Name: Tino Specht

Age: 18

Home: Charlemont, Massachusetts

Favorite Shred Ready helmet and color: Shaggy in Midnight Blue

Describe the time you were most glad you were wearing your helmet:
On the Deerfield river I tried a loop where I shouldn’t have and landed directly on top of a boulder. That is the time that comes to mind.

Who do you respect most?
My friend Aaron Mead just cause he’s an all around cool kid his ability to focus and pull anything off and a sick paddler on top it all off. My family is also a group of that I have a ton of respect for, for always going after what they want and not looking back.

Who on the Shred Ready team do you most admire?
I don’t know most of the athletes on the team very well but I got a chance to hang out with Andrew a little bit this past summer. It was cool to see how his ego doesn’t get in the way of his paddling and he was pretty supportive to me before my competitions not to mention he is just straight up impressive on a wave and on a creek.

What movies/books/comics/TV shows, etc are you into right now?
For the books I guess the only thing I’m reading is my geography and my Spanish book for school but I just discovered Fuel T.V. which is a channel devoted to core sports like surfing and skiing. Also Family Guy and the movie Casino Royal.

What are you listening to these days?
Thievery Cooperation, Guster, Atmosphere, and The Decemberists.

What was the best concert you attended?
I just saw James Taylor in concert that was pretty fun.

What are some things that motivate you?
I love taking trips up to Canada with my friends, surfing waves (as big as we can find them), girls, and the thing that probably motivates me the most is filming and editing video footage…. of kayaking.

What sports do you enjoy watching or participating in besides your main sport? Participationwise I XC Ski to stay in shape as well as play Soccer for my high school soccer team. My favorite activity to do is jump on my trampoline. Watchingwise I love Surfing, Downhill skiing and Wakeboarding.

What's the most fun you've ever had while participating in your sport? Almost every day I paddle there is something I come off the water totally pumped about, but there was one day on the Ottawa River that tops them all. Garb was at prime levels and there were no lines in the eddy. Just me, my friends and a sicko wave.

What's the best trip you've ever been on?
Its a toss up between my last trip to Chile with the New River Academy and one to the Ottawa my first year kayaking.

What goals are you working towards right now?
I am hoping to compete and do well in some up coming rodeos, as well as some first descents around the New England area. Help push the sport.

When people look at your life, how would you like to be remembered? Someone who loved to have fun, but that’s a big question I’m not sure I’ve found the answer to yet.

What do you view as your biggest accomplishment?
Finding a way to kayak during high school, knowing that I have a sick river waiting for me after school is such a good feeling. It also motivates you to do well in school!

What advice do you have for other people coming up in your sport?
Be smart and have fun, don’t feel pressured to do the crazy stuff that people are always bragging about. Do your own thing and you’ll get where you want to go.

Duran Duran, Tear for Fears, Hall and Oates, or Cindy Lauper?
Hall and Oates, because they remind me of Joey Hall, one of the greatest human beings in the world, great kayaker, and a handsome man.....I hope to meet him one day