Whitewater paddling is everyone’s cup of tea, but some people feel like they don’t even have the chance to try.

On this week’s episode of Peak Northwest, we talk to the leaders of nonprofit organization Diversify Whitewater, who talk about the barriers that some paddlers face, and how the organization is helping serve those underserved communities.

While Diversify Whitewater is not based in the Pacific Northwest, it has been bringing its Kayak Progression program, in which people gradually gain comfort on the water, to Oregon and Washington waterways. Those accepted into the program get access to an activity that may have felt inaccessible, the organization said, and can find a community of likeminded people.

Here are some highlights from this week’s show:

• The origin story of Diversify Whitewater.
• What barriers do these paddlers face?
• What is the Kayak Progression program?
• How you can get ready to sign up for the organization’s 2026 events.

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