Team

Oregon Rafting Team is made up of a very diverse set of athletic individuals. The athletic backgrounds of our team include former college linebackers, dragon boat racers, endurance runners, climbers, skiers, snowboarders, mixed martial arts, kayakers, catarafters, drift boaters, skateboarders, rugby, and of course a few river guides.

Jacob Cruser (Cruise Control)

Jacob Cruser (Young Gun) : Young Gun was still in high school when he started running rivers and creeks with ORT. We knew we had to keep him around when he was still smiling after deep swims and hours of portaging thick underbrush on first descents. YG has morphed into an exceptional videographer and first descent researcher, two areas in which his skills are primarily utilized as he now chooses to safety boat instead of hucking in a raft. His quiet demeanor camouflages a profound intellect and wisdom that exceeds his chronological years yet can be experienced though his work. He may have gotten taller than most of us in recent years, but we’ll always have the “remember when you first started paddling” stories to use as leverage.

Bruce Reed (OX)

Bruce Reed (OX) : Bruce lives in the woodsy hamlet of Colton Oregon with his wife Laura. When he’s not building homes, Bruce is out on the river in his drift boat, cataraft, or inflatable kayak. Bruce has a reputation of being a hard worker, loyal teammate, and greets others with a big smile and friendly attitude. Bruce has solid mechanical skills and even built the trailer the team uses. Ox is fearless, ask him about his high water drift boat trip on the Upper Clackamas or this first time he took out a hardshell kayak…

Evan Dupont (WFE)

Evan Dupont (WFE) : Evan is a 4th year paddler with ORT living in Portland where he works as the staff trainer for a renewable energy outreach company. He was a successful wrestler in high school and his competitive spirit still breathes with ORT, his soccer team, and his focused fundraising efforts. He is also finishing the business plan and seeking funding to follow his dream of opening a local restaurant/music venue. Evan brings an outgoing energy to the team dynamic that is as inspiring as it is complimentary to our chemistry. He is always up to something; when he’s not competing you will likely find him hosting a house concert or traveling to a music festival. He will welcome your company, but if you join him beware that you’re on Evan Standard Time ~ don’t expect to get anywhere early, as he’ll remind you “life is in the journey, not the destination”.

Ben Sigler (Dirty)

Ben Sigler (Dirty): Ben comes from OSU with a degree in Fish and Wildlife, and now buys and sells houses working towards slum-lord status in Corvallis, Oregon. Rafting is priority #1 for Ben. Even his upcoming wedding can’t get in the way. If Ben can’t run it dirty, he won’t run it at all.

Bryan Carrington (Professor)

Bryan Carrington (Professor): The Professor is a Safety Engineer out of OSU currently consulting for a construction company in North Carolina. It’s a long commute, but he still makes it back every weekend for whatever current adventure is planned. Biking, skiing, rafting, kayaking, climbing… whatever it takes so he isn’t sitting still. Hold on tight. Just because he’ll read and run every rapid doesn’t mean you won’t get tossed form the boat.

Tim Brink (Timber)

Tim Brink (Timber): Tim is the founder of, and primary guide for ORT. He is also the president of the United States Rafting Association (USRA). Tim now resides in Sandy Oregon and is enjoying life with his partner Caitlin. Tim is currently employed as a school psychologist and football coach. A bird of a different color; Tim pushes the envelope as a freeskier, kayaker, first descentionist rafter, and amateur kick boxer while keeping us guessing by writing poetry, soul searching trip reports, listening to classical music, jazz, and conducting informal “men’s groups” on road trips which commonly end with a hug at the end of the day. His competitive fervor and at times militaristic demeanor have recently become more balanced as a result of life changing experiences which have triggered an exploration into spirituality and holistic self awareness. Paying strict attention to detail hasn’t always worked for Timber as evidenced by showing up to a put in without lifejackets, going kayaking without a helmet, or the tendency to let ‘er rip when a thorough scout could have avoided a swim, or two, or…

Trey Knollman (Dr.Frankenstein)

Trey Knollman : A former northwest river guide, Trey brings his experience and passion for the river to ORT. A cellular biologist by trade, he works in research and development for a global life science company. When he’s not experimenting in the lab, his time fills up with snowboarding, homebrewing, traveling the globe, and epic boating weekends (year round of course). Trey currently lives in Portland but will find himself, his girlfriend Amber, and his lab Chase in Eugene for work shortly.

Shane Conrad (Pork Chop)

Shane Conrad (Pork Chop): Shane was born and raised in Albany, Oregon. He was introduced to rafting at a young age and quickly became obsessed with whitewater. He served in the United States Marine Corps as an Infantryman. When his enlistment was up he had completed three tours in Iraq. Re-enlistment was not an option after spending four and a half years between the sands of Iraq, and California’s Mojave Desert where he was stationed. Upon arrival back in the great NW, he enrolled at Mt. Hood Community College in the Outdoor Tourism Program, and joined ORT. Shane is the junior vice Commander at the Gresham Oregon VFW, and also works on a project called Team River Runner, a program to get disabled veterans into whitewater recreation.

Tyler McPherson (Skinny Fat Kid)

Tyler McPherson :Tyler is in his last year of school pursuing a degree in Environmental Science at OSU and working part-time at an environmental chemistry consulting firm in Corvallis, while still making time to get on the water. Although relatively new to whitewater sports, he has been known to spend most his free time for the last 10 years climbing all over the country and internationally on rock, ice and tall peaks. Tyler is able to carry over from climbing his determination to better himself and teammates on the water just as he strives to better himself in climbing, always pushing to higher elevations and harder climbs. He frequently shows his affinity for water as he is found swimming in your local rivers when he should be in the boat.

ORT Alumni

Ryan Olivier
Dick Norris
Mark Rettmann
Chris Skidmore
Jeff Delany
Doug Mcloughlin
Tyson Chinery
Matt Farrow
Tracey Miller
Toby Jewett
OWRT

Brian Schultz (Webber)

Brian Schultz (Webber) : Webber is the WEBMASTER for ORT… Combining HTML, javascript and internet graphic design skills, Webber has created one awesome site. Webber is currently working as a software engineer at Harry & David. Webber has been coding and shredding the internet for over 10 years now. Webber enjoys ping pong, long walks on the beach and a good sci-fi movie.