KATE CAMBIE
BUSINESS MANAGER
Kate Cambie is the Business Manager at Topsport Kayaking. Kate began kayaking in 2005 with a goal of racing in the individual two-day Coast to Coast. From there her interest in multisport began to grow. She has been helping run the business since 2010. Her passion for kayaking and customer service is combined in her role at Topsport and Kate will often be your first point of contact. Kate is a previous winner of the Waimakariri Classic River Race claiming the prestigious title 5 times! Most recently in 2024. Kate posted the fastest female kayak split during the 2016, 2018, 2019 and 2020 Kathmandu Coast to Coast. In 2020 Kate set a new record for the fastest female kayak split in the history of the race. Kate was awarded Volunteer of the Year at the 2024 Arawa Canoe Club AGM for her huge amounts of time given to supporting the Christchurch local club.
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LEN SMYTH
DIRECTOR
NZOIA Kayak 1 Training / NZOIA River Safety 1 / Bachelor of Resource Studies / Certificate in Engineering
Pre-Hospital Emergency First Aid
Len Smyth is the Company Director and primary owner of Topsport Kayaking. He has owned Topsport for over 25 years. Len developed a passion for kayaking in his twenties. This lead him to signing up for his first Coast to Coast, after his first race he was hooked. Now with 14 completed Coast to Coast races to his name Len can safely say he knows all the ins and outs of this iconic event. Len started paddling the Waimakiriri in 1991 and has been guiding since 1998. Len has literally logged hundreds of trips on the Waimak! As the Company Director Len’s role is focused on keeping our safety polices and procedures current as well as overseeing the daily requirements of all our paddlers, from equipment selection and setup through to kayak and paddle repairs. Len is a strong supporter of multisport in Canterbury and has been contributing to the sport in so many ways for years. He has taking on the role of organising the safety management for the Classic River Race which is a huge undertaking. In 2018 Sam Manson joined Len in ownership of Topsport Kayaking. With Sam on board we are excited about the future and are looking forward to continuing our rich history within the multisport community.
Sam Manson
SENIOR INSTRUCTOR AND GUIDE
Diploma in Outdoor Instructing and Guiding | NZOIA Kayak 1 | NZOIA Multisport Instructor
Pre-Hospital Emergency Care First Aid
Sam joined Topsport Kayaking at the end of 2015. He gained his Diploma in Outdoor Instruction and Guiding in 2016 while studying at Tai Poutini Polytechnic. The year was specialised in advanced white water kayaking rescue, white water kayaking instruction/guiding, advanced white water rafting rescue, white water raft guiding, advanced bush and mountain skill, meteorology, teaching and more. He has over 15 years of white water kayaking experience and did his first course at the reputable NZ Kayak School Murchison in 2009. Sam began paddling on the Waimakariri River in 2012 as he prepared for his first Longest Day Coast to Coast in 2013. Since then Sam has finished 10 Longest Days inside the top 10 and Won the overall prize of male Multisport World Champion in 2023. He has also won the prestigous Waimakariri Classic River Race twice. Sam is at the top of the game as one of NZ's best Multisport athletes and he is keen to share his knowledge with you. Sam is one of just a handful of instructors in New Zealand to have both his NZOIA Kayak 1 and NZOIA Multisport qualification.
Zack Stones
KAYAKING INSTRUCTOR/GUIDE
Diploma in Outdoor Instructing and Guiding | NZOIA Kayak 1
Pre-Hospital Emergency Care First Aid
Zack graduated from Tai Poutini Polytechnic with his Diploma in Outdoor Instruction and Guiding in 2020. Following this Zack earned the NZOIA Kayak 1 qualification in March 2023. Zack comes from a very active outdoors family. He is a talented class 5 whitewater paddler, paddling some the biggest whitewater in NZ and overseas in style, mountain biker, rock climber and skier.
Zack has embraced his role at Topsport since he arrived here in January 2022. He has already got his first Goat Pass trip under his belt as well and loves the multisport world.
Zack is highly motivated and when he’s not at work you won’t find him on the couch.
Dayla Ward
KAYAKING INSTRUCTOR/GUIDE
Diploma in Outdoor Instructing and Guiding | NZOIA Kayak 1
Pre-Hospital Emergency Care First Aid
Dayla has been working at Topsport as a multisport kayak instructor and guide since January 2023
Dayla graduated from Tai Poutini Polytechnic with her Diploma in Outdoor Instruction and Guiding in 2020. Following this Dayla earned the NZOIA Kayak 1 qualification in March 2022. Dayla is a class 5 extreme white water paddler, travelling overseas during the NZ winter to explore the white water in USA and Europe. She knows everything about kayaking!
Rumour is she is lining up for the Waimakariri Classic River race 2025....
Daniel Jones
ROAD/MOUNTAIN RUNNING GUIDE AND COACH
Dan Joined the Topsport team as a Goat Pass mountain guide and running coach in 2017. Dan is one of NZ’s top runners and holds the fastest time over the Coast to Coast Goat Pass mountain run course. He is currently focused on world class ultra trail running and he will always be just at home on the challenging terrain of the Southern Alps. Dan was born and bred in the mountains. Dan is a very friendly and polite person who will certainly make your Goat Pass trip or running technique session is one to remember. His knowledge and experience will ensure you come out of the trips and sessions feeling satisfied, stronger, smarter and above all safe.