ABOUT GREG BABIKOFF AND RIVER D.O.G.

I’ve been around water my whole life. I could swim before I knew how to walk, and gained a healthy respect for water at an early age. Mom was born and raised on the Oregon coast; Dad grew up in Hood River fishing and exploring rivers. I've had oars in my hands on Dad’s drift boat as early as I can remember. We were an active adventurous family who enjoyed everything water had to offer. As kids, my sister and I spent equal amounts of time jumping waves in the ocean, swimming in high mountain lakes, waterskiing, and floating rivers. 

 As an adult, I became a recreational whitewater enthusiast. Over the years, as I’ve realized adrenalin inspires me, I have continually sought out more challenging rivers and networked into the groups who ran them.

This led to me joining Oregon Rafting Team, where I learned a new style of boating, racing! Competing in the Western Whitewater Championship Series, we dominated time trials, slalom, and head to head races across the PNW. Previously an oarsman used to sole control, I learned what a skilled team and a raft are capable of. 

I also quickly fell in love with R2ing (two paddlers side by side in a raft). R2ing has allowed me to experience some truly remarkable places I otherwise would have never seen. It's also a great way to scout difficult runs from the river to determine its runnability in my Cataraft, which is and always will be my first love!

As my skills and confidence grew, I became a sponsored athlete. I worked closely with design and r&d teams with a variety of companies throughout the whitewater industry including Maravia, Jack's Plastic, and Whitewater Designs.

Early on I couldn't find a small lightweight frame to replace the one I had repeatedly broken and welded back together. It was at this point I put my fabrication and innovation skills to work and built my first frame. I learned a lot in the building and running of that first frame. Over time, I saw the need for a bigger boat and a bigger, stronger frame to row the runs I was seeing. I decided I could do better! Once again it was back to the drawing board, building and shaping a new prototype. 

Today, I enjoy life on rivers with friends old and new, riding my mountain bike on gravel roads, and living healthy. Always looking for innovations, I enjoy sharing, asking, and answering questions from both salty veterans and new boaters! I provide Detail Oriented Gear and knowledge for the whitewater enthusiast: from your first-day-on-the-water paddler to the most extreme Class V adrenaline athlete. See you at a put in soon.