Employee Profiles

ANDY CORRA - Owner

I started paddling under the instruction of Roger Paris in 1979 on Colorado's Roaring Fork river. Back then it was long, fiberglass boats, wool sweaters, and Ace helmets. If you saw another vehicle with a kayak traveling down I-70, both would pull over to see who the heck it was. A new paddling buddy or old friend would be encountered!

Because of Roger, I became interested in racing kayaks early on- an addiction I still can't seem to shake. From 1984 to 1993 I spent much of my time training and racing wildwater kayaks with the U.S. Team. In summers, when not racing in Europe, I was exploring the rivers of the Western states, playboating, scouting first descents, and harnessing fears on tough runs.

Paddling has taken me from South America to Africa, while introducing me to some of the wildest characters and closest friends one could have.

These days, while I still get out for surf sessions behind the store and an occasional skill (read fear!) test on Vallecito Creek, more of my water time is spent with my wife, Janet, and son Wiley, on dory floats on the Animas and multi-day floats in the desert. We also enjoy stand-up-paddleboarding and family kayak runs together.

All of this adds to nearly 30 years of river running, with work directly in the Paddlesports industry since 1987- beginning with a start-up paddle manufacturer, to 8 years as the Rocky Mountain Rep for Perception, Kokatat, and others, to my current job as owner of 4CRS.

Running the store with a committed, experienced, enthusiastic staff of paddlers, and having such quality customers is a privilege that keeps this job motivating and rewarding for me.

Tony Miely - Managing Partner

I came to Colorado in 1991 from the Chicago area to attend college at CSU in Ft. Collins. Soon after arriving in Ft. Collins and seeing people paddling on the Poudre River I purchased a second hand Perception Dancer and gear. From this point on I was always kayaking or swimming. One of the things I love about paddling is the camaraderie and willingness of others to help a new paddler. I quickly made friends in the paddling community and learned how to roll and started exploring rivers around the West. After a season or two I was helping out at roll classes and fully dedicated to the paddling lifestyle.

After college I moved to Steamboat Springs and worked the graveyard shift at Wave Sport Kayaks, molding boats all night, and skiing and snowboarding all day. After Steamboat I got a job as General Manager at Down River Equipment in Denver. Three years in the city was enough for me and in 1999 I moved to Durango and started working at 4Corners. I had only been to Durango on one other occasion before moving here. I found the people to be some of the best anywhere, the mountains rugged and the rivers amazingly beautiful.

In 2009 I was in an accident in which I ended up losing my right hand. The paddling community and the people of Durango really showed their true colors and helped me through an incredibly difficult time. I spent 2010 re-learning how to paddle, with both a left hand control paddle and with hand paddles. I have been favoring my hand paddles, as I feel safer in more difficult water with them. I have a decent rowing set up for my raft and am still working on a good SUP set up. I have spent my life on the water and do not intend to let my injuries slow me down.

My wife Tina is an avid kayaker and SUP'er and we love the multi-day desert trips of the Southwest and enjoy getting up to Idaho for some of their classic rivers like the Selway and the MF Salmon.

DREW BEEZLEY - Paddle School Director / Information Technology

I have been working at the shop since 2004. I grew up boating in Missouri and Arkansas. During the summers of college I began raft guiding on the Arkansas River. In the winter I enjoy snowmobile guiding for Snowmobile Adventures and skiing as many days as possible. Now my summer days are spent managing the kayak school.

Play Boat: All Star
Creeker: Jefe
Raft: Jacks Cat
Favorite Local Run:Vallecito
Favorite Multi-day: Salt
Paddling Since: 1989

Insterests:

Kayaking, rafting, skiing, mountain biking

MATT GERHARDT - Web & Marketing Director

I was born and raised in Durango and have spent the years of my youth wandering the southwest, kayaking, rafting, skiing, mountain biking, and fishing among other things. When I'm not involved in the action, I'm photographing it from the best vantage I can attain. I also work as an assistant photographer, master print technician and Photoshop expert.

Favorite Boats: Jackson Rock Star / Liquid Logic Remix
Raft: Aire 143E
Favorite Local Run:Upper Animas
Favorite Multi-day: Salt

Interests:

Kayaking, rafting, skiing, mountain biking, scuba diving, photography

STACY FALK - Sales Staff / Shipping Specialist

I was born and raised in Colorado and have been living in Durango since 2002. This is when I started whitewater kayaking (with thanks to my college roommate who paddled for Dagger). After my exposure to the world of whitewater and river trips all I wanted to do was work at 4CRS. Tony hired me in 2006 and I love my job and co-workers. Where else can you tell your boss not to schedule you for months at a time so you can go play and still come home and have a job? I truly value my opportunity to be a part of the 4CRS family.

DOB: 4/27/1984
Play Boat: King Pin 6.2
Creeker: Mamba 8.0
Raft: Jacks Fatboy
Favorite Local Run:Piedra
Favorite Multi-day: Yampa
Right Shoulder Surgery: June 26, 2009
Left Shoulder Surgery: January 6, 2011
Left Knee Surgery: November 3, 2011

Favorite Music: Neko Case, Old 97s, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Tool, Rihanna, Lady GaGa

Interests:

kayaking, skiing, hockey, backpacking, vodka

ASHLEIGH TUCKER - Sales Staff

I grew up in the green mountains of Vermont and moved to Durango ten years ago. I graduated from Prescott College with a degree in Environmental Studies: Education for Sustainability and have now gone back to FLC to get my teaching license. I first went down the Animas back in 2002 in a canoe with my brother, and almost bailing in Corner Pocket led me to learn how to kayak. My sister (Stacy) and I taught ourselves one summer and hung out in eddies until we could roll. I am happy to say that throughout my adventures in Colorado, kayaking has become my favorite activity and I love being surrounded by the boating community. 4CRS is my summer life and my family. Paddle, Live, Love, Laugh!

DOB: 7/3/1983
Play Boat: All Star
Creeker: Jefe Chico
Favorite Multi-day: Cat
Favorite Music: Brother Ali, Jack Johnson, Dixie Chicks

Interests:

Kayaking, skiing, hockey

NIKO PEHA - Sales Staff

I was born here in Durango in 1990 and lived here all the way through high school. I got into boating through rafting with my parents when I was young and took my first kayaking course at 4crs in 2001. Throughout high school I trained and raced slalom with Durango Whitewater and worked at 4crs to fund my adventures. I now attend Lewis and Clark College up in Portland Oregon where the sun never shines but the rivers are running year round.

DOB: 8/20/1990
Boating Since: 2001
Boat: Prijon Pure
Favorite Creek: Vallecito, Little White Salmon
Favorite Multi-day: Salt

SCOTT JAPHET aka "Tiny" - Special Project Director

I have been working with 4 CRS since the impressionable age of 15. My ever growing knowledge in the rafting and kayak community has helped shape the dynamics of my job where I am involved in just about every aspect of what we do here. From building the good ol' Coyote groovers to designing and selling custom raft packages, repairing gaskets and helping keep the shop girls in line- no matter what I am here to serve you.

DOB: 9/4/87
Play Boat: Sin
Creeker: Jefe
Raft: Jacks 16.5' SB
Favorite Creek:Vallecito
Favorite Multi-day: Upper Perth
Paddling Since: 1998

LANI HANNA - Sales Staff / Purchasing

Growing up in the Southwest US I was lucky to spend many summers on various river trips and the town run here in Durango. A few years ago I tried Stand Up Paddleboarding and fell in love with the sport. Most days you can find me cruising around either up stream from town doing yoga on my board or heading down the Animas town run. I love the versatility of the paddleboard but I have still been known to row a raft or two and paddle my kayak. I graduated in 2008 from Prescott College in Arizona and have worked at 4CRS ever since, trying to promote a little fashion in the river community:) Not an easy job.

Favorite Local Run: Dolores
Favorite Kayak: Dagger Axiom
Favorite Raft: Aire Puma
Favorite SUP: C4 (travel), 14' Hobie Race Board (thanks Chuck Patterson), Imagine Rapidfire (whitewater)

Favorite River Food: Dutch Oven Enchiladas!