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--> --> Aug. 16: Area boys go for world title By Sarah Petersen Ashland Daily Tidings Two Ashland High alumni, Ryan Allred and Todd Clevenger, are taking white water rafting to its extreme. The two 1996 Ashland High grads, along with Scott Eastman, John Tribble, Max Pfaffinger and Greg Smith, will be competing this September on Africa's Zambezi River at the Camel Whitewater Challenge. "This has been our goal for five years," Clevenger said. "Ryan and I have been guiding for 10 years. Before we all became a team we were all doing our own things with rafting. Then we all decided to form our own team instead of competing by ourselves on separate teams. So we formed our own, Team California, and now here we are." Before Team California could make it to the World Championships, the rafters competed last August in the Teva Whitewater Cup 2000, held on the Gore Canyon section of the Colorado River. By winning this challenge the six men were able to qualify for this year's world event. Clevenger has nine years of guiding experience and several years of Class V kayaking experience and joined Team California last season to round out the crew. Allred, the team's captain, has been guiding professionally since he was 13. He is a four-year competitor for the team, has won three national championships and has represented the US at the worlds on each occasion. "I love doing this," Allred said. "Being able to win with all of my close personal friends means a lot. I'm super happy to go to Africa. Not only do we get to race but we get to see a different type of life and way of living." Smith, the team's veteran whitewater rafter, has 20 years of experience under his belt. Smith has guided trips in Chile, China, Australia, Asia, Nepal, Africa and throughout the Western United States. He is also a three time national champion member of the U.S. Whitewater Rafting Team. Eastman is the teams trainer. He represented Team U.S.A. in the 1999 CWWC, and has been rafting for nine years. "To represent the U.S. is such an honor," Eastman said. "Our team should really be called Team Oregon since we are all connected to Oregon in some way. We have all dreamed about this day coming and now we have the chance and opportunity. We have all invested so much time and have competed at such high levels of competition. I truly believe that we could win this competition." Tribble has been rafting Class V rapids for nine years. He also took fifth at the Olympic Kayaking competition after competing in the rafting portion of the Olympic competition. Pfaffinger returned last spring from a mission in Mexico to guide with Team California and to be a river guide for his sixth year with the Adventure Whitewater rafting team. Other countries represented at the World Championships include: Czech Republic, Germany, Italy, Russia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Brazil, Canada, Mexico, South Africa, Zambia, New Zealand, Australia, Japan and China. "Our toughest competition will come from Slovenia, Russia and the Czech Republic," Eastman said. "These teams are fully funded by their government and their Olympic athletes who train year round." Since Team California is not fully funded by our government they are asking for donations to help fund their trip. The estimated cost of each member to go to Africa is $3,000. The money donated will go toward plane tickets, lodging, nutritional supplements and paddles. Any person donating $50 or more will receive pictures and video of the event. Any person donating $250 or more will receive pictures, video of the event and two tickets redeemable toward a free one day raft trip with members of the US crew in the summer of 2002. For more information call 488-2644. Email your... Technical questions & comments to: WebMaster Daily Tidings editorial comments & questions to: Editor Visit our other Oregon Newspapers... | Albany Democrat-Herald | Ashland Daily Tidings | Corvallis Gazette-Times | | Lebanon Express | Newport News-Times | Springfield News | Cottage Grove Sentinel | Ashland Daily Tidings 1661 Siskiyou Blvd. Ashland, OR 97520 Telephone 541-482-3456 © Copyright 2001 Lee Northwest Publishing