I started 2024 rowing the Sandy River in my Super Puma, and this New Year's Day trip is what made me want to kayak the Sandy.
Video: New Years Day Trip on the Sandy River 2024 on the SOLWYRX Paddlesports YouTube channel.
Disclosure: SOLWYRX Paddle Gear sells SOTAR gear, and I earn money when you buy it here. SOTAR also sponsors me as an athlete.
Watching the river from the oars that day, I kept picking out kayak lines. A few weeks later I went back and ran it in my AIRE Lynx, and that run became my turning point: it slingshotted me into harder whitewater kayaking. You can see it in The Sandy River 2024, and I tell the whole story in From God, for God: the SOLWYRX story.
Why New Year's Day on the river
It's become a tradition: start the year doing what you love with people you love. Winter boating takes extra prep, though: dress for the water temperature, bring warm layers in a dry bag, and keep the group tight.
The tradition continued: watch Sandy river new years day trip 2026 in a sponsor SOTAR SL kayak.
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.
