Interview with Rick and Jade

Hey Brian,

Feel free to quote anything I’ve said, unfortunately words and photos never quite do an experience like that justice.

My biggest obstacle in doing a Grade 5 rafting trip with River Valley was a previous negative kayaking experience. As it turned out, if I had had the cash and time I would have done a second trip the next morning!

Having now done the trip, I find that I have developed a craving for water and rafting, thanks to Tom, and what a brilliant adventure.

It was no specific feature that really made the experience for me, rather a combination of the scenery, the river, the atmosphere, the roast that night, in fact everything.

The other things I found with this experience is that it got me “out of my seat”, out of the city and into a fabulous combination of spectacular scenery, great company and an unforgettable adventure.

I would definitely (and already have) recommended River Valley, the Grade 5 trip, and Adventure Lodge to anyone that will stop and listen.

Thanks to Tom, Brian and the Adventure Lodge team for giving us a great weekend! I only regret that we didn’t have enough time to go out again on Sunday!

If ever you guys set-up in Europe let me know, I’ll be there in a flash.

Nickname: Dodger, Grumpy Pants, Roget (with a silent t)

Position at River Valley: Senior Dogsbody

Hometown/Country: The Weasel. Taihape, New Zealand

Background: Graduated from the School of Hard Knocks with a P.H.D. in Common Sense. Lived in France and New Caledonia for 25 years.

Favourite Music: Country

Favourite thing about working at River Valley: People and the living spirit that dwells here at the Valley.

Greatest Work Memory: Stoat trapping with Roger’s Angels.

Hobbies and Interests: Drinking gin

Years working at River Valley: Since 2015

Extra Comments: Do unto others as you would have done unto yourself.

Hometown/Country: Taihape, New Zealand

Background:

Favourite Music:

Favourite thing about working at River Valley:

Greatest work memory:

Hobbies and Interests:
Vegetables.

Years at River Valley: Since birth.

Hometown/Country: The UK. Unfortunately.

Background: Studied photography at uni, then worked in fashion retail (hence I have so many dresses), then left to go travelling. Came to River Valley on the kiwi bus and loved it so much I came back as a slave, then ended up working as a housekeeper.

Favourite Music: Wonderwall, because it keeps Derek away.

Favourite thing about working at River Valley:
Hanging out with the weird bunch of people that work here
Getting to go rafting and horse riding on my days off
Experiencing life away from the city – learning new skills/wilderness survival/wildlife identification on a daily basis.

Greatest work memory:
So many!
Birthday raft trips.
Max’s first trip rowing on the scenic…then swimming Chute

Hobbies and Interests:
Drinking margaritas on boats
Drinking margaritas at the bar
Buying or making dresses (learned to sew from the master, Coke Sage)
Towel origami
Looking really excited
Cheering the other staff up
Derek.

Years at River Valley: since 2015

Hometown/Country: I’m a good old westie….Born and Bred in Helensville, New Zealand

Background: I studied Cheffing in Auckland 14 years ago

Favourite Music: Youtube parties with Tom and Janey; Lindsay singing “Dream On”

Favourite thing about working at River Valley: The vegetable garden, winter, afternoon summer swims, our chickens & scrubbing potatoes.

Greatest work memory: Over night raft trips. Sleeping on the back of a dory. Going on a Lodge to Lodge Horse Trek. Going to Koanga and learning to forage.

Hobbies and Interests: Wine. Being Ridiculous. Camping. Road trips. Travelling. Tattoos. Day dreaming.

Years working at River Valley: 8

Extra Comments:

Like Helen Keller said:

“Life is either a daring adventure or nothing at all.”

Nickname: Fat Dad

Position at River Valley: Co-founder, now shuttle driver and general dogsbody

Rafting or Horse Trekking Guide: Used to be on the river

Hometown/Country: Taihape, New Zealand

Background: No triple degrees in classical Greek. I have bother trying to write this. Brought up out here in the country and just don’t want to leave. My teacher and classroom has been sitting out in the hills and mixing with people from all walks of life who come here from all around the world. This has triggered a lot of thinking from within myself.

Favourite Music: Into all sorts of music. Anything that helps to free us up and touch the deeper spots. My latest project has been reviving the old dual piano combination that I used to have with my old mate, wife Robin, and jamming together again. You can listen to our rendition of “Green Door” by clicking here

Favourite thing about working at River Valley: There is a good spirit here and it’s great relating to people in that atmosphere. It should be like this all around the world.

Greatest work memory: This is a tough one when I find it difficult to remember what I had for breakfast this morning. I’ll have to pass. There are just too many good memories.

Hobbies and Interests: I have a little mission – just a small project. Working from my multi media studio I’m out to change the world! It looks as though no one else is going to do it so unless I do something its not going to happen and we’ll all go down the tubes! I’ve discovered that we are all carrying around the answers to a whole new world within ourselves, but we rarely ever go there. That’s what I am promoting.

Years as a Guide: It’s so long ago I can’t remember

Years at River Valley: Been here a very long time

Anything Else:: I feel that in spite of the fact that many things around the globe are reaching a crisis point we are at the brink of breaking into something that will prove to be very wonderful – amazing! And we’ll look back and think what bloody fools we have been when this has been sitting right under our noses for centuries. I hope to be around to see this happen. I think I will!

Position at River Valley: Operations Manager, and occasional river or horse trekking guide.

Raft or Horse Trekking Guide: Both

Hometown/Country: Taihape, New Zealand

Background: 3 Seasons Rafting in Colorado, USA (last season co-managing). Love Multi Day trips and can’t wait to get out on a few of ours!!!! Both Rafting and Riding. May have to wait until the children get a little older.

Favourite thing about working at River Valley: I love being able to safely push people a little out of their comfort zones (especially on the horses). The buzz they get from this at the end of an activity I think speaks for itself. I then get the buzz when these guests come back again for more!!!

Greatest work memory: There are a few, but the night out at the New Zealand Tourism Awards and winning the Small Business Award won’t fade in a hurry. Not only the winning (and the party) but the sense of achievement that all the Staff had too.

Hobbies and Interests:
Chairperson Board of Trustees, local primary school
Being a Mum
Chairman of local (Pukeokahu) Play Group
Helping to organise and ride on the Pukeokahu Horse Trek Fundraiser each year.

Years as a Guide: 14 yrs rafting, around 17 horse trekking

Years at River Valley: Since I was born, and lots more to come

Extra Comments: I am really enjoying reliving my childhood through my girls. With new exciting things that are happening with River Valley and the Stables (especially the Natural Horsemanship) and Isla and Keeva growing all the time, I can only see this getting more and more exciting.

Nickname: Mum, Maama

Position at River Valley: Wife of Brian/Life of Brian, Stables Manager, Horse behavioural technician, trekking guide, Mamma

Rafting or Horse Trekking Guide: Retired raft guide, current horse trekking guide

Hometown/Country: Taihape, Rangitikei, New Zealand

Background: Came to live at River Valley at 2 years of age, when my parents had our family farm here, which backed on to the Rangitikei River. 20yrs later River Valley was born and have been with it from that time. Have a triple degree in being a Mum and Mamma, 3 daughters and 3 granddaughters.

Favourite Music: I love all kinds of music, but recently I’m being reacquainted with Nursery Rhymes.

Favourite thing about working at River Valley: Our amazing team, they just keep getting better. Being able to follow my passion working with horses. Having our children and grandchildren around. Living in such a beautiful place and being in a position to see the pleasure it gives other people when they experience it too.

Greatest work memory: When I was a guide on the Grade 5 lining up the Fulcrum Rapid at a solid flow, I was so zoned, sometimes I don’t think I could even hear the sound of the river!

Hobbies and Interests: Trekking with friends, gardening, buying new horses, being a grandparent, experiencing new places, watching movies and the simple things in life.

Years as a Guide: 5yrs river guiding, (now retired), while guiding on the horses is a constant

Years with River Valley: Since 1986

Extra Comments: Be yourself, nobody is better qualified.

Remember you are unique………just like everyone else.

If you can dream it you can do it.

Too much of a good thing can be wonderful.

Nickname: Brian

Position at River Valley: Managing Director and Senior River Guide

Rafting or Horse Trekking Guide: River Guide

Hometown/Country: Born and grew up in New Plymouth, but have lived around Taihape, New Zealand since 1978

Background: University drop out (politics and history), worked on gas pipelines, drove big tractors, sheep shearer for a number of years, forestry worker for a little while, raft guide since 1986. Mostly guiding on the Rangitikei here at home, but several other appearances guiding including on the Zambezi and in the USA.

Favourite Music: Country and Rock

Favourite thing about working at River Valley:

Being a part of something that gets me out of bed and motivated every morning. Something I feel passionate about.
Still finding joy in being out on the river, especially wilderness overnight trips, and safety catarafting and doing photos over the winter.
The opportunity to be creative.

Greatest work memory: There are no single ones. A mix though of working with some really good people, and being able to visit some beautiful places (on a regular basis)

Hobbies and Interests: Family, writing, photography and video, catarafting. Still like to be up with the play on current events, and have not lost the interest in history. NZ Warriors fan (Rugby League)

Years as a Guide: Since 1986

Years working at River Valley: Since 1986

Extra Comments: Encouraging people to get outside their comfort zones, whether on a horse or on the river, can for some people be life changing. Another world opens up to them – a more natural world. Seeing this happen can be immensely rewarding.

Is known to comment after some high water cataraft trips – “Sometimes it’s just good for the soul to go and get scared shitless!”

Speaking Engagements:

Periodically Brian is available for speaking engagements. His subjects (amongst others) include:

The River Valley Story
Rafting the Grand Canyon
Rafting the Zanskar in India

Each presentation is generally accompanied by a slide show.

If you are interested in Brian speaking to your group then you can contact him by clicking here

Maxwell Sage

River Valley NZ staff

Nickname: Max

Position at River Valley: Trainee River Guide

Hometown/Country: Taihape

Background: Quit building to become a third generation raft guide.

Favourite Music:

Favourite thing about working at River Valley: Rafting

Greatest work memory:

Hobbies and Interests: Kayaking and drinking

Years at River Valley: 1 working and 20 altogether.

Anything Else:: Yeah, nah.

Position at River Valley: Operations Manager, and occasional river or horse trekking guide.

Rafting or Horse Trekking Guide: Both

Hometown/Country: Taihape, New Zealand

Favourite thing about working at River Valley: I love being able to safely push people a little out of their comfort zones (especially on the horses). The buzz they get from this at the end of an activity I think speaks for itself. I then get the buzz when these guests come back again for more!!!

Greatest work memory: There are a few, but the night out at the New Zealand Tourism Awards and winning the Small Business Award won’t fade in a hurry. Not only the winning (and the party) but the sense of achievement that all the Staff had too.

Have any questions?

Maxwell Sage

Nickname: Max

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