OREGON RAFTING TEAM

who we are

ORT is a collection of whitewater paddlers who compete on a variety of rivers throughout the West Coast in multiple 2-6 man paddle raft teams.

We are a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization.

Here are a few of the things WE do:

• Race head to head with other teams and against the clock through rapids ranging from class III (mild) to class V (extreme).
• Serve our community by providing river trips to disabled veterans, youth organizations, and various other community groups.
• Participate in river cleanup events around the country.
• Promote the sport of whitewater raft racing at a national and international level.
• Educate and train athletes to compete at an elite level.
• Help with coordinating and promoting the Pagosa Paddle! and other river events around the country.
• Communicate hazardous river conditions to our local boating community.

how we evolved

ORT began it’s evolution in 2002 when 20 year river running veteran and football coach Tim Brink gathered a crew of his past and current teammates from rugby and college football for a local race. After dominating the regional whitewater raft racing scene for a number of years, an unfortunate career ending rugby injury forced Tim to focus his competitive fervor exclusively to raft racing hence ORT began.

After training one summer with world class guides from Colorado, Tim returned home to the Portland area with some new found racing knowledge and began recruiting paddlers. During the initial season, ORT raced with a co-ed team as recruiting enough committed paddlers to form two teams proved to be difficult.

The athletic backgrounds of our athletes include former college linebackers, Olympic wrestler, NCAA all-around gymnast, dragon boat racers, endurance runners, skiers, snowboarders, mixed martial arts, kayakers, catarafters, drift boaters, skateboarders, rugby, and of course a few river guides. Off the water once the gear is put away all the seriousness stops and the fun begins.

We are proud to say that ORT is the first of it’s kind. Not a team of guides or even river veterans, but rather an athletic, charismatic body of energy that successfully engages in a variety of adventures throughout the year while reinforcing the bonds we have created through the medium of whitewater raft racing. ORT, we are more than just a racing team.