May 2026
Volume 27, Number 5
May 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 was taken by Steve Adams during OWA's annual River Safety Training. Here we see some whitewater boaters getting top notch, hands-on training on how to get out of sticky situations on the river. This OWA sponosored event is responsible for training hundreds of whitewater boaters in the PNW over the years. Please help support OWA in this importamnt mission.
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: May Club Meeting
Location: Flying Pie Pizza - 7804 SE Stark St, Portland, OR 97215
Website: http://www.flying-pie.com/locations/portland
Date: Wednesday, May 13th, 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
Speaker:
Sam Drevo
Director
Northwest River Guides LLC / eNRG Kayaking
Topic: Continuing the Legacy of the Pacuare River, Costa Rica
Speaker Bio:
Sam Drevo has been an OWA member since 2006 and has been leading the annual spring river safety workshop ever since to help club members stay sharp with their self assessment, practical, and technical river safety skills. He was a member of the US Canoe and Kayak Team for over a decade in five disciplines of the sport, and won the extreme kayak world championships in 2001 at the NBC Gorge Games. Sam also won a silver and bronze medal with Team USA at the 2016 world rafting championships in Abu Dhabi (where he last saw Rafa Gallo). Sam has spent two and a half decades teaching, stewarding rivers and exploring - over 49 international whitewater expeditions to 27 different countries. When he isn't traveling, Sam is busy teaching kayaking (kids camps) and running raft trips & kayak instruction based in Oregon City with Northwest River Guides / eNRG Kayaking. He also spreads the river stewardship ethic through his work with We Love Clean Rivers 501c3 (on the Clackamas, Willamette, N Santiam, Sandy, and Deschutes Rivers among others).
In Feb of 2022, Sam became a general partner in the acquisition of Rios Tropicales Pacuare River Lodge and 270 acres of deeded primary and secondary rainforest on one of the most pristine and scenic whitewater rivers in world according to National Geographic (along with three other general partners and 18 investors- including Callie and Ben Corrado of the OWA). The project was rebranded as Rios Lodge and through significant investment and hard work, Sam is proud to share the images and story of this incredible venture fortifying a completely off grid river lodge for the next generation. Take a visual trip with Sam to Costa Rica to see one of the most important biological corridors in Central America, and learn about the inspiring conservation legacy running through the heart of the project.
Description: 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.
Note about additional photos here.
