Every channel has a first video, and this is mine: an easy 2022 float on the North Santiam from Fisherman's Bend in my AIRE Lynx inflatable kayak.
Video: Lower Santiam 2022 on the SOLWYRX Paddlesports YouTube channel.
I put in at Fisherman's Bend, a little way below Mill City, and floated a few easy miles. I wasn't planning a YouTube video. I just filmed because I wanted to, and that clip became the start of what's now the SOLWYRX Paddlesports channel.
The Lynx is a solid all-rounder, handling flatwater up to some Class III. It's not too hard and not too easy, just a reliable middle-ground boat, and it's the boat I leveled up in. The video is simple: a light float, a few sped-up clips, and me learning to edit.
If you're just getting started, this is what a true beginner stretch looks like, and it's the kind of water I'd point anyone to first. I wrote more about that in Raft or Inflatable Kayak: Where Should a Beginner Start? Fisherman's Bend shows up again later on the channel too: it's where we launched our 12-boat stack in 2026.
Personal trip report: flows, wood and hazards change, and what worked for me that day isn't a rule for your boat or group. Check current conditions, scout, and boat within your training.
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Updated October 28, 2026 · By Jacob Linkhart, owner of SOLWYRX Paddle Gear · Spot a mistake? Email me and I'll fix it.
