RallyCrew’s Whitewater Events Recap
Welcome to RallyCrew’s Whitewater Events Recap — a growing collection of stories, highlights, and reflections from events our team has attended around the paddling world.
Looking for upcoming events? Join RallyCrew to explore hundreds of whitewater events happening around the world. Discover everything from instructional courses and paddling festivals to races, river clean-ups, stewardship initiatives, film tours, club gatherings, and grassroots adventures. Whether you're hoping to build skills, meet paddling partners, cheer from the sidelines, or get on the water yourself, RallyCrew makes it easy to find your next event.
CONTENTS
APR 4, 2026 - Collegiate Whitewater Fest (Index, Washington)
MAY 8-10, 2026 - Boss of Valsesia (Valsesia, Italy)
JUNE 1-7, 2026 - European Packrafting Meet Up (Soča Valley, Slovenia)
JUNE 9-11, 2026 - North Fork Championship (North Fork Payette River, Idaho)
JUNE 9-11, 2026
North Fork Championship: Community, Connection, and the Power of Whitewater
The North Fork Championship lures in many of the best whitewater kayakers in the world, who arrive at the North Fork Payette River in Idaho fired up to lap, then race, Jacob's Ladder, one of the most demanding stretches of whitewater in the world. The level of paddling was incredible, with the athleticism and stoke sky high. But what made the week memorable for us was everything that happened between race runs.
Sure, racers showed up ready to leave it all on the race course. But between laps, paddlers swapped stories and cheered each other on from the banks. High-fives and hugs were plentiful, as was a healthy mix of competition and camaraderie. Sponsors, spectators, friends, and crews all blended together. Everywhere you looked, people were connecting through a shared love of whitewater.
The competition itself was electric and unfolded over three days of increasingly intense racing. More than 200 paddlers entered the Kokatat Qualifiers on S-Turn, with only the top 100 advancing to a second lap. The action then shifted the next day to Jacob's Ladder and Golf Course for the downriver sprint semifinals, where the field was cut to 30 men and 6 women. Those athletes earned a spot in the Main Event, a giant slalom through the challenging course. Hundreds of people lined the shore, ringing cowbells, shouting encouragement, and erupting every time a racer seal launched into the course. The racing was world-class, but the energy surrounding it left an impression on those who attended.
Men's Podium
1. Tad Dennis - 1:28.323
2. Alec Voorhees - 1:29.278
3. Kaelin Friedenson — 1:29.994
Top 10 Men
1. Tad Dennis - 1:28.323
2. Alec Voorhees - 1:29.278
3. Kaelin Friedenson - 1:29.994
4. Dane Jackson - 1:30.435
5. Jeremy Nash - 1:33.726
6. Jude Franczyk - 1:34.239
7. Isaac Hull - 1:34.524
8. Zach Mutton - 1:35.059
9. Wyatt Doyle - 1:36.096
10. Bernie Engleman - 1:37.133
Women’s Podium
1. Sage Donnelly - 1:42.455
2. Nouria Newman - 2:05.456
3. Darby McAdams - 2:06.754
Top 6 Women
1. Sage Donnelly - 1:42.455
2. Nouria Newman - 2:05.456
3. Darby McAdams - 2:06.754
4. Heidi Walsh - 2:50.564
5. Maddie Kimmel - 2:50.564
6. Jennifer Chrimes - 4:25.528
For RallyCrew, it was pretty special to be there in person and meet so many members throughout the week. Handshakes turned into high fives, then hugs. Faces we knew by profile pictures became paddlers in the flesh. Connections that began online came alive on the riverbank, while new friendships formed in person found their way back online.
One moment that stands out was the final night, when Rob Lesser spoke about community, documentation, and networking as essential tools for protecting rivers, preserving access, and safeguarding the future of whitewater. His message was simple: our connections matter. And that idea sits at the heart of RallyCrew. Whitewater isn’t something to be taken for granted, and keeping rivers running free and healthy takes people standing up for them. Paddlers coming together for rivers and for the community is what matters most and it was great to see this incorporated so strongly into the resurgence of this iconic event. This can be the friend who shares beta freely, or the paddler who always drives shuttle, or the mentors who help us progress, and of course, the communities that rally together when rivers need advocates.
NFC reminded us that some of the strongest currents in this sport aren't in the river at all. They're the connections that keep us coming back.
JUNE 1-7, 2026
European Packrafting Meet-Up: Seven Days of Packraft Obsession
If you are one of those people who prefers to put on dry gear, this probably wasn't the event for you.
The European Packrafting Meet-Up, organized by Packraft Europe, ran from June 1st to 7th, 2026, based out of Camp Liza in Slovenia, just upstream of the town of Bovec. And like every year, it was run entirely by volunteers under Packraft Europe - 100% for packrafters, by packrafters, with all donations going straight into river conservation work across Europe. This year marked the 9th edition, a testament to the event itself, which is a structured and organized event that leaves ample room for improvisation, last-minute paddling plans and lots of time to make new friends, on and off the water.
The Soča Valley has always been one of Europe’s great paddling destinations, but for a few days each year it becomes a place where packrafters from around the world can get together, share ideas, and spend long days doing what they love. Packrafters drove and flew in from as far away as Finland, Poland, the US and the UK, or as close as Germany and Austria.
Rain rolled through the Soča Valley delivering various levels of precipitation over the course of the week-long event. Sometimes it drizzled. Sometimes it poured all day. It stormed overnight too. But the sun also came out and the weather systems provided for some great water levels for days spent on the water. The Soča system responds quickly to that kind of volume of rain, and there was no shortage of water or paddling options.
Before the meet-up even started, some paddlers had already joined a Whitewater Rescue Technician course run by Packraft Europe. That early focus on safety carried into the week. Rescue skills, river awareness, and decision-making flowed from workshop topics into something paddlers brought with them onto the water each day.
The program stayed flexible, which is part of what makes this event work. Some groups headed out to push harder sections on the Soča and tributaries like the Koritnica. Others focused on technique, confidence, or simply exploring new water in good company. And Packraft Europe brought with them a small “Testival” where Alpacka packrafts could be tested and compared between runs.
One of the best parts of the meet-up was how open everyone was with their knowledge and equipment. Boats were passed around, paddles swapped, and opinions freely offered. If someone had a setup you were curious about, chances are they would hand it over and tell you to take it for a lap. There were even impromptu beta sharing sessions, with laptops out sharing links to forums and resources. RallyCrew was there, sharing the perks of the platform, and before the end of the week, “See You In the Eddy” stickers could be seen on helmets, water bottles and gear bins, and participants were connecting digitally for future missions.
As the week started to wrap up, and just before people started to trickle home, everyone gathered Thursday evening for the International Packraft Film Festival. The rain held off and participants were treated to a lineup of packrafting’s best films. Balkan River Defence also attended, providing a short river conservation chat and showing three short films, creating the perfect mix of packrafting footage with stories from rivers under threat. The film fit the week perfectly - part inspiration, part reminder of how fragile these rivers are.
Organizer and founder of Packraft Europe, Seon Crockford Laserer, ensured that the European Packrafting Meet-Up has always been more than just paddling. He’s created a space for sharing river knowledge, testing ideas, and learning from those who come together. Expedition paddlers, instructors, and first-time attendees all end up in the same conversations and the same eddies. And participants take the connections made during the meet-up with them in their packrafting journey.
Missed this year’s meet-up but keen to join for the next one? Information about the 2027 European Packrafting Meet-Up will be available on RallyCrew soon.
- Carmen
Chief Storyteller at RallyCrew
MAY 8-10, 2026
Boss of Valsesia: A First-Year Event That Already Feels Like Tradition
It’s hard to believe Boss of Valsesia was a first-year event. The valley has hosted races, festivals, and paddling gatherings before, but reviving energy and community stoke around a new event is no small thing. Even more impressive was how naturally the whole weekend felt woven into the spring paddling culture of the valley to make it feel like something that has already been part of the whitewater calendar for years.
On Saturday morning, racers gathered on the banks of the Sesia River for the qualifying race, with more than 100 brightly colored kayaks stacked beneath an ancient stone bridge just outside the village of Pila. The scene felt equal parts grassroots river gathering and full-blown race weekend. Water levels were low, making clean lines technical and unforgiving, but the energy at the start line more than made up for it. Ben Campbell from Level Six Europe herded paddlers into a sort of start line before sending everyone charging downstream in a chaotic mass start that rewarded smart line choices, boat control, and perhaps most of all, endurance.
After qualifiers wrapped up, Jaws hosted a packraft race that brought a lighter, playful energy to the afternoon and gave the kayakers a short breather before finals. Soon enough, attention shifted back to the main event as finalists headed into the Sermenza Gorges, where the racing stepped up another level. The tighter channels and more technical water made for an exciting finish to the weekend and kept spectators posted up along the gorge walls cheering racers through. Waiting for their turn to race, paddlers spread out along the riverbanks, swapping stories, scouting lines, and watching friends battle their way through the shallow technical sections. Spectators and locals gathered on rocks and bridges throughout the course, giving the whole event the feeling of a proper community river festival rather than just a competition.
RACE RESULTS
SENIOR MEN
Michele Ramazza (add him as a friend on RallyCrew!) – 3:34.95 (Bib 36)
Paul Aubertin – 3:35.71 (Bib 69)
Marinus Bauer – 3:37.04 (Bib 33)
Daniel Klotzner – 3:38.59 (Bib 13)
Ignacio Bakovic – 3:39.77 (Bib 26)
Thomas Waldner – 3:40.12 (Bib 45)
Jan Choutka – 3:41.30 (Bib 27)
Fabian Sieder – 3:41.41 (Bib 21)
Yoran Jacobs – 3:41.46 (Bib 52)
Mael Nguyen – 3:41.65 (Bib 32)
SENIOR WOMEN
Marisa Kaup – 3:47.00 (Bib 61)
Amber Malsen (add her too!) – 3:49.62 (Bib 55)
Laura Fontaine – 3:52.36 (Bib 60)
Nouria Newman – 3:53.50 (Bib 63)
Pavlina Kodadova – 3:54.01 (Bib 64)
Lucie Součková – 3:54.23 (Bib 58)
Flurina Fischer – 4:06.24 (Bib 59)
Louise Grigny – 4:07.58 (Bib 103)
Chiara Durigon – 4:09.33 (Bib 56)
Christine Richter – 4:09.59 (Bib 57)
UNDER 21
Stefano Baroili (find him on RallyCrew!) – 3:38.24 (Bib 5)
Luca Liuzzo – 3:44.60 (Bib 1)
Nils Biermans – 3:45.26 (Bib 4)
Mattia Depicolzuane – 3:48.69 (Bib 3)
Luca Zint – 3:56.84 (Bib 2)
As the sun dropped behind the valley walls, the event shifted from race mode into celebration. Boss Kayak hosted the afterparty at their shop with food, beer, live music, vendor tents, podiums, and a DJ spinning late into the evening. Even after a full day on the water, there was still plenty of energy left in the crowd, a healthy mix of racers, paddlers, locals, brand reps and river friends.
On Sunday, the weekend wrapped up with a more relaxed community session as RallyCrew and Boss Kayak hosted a Stoke Float on the Sesia River with Nouria Newman. More than 30 paddlers joined the float, bringing together different skill levels, crews, and countries for a fun morning on the water. After a full weekend of racing, it was a great reminder that events like Boss of Valsesia are just as much about community as competition. There were plenty of smiles at the take-out, and photographer Marco Montori (thanks Marco!) captured the whole lap, chasing the paddlers down the river.
Huge thanks to Boss Kayak, Monrosa Rafting, Jaws, Level Six Europe, and everyone else who helped make the first Boss of Valsesia happen!
More details, rankings, and event coverage can be found on the Boss of Valsesia Instagram and the Boss Kayak event page on RallyCrew.
APR 4, 2026
Collegiate Whitewater Fest: A Heartbeat of the Whitewater Community
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INDEX, WASHINGTON
I went to Collegiate Whitewater Fest in Index, Washington this past weekend and I can’t stop thinking about it.
Not just because it was fun. Not just because it was inspiring. But because of the feeling that stitched the whole weekend together. The kind of feeling that’s hard to describe, but really easy to recognize when you’re in it.
There’s a ton of heart poured into that event. You can feel it in the way it’s organized, in the way people show up, in the way the whole thing seems to orbit around lifting each other up. It’s not just a festival. It’s people actively trying to build something for the next generation of paddlers.
And it works.
What stood out the most to me was how open everything felt. It wasn’t disjointed. It wasn’t people sticking to their own schools or their own circles. People were walking around introducing themselves, talking to strangers, making new connections without overthinking it.
And it showed up in the small stuff too. Helping each other set up tents and tables on vendor row. People stepping up to volunteer as safety boaters, to help run shuttles, to cheer from the banks. Racers, organizers, spectators. Everyone pitching in.
That’s not the case at every event. So it’s noticeable.
Being there representing RallyCrew felt like a really natural fit. Yeah, it was great getting to introduce people to the platform. But honestly, it was just as much about me getting to rally my own crew. Meeting people I genuinely want to paddle with. People I hope to run into on rivers, at future festivals, at random takeouts somewhere down the line.
People I want to stay connected to.
There was one moment that keeps replaying for me. Sitting around a campfire with a bunch of college paddlers. They were singing, talking about their plans, sharing stories from the weekend, hyping each other up. You could feel how connected they were. How naturally that sense of community just existed for them.
It felt simple. In the best way.
And it also felt like something that can slip away if you’re not paying attention. The older we get, the easier it is to fall into smaller circles. Into routines. Into only paddling with the same few people, only reaching out when it’s convenient, only showing up halfway because life gets full.
That openness takes more intention over time.
That’s a big part of what I hope RallyCrew can hold onto and help grow. Not just the big moments like festivals, but everything in between.
The conversations that keep going on event discussion boards after everyone goes home. The groups that form out of crews who met for the first time at a festival and decide to keep paddling together. The gear developers you meet on vendor row who suddenly feel like real people, and then later, when you’re actually thinking about a new boat or piece of gear, you can just message them directly. The professional paddlers who used to feel out of reach, but after meeting them in person, feel human. And now you can follow along with the geekier side of their whitewater life. Not just the big boof shots that impress everyone else, but the process behind it.
That’s the good stuff. Those in-between moments are where a lot of this actually happens.
If you’re on RallyCrew, poke around the paddlers section. Use the filters. Find people who seem interesting, or who might know something you don’t, or who are paddling somewhere you’ve been curious about. Send a request. Start a conversation.
That’s the whole point. Not just showing up for the big events, but staying connected in the spaces between them.
See you in the eddy.
- Justin
Chief Connector at RallyCrew
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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.
