UPCOMING COMMUNITY EVENT SPEAKERS
Originally from Idaho, Zack moved to Bozeman in 2005 to study film at Montana State University. After a handful of years skiing and going in and out of school he found hunting and fishing while living in Missoula, Montana. Shortly after Zack and his brother started Montana Wild, a small outdoor media company that quickly grew into one of the leaders in the space. Over the year's Zack has had films in most of the prominent outdoor film tours, created content for many of the top hunting and fishing brands, and now serves as the Director of Content at Stone Glacier, an ultralight backpacking company that builds complete systems for serious Western hunters. When Zack is not at work creating and directing content missions, you can find him fishing around Montana, lifting weights, shooting his rifles, scouting, and of course hunting. Zack will be speaking at Tailwaters Fly Fishing in Dallas, Texas on June 20th at 3:30 PM.
Durrell Smith is a 33 year old Atlanta, Georgia native, visual artist, conservationist, Ambassador for Beretta USA, Orvis Endorsed Wing-shooting Guide, bird dog handler/trainer, and podcast host. While creating compelling abstract assemblage or commissioned india ink and watercolor illustrations based on his field experiences and hunting dogs, he also runs a podcast called The Sporting Life Notebook, along with his nonprofit, the Minority Outdoor Alliance, co-founded with his wife Ashley. Durrell is also the recipient of the 2021 Orvis Breaking Barriers Award, which honors individuals or organizations going above and beyond to bring new communities into fly fishing or wing-shooting. As a first generation hunter, Durrell seeks to learn with and contribute to the active outdoor community by connecting with visionaries within the visual arts and bird dog community who are willing to share stories and knowledge about the various breeds and practices, creating a bridge to welcome aspiring dog men and women to the bird dog community. Durrell will be speaking at Tailwaters Fly Fishing at 3:30 PM in Dallas, Texas on August 1st, 2024.
Dave Hahn is one of the most accomplished mountaineers in the world who has reached the summit of Mount Everest fifteen times out of 21 tries. He has guided climbers to the summit of Mount Rainier more than 300 times, and has led 38 attempts on Denali, reaching the summit 26 times. Dave has reached the summit of the Vinson Massif in Antarctica 39 times. In 2006, Dave guided a team of professional athletes on an expedition to ski Mount Everest. In 1999 Dave participated in the expedition that discovered and identified the remains of explorer George Mallory, who died trying to scale Everest in 1924. Dave has been on seven expeditions to the island of South Georgia and has led trekkers overland on the "Shackleton Traverse", which in 2004 won Outside Magazine's Trip of the Year Award. He has participated in many visits by ship to the Antarctic Peninsula. Dave shot high-altitude video for the PBS NOVA program Lost on Everest, and guided a film crew into the Ellsworth Mountains of Antarctica on a journey of discovery that resulted in the Emmy-Award-winning film, Mountain of Ice. Dave will be speaking at Tailwaters Fly Fishing in Dallas, Texas on September 19th, 2024 at 3:30 PM.
Simon's father taught him to fish at the age of eight and he's been teaching fly casting professionally since the age of 16. With over 35 years of teaching experience, Simon is a highly sought-after instructor. He has written 3 books on Spey casting. He has both cast and fished for England in British, European and World Championships and was elected Captain of the England team for the 2003 World Fly Fishing Championship. Simon is A.P.G.A.I. and S.T.A.N.I.C. certified in the U.K. and C.I., Master and T.H.C.I. certified in the U.S. through Fly Fishers International. In 2019 Simon was the recipient of the Lifetime Teaching Award by Fly Fishers International. Simon is acknowledged as one of the world's leading authorities on Spey casting and has taught and demonstrated spey casting around the world. Simon will be speaking at Orvis:Dallas on December 5th, 2024 at 3:30 PM.