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Before the accident, Yak Van Dam built his life around whitewater. Growing up in rural New Zealand, he discovered river running through an outdoor course. “I was never going to make an office job,” he says. Once he went rafting during his guide training, he knew immediately what he wanted to do with his life. […] The post Inside Yak Van Dam’s Radical Return To River appeared first on Paddling…
On a recent July day, a 26-year-old man drowned on Oregon’s Willamette River when a submerged tree knocked him off his standup paddleboard and into the cold current. He was connected to his board by an ankle leash, which snagged on debris, trapping him underwater. The tragic event adds to a concerning rise in paddleboard […] The post Oregon Paddleboard Accident Underscores Risk Of Leash Mismatch…
When it comes to the question of what to wear kayaking, solid footwear cannot be overlooked. The right pair of water shoes will keep you on your feet while carrying a canoe or kayak down steep trails. They need to be comfortable against footbraces for a full day on the water, quick drying, grippy on […] The post Best Water Shoes For 2026 appeared first on Paddling Magazine .
Should I have written all those canoe guidebooks? It’s a question that popped into my mind last summer, waiting for my turn to land at a busy portage, six canoes deep, on a route I used to have to myself. Crowded canoe country isn’t a crisis If you’ve been out in a popular park over […] The post Crowded Canoe Country Isn’t A Crisis appeared first on Paddling Magazine .
Created In Partnership with Visit Montana Framed by the Northern Rockies and skyscraping mountain peaks, Montana is home to countless lakes—and that’s not an exaggeration. There are more than 3,223 officially named lakes and reservoirs across the Treasure State, and hundreds, if not thousands, of uncharted subalpine lakes carved by glaciers and weather over time. […] The post These 6 Montana Lakes…
Level Six is entering the life jacket market in a big way. The Ottawa-based brand has certified 24 new models, 10 of which will ship to retailers in March 2027. The collection will include the first low-profile 50 newton buoyancy aids approved for the North American market by the U.S. Coast Guard and Transport Canada. […] The post Level Six Enters The Life Jacket Market appeared first on Paddling…
Backcountry travel used to mean disappearing off-grid for days or weeks at a time. Not anymore. I’ve tested satellite communicators on long paddling trips, bikepacking journeys and remote international travel, and today’s devices are ultra-tough, small enough to fit in your PFD, can pair with your smartphone, and keep you in touch with home. For […] The post Best Satellite Communicators For 2026…
Loved ones of 18-year-old Michael Aiden Vargas share he died while doing what he loved–hanging with his dad on the water. Vargas, who went by Aiden, was an avid angler and a high school senior. He was kayaking with his father on Blackwater River in Milton, Florida, on May 31 when he was struck by […] The post Eighteen-Year-Old Killed By Lightning Strike While Kayaking In Florida appeared first on…
Being a whitewater paddler may give outsiders the impression you are smelly, risky and low-budget. In other words, a river rat. A river god, on the other hand, is legendary. They’re calm under pressure, competent and inspiring to everyone, even the CEO in their raft that day. The difference isn’t ego, it’s preparation. Here’s what […] The post 8 Essentials In Editor Brenna Kelly’s River Guiding…
You’re standing on the beach, eyeing the swell. It’s sunny, with shrinking patches of fog. A trip around a prominent headland is in your plans. Pick one: the Brooks, Cape Caution, Cascade Head. Or maybe you’re in a protected cove, bracing for a long crossing. Maybe God’s Pocket to Shelter Bay via Queen Charlotte Strait, […] The post The Less You Know, The Better You Decide appeared first on…