As part of its 35th anniversary celebration, Chums announced today the finalists of its Ultimate River Guide competition. After receiving nominations from guiding outfitters across the country, Chums has narrowed down submissions to four semi-finalists and will be putting them to a popular vote via digital platforms in the following weeks.
Chums says it Ultimate River Guide contest is a way to play homage to its beginnings on the river while celebrating the hard-working, dedicated river guides of today. Chums was founded by a Colorado River guide in 1983 as he sought a way to keep sunglasses off the bottom of the river. 　The contest “brings our focus back to our roots in the river community,” said Chums Marketing Coordinator and former River Guide, James Denhalter. “You rarely see a guide on the river without a Chums retainer – this is where we came from. We want to tell the river guide story and give back to those who help people to fall in the love with the river.”
The four finalists, chosen based on their commitment to and passion for the river, include: JoBeth Stamm of Adventures on the Gorge, Tyler Soule of H2O Adventures, Shane Green of Quest Expeditions, and Seaver Taylor of White Water Express. These finalists have been awarded with prize packages from partners including: Kaenon, Clif Bar, Stio, Keen, NRS, Yeti and Chums. The final winner, chosen by public vote, along with one lucky voter, will both receive a grand prize package from Chums and all Ultimate River Guide contest partners. The river guide also will walk away with bragging rights as Chums’ “Ultimate River Guide.”
“River guide stories are not often told,” adds Denhalter. “These people go away from social norms, chase their dreams, and help us find our own passion for the rivers. They lead unique and authentic lifestyles. We at Chums hope to shed some light on their stories.”
Stay tuned to Chums’ social media channels over the next few weeks, and vote on　www.chums.com for your favorite raft guide.
