Guide Interview: Brad
Posted July 27, 2017 by April Sadowski
Brad learned about Rafting in the Smokies from his cousin and RITS guide, Birdman (Drew). He was trained in 2016 and is from Orlando, Florida. He’s now solidly hooked on rafting!
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Guide Interview: Sami
Posted June 29, 2017 by April Sadowski
Sami is a raft guide who also did an internship for a degree in Parks & Forest Resources while working at Rafting in the Smokies.
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Guide Interview: Hunter
Posted June 3, 2017 by April Sadowski
Hunter was invited in by Brad’s cousin, Birdman (Drew) and is from Orlando, Florida. 2016 was his rookie year. Hunter said going to a small town like Hartford is really life-changing.
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Guide Interview: JP
Posted May 20, 2017 by April Sadowski
John Parkinson (JP) has been rafting for 10 years. He’s been at RITS for four years. His twin brother is also one of our guides. He’s a natural jokester, and you might catch him knocking a few on your bus ride.
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Guide Interview: Nancy
Posted May 6, 2017 by April Sadowski
Nancy has been with Rafting at the Smokies for about ten years, off and on. She always comes back, because this is her home.
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Guide Interview: KP
Posted April 6, 2017 by April Sadowski
Our river manager at Rafting in the Smokies (“RITS”) is KP. He’s been at RITS for four years, but he’s been a guide for 14 years. He manages 54 guides (and their shenanigans!). He gets to watch the joy on everyone’s faces day after day.
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Guide Interview: Crazy Uncle Curt
Posted March 24, 2017 by April Sadowski
Curt is tall and lanky with a long white beard (sometimes knotted). He’s also known as “Crazy Uncle Curt.” He works with special needs kids and has a girlfriend with a son who’s deaf. If you need someone who knows sign language for your group, he can take you down the river.
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Guide Interview: Birdman
Posted March 6, 2017 by April Sadowski
Our Assistant River Manager, Birdman, got his nickname after his African Grey Congo parrot. He used to take her to car shows when he lived in South Florida and had her on a leash. He’s been with Rafting in the Smokies for four years and has a passion for the outdoors after leaving the corporate world.
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Guide Interview: Ben
Posted November 26, 2016 by April Sadowski
Ben is a 2016 rookie raft guide and about the only guide without a nickname. He grew up in Colorado Springs, Colorado. Ben isn’t a burly guide like some of the others at RITS. He does wear a killer man bun, though!
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