River rafting guide of the month - March 2010

This month's highlighted river guide is Ben Silva aka t-roll.
I have had the pleasure of running 10 or so Salmon River trips with Ben and can assure you that there is not a more fun guy to go down the river with.  For a few years Ben was our Head Guide on the Canyons of the Lower Salmon where he was known for his great cooking and ability to write some wonderful songs with fellow guides.  Now that "t-roll" is a licensed teacher and married he will be seen more often on the Rogue River dancing in the glow stick skits and sharing Rogue River history the way only a history teacher can.  Hopefully you will be lucky to have Ben as a guide this summer on the Rogue River.
1. Years guiding with OTT? This will be my 7th
2. What is your favorite River and why? Lower Salmon for the hot weather, white sandy beaches, and big waves.
3. Favorite river trip memory? Probably first year guiding on the Lower Salmon when Chewy broke half of his front tooth at the put-in the morning of a trip, or the first time I met Missouri.
4. Why do you keep coming back to OTT? The friends I have made, and all the new memories.
5. What are you most looking forward to about this season? Just getting back on the river, it has been a long offseason and I am tired of this cold weather.
6. What do you do in the off season? Just finished my masters degree, and am currently looking for a job as a high school teacher.
7. What other sports or activities do you love.  Coaching basketball, fishing, and spending time outdoors.

River guide of the Month - Feb 2010

Orange Torpedo Trips Rafting Guide of the Month - Feb 2010, Kim Gonzales.

 

Kim has been with us for more than a few years and has proved her ability as one of our top Torpedo Guides and hardest workers.  She is always working to perfect guiding techniques and jumps on the opportunity to learn anything new relating being a better river guide.  When Kim started she had spent very little time in a Torpedo and through hard work and a love what she is doing she has become one of the best.  She has proven herself as a great river guide and will be our first female head guide on the Main Salmon River this summer. If you are lucky enough to be on one of her Idaho trips it will be an experience you will fondly remember.

Stats

Years Guiding?
This is my 5th year

Favorite River? The Main Salmon. I love how every trip is different and exciting! Not to mention the great company, food, and memories you share camping out on the river. But if I had to make a quick day trip I love doing the nugget/powerhouse stretch. Its a rush every time!

Favorite trip memory? Soooo many! But I was lucky to celebrate my 21st birthday during a trip on the Main Salmon.  Lets just say some good memories were made.

Why do you keep coming back? I love working on the river and for this company. I've made great friends and created some awesome memories. The inflatable kayaks are fun and I love teaching and taking people of all skill levels down the river.

What are you looking forward to this next season? Idaho! Can't wait to hit up chittum and vinegar rapids on the Main Salmon again.

What do you do in the off season? In the off season I am in school.

What are your off river activities?  When I'm not finishing up homework I like to play volleyball and hangout with friends.

Whitewater Rafting Guide of the Month - Orange Torpedo Trips

Our river guides are the heart of who we are and what we do.  Without great guides we would never have great trips.  We feel we have the best in the industry, especially for our unique type of guiding.  Our great guides are the reason people come back for decades to run the Rogue, Salmon, Klamath, and North Umpqua Rivers.  As part of our effort to share who we are we will start highlighting a guide every month here on the blog.  It is going to be our effort to share with anyone reading this a little bit about their current favorite, or soon to be favorite, river guide from their trip on the Rogue, Salmon, Klamath, or North Umpqua Rivers.

January Rafting Guide of the Month: Tim Satre

Nickname: Satre

Stats:
Years Guiding: "This will be my 20th season with OTT"

Off Season Occupation:  "In the off season I am a teacher and a wrestling coach."

Favorite River: " My favorite river is actually a blend of the three rivers I run with OTT. 

First is the fast waters of the North Umpqua!  My favorite rapid of all time is 

Lower Island.  The Umpqua continuously challenges me even
after 20 years. The continuous fast paced water with the big holes and reversals 

keeps even the veteran kayakers on their toes. 

The Ikes section on the Kamath River in big water would have to be another 

favorite of mine.  Although the Klamath drops fast during the
season, if your lucky enough to get to run it at 12-14,000 CFS you wont forget it! 

The Rogue is in my opinion our premere river trip for everyone.  The
second half of day one has 13 big rapids from lunch to lodge!  This would have 

to be my favorite single day on any river.  Once you couple the days whitewater 

with the slow and layed back night at the lodge.  Its a perfect mix of excitement 

and relaxation.  The only problem with this day on the Rogue is its not long enough."

What is one of your favorite memories? "Favorite memory?  I have so many 

great memories its hard to choose but I will say if you haven't seen Mike Slagle 

dance the YMCA at dico night, you havent fully lived!  LOL "

Why do you keep coming back? "I keep coming back back for several reasons. I believe in this. company! Everything at OTT is done to give the safest and most exciting river trip possible. The inflatable kayak is the most amazing river trip adventure anyone could choose and our company has been built around that! I love the challenge of the torpedo and the chase of the rescue! Being in the right place at the right time is what guiding in a torp is all about."

When you're not in a tahiti or raft?  "I love to wakeboard, snowboard and fish for big stealhead on the rogue!"

What are you most looking forward to in the 2010 Season?  "This season I am excited to run the Hot shot trip on the Klamath and I hope its big! =-O"

Thanks Tim for all the years of keeping people safe and making them laugh.  It is impossible to think of the Rogue River Wild and Scenic without Tim Satre keeping people safe and showing them a good time.