January 2026
Volume 27, Number 1
January, 2026
The Oregon Whitewater Association brings private boaters together for the enjoyment of whitewater boating. Our vision is to promote whitewater safety and training for all of our membership in an effort to provide safety awareness and confidence when executing river rescue skills. OWA is the community of choice where fun and river adventures thrive and where people and rivers connect.
Photo of the Month
This month's featured photo is from the archives. This shot was provided by OWA member Ben Nieves on the San Juan River in southern Utah circe 2020.
If you want to have your favorite river picture featured, send it to . You can also submit pictures through Instagram or the OWA Facebook group.
Contact Information
Your OWA Officers and Volunteers
OWA Board of Directors
Steve Adams, President
Meredith Brezinski, Vice President - Events
Karl Mitsch, Vice President - Newsletter
Justin Richard, Secretary
Doug Smith, Treasurer
Tom Riggs, Membership Director
Jason Urasky, Technology Director
William Brezinski, Training Director
OWA Volunteers
Scott Harvey, Trip Coordinator, Newsletter Editor
Cary Solberg, Advertising Editor
Scott Ogren, Webmaster
Steve Oslund, First Aid Kits
Bruce Ripley, Safety Auction Lead
Matt Saucy, Boating 101 Lead
Jared Linkhart, Safety Training Associate
President's Corner
Next OWA Meeting
Event: January Club Meeting
Location: Flying Pie Pizza - 7804 SE Stark St, Portland, OR 97215
Website: http://www.flying-pie.com/locations/portland
Date: Wednesday, January 14th, 2026
Time: 6:00 p.m. - 8:15 p.m.
Schedule:
- 6:00 – 6:30 Social Time with Pizza
- 6:30 - 7:15 Club Business
- 7:15 - 8:15 Presentation
- 8:15 - 8:30 Clean-up
Topic: Rafting and Cultural Tours in Bhutan
Speaker:
Zachary Collier
Owner/Outfitter
Northwest Rafting Company
Description: Zach will have a combined video / slide show presentation show-casing the wonders of Bhutan, Land of the Thunder Dragon. Every Fall, Zach offers 9 day rafting, hiking and cultural tours to Bhutan through his business "Northwest Rafting Company". Several members of the club have participated in the Bhutan experience through Zach and NW Rafting Co and have thoroughly enjoyed the experience. If you've ever considered a thrilling raft trip through the Himalayan mountian range, then this presentation is for you!
Speaker Bio: As a boy, Zach spent his summers working alongside his father at Boy Scout camps where he led overnight backpacking, mountain biking, and kayaking trips. This early experience of leadership and the outdoors evolved into a lifelong commitment to stewardship and excellence in the wilderness.
He briefly pursued a career in academia, but his love for whitewater and the outdoors led him to a career in the outdoor travel industry, co-founding NWRC in 2009 and later acquiring ownership of ECHO River Trips in 2015.
Zach is actively involved in the whitewater community, serving as a board member of the America Outdoors Association and as one of the few certified instructors for the International Rafting Federation in the United States. Additionally, he contributes to the Oregon Whitewater Association by leading trips and providing safety training to its members.
Come on down, enjoy pizza, salad and refreshments with fellow boaters.
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Do you know of a speaker for one of our monthly meetings?
Do you know someone engaging, entertaining, and full of knowledge who you would like to hear speak at a club meeting? Any club member who successfully connects OWA with a speaker for one of our meetings will be entered into a prize drawing for a $75 gift certificate to one of our sponsors. Club members who give a presentation will also be entered into a prize drawing. To discuss a potential speaker, email .
Trip Reports
Special Features
Stay safe and healthy on the river and be prepared for emergencies.
Do you have a trip coming up? OWA has two extensive Wilderness First Aid kits and AED’s that go on all club trips and are available for club members to take on private trips. You can check them out by sending an email to .
Knot of the Month
Do you have something to share with the OWA community through the newsletter?
Do you want to share the tale of your latest multi-day rafting adventure or just the basics of your recent day run? Do you have a recipe your river friends must try? Is there other river-related content you want to share? Any club member who submits written content published in the newsletter will be entered into a prize drawing for 1 of 2 $75 gift certificates to one of our sponsors. Submitting photos gets you a chance to win 1 of 2 $25 gift certificates. To submit newsletter content or photos for our social media accounts, email .
OWA has a Facebook group exclusively for members. It is a great place to connect with other members to meet up at the river or exchange gear tips. Anyone can follow the OWA Instagram page.
OWA is an affiliate member of American Whitewater. OWA members receive a $10 discount off of individual membership. American Whitewater is a national non-profit 501©(3) river conservation organization with a mission is to protect and restore America’s whitewater rivers and to enhance opportunities to enjoy them safely. Click the Logo to visit the AW website and learn more.