How We Built the Whitewater Community’s New Home

Last summer, we asked the whitewater boating community a simple question: What’s missing from your whitewater experience?

Almost 1,500 boaters answered. The response? A unified, paddler-friendly space to find trips, courses, and connections—without digging through endless Facebook groups, email threads, and scattered event listings.

We took that feedback seriously, and spent the last nine months building, refining, and testing what we hope will become the ultimate all-in-one whitewater boating platform. And now we’re getting ready to launch RallyCrew this April!

Here’s a look at how we got here, what we’ve built, and what’s coming next.

The RallyCrew Survey: What Boaters Asked For

In June 2024, we launched the first-ever RallyCrew community survey. It was a big moment—our chance to hear directly from boaters worldwide about what they needed most. Here are a few of the things we heard from the community.

Finding paddling partners can be difficult. This is especially true for those new to the sport or progressing in their skills. Boaters want to connect with others of similar experience levels without relying on scattered social media groups.
Event listings are too fragmented. Many boaters have missed races, festivals, and clinics simply because there wasn’t a central place to find them.
Access to quality instruction is lacking. Boaters want to take courses but struggle to find trusted, available instructors—especially for swiftwater rescue and beginner-friendly instruction.
Gear swap options are clunky. Many paddlers want a streamlined way to swap, rent, or borrow boats when traveling, but they find current options frustrating to use.
The paddling community is scattered. Boaters expressed frustration with how disconnected the community feels, spread across social media groups, forums, and local networks. They want an all-in-one platform where everything is in one place: paddling partners, events, schools, gear, and more.
Boaters are ready to move beyond Facebook. Many told us they’re only on Facebook for boating content—and they’re over it. They want a modern, paddler-first platform designed specifically for their needs, without the noise, ads, or distractions.

Survey Prize Winners: A Global Celebration of Boaters

To thank boaters for their input, we ran a giveaway with prizes from some of the best brands in the industry. Here’s the full list of lucky winners who walked away with amazing prizes.

Cash Prizes ($500 each):

Maddie K., USA
Megan K., USA
Tyler T., Canada
Trevor B., Canada

Free Gear Prizes:

Anna L., Austria – Werner Paddle
Dario T., Italy – Astral Life Jacket
Joe P., USA – Level Six Spray Skirt
Jackie Y., USA – Sweet Protection Helmet
Rachel H., USA – Kokatat Drysuit
Nick C., New Zealand – Pyranha ReactR Kayak

Congratulations to all the winners!

Special thanks to Immersion Research for hosting our Hood River sneak peek, and to Next Adventure Paddle Sports Center for hosting our Portland sneak peek. *Photo Credit: Thomas Franco*

RallyCrew Sneak Peeks

We studied the summer survey results. And with your encouragement, by November 2024 had built a RallyCrew prototype. Then we showed it to about 100 boaters—a mix of instructors, athletes, and everyday boaters—in Portland and Hood River, Ore., USA. Attendees at our ‘sneak peeks’ shared invaluable feedback and helped shape what RallyCrew is becoming.

What You Loved

Boaters were excited about RallyCrew’s potential to bring the community together:

“I’ve needed something like this for years!”
“This is going to completely change the way we plan trips.”
“Finally—a way to connect with paddlers without sifting through 10 Facebook groups.”

Boaters loved the idea of having an all-in-one platform where they could:

Find paddling partners at home and around the world.
Search for and list paddling events worldwide.
Discover trusted instructors and courses.
Join paddling clubs and affinity groups.

What Needed Improvement

The sneak peeks also revealed areas where RallyCrew needed to improve. Privacy and safety stood out as top concerns. Boaters told us they needed:

Privacy-forward settings to control who can contact them.
Blocking functionality to avoid unwanted interactions.

We listened. And we made the necessary changes to ensure RallyCrew is a platform you can trust.

What’s Next? RallyCrew Launches in April 🚀

We’re in the final stretch before launch, making sure RallyCrew delivers exactly what boaters need. Over the next few weeks, we’ll be rolling out major announcements, including:

The pro athletes joining RallyCrew.
The industry insiders contributing to the RallyCrew Advisory Board.
New ways to discover paddling events at home and around the world.
How you can help RallyCrew become THE go-to whitewater boating platform.

Stay Connected

We’re building RallyCrew based on your input, so keep it coming! Drop us a note with any comments, questions, or feedback.

What’s RallyCrew?

RallyCrew is the online eddy where whitewater paddlers connect, plan trips, build skills, and find events. This all-in-one app is free.

Your Feedback is Shaping RallyCrew