Tutorial: Creating a Great Profile
Connect with Other Paddlers Via Your RallyCrew Profile
Your RallyCrew profile is more than just a digital intro. It’s your way of connecting with other paddlers. Whether you're looking for new friends, trip partners, gear lenders, students, or just good conversation in the eddy, your profile is where those connections begin.
Every question is optional. You can fill in as much or as little as you'd like—and you can update your profile at any time. If you leave a question blank, it simply won't appear on your profile.
So go ahead: be yourself. Be clear. And don't be afraid to show a little stoke.
Say What Matters to You
Some paddlers write a full paragraph. Others drop a couple sentences and call it good. There’s no right way to fill out your profile. But the more you share, the more likely you are to connect with the right folks.
If you’re not ready to answer a question, skip it. Your profile will only show what you choose to share. And remember: you can edit your answers at any time. Your paddling life will change. Your profile can change with it.
Searchable Info
Some fields in your profile power RallyCrew’s search and filter tools. This means your answers help people find you, and help you find them.
Examples:
If you say you’re a Level 3 ACA Instructor, people looking for that will find you.
If you identify as a packrafter, you’ll show up in searches for packrafters.
If you offer housing to visiting paddlers or are open to lending gear, those fields are searchable too.
Adding relevant details helps the whole system work better.
Comfort Zone
This field is one of the most important. It tells others what kind of whitewater you typically paddle. Check all classes that apply to your everyday paddling.
If you select Class II, III, and IV, people will assume you’re comfortable on runs up to Class IV.
If you only select Class IV, the community will assume that’s your preferred range.
This answer powers trip invites and filters. So be honest, not aspirational. Your “yes” to Class III doesn’t mean you never paddle Class IV; it just means you don’t want that to be the default ask.
Know Well, Step-Up Runs, Boating Goals
Use these questions to tell others where you feel most at home on the river, what runs are helping you grow, and what you’re working toward. Some of these responses may mean more to locals, and that’s perfectly fine. They help others understand where you’re at in your progression.
Heidi Walsh is all in on the White Salmon in Washington. Photo Credit: Seth West
Certifications, Instruction and Guiding
If you’ve taken courses, earned certifications, or teach or guide in any way, this is where to share it.
For All Paddlers
You can list any skills-based training or certifications you’ve completed—like ACA or BC awards, swiftwater rescue, wilderness medicine, or relevant safety experience.
Swiftwater Rescue
We ask every paddler if they’ve had recent swiftwater rescue training. If not, that’s okay. But we strongly encourage all whitewater paddlers to take a course. It’s a key skill, and it could save someone’s life (maybe even your own). Not certified yet? Check the Events section to find a training near you.
Instructors & Coaches
If you teach or coach paddlesports, RallyCrew helps you get discovered by paddlers looking for your exact skill set. Here’s how to make your profile work for you:
Check all the coaching categories that apply (beginner, intermediate, advanced, etc.). These checkboxes power RallyCrew’s search.
Use open text fields to describe your background. Mention your certs, experience, student focus, and teaching style.
List specific courses in the Events section—your profile sets the big-picture context, and event posts provide the detail.
Whether you’re running a kids’ paddling clinic, coaching freestyle, or mentoring new instructors, your profile is a key place to show what you do and how you do it.
Guides
If you guide day or multi-day trips, you’ll be able to check which watercraft you guide. These are searchable, so other paddlers (or outfitters) can find you based on what you offer. You can indicate whether you guide:
Paddle Rafts
Oar Rafts
Kayaks (Hardshell)
Inflatable Kayaks (IKs)
Packrafts
Canoes
Stand-Up Paddleboards (SUPs)
We also encourage guides to use the open text areas to share more: what rivers you guide, what kind of clients you work with, or whether you freelance or work for a specific outfitter.
If you post guided trips as Events, you'll be able to give full descriptions and set clear expectations there.
Connecting with the Community
Some profile questions help you signal how you’d like to engage with the broader paddling world. You can let others know if you’re:
Open to showing paddlers down familiar runs
Interested in mentoring newer boaters
Willing to lend or rent gear
Able to offer a place to stay
You’ll never be expected to say “yes” to these things. But if you’re open to them, RallyCrew makes it easy to find and be found.
Heidi Walsh below Husum on the White Salmon in Washington. Photo Credit: Seth West
Your Vibe, Your Story
Profiles aren’t just about experience, they’re also about connection. Whether you’re into dawn patrols, boof clinics, riverside journaling, or après-paddle burritos, those little glimpses into your paddling life help the right people find you.
Here’s an example: “Mostly a Class III boater based in British Columbia. I guide multi-day raft trips in the summer and sneak in kayak laps after work. Always down to show folks the local lines.”
Final Thoughts
Your profile is a conversation starter. Share what feels good. Skip what doesn’t. Be as serious or as silly as you want. You’re not trying to impress anyone; you’re trying to connect.
Still unsure where to start? Join one of RallyCrew’s onboarding calls or spend some time browsing other paddlers’ profiles. You’ll get a feel for how others are filling theirs out, and hopefully get some inspiration for your own.
We’re glad you’re here. We can’t wait to learn more about you.
What’s RallyCrew
Like a giant online eddy, RallyCrew is your digital home for whitewater boating: find fellow boaters, plan trips, and discover courses and other events—all in one place.