Adam Sampson

Adam Sampson will be joining Wet Planet in 2023 as both a kayak instructor and raft guide. Being able to thrive as both a guide and instructor takes a lot of skill and experience, two attributes we are excited to have this season. Adam guided for two seasons on one of the most popular runs in the country, the Arkansas River in Colorado, before transitioning into more of an instructor role. While enrolled at Western Colorado University, Adam was the president of the whitewater club, which enabled him to give people the skills, opportunity, and confidence needed to begin kayaking. Recently graduated and recently certified as an ACA level 4 instructor, Adam is stoked to use his experience to grow and improve the paddling community in the Columbia Gorge. 

This past winter after graduating from WCU, Adam went south to Patagonia for a southern hemisphere summer of hiking, kayaking, and immersing himself in a new place. Chile’s Futaleufu, Fui, and Puelo have moved high on his list of favorite runs that is headlined by Oh Be Joyful in Colorado. That spark for travel and whitewater began with his family, who encouraged him to spend time outdoors rafting, skiing, and mountain biking. Family rafting trips on the Arkansas river was enough to inspire Adam to start guiding right out of high school. Never one to shy away from a challenge, Adam describes his perfect day on the river as one that brings him to the edge of his comfort zone. Putting on a new river with a group of trustworthy friends, working to piece together a puzzle that can be celebrated at the end of the day. Adam feels like these types of experiences are really meaningful and truly enjoys the process of introducing people to the sports that can get you there.