Wearing PFDs on a raft

Frequently Asked Questions About PFDs

By: Ellie Friedmann, May 13, 2020

A Personal Flotation Device, also called a PFD, helps you stay on the surface of the water. However, there are so many questions, so lets dive in. What is the...

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Buying Your First Whitewater Kayak

By: Emily Little, May 11, 2020

Getting into whitewater kayaking can be overwhelming. There is a lot of gear to purchase and many options. A big, and very important piece of gear is your first whitewater...

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Vladimir Kovalik

Remembering Vladimir Kovalik

By: Zach, February 24, 2020

This week we said goodbye to an industry legend. Vladimir Kovalik made an impact in the world of rafting through his gear innovations, tenacity, and passion for rivers.  The following...

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Owyhee River

Multi-Day Trips in the West

By: Bryan Tooley, April 11, 2019

When it comes to overnight river trips, the Western US has an amazing collection of options, with each state offering something different. Idaho is known as the whitewater state.  Arizona...

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Jackson Nirvana Kayak

Gear Review: Jackson Nirvana

By: Zach, September 13, 2017

I only review kayaks that I like and I absolutely love the new Jackson Nirvana kayak. When I first saw photos of this boat my first impression that it was...

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Velvet Falls on the Middle Fork of the Salmon River at 6.5 feet

High-Water Safety: Guidelines for Rafting Swollen Rivers

By: Bill McGinnis, April 25, 2017

Big winters create big runoff. Whitewater rafters are looking at epically high water! Because increased flows dramatically change rivers and require a redoubling of our ongoing efforts to keep our...

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Modern Whitewater Guidebooks

Gear Review: The Latest and Greatest Whitewater Guidebooks

By: Zach, February 10, 2017

I love my library of whitewater guidebooks with classics like Charles Martin's Sierra Whitewater, Dick Scwhind's West Coast River Touring, Grant Amaral's Idaho the Whitewater State, and John Garren's Oregon...

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Top View

Gear Review: 2015 Jackson Fun

By: Michael Hughes, December 21, 2016

The Fun was Jackson Kayak's first whitewater boat to come out of the mold in 2004. After a handful up design changes, the 2015 Fun is here and ready to...

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Jackson Rockstar Kayak performing a "stern squirt"

Gear Review: Jackson Rockstar Large

By: Zach, October 22, 2016

For a long time I assumed the Jackson Rockstar was only for throwing big tricks on perfect holes and waves. Boy was I wrong. This is a fun and remarkably...

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Cataraft on the Wind River

River Safety: Northwest Cataraft Progression

By: Zach, October 4, 2016

The rainy season is about to come to the Northwest which means boating season is right around the corner. Whitewater runs like the Upper Clackamas and Wind Rivers become training...

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