Our vertical assault unit was back in action hucking and ducking the steepest-sikkest drops in the region.

http://www.mthoodh2o.blogspot.com/

Meanwhile our boats stayed horizontal as the North Santiam River provided numerous opportunities to practice flatwater paddling.

In a constant pursuit of improvement….
http://oregonraftingteam.com/

12 souls gathered in silence on the bank of the West Fork of the Hood River. Together,
we grasped the wooden shaft of a paddle and listened as the rushing water spoke to us.

“For we brought nothing into this world, and we can take nothing out of it. But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that. People who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge men into ruin and destruction”.

We were all kings on this day, abundantly wealthy and at peace with the river.

http://www.youtube.com/user/nwrafting
http://www.nwrafting.com/

Quartzville Creek

Team River Runner New Years Day Float

501c3

So much more than just paddling these days.
A few weeks ago 12 of us paddled down Quartzville Creek, a pristine little drainage deep in the woods outside of Sweet Home Oregon. It wasn’t that long ago when I worried about getting 4 ORT boats down a class IV run safely. So nice to have a polished and experienced crew…for the most part, well at least on the water anyway!

A significantly more rewarding experience occurred on New Years Day as we joined the Northwest Rafters Association, the Oregon Whitewater Association, and most importantly Team River Runner for a float and picnic on the Sandy River. We were honored to guide some of our veterans down the river! It is just too easy to take for granted the privileged lifestyles we lead as Americans. Supreme sacrifices are made everyday which allow us to enjoy the highest standard of living in the world.

God bless our veterans.

Additionally, Dr. Frankenstein had been at work in his lab creating a formula to get ORT officially approved as a non profit 501c3 organization! We hope that this will allow us to generate a resource base which will facilitate the continued development of our entire river communities through whitewater festivals which of course include raft racing.

The challenge for all of us in 2010 will be to tirelessly continue our relentless pursuit of self actualization as we improve ourselves psychologically, spiritually, and athletically by riding the souls of the earth also known as a rivers and their ecosystems.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/oregonraftingteam/

The 1st day of training for 2010 happened on December 6th of 2009 following a team meeting at the boathouse. The boys braved ice and 33 degree weather by paddling the Sandy Gorge. Things should be heating up soon!

Western Whitewater Championship Series 2010
(WWCS-III)

The WWCS began 3 seasons ago when the Oregon Rafting Team (ORT) began to take on an active role in coordinating the dates of races and festivals in the Western United States. This coming season ORT will provide a scoring summary on their website which receives approximately 4000 hits annually. Prizes are awarded, and a regional representative is then nominated for both national and international levels of competition which at this time occurs only in the paddle raft racing category. In 2010 the WWCS R6 paddle raft champion will be nominated to compete in Costa Rica, an event which will take place in October of 2011 on the Reventazun and Pacuare Rivers.

The past two seasons, WWCS events have each drawn 45-105 competitors annually, in addition to a significant number of spectators, logistical supporters, and sponsors. Event coordinators are currently seeking a sponsor specific to the WWCS. This sponsor’s name would be directly linked in all promotions to the WWCS name and tradition. The WWCS represents the soul of competitive whitewater activities. We are paddlers, river lovers, and real people who wish to develop and nurture our respective river communities. Please contact Tim Brink nomadyellow@yahoo.com if you wish to support our efforts.

2010 Western Whitewater Championship Series
(WWCS)

1. March 20, 21 : Saturday, Sunday : Upper Wind (Festival)

2. April 3 : Saturday : East Fork Lewis

3. April 17, 18 : Saturday, Sunday : Upper Klamath (Festival)

4. May 1 : Saturday: Cal-Salmon Race

5. May 15-16 : Saturday, Sunday : Upper Clackamas (Festival)

6. June 5 : Saturday : Payettes, Boise (PBR Festival)

7. September 11 : Saturday : White Salmon (TBD)

8. October 9, 10 : Saturday, Sunday : Burnt Ranch Gorge

- R4 and R2 paddle rafts.
- Kayaks less than 9 feet.
- Kayaks 9 feet or more.
- Catarafts.

• Festival indicates that more activities will be included in addition to a downriver race. (Fun float, trainings, etc.)
• If your business or team would like manage/promote these possible events please contact me. nomadyellow@yahoo.com

The 2009 USRA National Championships was just too much fun. A no consequence artificial course with big holes , staying in a luxury home on a lake in Maryland, and rafting the famous Upper Yak with legends were just a few of the highlights. Also included in our experience were staying with some hard chargers (in more ways than one) from Team River Runner http://www.teamriverrunner.org/, and coaching up a boat load of aspiring raft racers who were just 10 years of age named the “Lucky Dux”.

The week started out by running into some guides in Ohiopyle Pennsylvania. I was then invited to bowling night where I quickly found out that I cant bowl. The next day I was greeted by wet, warm weather as the back roads led me to Immersion Researchhttp://www.immersionresearch.com/. IR is long time supporter of ORT in addition to many other whitewater activities and liquid evolution for that matter. John, Roger, and the crew have been holding up in an old schoolhouse located in Confluence PA trying to make things better by developing practical and durable whitewater apparel that serves a number of paddling styles and climates. No easy task. After driving back up to the Pittsburgh airport I returned with Pork Chop and Fish to Ohiopyle where we ran into Tom from Shredder. In addition to mostly unsolicited but well received opinions Tom also had some colorful things to say about Russian boaters and his attack cows. We then found someone who knew Roger to roll to his house where we engaged in some evening conversation which somehow ended in a “friendly” game of submission wrestling. Team Quest provides us with more than just cool T-shirts to wear…http://www.tqfc.com/gyms/default.aspx?GymID=1

The following day we rumbled in to try out ASCI’s whitewater park http://www.adventuresportscenter.com/ which is ran efficiently by director and race host Matt Taylor. Big props to Matt for setting up a great slalom course and hosting a very smooth multi-disciplinary event. Growing up on rivers, I have to admit that I was quite skeptical in regards to racing on a concrete “river” bed. Turns out it was a hoot as flipping, swimming, and surfing throughout the course dished out really no consequences with the exception of possibly a scrape or two.

The next day we met up with the boys from 8 Ball to run the Upper Yak, an east coast classic! Walter showed us the lines when we could see him past the huge boulders and even Schneider cruised by in his strider and legendary wooden helmet. Suffice to say I had never witnessed quite the plethora of boaters and styles as we did on this run.

On Saturday following the time trials the Oregon Rafting Team (ORT)http://www.oregonraftingteam.com/ was just one second behind defending national champion and 6th finishing team at worlds just a few months prior, Timberline’s “Behind the 8 Ball”. Unfortunately a poor lane selection in the head to head race contributed to a disappointing showing in the head to head sprint as we finished that event in third. Behind 8 Ball and a team of solid guides with race experience from ASCI team “Charlie” led the field. After being the only team to grease our practice run on the slalom course ORT ended up flipping on our first run and then missing a gate on the second which left us in third overall going into the last event.

Sunday morning, competitors lined up across the main channel on the Lower Yak in preparation for a mass start 4 mile downriver race. Team Charlie slipped into the lead with ORT and 8 Ball hot on their tails. ORT then drafted 8 Ball as we charged past Charlie never to look back. At the conclusion of the 4 mile race ORT was just 100 or so feet behind the Timberline Men establishing our strongest downriver finish at a national event in our four year history. “Your guys were tough!” shouted guide Chris Reeder as he, Mike, Todd, and Bishop exchanged hugs with us in appreciation of a solid race and as a gesture of the camaraderie that we developed as raft racers during the course of the week. The raft racing community and the USRA continues to grow! Get your R6 crews ready as the USRA Board is working to hold the 2010 Nationals at the Teva Mountain Games in Vail Colorado near the beginning of June.
Happy paddling,
Tim Brink
President : United States Rafting Association
http://www.usaraftassociation.com/

The Aire Pumashttp://www.aire.com/aire/products/default.aspx?id=200 rocked as R4 race boats!

Women’s and Mens’ Results !:
http://www.adventuresportscenter.com/images/PDF_Files/2009raftnationalsresults.pdf

All you need to do is show up to the fundraiser, enjoy yourself, and try to win something! Oregon rules! Details on our home page.