically an employee here at ACK, Ray can be found here almost as often as a full time employee! Generally you’ll catch him on his way in from or out for a paddle in his Current Designs Extreme… or occasionally taking out his wife Lois or a grandchild in “The Great Blue Whale.”
Ray has been an avid kayaker as well as close friend and customer here for well over a decade. A self-proclaimed “sloppy paddler,” most of us here can’t keep up with him… when he doesn’t want us to that is…
His gung-ho approach to everything he does also makes him the best gear tester we could ever have. “If it lasts Ray one season, it will last you several!”
As an avid kayaker who is very passionate about his favorite athletic outlet, it’s not uncommon for Ray to stop and chat for a while with a customer and share his experiences and opinions… or to invite a new kayaker to join him on an extended demo to see what the boat really does on open water.
If you ever see someone breaking through the ice from our floating dock in the dead of winter, give him a wave and know that for Ray, there’s no better place to be.
David Young 
