Brad Burden embodies the attitude of a winner. A Louisville native, Brad lives in Charlestown and has set goals throughout his life. Once established, Burden embarks on a journey to seize them with vigor.
Burden was a pro kayaker and kayak instructor when he began writing chapters as a teacher and basketball coach. Penning pages dedicated to Bellarmine University, as well as Providence and Silver Creek high schools, he also authored chapters titled,“ Travel, Bike and Food Enthusiast.” Spend five minutes talking with Brad and you know he is simply enthusiastic about life.
Brad posted on his Facebook account,“ A wise man once told me,‘ Life’ s all about chapters’ and I’ m ready for a new one.”
Burden’ s book has more chapters than most of us have socks. After a successful stint coaching girls’ basketball, he has turned his attention once again to kayaking. He offers private instruction and teaching. His blog titled,“ B-Flow Sessions,” provides encouragement and advice for beginners. His own sights are set upon qualifying for national kayaking competitions.
Burden competed in whitewater kayaking for Master’ s Men( over 40) at Nantahala Outdoor Center in North Carolina, finishing third. He also finished second in Montgomery, Ala. and third in Columbus, Ga. Burden placed third in the New Paddle South Freestyle Kayaking Tour at Rock Island, Tenn. Another local paddler, Jacob Ward, finished fifth at Nantahala, third at Montgomery and sixth at Columbus in the Pro Men’ s division.
Kayaking uses a kayak to gracefully and quickly move over water. It is different from canoeing based on the sitting position of the paddler and the number of blades on the paddle. The kayak is lower-to-the-water and more sleek than most canoes. The paddler sits facing forward, pulling frontto-back with the paddle on one side and then rotating to the other. Most kayaks are closed deck, but sit-on-top and inflatable kayaks are becoming popular as well.
The sport itself grows in popularity each year. The website paddling. com lists over 48,000 kayaking locations in North America alone. Kayakingnear. me writes,“ Indiana offers truly unique lakes and rivers that you’ ll fall in love with by kayak.” In addition to the well-known Eagle Creek Reservoir and Lake Monroe, the site singles out the nearby Blue River.
“ The Blue River begins in Washington County and a section of its path goes to the Ohio River that forms a boundary between Harrison and Crawford County. As you kayak down the river, you will encounter historical attractions, numerous caves, thick forest and rural farmland.”
Burden lists the Falls of the Ohio as one of his favorite spots. The state park offers views of one of the world’ s largest Devonian fossil beds and an ever-changing landscape of the Ohio River. Water levels are just one of many factors that impact kayaking.
NICK ANDERSON FOLLOWS BRAD BURDEN TO THE OHIO RIVER. BURDEN, WHO USED TO COACH HIGH SCHOOL BASKETBALL, IS TURNING A NEW CHAPTER INTO WHITE WATER KAYAKING.
PAGE NO. 26 NEWS AND TRIBUNE SPORTS MAGAZINE MAY / JUNE 2026