(541) 535-3606
Shop Local
 CART (0)
 ACCOUNT
Your Account Register | Login Log Out
Sawyer Logo
Sawyer Logo
  • Oars (current)
    Wood Oars
    SMOKER Utility SMOKER Drifter SMOKER Whitewater SMOKER DyneLite Sawyer Utility Sawyer Lights Sawyer Dyno X Sawyer V-Lam Ocean Rowing
    SquareTop Oars
    Standard SquareTop Dyno X SquareTop V-Lam SquareTop Brown Trout Cutty Rain Brown Steelhead
    Composite Oars
    Small Stealth Oar Polecat Oar Spare Tire Oar MXS-P Oar MXS Oar MXS TOPO Oar MXS Pattern Oar MXS Artisan Fish Oar MXS-G Oar SMOKER Bandit
    Oar Blades
    DuraMax Laminated Fir SMOKER WW PRO DyneLite Blade DyneLite PRO Blade DyneLite XD Blade V-Lam Blade Brown Trout Blade SMOKER Bandit Blade 55 Stubby Blade 55 Oar Blade
  • Paddles
    SUP Paddles
    STORM SUP STORM Traveler Carbon Pro SUP Carbon Pro Traveler Mana Glass SUP Mana Glass Traveler Mana Carbon SUP Mana Carbon Traveler TSR QuickDraw TSR Traveler Super Styk Canyon Super Styk Glass Super Styk Carbon
    Canoe Paddles
    Kids Tales Glide Ranger X Voyager
    WW & Raft Paddles
    Pro Stick Canyon X Freefall XD Carbon Pro Race
    Kayak Paddles
    STORM Surge STORM Surge Carbon Pro Cross Cut Cross Cut IK Lil' Chaser STORM Chaser Orca V-Lam Sea Feather V-Lam Summit Pack 5 Piece
  • Accessories
    Oar Acc.
    Oarlock Accessories Cobra Oar Locks Canyon Oar Locks "A" Oar Locks Round Oar Locks Rubber Oar Stops Anchor Rites Plastic Oar Stops Oar Rights Oar Deal Oar Stopper Sleeve Oar Tip Protectors Barrel Oar Handles Oar Handle Extension Oar Shaft Extension Foam Oar Grips Gilman Grips Re-connect Decals
    Paddle Acc.
    TiteSet Keychain TiteSet Kits Drip Rings Cam Lock Ferrule Stainless Steel Ferrule
    DIY Repair
    Oar Foam Grip Rope Wrap Kit TiteSet Kits Spar Varnish Varnish Kit-Wood Varnish Kit-Comp SilverTip Epoxy Quickfair Putty
    Sawyer Swag
    55th Anniversary Silipint 55th Anniversary Wine Tumbler 55th Anniversary Hat Sawyer Fleece Vest Flow Trucker Hat TSR Hoodie Bandits Hoodie Guide T-Shirt TSR T-Shirt Bandits T-Shirt Women's T-Shirt Sawyer Trucker Hat Bandits Trucker Hat Sawyer Visor TSR Buff TiteSet Keychain Sawyer 10in Stickers Sawyer Gili Duffel Dry Box Seat Pads Re-connect Decals
  • Artisan Series
    Artisan Series
    Brown Trout SquareTop Oar Cutty Rain Brown SquareTop Oar Steelhead SquareTop Oar MX Artisan Fish Oar MX Artisan TOPO Oar Brown Trout Blade
  • Contact
    Contact Us Dealer locator FAQ's
TEAM SAWYER > WILD PORTLANDERS > 

Team Sawyer - WILD Portlanders

Sawyer Ambassador - Wild Portlanders Sawyer Ambassador - Wild Portlanders Sawyer Ambassador - Wild Portlanders

WILD Portlanders

This group of three guys, Josh Sheldon, Jeff Compton and Dan McCain are big drop and technical creek rafters who enjoy pushing the limits of rafting and paddling, running rivers and drops that most people would consider impossible in a raft.

Josh Sheldon

Josh started rafting in 2004 because he was looking to find new fly-fishing spots. For the first five years he spent a lot of time rowing classic camping runs like the Deschutes, Rogue, and Illinois. The love of camping, fishing, nature and beautiful rivers brought him back at every chance. Riley Baxter (Previous owner of Andy and Bax) was one of Josh’s great rafting friends. In 2009 he persuaded Josh to work at his whitewater shop. They and other good friends started paddling the rivers of Riley’s past. The other type of classic runs in the northwest; a love for creeking was born. The Wind, Canyon creek, and the East Fork of the Lewis were some of the new to “creeking” favorites. One year at the Northwest Creeking Competition, they ran a 10’ non-bailing Sevylor down EFL with no swims. At this point, Josh’s dreams of running legendary creeks in guidebooks filled his head. In 2011 at the NWCC he had no partner for Canyon Creek. The river was a stout flow of 1500 cfs and the race was canceled. Standing at the put in, he was approached by two boaters and talked about running a R3 (not recommended). Little did he know the two were Jeff Compton and Dan McCain! At the end of the run Dan said “you should start boating with us, “I’ll change your life”. That it did. Josh tried to get out every weekend with them. Sometimes it was a mission for a first descent, Little White Salmon, high water Green Truss runs, or just park and huck “stunt boating”. Over the years, the group and other boaters built life a life long bond. The love of rivers brings them back at every chance.

Paddle of Choice: Freefall XD WW Raft Paddle

"My go to paddle of choice for running steep creeks or big water is the Sawyer Free Fall. It’s extremely lightweight for such a workhorse. It can take the abuse of rocks, drops and big holes. We’ve been putting Sawyer paddles to the test for years on some of the hardest whitewater out there, and I’m still amazed a what they do."

Oar of Choice: SquareTop DyneLite Oar

"The SquareTop oar with the 7” DyneLite blade takes me down my local steelhead runs to oaring big water class 5. Hands down it is the best oar ever made. It has unprecedented balance and strength in a lightweight oar. The natural counterbalance means I can put in long days of rowing without feeling beat up by my oars. I love the fact Sawyer products are all made by hand here in the USA."


Jeff Compton

Jeff got his first taste of whitewater and the rafting lifestyle at age ten when he went on an eight day lower Grand Canyon trip with his family. It was at this point he made the fateful decision to be a raft guide when he grew up. At age sixteen this dream came to fruition. He went to guide school in the spring and spent the rest of the summer living in a tent on the Trinity river in Northern California with his twin brother, running the river by raft or kayak as much as time would allow. Over the next 8 years, raft guiding took him to many rivers in California, Arizona, Nevada, Oregon, Idaho, and even southern Mexico.

He always wanted to push the limits of rafting and often had trouble finding people who shared that drive. That is until he moved to Portland Oregon in 2009. Here he met Dan McCain and class V rafting started taking on a whole new meaning. Training on legendary runs like the Green Truss, Little White Salmon, and Idaho’s incomparable North Fork Payette, they were able to push the limits and increase they’re skill level significantly. Jeff has been on some amazing first raft descents like the Middle Fork of the Kings river and Fantasy Falls of the North Fork Mokulumne, as well as bagging record high descents of the Little White and parts of the North Fork Payette among others. Now he splits his time between Portland and hopefully inspiring new rafter as a guide on the Grand Canyon.

Paddle of Choice: Canyon X Guide Paddle


Dan McCain

Dan got the river bug while attending Montana State University in his home state of Montana. He rented a raft from the university sporting shop and ran a Class III section of the Yellowstone River and was immediately hooked. Using his unsuspecting friends as guinea pigs, he began guiding them down the Lochsa River in Idaho, where he truly fell in love with whitewater.

Looking for a dental school with easy access to the outdoors lead Dan to Portland, Oregon. He had quickly exhausted the numerous whitewater runs that are common in the area when he met Jacob Cruiser. Jacob is a kayaker that enjoys getting off the beaten path and convinced Dan to do them same. Dan began running some of the rivers and creeks that had never been rafted and was hooked once again.

Paddle of Choice: Sawyer Pro Stick Raft Paddle

"The best paddles out there. The Pro Stick is a lightweight indestructible paddle that you can always count on to hold up to some of the hardest whitewater."

Some More Favorite Videos from Dan:

  • Favorites Collection
  • Box Canyon of the Ashlu
  • Mosier Falls
  • Chelan Gorge

Wild Portlander's Favorites

PRO STICK RAFT PADDLE

CANYON X GUIDE PADDLE

SAWYER SQUARETOP OAR


 

The Feel of Water Logo

MADE IN USA


Sawyer
Paddles & Oars

404 2nd Avenue
GOLD HILL, OR 97525
(541)535-3606
info@paddlesandoars.com

Customers

  • How To Guides
  • Account
  • View Cart
  • Warranty/Returns
  • B2B & Pro Programs

Company

  • Contact Us
  • Dealer locator
  • Team Sawyer
  • History

Customers

  • How To Guides
  • Account
  • View Cart
  • Warranty/Returns
  • B2B & Pro Programs

Company

  • Contact Us
  • Dealer locator
  • Team Sawyer
  • History
  • Sawyer Live!

  • Account
  • Cookie Policy
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Use
  • Shipping/Returns

© Sawyer Paddles and Oars™ - Sawyer™ - Smoker™
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.