⟟ Palmer, AK • First paddled the White Salmon River, WA — backyard playground with Class II–V sections
Favorite River: Bishop River, BC
Signature Move: Floaty kickflips
Event Highlights: Little White Salmon Race

Favorite Movie: Locked In by Red Bull Media House
Dream Run: Pakistan
Go-To Dagger model for the season: Indra — versatile and what I paddle about 90% of the time
Paddle Philosophy: Rivers are magical corridors through pristine wilderness — kayaking opens doors to see the planet in ways few can
Non-Paddling Icon: Marc-André Leclerc
Instagram: @toddwellskayak

⟟ Squamish, BC • First paddled the Manso River in southern Argentina
Favorite River: The Manso — there’s something about the gorge and the connection I feel with it
Signature Move: A good freewheel off a waterfall
Event Highlights: Always looking forward to the Callahan Race

Favorite Movie: Dashboard Empanadas by Evan García
Dream Run: A road trip in Chile or Madagascar — both high on the list
Go-To Dagger model for the season: Indra — paddle everything, still a blast
Paddle Philosophy: Paddle to feel alive, explore the world, and chase crazy adventures
Non-Paddling Icon: Lionel Messi — a masterclass in resilience and modesty
Instagram: @pedro.rosales.g

⟟ White Salmon, WA • First paddled the Chattooga River in the Southeast US
Favorite River: Rio Futaleufú, Chile — a dream playground for any paddler
Signature Move: Stern squirt
Event Highlights: Chattullah Fest

Favorite Movie: Wild Waters
Dream Run: China
Go-To Dagger model for the season: S/M Indra
Paddle Philosophy: Paddle purely for the love of it — friends, travel, exploring, nature, and always pushing yourself
Non-Paddling Icon: My grandmother
Instagram: @kayakermary

⟟ Bend, OR (summer) • El Salvador (winter) • First paddled in Michigan at age 5, fell in love with whitewater at Nantahala Outdoor Center, NC
Favorite Rivers: Any river where my friends are with me
Signature Move: Speeding real fast — zoom zoom downstream in my Vanguard
Event Highlights: North Fork Championship 2026 — can’t wait!

Favorite Movie: Dynasty — a classic from my World Class student days
Dream Run: Anywhere warm and untouched
Go-To Dagger model for the season: Vanguard — Zoom Zoom!!
Paddle Philosophy: Whitewater opens up places the world rarely sees; experiencing them from the river keeps me coming back
Non-Paddling Icon: Stephanie Gilmore
Instagram: @balancing_adriene

⟟ White Salmon, WA • First paddled on the pond at my childhood home, then around upstate NY
Favorite River: The Indus River, Pakistan
Signature Move: Forward stroke — my most useful maneuver for tackling tricky rivers
Event Highlights: Whitewater Grand Prix

Favorite Movie: Pleasure Strokes
Dream Run: California, baby
Go-To Dagger model for the season: The Phantom
Paddle Philosophy: I paddle because it brings me joy
Non-Paddling Icon: Scott Zagarino
Instagram: @fear_and_boating

⟟ Sequim, WA • First paddled in San Diego, CA
Favorite River: Middle Fork Snoqualmie
Signature Move: Surfing the pocket of a wave
Event Highlights: Salish Sea Sea Kayak Symposium

Favorite Movie: Don’t have one
Dream Run: Portugal
Go-To Dagger model for the season: Stratos
Paddle Philosophy: I paddle for the taste of saltwater
Non-Paddling Icon: Chuck Yeager
Instagram: @scott_dahlquist

⟟ Coloma, CA • First paddled in Coloma and on family rafting trips
Favorite River: Río Futaleufú, Chile
Signature Move: Kickflips — going aerial and throwing tricks is pure satisfaction
Event Highlights: Little White Race, White Salmon, WA — unmatched community and energy

Favorite Movie: Grand Inga Project — unreal descent, amazing visuals, incredible story
Dream Run: Everywhere — California, Iceland, Africa, Patagonia, you name it
Go-To Dagger model for the season: Indra — capable of all types of fun with grip on any river
Paddle Philosophy: I kayak not to prove anything, but for the energy, connection to the earth, and to experience the world’s deepest cracks and highest peaks
Non-Paddling Icon: Jimmy Chin
Instagram: @kayakerdude

⟟ Richmond, VA • First paddled the James River in RVA
Favorite River: Great Falls of the Potomac River
Signature Move: Any freewheel or flip — backwheels preferred
Event Highlights: The Green Race — no matter the conditions, community and stoke always show up

Favorite Movie: Bigger Than Rodeo Part 1 — stoutest waterfall day in Mexico
Dream Run: Río Manso, Argentina
Go-To Dagger model for the season: Supernova — the most diverse, balanced, and capable playboat for creeking, downriver freestyle, river running, and playboating
Paddle Philosophy: Paddle to chase a passion nothing else can recreate — stoke, community, and unforgettable experiences drive me
Non-Paddling Icons: Alex Honnold & Jeremy Wade — pushing limits and discovering the world inspires me to give my maximum effort
Instagram: @saucyfish

⟟ Saluda, NC • First paddled the Green River, NC
Favorite River: Linville River, NC
Signature Move: Big skips
Event Highlights: Green Race

Favorite Movie: Southern Fried Creeking
Dream Run: Northern Italy
Go-To Dagger model for the season: Medium Code
Paddle Philosophy: I paddle for the love of discovering hidden places, the physical and mental challenge, and the journey itself
Non-Paddling Icon: Paul Mullins
Instagram: @d_pedrick_

⟟ Jackson Hole, WY • First paddled in the Southeast US, mainly on the Chattooga River
Favorite River: Clarks Fork of the Yellowstone River
Signature Move: The mighty move
Event Highlights: North Fork Championships, Gauley Fest, Chattulah Fest

Favorite Movie: Twitch & Teo Berman’s Greatest Hits
Dream Run: Norway, Chile, and Pakistan
Go-To Dagger model for the season: Nova
Paddle Philosophy: Being on the water is freeing — it’s my happy place
Non-Paddling Icons: Unfortunately, I don’t have any non-paddling inspiration. Chris Gragtmans and Andrew Holcomb.
Instagram: @gordito_dan