Since the popular Boatertalk forum shuttered in 2020, there hasn’t been a central meeting point for whitewater paddlers. But, on Thursday, August 21, 2025, a new home for the whitewater community will be available to all. It’s called RallyCrew.
The whole idea behind RallyCrew is to create a global platform for whitewater paddlers — kayakers, canoeists, rafters, packrafters, and SUPers — to “connect, plan trips, build skills, and find events.” It’s a centralized, all-in-one alternative to email groups, group texts, forums, and algorithm-driven social media.
At launch, it’s a website-based application, but a mobile app is coming soon.
By Paddlers, for Paddlers
This project is the brainchild of Deborah Kane, an avid whitewater kayaker with a history in exciting apps. Her last company was the van rental app GoCamp, which was sold to Storyteller Overland in 2021.
“It’s the classic entrepreneur story. I built RallyCrew to solve my own problems. I was juggling whitewater conversations across Facebook, WhatsApp, texts, and emails, and still missing out on great paddling events because I didn’t even know they were happening. I figured if it was a problem for me, it was probably an issue for others. And it turns out it was. About 1,500 boaters responded to a survey last year and voiced similar frustrations,” said Kane.
Paddler Features
Here are some of the basic features that RallyCrew has to offer whitewater paddlers at launch, with much more in the works.
- Individualized Paddler Profile: Build your profile to highlight your skills, experiences, and paddling preferences so that you can best connect with others in the community.
- Event Listings: Explore a regularly updated global database of paddling races, clinics, tours, and trips.
- Trip Planning and River Logs: Plan whitewater adventures, share experiences, and access timely river insights.
- Affinity Groups: Join specific communities based on shared interests, skill levels, and paddling styles.
- Messaging: Keep all paddling conversations organized in one place.
Whitewater Industry Features
RallyCrew isn’t just for paddlers, but also for the whitewater industry to connect with the community. Here are the basic features on offer at launch for paddlesports businesses.
- Business Profile: Showcase what you have to offer the whitewater paddling community and directly connect with paddlers who are actively seeking events, lessons, and/or gear.
- Event Listings: List and promote events, courses, trips, and other services directly to interested whitewater paddlers.
- Insurance Access: Insurance coverage tailored to paddlesport activities may be available to qualified instructors and event organizers listed on RallyCrew.
Casey Bryant Jones, Paddle School Director for Ottawa Kayak School at Wilderness Tours, has been using the Beta version of RallyCrew and says it’s helping him “reach paddlers who are looking for instruction and guiding, without getting lost in social media algorithms. It is a direct connection to the community we serve.”
Kickoff Celebration With Aniol
To kick off RallyCrew being open to the public, there will be a virtual, live Q&A with one of the world’s very best whitewater paddlers, Aniol Serrasolses. It is happening on Tuesday, August 26, at 4 p.m. PDT via Zoom. You just need to join RallyCrew — for free — and then register for the event.
“RallyCrew is the community platform paddling has been missing,” says Serrasolses, professional kayaker and co-founder of Serrasolses Brothers River Co. “It brings the whole whitewater world together in one place — athletes, instructors, clubs, newcomers, everyone. I love that it’s built to support connection, skill building, and the kind of real friendships that happen on the river. This feels like the future of paddlesports. I’m really stoked to be a part of it.”
Find Your RallyCrew
I’m personally a prelaunch RallyCrew user and have had a peek behind the curtain in its final development stages, before its full-scale launch to the community. I can confidently say that it’s being built from passion and a real desire to help create a healthy whitewater paddling community and industry.
While I could go on, I think it’s best to share Deborah Kane’s own words:
“Whether you’re a paddler or a paddlesport business, it’s free to create a profile and start connecting on RallyCrew. People keep waiting for the catch, but there isn’t one. I love this community and wanted to give back in a way that strengthens the sport. Plus, boaters are notoriously cheap! RallyCrew only works if everybody’s using it, so I didn’t want there to be any barriers to entry at all.
“RallyCrew is an online platform designed to foster real-world connections. We’ll measure success by how many people it helps get out boating, not by time spent scrolling. There are no algorithms pushing random content in your face. The entire ecosystem is dedicated to one thing: whitewater. At its core, RallyCrew is about joy and connection, not class ratings or ego.”
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