“Sprint! Sprint! Sprint!” yells our assistant coach Neal as we round the final buoy. The churning whitewater and the cheers from the riverbank melt away as I put my head down and paddle with everything I have. We’ve just bumped our opponents off their line, and we’re leading the men’s Raft Cross finals at the 2026 U.S. Whitewater Rafting National Championship.
It’s the third and last day on the South Fork of the American River, and the vibes are immaculate. Everyone is happy to be on the water, whether they’re winning or not. I joined the ACA because they make whitewater raft racing possible in the United States, and I am very grateful for that.
I race with the Redwood Rafters, a youth team from Humboldt County California. We train all year on the rivers of Northern California’s Six Rivers region, the Trinity, Smith, Salmon, Klamath, Mad, and Van Duzen, and we chase every chance to race somewhere new. Last year, a group of us competed at the World Rafting Championships in France and came home with a lesson that stuck: being fast isn’t enough, because the river always has the final say. You have to recover quickly and communicate last-second decisions when a run doesn’t go to plan. A swiftwater rescue course this May, funded by generous local foundations, drove the same point home. A plan made beforehand and a team that talks go a long way.
Nationals consists of three races: a fast, timed paddle down one rapid (sprint); a course where teams must navigate up and down river slalom gates on different sides of the river (slalom); and the chaotic head-to-head format where teams try to bump each other into obstacles (RX). In the mixed-gender RX finals, my boat faced off with Riff Raft, a team from Colorado, who won the category with a perfect score. For a lot of us on the team, it was a full-circle moment. When we were younger, we watched the buff Riff Raft team members and totally idolized them.
That evening, we gathered for the awards ceremony on rafts and buoys inflated into benches. I watched our U19 girls boat captain wait with bated breath for her boat’s results. “Gold: Redwood Rafters!”, the announcer called, and the five girls rushed to the front grinning. Just before the award photo, a Riff Raft racer shouted for everyone to interlink, and everyone on the podium shuffled until no two teammates stood side by side. It became the weekend’s motto, and every group photo after came with chants of Interlink! Interlink! Interlink!
Later, over shared food, I listened to dozens of stories of waterfalls and sunsets, rapids and sketchy shuttles. As the conversation swelled, I realized we were all interlinked, in our love for the river.
About the Author
Nico Harman is a 15-year-old sophomore at Arcata High School, who joined the ACA this year. Nico started rafting in 2024 and now races with the Redwood Rafters, a youth whitewater racing team. If Nico had to pick a favorite river, it would be the Smith for its clear water, scenery, and exciting rapids. Nico’s favorite boat is the SOTAR Excalibur and Nico loves how fast and fun they are to paddle.
This story is published as part of the 2026 ACA Story Project, a month-long collection of stories written by ACA members. Without opportunity, these stories wouldn’t exist. That’s what the ACA does. Through education, stewardship, competition, and club support, we create opportunities for paddlers of all abilities. Your gift helps write the next chapter. Help us raise $25,000 by December 1 for the next paddler, and the one after that.
